Iowa Legislature Studies Hotel/Motel Tax Increase to Fund Public Transportation

Last legislative session, a coordinated effort was launched by a half dozen Des Moines area suburbs to change Iowa's tax code to allow municipalities the ability to raise hotel/motel tax by up to 5%. The increase would exclusively be used to underwrite the cost of public transportation. Their goal was (and continues to be) to lower property taxes (which currently help fund public transportation) and instead have hotel/motel taxes shoulder the cost. Had it passed, any community in Iowa would have had the option to do this. This also would have opened the door for communities to try to raise hotel/motel tax to fund other projects.


The IHLA team was able to work with legislators and stop the language from being included in the massive tax reform bill that passed in 2022. However, the Legislature did request an alternative funding study for public transit during the interim. To date, there have been two meetings of the study group. DART has hired a different lobbying firm this year and seems ready to continue the effort to get the legislature to consider the topic again. The IHLA team and Board Member Scott Math from Heart of America Group have been proactively reaching out to lawmakers and state agencies to explain how detrimental an increased hotel motel tax would be to Iowa's travel and tourism industry.


At its second meeting, voting committee members opted not to make a recommendation on funding solutions to the legislature but, instead, deliver to the legislature a summary of the facts it has pulled together and encourage the legislature to continue the conversation. They must submit their report by mid-December.

Read IHLA Board Member Scott Math's Letter to Legislators

Meet in Iowa Program Renewed for 2023

In March, the IHLA team, all of whom also work on behalf of the Iowa Restaurant Association, was selected by the Iowa Tourism Office to create and administer a meeting incentive program with the purpose of increasing hotel night stays in the state. The program provides groups reimbursement towards various meeting expenses. New overnight meetings (booked after May 1, 2022) and existing meetings that add a tourism experience on the front or backend (thus increasing the hotel nights stays) can qualify. To date booked hotel nights in the state have increased by more than 6,000 nights and more than $850,000 in reimbursements have been earmarked for qualifying groups. 


Given the tremendous success of the Meet In Iowa program in 2022, the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Tourism Office extended the program into 2023, allocating $300,000 toward reimbursement for eligible meetings and events. Because of the longer time period and limited funding, modifications have been made to the program.


  • Eligible meetings and events include business conferences and meetings/events NOT open to the general public, and mid-week group leisure travel (with the majority of overnights taking place Sun-Thurs). Festivals, fairs and sporting events do not qualify.
  • All eligible meetings and events must add a pre- or post-event (before or after event agenda) tourism experience to encourage attendees to book an extra day in a lodging establishment.
  • A flat 25% reimbursement rate will be applied to all eligible hard cost categories.


This is a great tool to incent groups booking in your properties to expand or enhance their meetings. Learn more about the program at meetinia.com.

Informational Webinar:

Verifying Identity on Iowa's New Mobile ID App

In January, the state will launch Iowa Mobile ID. Hospitality establishments planning to accept the new digital ID to validate identity and age, can learn how by attending an educational webinar. Businesses are also invited to participate in a pilot project to test the new technology.


Monday, November 21

2 PM

Learn More about Mobile ID
Register for Webinar 

Welcome New Allied Member:

Parking Management Company (PMC)

Allied members support Iowa's hotel and lodging industry by offering the products and services operators need to do business better. Their memberships are an investment in your success! Please consider partnering with IHLA allied members.

Parking Management Company (PMC) is a hyper-growth, employee-owned hospitality parking services provider and commercial parking management company. PMC provides an unparalleled level of service for hotels, commercial lots and garages, hospitals, and event venues. PMC’s associates relentlessly serve hundreds of clients from coast to coast. 



To learn more contact Jared Fern jfern@parkingmgt.com or visit parkingmgt.com.

Two IHLA Members Named to

40 Women to Watch in Iowa's Hospitality Industry List

Heidi Messelheiser

Marriott Des Moines Downtown

Heidi wishes she would have discovered the hospitality industry earlier in her career journey. The one time top performing off premise sales rep for Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits, she has transitioned into a hands on hospitality role as the Food & Beverage Purchaser for the Marriott Downtown in Des Moines.  

Angela Harrington

Hotel Grinnell | Highlander Hotel

Angela Harrington is the only woman hotel developer/owner/operator (all three) in Iowa. She has been honored for both her Grinnell and Iowa City locations and was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year in Cedar Rapids/ Iowa City. Angela serves on the inaugural board of the newly formed Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association. 

State Level Leadership
The IHLA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Annually, we have a meeting of the IHLA membership (virtual or in-person) to vote to confirm the Board. The Board is the final say on which legislative issues we pursue and how we prioritize them. They also approve the budget and are asked on occasion to serve as media and legislative spokespeople on issues. If you have any interest in serving on the Board of Directors please contact Jessica Dunker at jessica@hotellodgingiowa.com Current Board members are below.
Jessica Dunker
President & CEO
Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association, Des Moines
Angela Harrington
Director
Hotel Grinnell, Grinnell
Ben Kinseth
Director
Kinseth Hospitality Companies, Coralville
Scott Math
Director
Heart of America, Des Moines
Ravi Patel
Vice Chair
Hawkeye Hotels, Coralville
Paul Rottenberg
Board Chairman
Orchestrate Hospitality,
Des Moines