Pottawattamie County proclaims National Travel and Tourism Week; local attractions and businesses recognized

The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors voted to sign a proclamation designating National Travel and Tourism Week for May 2025 and received a tourism update that named local award winners and highlighted visitor spending figures.

Tourism representatives told the board that travelers spent roughly $336,240,000 in the county in 2023, according to Tourism Economics, and that travel supports local jobs and sales tax revenue. The presentation noted state and national figures from the U.S. Travel Association and described an updated joint Council Bluffs – Pottawattamie County inspiration guide the tourism office plans to distribute statewide.

Nut graf: The board’s proclamation recognizes tourism’s local economic role and the county used the occasion to announce the winners of a public‑voted awards program and an Iowa-only award recognizing Hitchcock Nature Center.

In the awards announcement, Hitchcock Nature Center was named Best Attraction in Pottawattamie County and was later named the “Only in Iowa” winner for 2025 in the large population category by the Iowa Travel Industry Partners Foundation. Harris Hotel and Casino was announced as Best Hotel (the county presentation referenced a recent $15 million investment in property improvements). Boxer Barbecue was named Best Restaurant and BloomWorks Floral was named Best Retail Business; representatives from those businesses were present or recognized. The tourism staff said the new 44‑page inspiration guide had recently been printed and would be distributed across the region and statewide.

Ending: County leaders thanked tourism staff and business representatives and noted forthcoming promotional videos and materials the tourism office will make available to the board and public.