Idaho Travel Council announces finalized grant awards

During a recent special meeting, the Idaho Travel Council granted $480,165 in tourism marketing funding to the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce through the Idaho Regional Travel and Convention Grant Program.

At the July meeting during the annual grant awards, the ITC voted to re-open the application for an eligible Region 4 applicant to apply. The Twin Falls Chamber submitted a grant application which was reviewed, scored, then awarded.

The 2024 ITC grant award total across the state is $9,863,635.

The list below reflects this year’s grant award recipients for North Idaho and entities in multiple regions:

REGION 1

North Idaho Tourism Alliance — $234,000
Coeur d’Alene Convention and Visitors Bureau — $1,260,500
Post Falls Chamber of Commerce — $124,305
Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce — $235,600

MULTI-REGION

Idaho Ski Areas Association — $252,709
Idaho Outfitters & Guides Association — $213,775
Idaho Lodging and Restaurant Association — $91,360

Eligible award recipients include nonprofit local and regional tourism development organizations such as chambers of commerce, convention and visitor bureaus and regional travel organizations. Grant recipients use the awarded grant dollars to promote cities, towns and regions of the state as travel destinations. Program elements are varied, but often include print and digital advertising, videography, brochures, attendance at travel shows, public relations, industry research and the creation of websites.

Idaho Tourism activities are funded by a 2% tax paid by travelers and collected by the state’s hotel, motel, vacation rental and private campground owners. Just less than half (45%) of the funds collected are used for statewide programs targeted at domestic and international travelers, tour operators, travel agents, travel journalists and content creators. Another 45% is distributed back to communities through the grant program awarded by the ITC annually in July. If no eligible applicants apply for a region, then the ITC has the right to reopen applications as needed. The remaining 10% is used for the administration of the Idaho Tourism Office.

Total lodging tax collections for the fiscal year 2024 reached $21,778,515, reflecting a 2.4% increase over fiscal year 2023.