25 Mar 2015

Local Tourism Sees Successful Winter Season

By Jessica Waytenick

Quad Cities - With the first day of spring coming up on Friday, we're ready to say goodbye to Old Man Winter.  Although these Quad Cities' organizations might be a little reluctant after a successful winter season with great visitation numbers.  

Ski Snowstar in Andalusia ended their season this past weekend.  Looking back, they opened in November for the first time ever and they were open 85 days which is the longest season since 1995-96.  General Manager Ed Meyer says that they had almost 45,000 visits, and they welcomed their one millionth customer at the end of December.  www.skisnowstar.com  

The Bald Eagles visit the Quad Cities in the winter that, in turn, generates an increase in human visitors to view them.  January is a busy month at the Mississippi River Visitor Center on Arsenal Island due to eagle watching.  Almost 3,500 people visited the center this winter.  Mike McKean, Natural Resource Specialist, says, "We pull in a lot of people from out of town, especially Chicago, coming here to watch eagles.  Both last winter and this winter there were great numbers of eagles to be seen. We heard from a lot of people who are coming back each year because of this."  www.missriver.org  

LeClaire is another popular place to go eagle watching.  LeClaire saw eagle watchers and photographers from all over the U.S. and Canada.  LeClaire Tourism Manager Cindy Bruhn wants people to remember that LeClaire does not "close" in the winter.  "We added an Eagle Watching Event this year and organized a variety of events to encourage winter visitors.  The LeClaire Information Center visitation was higher in January and February this year over last year."  www.visitleclaire.com  

The Quad City Mallards are coming down the homestretch of what has been a highly successful season both on and off the ice.  While the team has battled its way to second place and a playoff position in its first season in the ECHL, the organization has also enjoyed plenty of success away from the ice.  The Mallards again this season have provided exciting hockey and promotion-packed entertainment all year and have been met with an overwhelming response: 

  • ·        The Mallards this season have increased weekend attendance by 25 percent over last season.
  • ·        Group ticket sales this season have increased by 50 percent over last season
  • ·        The team's season ticket base has doubled over the last two years.

 

As a member of the premier "AA" hockey league in North America, the Mallards are able to offer excitement to fans from near and far from October through April and beyond.  www.myqcmallards.net

 

The Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau had two successful promotions this winter.  Be a Tourist in Your Own Backyard Weekend in January saw an increase of 2,000 coupon views to over 24,000 views.  Most recently Quad Cities Restaurant Week had 148,000 pageviews total, compared to 115,000 last year.

11 Mar 2015

Help Us Preserve the Allure of the Iowa State Fair!

By Robert Jackson Jr.

DES MOINES, IA (03/10/2015)(readMedia)-- April 15 is right around the corner! When you file your Iowa state income tax return, don't forget to support the Iowa State Fair by participating in the Corndog Tax Checkoff. All it takes is one little checkmark on your state tax form to help the Fair continue to preserve the allure of the historic Fairgrounds.

Look for the State Fairgrounds Renovation Checkoff on line 58b of Iowa Tax Form 1040 or on line 14 of Iowa Tax Form 1040A and check off $1 (or more!) to help preserve the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds. Your gift is either deducted from your refund or added to the amount due. Contributions to the Corndog Checkoff are fully tax-deductible.

The Corndog Checkoff is a simple way to support your Iowa State Fair! Every dollar donated to the Checkoff is directly allocated to capital improvements. The Corndog Checkoff has raised over $1.7 million, and has supplemented restoration projects from the Grandstand to the newly air conditioned Cultural Center. In addition, funds generated by the Checkoff have helped improve the campgrounds, parking areas, sidewalks and restrooms.

The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has generated over $100 million for renovations and improvements to the Iowa State Fairgrounds. For more information on the Corndog Tax Checkoff, please contact the Blue Ribbon Foundation at (800) 450-3732 or emailbluerf@blueribbonfoundation.org.

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10 Mar 2015

Involving Kids in Family Vacation Planning

By Steve Burke

By Jason Alderman

Family vacations produce memories for a lifetime, but they can also teach kids great money lessons they'll need as adults.

Involving kids in planning family vacations not only helps them appreciate the overall benefits of travel, but offers an opportunity for even the youngest kids to learn lessons about budgeting, saving and essential money management they will encounter every day.

If you have trouble tearing your kids away from their smartphones, you might be in luck. The technology kids use can be very effective in budgeting, pricing and planning travel. Surfing travel destinations can teach kids a great deal about what travel really costs.

The first step in planning the family vacation should be creating a budget for the trip. Set a realistic dollar limit for the trip and be prepared to discuss why that limit exists. For example, if there is a home renovation project scheduled that particular year, explain how that affects the overall family budget and the resources for the trip. It's an important lesson in balancing fun and family priorities.

After these limits are discussed, work with kids to create a detailed budget for accommodations, transportation, food, special event tickets and souvenirs, particularly souvenirs kids might buy for themselves. For tips, check out (http://practicalmoneyskills.com/travel) for saving on and this online calculator (http://practicalmoneyskills.com/travelcalculator) to help plan.

Once the budget is set, point kids in the direction of certain travel websites to start and let them bring back as much information as they can on potential locations and costs.

Putting the kids in charge of travel planning gives them an opportunity to learn about trade-offs. For example, a cross-country trip that involves substantial transportation costs might contain a valuable lesson in finding affordable accommodations. Depending on the age of the children doing the research and how much advance time is available to plan the trip, they can also learn how traveling in season and out of season might help the budget. Many peak summer destinations become significantly more affordable if a family chooses to travel over the winter holidays.

Above all, trip planning can teach an important lesson in spending and savings. If children want to buy souvenirs or treats on the trip, that's an opportunity to have them set aside part of their allowance or chore money to pay for their special purchases on the trip. To get them started, help them save for their goal using this online calculator (http://practicalmoneyskills.com/savingforagoal).

Finally, once everyone is home, parents and kids might find it useful to discuss how the vacation went overall and what improvements can be applied next time. Encourage kids to start researching next year's destinations immediately so the money and activity conversation can begin even earlier.

Bottom line: Involving your children in family vacation planning allows them to see the world and to practice good budgeting, saving and spending habits.

24 Feb 2015

How to Avoid an Online Vacation Rental Scam

By Steve Burke

By Jason Alderman

Imagine renting a home on a beautiful beachfront from a trusted website, arriving to start your vacation and finding out you've been scammed?

This scenario reflects thousands of complaints placed with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last year involving local vacation rentals. The FTC reports some victims lost money by wiring cash to thieves posing as property owners. Others lost money through fake websites replicating legitimate sites.

In today's economy in which home sharing has become more popular, how do travelers protect themselves from a range of potential online scams? Here are some suggestions:

Review rental contracts carefully. Check the address of the property you're interested in with on-the-ground resources like the local tourism office or the leading real estate brokerage in the community. While you're speaking with the tourism office, ask if there have been any specific complaints against the rental service you have consulted or if there might be more reliable and possibly more affordable rental resources in town.

Be wary of your source. Legitimate property owners may use free print or web classified ads to save money, but it's important to vet any free listing very carefully. Also, confirm with a live representative to ensure the site is legitimate.

Compare rental rates in the immediate area. A good deal might be tempting to seize immediately, but the FTC notes that severely below-market pricing for rentals and other vacation services in a community might indicate a scam. Crosscheck the pricing of home rentals and related services in the community before you make a reservation. Given the example above, don't rely on the Internet alone. Pick up the phone and talk directly to a representative.

Check transient license law in your destination city. Transient licenses regulate properties rented to guests for time periods generally 30 days or less. Call your destination city to get details on their transient license law and whether you can confirm the registration of the property you're considering. Ask the property owner for a copy of his or her transient license and see if the city will share the same license for your inspection to make sure they match. Also ask the city whether any specific complaints are available for the property you are considering.

Be wary of phishing scams. Be on the lookout for email and phone scammers who masquerade as employees of businesses you trust - they're after your bank or credit information. If you receive emails or phone calls demanding advance payments, contact the original website to confirm your reservation and payment policy. Recently, travel site Booking.com had to pay out compensation to more than 10,000 customers from the U.S., UK, France, Italy, Portugal and the UAE who were victims of a phishing scam.

Follow recommendations. Personal recommendations from friends and family can ensure a safe transaction. If you know someone who has visited a destination or rented property recently, ask which companies or individuals they would recommend.

Report fraud. Inform the local police at your vacation destination, the local Better Business Bureau and the FTC. When you get home, notify your local police or your state attorney general's consumer protection office to alert them to this particular cybercrime if you made the money transfer from your home state.

Bottom line: As online vacation rentals grow, so does cybercrime. Be cautious when booking arrangements online to protect your payments data.

10 Feb 2015

5 Safety Tips For Women Traveling Alone

By Ginny Grimsley
A Few Precautions Help Reduce Risks So You Can Focus On Fun, Globetrotting Author Says

Perhaps more than ever, women are willing to ditch their traveling companions and go solo when it comes time to hit the road and see the world.

A survey by Small Luxury Hotels of the World, for example, revealed that between 2011 and 2012 there was a 53 percent increase in the demand for rooms by women traveling alone.

The London Daily Mail also reports that some hotels have taken steps to make their accommodations more appealing to women traveling on their own, with such features as women-only floors.

Still, despite the trend, many women may worry that such solitary excursions carry too many risks, making them a target for thieves, kidnappers and other criminals.

But one woman who has logged endless miles exploring the world and finding romance says it doesn't have to be that way.

"There is no reason to let your fears keep you from the adventures you can experience," says Barbara Foster, a veteran globetrotter and author of the book "The Confessions of a Librarian: A Memoir of Loves." (www.threelovestory.com)

"Sure, there are risky places and bad types out there. But with the right precautions, women can travel solo with confidence, visiting the places and meeting the people they always dreamed of and returning home with wonderful stories and memories."

Foster speaks from experience. Her travels have taken her across the country and around the world, with stops in Istanbul, Bombay, Buenos Aires, Jerusalem and other locales.

As an adventurer, Foster is something of a contradiction. She describes herself as a librarian who has difficulty reading flight schedules, and suspects a haggling merchant in an Arab bazaar would view her as easy pickings.

He would be mistaken.

While Foster has spent a professional lifetime in academia, and co-authored books on such esoteric subjects as Tibetan Buddhism, she also is steeped in real-life experience.

Foster, who says solo trips can be deeply rewarding for women, offers five tips for traveling boldly while staying safe.

•  Steer clear of the most dangerous locales. Simply put, some places just aren't worth the risk, so avoid "no go" neighborhoods, cities and countries. For example, if you feel compelled to go to the Middle East, visit Israel, which is the safest Middle Eastern country. Still, if the destination is truly important to you, go ahead and take the risk. India can be dangerous and Foster says she was nearly kidnapped there, saved only by the intervention of a librarian friend. At the same time, she says, the country offers a once in a lifetime experience.

•  Connect with friendly contacts. Make yourself known not only to the U.S. embassy or consul, but also to people in your field, Foster says. During her travels, Foster wrote articles about libraries she visited. Her fellow librarians were a protective group.

•  Learn the language or at least useful phrases. Even if it's just a few key words, speaking the language can come in handy if you need to seek assistance. Understanding what others are saying also can alert you to potential dangers.

•  Dress wisely, pay attention to manners and spend money in moderation. Essentially, don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself. In her book, Foster recounts a visit to Istanbul where she watched horror-struck as two Turkish men slapped a young British woman for wearing a miniskirt on the street. For added protection against thieves, Foster recommends carrying money and identification in a pouch under your shirt.

•  Travel in the USA. You will miss many of the world's must-see places, but if the thought of traveling abroad holds too much stress for you, it might be better to stick closer to home. Foster says two of her favorite U.S. cities are New York and New Orleans, both great places to explore.

About Barbara Foster

Barbara Foster has worked as a college librarian and as an associate professor specializing in Women's Studies at the City University of New York. She has published numerous articles on education and travel, as well as more than 200 poems in literary journals under the name Belladonna. Her latest book is "The Confessions of a Librarian: A Memoir of Loves." (www.threelovestory.com)

03 Feb 2015

LECLARE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS - 2014!

By Rick Martin
LECLARE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS - 2014!

The LeClaire Chamber of Commerce was proud to recognize the following at the Annual Awards Dinner, Saturday, January 31, at Steventon's in LeClaire:

Volunteers of the Year - Joyce Kuehl and Diane Glispie, Christmas in LeClaire

Event of the Year - First Friday in LeClaire, Garrett and Ryan Burchett, Originators

Pineapple Award for Hospitality - Cindy Bruhn and Volunteers, LeClaire Information Center

Edward B. deSilva Award for Community Leadership - Vern Spring

Brick and Mortar Award for Opening or Expanding Business in LeClaire in 2014 -

Grasshopper's Guest House

Dwellings

Isabel Bloom

Wild Horse Canvas Prints

Everfield

LeClaire Olive Oil Company

El Rio Spa and Wellness

Mindfire Communications

Snap Fitness

Jones Street Java House

Grace Marine

Antique Archeology

Comfort Inn & Suites

Buffalo Bill Museum

Expressions in Threads

LeClaire Farmers Market

Freedom Rock of Scott County

Fig Tree

 

The LeClaire Chamber of Commerce Board for 2015 was also introduced:

President - Mike Clingingsmith - CFO - Pleasant Valley Schools

Vice-President - Melody Oltmann - First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire

Secretary - Dr. Crystal Buesing - Dr. Crystal's Chiropractic Care

Treasurer - Andrew Arndt - Arndt Chiropractic Center, Inc.                          

Debbie Mulvania - VP and Branch Manager - First Central State Bank, LeClaire

KV Dahl - President of Dahl Ford

Kathleen Anderson - Sr. Assistant to the President, St. Ambrose University

Dennis Gerard - Former Sr. VP of Northern Region - Kone

Carl Hoyt, Jr. - President, Captain's Quarter's and Grace Marine

Emily Hudson - General Manager - Faithful Pilot Café and Spirits

Kristen Underwood - Blackhawk Bank & Trust - Branch Manager, LeClaire

 

We would like to thank Vern Spring, Jim Huiskamp and Dayle Hall for their service on the Board. All retired as of December 31, 2014.

 

Thank you, too, to all the businesses and individuals who attended the Dinner, and to those who donated and bid on items for the Live and Silent Auctions. It is due to your generosity that the event is such a huge success!

08 Jan 2015

Accident Closes I-80 at Stockton, Iowa

By Thomas Gibbs
A multiple vehicle accident on eastbound I-80 in Iowa has blocked the roadway causing it to be closed. EB I-80 is closed at mile marker/exit 280/Stockton Interchange. Units are arriving on scene to assess the situation.

19 Dec 2014

Davenport featured in travel photographer's new book on 90-day road trip along the Mississippi

By Marissa Curnutte

Travel Photographer/Author Shares 90-Day Road Trip Keeping Pace with a Raindrop on the Mississippi

Gayle Harper's Words and Images Honor America's Beauty, her Greatest River and her Colorful People

When Gayle Harper learned that a raindrop falling into the headwaters of the Mississippi would travel the River for 90 days to reach the Gulf of Mexico, she knew immediately that her project of a lifetime had appeared.

Harper made a 90-day road trip along the nearly 2,400-mile course of the Mississippi, while keeping pace with a raindrop called "Serendipity." She was offered lodging, often in places unique to the heritage of each region. There was a fishermen's cabin in the north woods, a trendy downtown loft, a tugboat converted to a B&B, a plantation mansion, a sharecropper's cabin - and even an entire 30-room mansion.

She wandered back roads without plan, meeting people in farm fields, on their porches, in cafés, even while stopped for road construction, who invited her into their lives.  She went to dances, birthday parties, a wedding, a powwow, neighborhood barbeques and festivals. She was invited home to dinner, to meet friends and relatives and onto boats of all sizes, from a canoe to a towboat, pushing its flotilla of barges.

"The people I met," says Harper, "are the soul of this journey. They were welcoming, inclusive, playful, curious, colorful and authentic. There was two-year-old Hazel, who plopped down beside me to show me her green shoes, and 87-year-old Marshall Bouldin III, who moved me to tears when we talked about art. There was a north woods adventurer, a Southern Belle, a 'river rat,' a Delta Blues man and a pixie-like nun."

"The Mississippi River is the aorta of our country," says Harper, "it is essential to our ecology and our economy and it is deeply embedded in our history and our very identity.  I watched it grow from a fragile stream into a massive force of nature, yet its essence is always the same."

Roadtrip with a Raindrop is a celebration of America and of the simple moments that make life an adventure. In its 240 pages are 55 stories, with nearly 200 full-color photographs. Together, the words and images invite readers to leave agendas behind, to travel at the pace of a raindrop and to rediscover the fine art of letting life happen.

Harper embarks on a book tour along the Mississippi in 2015.

BOOK DETAILS

Roadtrip with a Raindrop: 90 Days Along the Mississippi River

By Gayle Harper

Published by Acclaim Press, November 2014

ISBN: 978-1-938905-63-6

Hardcover, 240 pages, $39.95

15 Dec 2014

Bruce Carter, Director of Aviation at Quad City International Airport, receives Distinguished Service Award for Aviation and Airport Industry Achievements

By Cathie Rochau
Alexandria, VA - Bruce E. Carter, A.A.E., Director of Aviation at the Quad City International Airport has been selected as the recipient of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Distinguished Service Award, presented to airport executives in recognition of career-long leadership and contributions to the aviation industry.
"Bruce is a valued colleague who is well-known for his leadership in the nation's airport management community and the broader aviation industry," said AAAE Chair Randall D. Berg, A.A.E., Director of Airport Operations at the Salt Lake City International Airport. "Distinguished service is a hallmark of Bruce's career, and it is fitting that AAAE has recognized him for the numerous contributions he has made during his remarkable four decades in the industry."
The Distinguished Service Award, given annually, is one of AAAE's highest levels of recognition. Men and women receive this award as a reflection of outstanding accomplishments in their professional and personal lives. Respected leaders of their own communities, these men and women also contribute to other aviation organizations, serve AAAE and its chapters and participate in civic and community affairs. Distinguished Service Award winners exemplify the best in airport management by continually bringing credit to the profession and the aviation community. All DSA winners are Accredited Airport Executives (A.A.E.) and exemplify the standards accreditation seeks to inspire.
Carter began his 40-year career as an air traffic controller in Des Moines, IA, and has held Director of Aviation positions in Waterloo, Iowa and Springfield and Peoria, Illinois before he joined the Quad City International executive team in 1999.
Carter currently serves as a Second Past President of the AAAE Board of Directors and is a Past President of the Great Lakes Chapter AAAE.
The Award was announced at the 86th Annual AAAE Conference and Exposition held in San Antonio, Texas in May and will be presented to Carter at a Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County board meeting to be held this week.
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ABOUT AAAE: Founded in 1928, AAAE is the world's largest professional organization representing the men and women who work at public-use commercial and general aviation airports. AAAE's 5,000-plus members represent some 850 airports and hundreds of companies and organizations that support the airport industry. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., AAAE serves its membership through results-oriented representation in Washington, D.C., and delivers a wide range of industry services and professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and a highly respected accreditation program.
03 Dec 2014

Dominique Williams selected as National Treasurer for National Society of Minorities in Hospitality

By Rick Martin

AMES, IA (12/01/2014)(readMedia)-- Dominique Williams, a senior in hospitality management in the College of Human Sciences at Iowa State University, was chosen to serve on the national board as the Treasurer for the National Society of Minorities. The National Society of Minorities is the premier student-led organization for minorities students studying hospitality. The National board is comprised of five positions, including treasurer.

Williams, a Davenport, Iowa native, will oversee of Chapter Financial Procedures, National Society of Minorities Accounts Payable and Receivable, Disbursement of Scholarship Funds and other regional treasurers.

The National Society of Minorities in Hospitality provides events and programs that bring together college-level students with company sponsors, industry representatives, other hospitality organizations, advisors and mentors, and hospitality high school students.

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