On January 30, the Council Bluffs Convention and Visitors Bureau will celebrate its ten-year anniversary with the help of the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce. At its annual meeting, the chamber will recognize Council Bluffs area businesses and organizations that reached a significant milestone in 2024.
The Council Bluffs CVB marks September 8, 2014, as when it officially became an independent, private nonprofit organization. On that date, the Internal Revenue Service issued a letter communicating its approval of the CBCVB’s application to become a 501(c)6 nonprofit.
Much has been achieved in the intervening ten years. Some of the most notable achievements and accolades of the decade are listed below.
- Council Bluffs hotel/motel taxes surpassed $3 million and set new record highs three years in a row
- Earned 13 Iowa Tourism Awards, including three for Outstanding Community of the Year
- Purchased the former bank at 509 23rd Ave to serve as a new office and state welcome center
- Secured $525,55 in Iowa Regional Sports Authority District grants
- Invested $316,802 in marketing Council Bluffs and emerged as one of its most visible advocates
- Established an online community calendar that features as many as 1,588 events annually
- Helped stimulate $2.720 billion in visitor spending in the county from 2015 through 2023
“The Council Bluffs Convention and Visitors Bureau team works diligently to drive more than $330 million in visitor spending each year,” said Ashley Kruse, president of the CBCVB Board of Directors and communications & events manager for the City of Council Bluffs. “This success stems from promoting our unmatched railroad history, live music performances, one-of-a-kind Loess Hills, sporting events, and many other unique amenities that make Council Bluffs a top destination,” she said.
The Council Bluffs CVB serves as a catalyst to grow Pottawattamie County’s visitor economy through collaborative sales and marketing, destination advocacy, and sustainable placemaking activities in order to enhance the region’s quality of life. During 2023, Pottawattamie County benefited from $336.24 million in direct spending from visitors coming from 50 miles or farther, according to Tourism Economics. The state of Iowa realized $7.3 billion in direct spending in 2023. For more information about the Council Bluffs CVB, visit UNleashCB.com.
