DES MOINES, Iowa (March 13, 2026) – Catch Des Moines received the Innovation in Marketing Award at the 2026 Iowa Tourism Awards Luncheon at Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, & Hotel, held as part of the annual Iowa Tourism Conference.
The award recognized Catch Des Moines’ creative partnership with Audacy and the Chicago Cubs Radio Network, which promotes Greater Des Moines to millions of baseball fans through the season long “Catch of the Game” feature, recorded radio spots, and digital streaming placements on MLB.TV.
In addition to reaching Cubs fans across Midwest radio markets, the broadcasts are heard nationwide through the MLB app, while Catch Des Moines commercials also run nationally on MLB.TV, expanding the campaign’s reach well beyond traditional drive markets.
“Our partnership with the Cubs has been one of the most fun and effective ways to share the story of Des Moines,” said Trina Flack, president and CEO of Catch Des Moines. “It’s been great to hear how many fans enjoy those moments during Cubs games. With Hall of Fame broadcaster Pat Hughes weaving Des Moines into the broadcasts all season long, Cubs fans are hearing about everything from Steak de Burgo to the Butter Cow — and discovering why our city makes such a great trip.”
The campaign delivered more than 65 million impressions in 2025, while also helping increase interest from Chicago, now one of Catch Des Moines’ primary target markets. Chicago accounted for 12.5 percent of all sessions on catchdesmoines.com, and the returning user rate from the market increased 3.7 percent year over year, signaling growing awareness and travel consideration among prospective visitors.
The partnership builds on the strong connection between Chicago and Greater Des Moines, which is home to the Iowa Cubs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.
Tourism remains a major economic driver for Greater Des Moines, generating more than $3 billion in annual visitor spending and supporting more than 19,000 jobs across the region.
The Iowa Tourism Conference brings together travel and tourism industry representatives from across the state for education and networking among tourism professionals.
About Catch Des Moines
Catch Des Moines is the official destination marketing organization promoting and representing Greater Des Moines to leisure travelers and meeting/sports planners. Our focus is to increase visitors to the metro and elevate the visitor experience to drive economic success and enhance the quality of life in the 15 local Greater Des Moines communities we represent. For more information, visit catchdesmoines.com.