EL PASO, TEXAS (October 26, 2023) – Catch Des Moines was honored yesterday by Sports ETA, the trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, for the Destination Branding & Marketing Campaign of the Year (Population: 500,000 and above). The award was presented by John David, president and CEO of Sports ETA, at the association’s annual 4S & Rights Holder Summit.
The prestigious award is given to a destination member of Sports ETA with the most outstanding comprehensive marketing campaign for its organization between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023.
With a banner year for sports in 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa that included the return of March Madness and the AAU Junior Olympic Games, along with highly anticipated stops by the Savannah Bananas and RAGBRAI, Catch Des Moines needed something to encapsulate the excitement on the horizon and the legitimacy of our region as an all-star host. Catch Des Moines created a hype video entitled, “Believe the Hype” to share with visitors and locals alike.
“We congratulate Catch Des Moines for being honored with the Branding & Marketing Campaign of the Year,” said David. “The ‘Believe the Hype’ video is a great industry example that shows the excitement focusing on a variety of sporting events hosted in the Des Moines area.”
“This award is a testament to the efforts of our sports, sales, and servicing teams to consistently bring in marquee sporting events, and for our community for showing up and supporting them loud and proud,” said Ben Handfelt, director of creative and communications at Catch Des Moines. “We do things differently in Des Moines, and our marketing reflects that. And to win this award against some much larger cities plays right into our underdog narrative. In fact, two words come to mind. Let’s gooooo!”
The Sports ETA Member Awards program, which annually honors individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the industry, is powered by Team Travel Source.
Every year, Sports ETA celebrates the outstanding accomplishments and remarkable achievements within the sports events and tourism industry. The Sports ETA Member Awards recognize the exceptional organizations and individuals who have not only demonstrated excellence but have also made significant contributions to the ever-evolving world of sports events and tourism.
About Sports ETA:
As the only trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, Sports ETA is the most trusted resource for sports commissions, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), and sports event owners. Sports ETA is committed to the success of more than 650 member organizations and 2,400 sports event professionals. We promise to deliver quality education, ample networking opportunities, and exceptional event management and marketing know-how to our members to protect the integrity of the sports events and tourism industry. For more information, visit SportsETA.org.
About Catch Des Moines:
The Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Des Moines Area Sports Commission, collectively known as 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 14 local Greater Des Moines communities we represent. For more information, visit catchdesmoines.com.