Thursday evening, community members are invited to learn just what type of impression Webster City makes on visitors to the area, as a team from the First Impressions program deliver their report to Webster City.

The presentation will be held on Thursday, November 6 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Wildcat Distilling, located at 626 Second Street in Webster City.

“This free public presentation is open to all community members interested in the topic,” said Robin Streigle of the Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce. ” Travel-related entities such as area attractions, restaurants, retail businesses, lodging providers, and transportation partners are especially encouraged to attend and learn how visitor impressions can shape future tourism and economic development efforts.”

The Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce applied to participate in the Iowa State University First Impressions Program last winter. Those communities chosen for the visits to evaluate the community were notified in the spring. Visitors assigned to the task of examining the community were chosen and sent undercover throughout the summer months to test the businesses and attractions of the Webster City area.

First Impressions program representatives will be on-site Thursday to deliver a presentation highlighting findings and recommendations for Webster City.

The goal of the First Impressions Program is to provide firsthand feedback from visitors on a community’s visitor readiness — identifying opportunities to enhance overall appeal, accessibility, and tourism potential.

As part of the First Impressions process, first-time visitors — or those who had not been to the area for a significant period of time — visited Webster City over the past year incognito, without the knowledge of local teams or residents.

During their stay, they evaluated the community from an unbiased perspective, noting feedback and observations based on their initial experiences. This information will help Webster City better understand how outsiders perceive the community and enable local stakeholders to use limited resources more wisely, prioritizing improvements that most impact the visitor experience.

Tourism plays an important role in Webster City’s local economy.

In 2023, Hamilton County experienced $14 million in direct visitor spending, according to data compiled by Tourism Economics. The tourism sector supports approximately 170 jobs and generates more than $21 million in total business sales within the local economy.

Tourism is equally vital to Iowa’s statewide economy–each Iowa household would pay an additional $857 per year in taxes to replace the dollars generated by tourism activity across the state.

Following the community forum, committee members will review the findings and begin working toward implementing suggested improvements.

These recommendations will guide local government, nonprofits, and arts and cultural organizations in improving operations, marketing, and accessibility of their amenities and attractions. Enhancing these areas can lead to increased visitation — particularly overnight stays, which in turn boost hotel/motel tax revenues. These funds support the Hotel/Motel Grant Program administered annually by the City of Webster City Hotel/Motel Commission.

The First Impressions Program is a partnership between Travel Iowa and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Webster City was selected to participate through a competitive statewide application process earlier this year. The program was fully funded by the City of Webster City, with the Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce serving as the local applicant.

Light bites will be provided by Seneca Street Saloon. Registrations is not required but appreciated.