Storm Lake's Amy Von Bank joins Iowa tourism board

Amy Von Bank has joined the Iowa Travel Industry Partners Board of Directors as the group begins a three-year strategic plan that runs through June 30, 2029. For Storm Lake, the appointment puts the general manager of King’s Pointe Resort in the room where statewide tourism promotion, advocacy and marketing priorities are set, with direct implications for visitor traffic at the lake, hotel occupancy and spending at nearby restaurants and retailers.

The new FY27-FY29 plan was adopted June 8 and lays out five pillars for Iowa tourism: nurturing relationships and collaboration, development resources, education, advocacy and marketing. iTIP says its mission is to increase visitation and improve Iowa’s economy through partnerships. The organization has also emphasized stronger legislative advocacy, more mentorship and leadership development, and broader engagement with elected officials, media and industry stakeholders.

That statewide work matters in a market that is already large. Iowa’s 2024 visitor economy produced $7.5 billion in direct visitor spending, $11.2 billion in total economic impact, 71,918 jobs and $1.2 billion in state and local tax revenue, according to the Iowa Tourism Office’s economic impact report. The state counted 46.1 million visitors last year. iTIP said in 2024 it hosted 21 events and provided resources and educational tools to more than 500 industry members.

Von Bank brings a local business with deep community ties to that board. King’s Pointe, a community-owned resort on Storm Lake’s lakefront, was named Iowa Tourism Office’s Outstanding Lodging Property in Iowa in March 2023, an honor Von Bank accepted with Storm Lake Mayor Mike Porsch. The resort includes indoor and outdoor waterparks, lodging, dining and recreation access along the lake, making it one of the city’s most visible tourist draws.

Her board role also arrives after a period of operational change and capital pressure at King’s Pointe. Storm Lake announced in March 2024 that S&L Hospitality would take over management of the resort, bringing more than 20 years of experience in hotels, water parks and hotel restaurants. In January 2026, the resort projected about $2.1 million in renovations for 2027 and more than $2.4 million in maintenance needs, including repairs to the indoor waterpark roof and lobby structural supports.

Von Bank has also been blunt about how local perception affects business. In December 2025, she told the Storm Lake City Council that negative comments about King’s Pointe can lead to canceled reservations, a reminder that the resort’s reputation reaches beyond its front desk and into the broader Storm Lake economy. King’s Pointe is set to mark its 20th anniversary in 2027, and Von Bank’s new statewide post gives Storm Lake another direct line into the tourism decisions that will help shape that milestone.