Lea Nelson, the brand & content coordinator at Visit Quad Cities, has been named to Destinations International’s 30 Under 30 Class of 2025.
Destinations International is the largest association of destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards, with more than 9,500 members and partners from over 750 destinations worldwide. The 30 Under 30 program is funded by the Destinations International Foundation and supported by founding program partner, SearchWide Global.
“Lea is a proven leader, consummate team player, and is deserving of this recognition from Destinations International,” Dave Herrell, Visit QC’s president and CEO, said in a news release. “She delivers results for Visit Quad Cities and our regional destination by shaping our story and positioning our community’s brand. We are incredibly excited for her as she enters an incredible class of 30 Under 30 destination marketing organization (DMO) industry leaders.”
Mr. Herrell also applauded Destinations International for the program. “The future is extremely bright for her and her peers as they are all making a difference in the communities they represent.”
Ms. Nelson, who has been in her role at Visit QC since 2003, graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications and minors in general business and leadership studies. She played on the university’s softball team and ran its TikTok account. A Quad Cities native, she excels in digital storytelling and promoting the Quad Cities on social media.
Honored to be in this year’s 30 Under 30 Class, Ms. Nelson said “The value of DI’s professional development program that each class receives is unmatched. This ongoing program will help my professional growth in the tourism industry through leadership workshops, networking opportunities, mentorship, and collaboration with my fellow emerging destination leaders. I am thrilled to take this experience and reinvest it into the Quad Cities regional destination.”
Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International, said the 30 Under 30 program aligns with the organization’s mission and vision. “The destinations sector and travel and tourism industry offer a wide range of exciting career opportunities, and it is crucial that we help identify and encourage our future leaders.”
For more information on the 30 Under 30 program and the 2025 class, visit here.
