Kansas Tourism Industry,

 While working from my home office, I have posted this quote on my computer. 

 “A problem is a chance for you to do your best.”– Duke Ellington

We are all encountering new “problems” everyday as we develop innovative ways to do our jobs effectively while social distancing. We have the added challenge of seeing our tourism industry family tested in unprecedented ways. Every expense is being scrutinized as the anticipation grows of budget cuts for DMO’s. We have so many more questions than answers.

 But, as this tourism industry has done time and time again, we are taking our problems, one at a time, and doing our best to make it better. Hang in there. Stay healthy. Keep doing your best.  

This Travel Talk includes some important updates. I assure you the Kansas Tourism team is doing our best to eagerly prepare for the day when visitors start traveling again. 

Ad Astra per Aspera, my friends.

Bridgette Jobe, Director of Tourism 

Updates You Should Know

• We asked our marketing agency Bajillion to share some recommendations for action to the Kansas Tourism Industry during this COVID-19 time of restricted travel.
• The Attraction Development Grant timeline will continue as scheduled. Please continue to submit applications before the April 30th deadline.
• On Friday, April 2nd, the early-bird period for submitting listings for the 2021 Kansas Travel Guide will open and run through May 31st.  During this time, a general listing will be $80 and a highlighted listing will be $120. We are currently updating forms and our site, those will be available next week on TravelKS.com. If you have questions, please email Andrea. 
• There may be a delay in bulk order shipments. The State Printer is working with limited staffing, so please account for longer shipment times as you order.
• An update from US Travel.  The CARES Act, the largest economic relief package in our nation’s history, is expected to be signed into law on March 27 and include major provisions U.S. Travel fought for to deliver economic support to travel businesses, travel workers and their families. Details about the CARES Act, including eligibility guidelines and how to access assistance, will be available shortly.
• Kansas Tourism staff have been following Governor Kelly's directive of social distancing since Monday, March 23. We will be working from home, although we will have some limitations on email and work access. Please continue to reach out to us. It may take us a little longer to get back with you, but we are continuing to work on your behalf. 
• Kansas State Parks and public lands remain open to the public. KDWPT staff is limited, so offices are closed to walk-in traffic. Signage on the front door will give a phone number that will be responded to M-F, 8am-5pm.

Image from U.S. Travel Association

Things You Can Do  

• Watch for an announcement early on a Kansas tourism industry virtual meeting. We will have more details for you early next week.
• Kansas Together (a project of the Kansas House Leadership) will host a webinar on "Emergency Programs to Help Small Businesses and Displaced Employees" April 3 at 9:30 a.m. The live webinar will be broadcast here, the recorded call will be made available here after broadcast.
• Please make sure you are a member of the Kansas Tourism Industry Facebook Group. This will be the easiest, quickest way we can reach out to industry members over the next two weeks. 
• Continue to let us know the impact of cancellations and lost business in your community.
• Continue to update events on the TravelKS.com websites as more cancellations or reschedulings roll in.
• Continue to monitor your social media postings and website updates during this time. If there is a question about whether something is appropriate for the circumstances, please air on the side of caution. 

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