April Newsletter
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Ch-ch-changes. One year ago, this month, many of us were adjusting to working from home as our personal and work lives were filled with change. It was in April of 2020 that Kansas Tourism and TIAK partnered to hold the very first Kansas Tourism Industry Huddle. We did not call these virtual meetings “Huddles” right at first, that title came along a few months later, but the Huddles are a great example of how we have worked together as an industry to turn a challenging situation into long-term positive results.
This month, Kansas Tourism is starting the process for another significant change. As most of you have heard, Governor Kelly’s Executive Reorganization Order (ERO) to move Kansas Tourism to the Department of Commerce became official on March 26. The effective date of the move is July 1, 2021, but there are many things that need to happen in the next three months to make this move seamless and successful. During our next Huddle on April 14, we will share with you more details on the timeline and transition process.
It is my belief that moving Kansas Tourism to the Department of Commerce is a strategic and wise plan. This change opens many opportunities for the Kansas Tourism division, that will enable multiple positive possibilities for the entire tourism industry. These long-term positive impacts far out-weigh the challenges of the next few months in carrying out the transition.
I look forward to giving you more details at the next Huddle. In the meantime, I encourage you to keep up the good work in promoting our state as a destination to visitors.
To The Stars.
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2022 Kansas Travel Guide
Would you like the ability to reach thousands of people about your destination or business for a mere $80? Early bird advertising in the 2022 Kansas Travel Guide will open April 5th. You can find details about the Travel Guide here or contact Andrea Etzel.
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Grants
Economic Development Administration (EDA) has set aside $750 million in EDA grants exclusively for communities and states who have experienced severe job loss in the travel, tourism and outdoor sector industries. This is an incredible resource for destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and state tourism offices. Please also find details on who is eligible and how to apply on this fact sheet. We highly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity.
Attraction Development Grants are open with a deadline of April 30th. Click here for more information, guidelines and application for the Attraction Development Grants or contact Taylor Hartshorn.
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Kansas Tourism Regions
Have you connected with your local tourism marketing regions yet?
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Webinars
- Apr 6 - American Travel Trends - 10AM
- Apr 14 - Disruptions Are the New Normal - 11AM
- Apr 14 - Metrics Don’t Equal Strategy: Destination Intelligence - 12PM
- Apr 14 - Kansas Tourism Industry Virtual Huddle - 1PM - Sponsored by Kansas Tourism & TIAK
- Apr 22 - Future of Tourism Coalition: Managing Tourism's Impacts - 9AM
- Apr 28 - Recovery Requires More Than Marketing - 12PM
Articles & Research
- Getting Unstuck: How to Bring your DMO & Stakeholders Beyond Fear to Reimagine Tourism.
- Why is Reverse Compression Leading Travel Recovery? Read here.
- Check out this updated cheat sheet for the best images sizes for Social Media.
- If you missed the webinar on "The Value of DMOs", you can download the report here.
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April
- Wednesday, Apr 14 - Virtual Huddle
- Friday Apr 30 - Attraction Development Grant Application Deadline
May
- Friday, May 7 - Governor's Council on Travel & Tourism Mtg
- Wednesday, May 12 - Virtual Huddle
June
- Wednesday, June 9 - Virtual Huddle
- Friday, June 18 - Travel Guide Listings Deadline
- Monday, June 28 - Moving Week to Dept of Commerce
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We are continuously getting new and renewing Kansas Agritourism businesses that we'd love for you to explore and highlight in your own communities! For more information on the Kansas Agritourism Program, please contact Sue Stringer.
New & Renewing in March 2021
| Barns at Timber Creek | Winfield |
| Bartlett Arboretum | Belle Plaine |
| Barton County Historical Society | Great Bend |
| Corinthians Hill Event Center | Great Bend |
| D & G Tree Farm | Louisburg |
| Drach's Farm & Orchard | Hutchinson |
| Eastman Trust Ranch | Grenola |
| Enright Gardens | Edgerton |
| Gypsum Hills Trail Rides | Medicine Lodge |
| Hickory Hollow Pumpkin Patch | Spearville |
| Kanza Cattle, Vineyards, Honey & Flora | Chapman |
| Pearson's Farms/Common Ground Producers and Growers | Wichita |
| Piccalilli Farms | Manhattan |
| Providence Hill Farms | Atchison |
| Rain Dancer Arabians | Spring Hill |
| Scattered Acres Outfitting | Palmer |
| Schaake's Pumpkin Patch | Lawrence |
| The AppleHutch | Plains |
| The Barn at Kill Creek Farm | De Soto |
| The Lavender Patch Farm | Fort Scott |
| Vonada Farms | Sylvan Grove |
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This Travel Talk is sponsored by
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