September Newsletter

There is just something special about the month of September. The first day of fall happens this month, daylight hours become shorter and cooler, kids are back in school, apples are everywhere, and we can’t wait to get around our first bonfire of the season. I hope that you are feeling the anticipation of autumn just as I am.

With autumn, also comes the Kansas Tourism Conference. The entire Kansas Tourism staff is excited to be in Liberal, Oct 18-20. #KTC21 will be full of educational and motivational speakers to help you in your job of marketing Kansas to visitors. During one of the sessions, Kansas Tourism will be updating you on what we have been doing and sharing next steps. The conference is a great example of the partnership between Kansas Tourism and TIAK. I hope to see you there.

I am getting lots of questions on the state non-competitive EDA American Rescue Plan Act dollars. We are working through the process with EDA to determine how those dollars will be used to their maximum potential and I will share those details with you as soon as we can. If you need more information on the EDA competitive grants, the August 11 Virtual Huddle is a great place to start.

One last thing to mention. I hope you will stop by the Kansas Tourism booth in the Pride of Kansas Building during the State Fair, Sept 10-19 in Hutchinson. We will have some To The Stars merchandise and KANSAS! Magazine subscriptions for sale, plus lots of free information on things to do in Kansas.

Keep up the good work.

To The Stars.

Register Now! We invite you to be a part of the Kansas tourism industry's "don't miss" conference of the year, October 18-20, 2021, in Liberal, KS. Enjoy inspiring speakers, valuable educational information, and fun networking opportunities. 

200th Santa Fe Trail Anniversary

The “Road to Santa Fe” premieres on KCPT (Kansas City PBS) at 8pm on Friday, Sept. 24th.  This 90-minute program traces the main routes of the trail spotlighting some of the landmark venues associated with it. Dave Kendall and Rex Buchanan collaborated in the production of this documentary in conjunction with the bicentennial of the trail. It will also be made available to PBS stations nationwide by NETA (National Educational Telecommunications Association) in early November.  Stations will have permission for an unlimited number of airings over a three-year period and schools will have permission to record it off-air as well. For more information check out the Prairie Hollow Productions website.

Important Information for Kansas Farm Wineries

Earlier this year Governor Kelly signed into law HB 2137 – An Act concerning alcoholic beverages – effective July 1, 2021. While this law includes a variety alcohol provisions, it does outline domestic changes that affect products used in the manufacture of domestic table wine and domestic fortified wine, reducing the use of Kansas grown agricultural products from 30 percent to 15 percent. On or after January 1, 2023, there will be no such requirement. 

The Kansas Department of Agriculture will be hosting two virtual information sessions in partnership with the departments of Commerce and Revenue to update Kansas grape growers, specialty crop growers and licensed farm wineries of this change in law. We seek your feedback regarding scheduling as well as comments and questions that you might have regarding this change in law by September 8. You will then receive virtual meeting access links once respondent data is received. 

Kansas Tourism Regions

Have you connected with your local tourism marketing regions yet? 

Learn more about the regions →

Webinars

• September 8 - Kansas Tourism Industry Virtual Huddle - 1pm - Sponsored by Kansas Tourism & TIAK
• September 14 - Creating Conscious Inclusion in Travel Marketing - 12pm
• September 16 - The Post-COVID Workforce - What Now? - 12pm

Articles & Research

• 3 Powerful On-Page Optimizations to Power Up Your Content
• Creating a Profile Sheet - Will It Help Me To Get More Group Tours?
• Storytelling Structures To Build, Strengthen or Repair Your Brand
• The Concerts & Live Entertainment Industry: A Significant Economic Engine
• Travel Tech To Maximize Your Destination Marketing Efforts

September

• Monday, Sept 6  - State Offices Closed 
• Wednesday, Sept 8 - Virtual Huddle
• Friday, Sept 10 - Kansas State Fair Opening Day

October

• Wednesday, Oct 13 - Virtual Huddle
• Oct 18-20 - Kansas Tourism Conference

November

• Friday, Nov 5 - Governor's Council on Travel & Tourism Mtg
• Thursday, Nov 11 - State Offices Closed
• Wednesday, Nov 10 - Virtual Huddle

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 Jaimee Salalac.

New & Renewing in August 2021