October Newsletter

It’s almost Kansas Tourism Conference time!! I am so excited to get to see you in person….some of you I have not seen in many many months, and I literally cannot wait. Virtual meetings have worked very well and have many great benefits, but there is nothing like seeing someone in person. I feel like a giddy kid waiting to go to the circus.

That being said, I want to assure you that safety will be our highest priority at this conference. On the Oct 13th Huddle, we will be sharing all the safety protocols that we have in place, plus sharing details on specific speakers and sessions. We will also be sharing how you can win a Kansas Tourism To The Stars gift basket just for making stops along the way as you travel to Liberal. Make sure you have the Huddle on your calendar, Oct 13, 1-2 PM.

If you have not already seen the latest Kansas Tourism Story Series video, make sure you read the article below. This series of stories are designed to help us tell the story of Kansas through the people and the places. We will be releasing new videos every so often throughout the year, so make sure you are watching and sharing.

As you all know, I love gathering quotes, so the last thing I will leave you with this month is a quote that I ran across the other day from the Dalai Lama. “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” Every single one of you make a positive difference in the tourism industry for Kansas. I am truly looking forward to seeing all my “mosquito” friends in Liberal in a couple weeks.

#ToTheStarsKS

Register now!

Don't miss out on your chance to hear inspiring speakers, learn valuable educational information, and participate in fun networking opportunities, October 18-20, 2021 in Liberal. TIAK and Kansas Tourism continue to plan for an in-person conference and will continue to monitor the COVID-19 status in Kansas and discuss protocols and procedures to keep members safe. Refunds will be offered up until the day conference begins for members that do not feel comfortable attending the event.

5 First Timer Tips

Conferences are a great way to connect with people in your industry and learn from the best in the field.  The Kansas Tourism Conference (#KTC21) is THE conference to do just that and more!  You’ll love the motivational speakers, the free swag, networking with peers, awesome food and off-site experiences. Check out some tips we’ve gathered to help make your first conference experience enjoyable and successful.

U.S. Travel Updates

Last week, the Biden administration announced that it would lift travel restrictions for vaccinated international travelers in early November. U.S. Travel has long advocated for a reopening of international travel and immediately praised the news. If you have immediate questions on the administration's reopening plan, please reference the International FAQs.

Earlier this month, U.S. Travel, together with the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance, hosted a media event with industry experts who spotlighted the science and data that supports the safe return of business travel, professional meetings and exhibitions. Please reference a new Fact Sheet and Social Guide to post on your organization’s official channels (and on your personal ones) to continue the Let's Meet There momentum and make an impact.

PR & Marketing

Our ‘To the Stories’ series is off to a rolling start! These stories explore the tales of the faces and places that make Kansas an incredible place to live and explore and have been on social media. We’ve released three episodes of the series so far…

• Cosmosphere
• Union Horse
• Mountain Biking

We’ll be releasing new episodes of the series soon, but you’ll want to be at our session at #KTC21 when we release a trailer that highlights the episodes so far with a little sneak peak for episodes to come.

Colby completed her final Media Familiarization Tour this past week exploring Eastern Kansas locations such as the Quindaro National Commemorative Site and Kaw Point Park in KCK, the African American Quilt Museum and Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence, Brown V Board in Topeka, the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan and the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Strong City. Colby will be working with all our FAM participants on social media and written stories about their experiences in Kansas.

2022 Kansas Travel Guide

Do you want to receive the new travel guide as soon as it's available?  If you order 2 or more boxes then you should be on our dropship list. Contact Andrea by October 5th. 

City & County Reports

Interested in how to base your budget and policy making decisions on data about tourism’s economic impact to your area? Through the Kansas Tourism Division’s partnership with Tourism Economics, you can purchase a city or county level tourism economic impact study that includes comprehensive analysis of sales, production, employment, growth, visitor spending, and taxes. Contact Taylor to if you are interested.

Kansas Tourism Regions

Have you connected with your local tourism marketing regions yet? 

Learn more about the regions →

Webinars

• October 6 - Sustainable Travel Emerges as Industry Rebuilds - 12pm
• October 7 - Group Tour Tactics for Our New Reality - 12pm
• October 13 - Kansas Tourism Industry Virtual Huddle - 1pm - Sponsored by Kansas Tourism & TIAK

Articles & Research

• 5 Types of Visitors DMOs Should Target This Fall
• 29 Creative Social Media Content Ideas You Should Try
• Game Day: Rooting for the Whole Destination
• How Can Small DMOs Measure the Impact of Digital Marketing
• Making Destination Websites ADA Compliant
• New to Group Travel - Essential Information for Group Travel Newcomers
• Six Must-Haves for Meeting and Convention Websites
• Social Marketing Mistakes Smackdown
• Welcoming four-legged friends: How to Be a Dog-Friendly Destination

October

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

November

• Friday, Nov 5 - Governor's Council on Travel & Tourism Mtg
• Wednesday, Nov 10 - Virtual Huddle
• Thursday, Nov 11 - State Offices Closed
• Nov 25-26 - State Offices Closed

December

• Wednesday, Dec 8 - Virtual Huddle
• Friday, Dec 24 - State Offices Closed
• Friday, Dec 31 - State Offices Closed

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 September 2021