• See you next week! - We are looking forward to seeing you all at the Kansas Tourism Conference in Liberal!  If you missed the Huddle to hear about conference updates and special events click here to review the recording and be sure to participate in our Roadtrip Challenge.
  • 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 by October 29th if you are interested.
  • Congrats to KANSAS! Magazine! At this year’s International Regional Magazine Association’s award presentation, the magazine took home five awards.
    • Gold, Cover – Kansas Trailblazers, Fall 2020 (Photo Below)
    • Silver, Profile – ‘Part of the Legacy that Shapes Who We Are’
    • Silver, Special Focus – 75th Anniversary Issue
    • Silver, General Feature – Explorers and Innovators
    • Merit, Overall Art Direction – Shelly Bryant, Art Director
  • Did you miss a previous Travel Talk?  No worries....click here. 
  • For more resources check out our Industry page. 
Sunshine in the Sunflower State

Abilene is a finalist for USA Today’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Best Historic Small Town contest for the third year in a row. According to 10Best Readers’ Choice, the finalists have big histories and small populations – fewer than 35,000 people – making them fun and affordable ways to drive into our nation’s past. Please vote daily until Monday, October 25 at 10:59 am to help Abilene rise to the top!
Upcoming Webinars
 
The Workforce Crisis:  Looking To Data & Psychology
 
The workforce crisis is affecting every corner of our industry—from frontline hourly positions to mid-level management and beyond. Tourism has historically battled a reputation of low-paying jobs, long hours and little upward mobility—all of which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, while also revealing industry vulnerability. The loss of jobs due to the pandemic decimated travel—which despite gains through the summer, still falls 10% below its pre-pandemic levels with one in six job openings within the Leisure & Hospitality sector alone. This webinar analyzes recent research on the state of the workforce, followed by a challenge to shift paradigms around the future of jobs—considering ways that make our hourly wage jobs more aspirational, with a focus on the key balance of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. 
 
Understanding Current Workplace Trends 
Date:  On Demand

After a tumultuous year filled with unforeseen challenges, leaders can look to these regional workplace trends as a starting point for where to focus efforts in trying to optimize their organization in this post-pandemic world.

Register Here
 
The Big Week for Small Business 
Date:  October 20-21

Join CO— by U.S. Chamber of Commerce during their virtual conference offering interactive workshops, high-powered discussions, and cutting-edge advice on today’s issues most important to businesses at all levels. Participants will gain practical strategies on topics like hiring, marketing, scaling, and modernizing operations. Small business owners and experts alike will share their perspectives, and participants will build the skills they need to overcome obstacles, chart a path to success, and emerge stronger than ever before.

Register Here