June Newsletter

Let the summer begin. Or even better, let the summer TRAVEL begin! It has been so nice to hear from many of you recently about the number of events happening in your communities this summer and the many new visitors that are stopping by your towns. We can see the growth and recovery happening through all of our data and research, but there is nothing like hearing those first-hand stories of travelers at your destinations.

We have a lot going on at the Kansas Tourism office. Someone from our team is on the road almost every day this month attending coalition meetings or visiting with a community or business. Our Travel Guide requests are up significantly this spring, as is our website traffic. This is a reminder to make sure that you are keeping your listings updated on TravelKS.com, especially your event listings.  Events are one of the highest visited pages on our website. It is an easy….and free….way to promote what is happening in your community.

I also want to remind you to confirm that you have plenty of 2022 Kansas Travel Guides in your office. These guides are perfect to provide at events, tradeshows, meetings and conventions. And we will ship them to you for free. If you are not sure how to order, reach out to Jaimee.Salalac@ks.gov and we will get you set up. 

And my last thought for this month. Don’t forget to take the time this summer to travel yourself. I have found that even through we are in the business of encouraging others to travel and explore, we are often some of the worst at actually doing it ourselves. Yes, I am speaking to myself here too. Make sure you visit someplace new this summer, of course….I think it should be in Kansas. But wherever it is, lets make sure we are practicing what we are preaching. 

Have a great June….see you on the road. 

#ToTheStarsKS

KANSAS! Magazine Awards

Andrea Etzel, editor of Kansas! Magazine recently attended the International Regional Magazine Association (IRMA) conference. IRMA is made up of over 30 regional magazines from across the US, Canada, and Bermuda. Kansas! has been a member of the association since 1980 and was excited to learn they were recipients of five awards at the awards presentation.

Magazine of the Year - KANSAS! Magazine 

This magazine's strength is identifying strong characters, people, faces to tell the stories of this place. Great profiles! And a dedication to history, which obviously the readership appreciates and wants.

Upcoming Tourism Industry Huddle

2023 Kansas Travel Guide

Thank you to everyone who bought a listing for the 2023 Kansas Travel Guide.  If you missed the deadline for listings you still have time to purchase a display ad. Details and deadlines, can be found on the rate sheet. For more information, questions or to reserve your space, please contact Kim Sommerfeldt at Midwest Living.

Kansas Tourism Conference

Save the Date!  We invite you to be a part of the Kansas tourism industry's "don't miss" conference of the year, October 17-91, 2022 in Wichita, KS. Enjoy inspiring speakers, valuable educational information, and fun networking opportunities.  Registration will be opening soon!

Kansas Tourism Regions

Have you connected with your local tourism marketing region yet? 

Webinars

• June 9 - Creative Ideas Drive Results - 12pm
• June 21 - Virtual Insights Summit - 12pm

Articles & Research

• 5 Reasons to Use Local Media as Ambassadors In Destination Marketing
• Deloitte 2022 Outlook: Top trends and opportunities as travel moves toward recovery
• How to Get Your Business on Google Search and Maps
• How to Pitch: 7 Top Outdoor Writers To Wrangle
• Niche Travel Marketing: Six Creative Storytelling Solutions
• The 5 Key Trends for North American Travelers
• The Future of Travel Mobility: Making the Great American Road Trip Green
• U.S. Travel Answer Sheet: Facts & Figures
• What does the future of travel look like for 2022?
   

June

• Wednesday, June 8 - Virtual Huddle

July

• Monday, July 4 - State Offices Closed
• Wednesday, July 13 - Virtual Huddle

August

• Wednesday, August 3 - Media Event
• Friday, August 5 - Governor's Council Meeting
• Wednesday, August 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 Kelsey Tully.

New & Renewing in May 2022