August Newsletter

Happy August.  First off, I want to thank Colby Sharples-Terry, Kansas Tourism PR and Communications Manager, for filling in for me last month for this column.  I don’t remember now exactly what was going on that had put me so far behind, but Colby did a fantastic job of covering for me.  It was a great example of how a strong team should operate.  When one member gets behind, someone else is there to hold them up.  I am very thankful to have a strong team holding me up at Kansas Tourism. 

We are moving into a very busy time of year.  Marketing Grants just closed and we will be announcing awardees later this month.  The first round of Attraction Development Grants is now open.  The Kansas Tourism Conference is just around the corner.  If you have not attended this conference in the past, I strongly encourage you to do so.  This conference is your best opportunity for you to meet and learn from tourism partners across the state and to hear from nationally recognized speakers on various tourism topics.  It will be well worth your time. 

I want to take a moment to remind you to update your fall events and listings on TravelKS.com.  Our website traffic is growing significantly, and we want to make sure that we are showing your most up-to-date information.  

I hope that you all enjoy these final days of the summer break.  Keep up the good work of inviting folks to visit our Sunflower State. 

To The Stars,

Attraction Development Grants

Applications are now open and are due October 1st. This grant is designed to provide assistance in the development of new tourism attractions or the enhancement of existing attractions within the State. You can view the guidelines and information here. For questions contact Carrie.

We invite you to be a part of the Kansas tourism industry's "don't miss" conference of the year, October 16-18, 2023, in Dodge City, KS. Enjoy inspiring speakers, valuable educational information, and fun networking opportunities.

Event Calendar

Our event calendar is one of the most visited pages on TravelKS.com. Don't miss your chance to promote your upcoming events such as Labor Day, Columbus/Indigenous People's Day, Hispanic Heritage, Halloween, Oktoberfest and any Fall Festivals. Click here for instructions on how to add your events. If you need Extranet access or additional help contact Hunter.

Tourism Industry Huddle

Join us on Wednesday, August 9th at 1:00 PM for the next tourism industry Huddle.  This Huddle will be a session on Lobbying 101.

Date:  Wednesday, August 9

Time:  1:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85272344135?pwd=MUVpMmcrcmNoeGlZMkd3cTd2akFlZz09

Kansas Tourism Regions

Have you connected with your local tourism marketing region yet? 

To find out when the next meeting is in your region click here.

Webinars

• August 8 - The State of Search for DMOs - 12pm
• August 9 - The Latest Trends & Outlook for Electric Vehicle Travel - 2pm
• August 16 - Destination Experience Summit - 10am

Articles & Research

• 2023 Digital Transformation Report
• 5 Things that Caught My Attention
• 6 Ways to Captivate the Meetings and Events Press
• 8 Methods to Better Brand Research
• Designing the Transformative Event Spaces Meeting Planners Demand
• NRPA Park Metrics Survey
• Reaching Out to the Latino Travel Trade
• Strategic Roadmap for the Next Generation of Destination Organizations
• Top 10 Ways to Use Video Content to Attract Guests
• Uncovering How Travelers Plan & Book Online

August

• Wed, Aug 9 - Virtual Huddle
• Wed, Aug 30 - Media Event

September

• Mon, Sept 4 - State Offices Closed
• Sept 8-17 - Kansas State Fair
• Wed, Sept 13 - Virtual Huddle

October

• Wed, Oct 11 - Virtual Huddle
• Oct 16-18 - Kansas Tourism Conference

For a full list of industry events click here.

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 Wendling.

New & Renewing in June 2023