June Newsletter

It's going to be a short note this month because I don't know about you, but we are in our crazy season. Sunflower Summer is off to a fantastic start. We are breaking records left and right and are ecstatic to know how many young Kansans are exploring our Sunflower State, and hopefully falling in love while they are at it. 

If you're as busy as we all are, be sure to take the time to catch your breath and smell the roses (or sunflowers in our case.) And don't forget, if you have qualifying students (or can borrow some), use the Sunflower Summer app and share your adventures with us using #ToTheStarsKS and #SunflowerSummer.

To The Stars,

We invite you to be a part of the Kansas tourism industry's "don't miss" conference of the year. Registration is now open! Join us October 21-23 in Olathe to enjoy inspiring speakers, valuable educational information, and fun networking opportunities. Kansas has so many things to celebrate this year and we can't wait for you to be a part of the fun!

Website Updates

Be sure to join the party! We need your Independence Day events to add to our blog. Visitors are using TravelKS.com to make plans so make sure you enter your events thru the Extranet to be included. Contact Hunter if you need help. 

We've had a huge rise in traffic on the coupons/deals page. Make sure to upload any offers you want to include thru the extranet now.

Don't forget to add amenities to your website listings. This will help give visitors more information about the businesses in your community.  Amenities include hours of operation, accessibility, and more! Learn how to upload these thru the extranet here.  

Are you looking for a new way to promote your area, business or event? Be sure to check out our Tourism Marketing Grant on how we can assist you! The application round is now open and has a deadline of August 2nd. 

The Barn Adaptation and Restoration Needs (BARN) Grant Program is designed to support and expand agritourism businesses across Kansas through converting underutilized or vacant historic barns into new venues. The application round is now open and has a deadline of July 31st.

Check out the full list of all Kansas Department of Commerce grants here. 

Tourism Industry Huddle

Join us for the next tourism industry huddle on Wednesday, June 12 at 1:00 PM. Mona Carver, Kansas Travel Information Center Manager, will be providing a session on opportunities available at Travel Information Centers and how to become a Community-Owned Travel Information Center. You will also hear an update from TIAK on the legislative session and the Kansas Tourism Conference. 

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.

Upcoming Workshops

• June 27 - Social Media Day - Wichita
• Unlocking the Power of Content Creators - Online

Webinars

• June 12 - Tourism Virtual Huddle - 1pm
• June 18 - A Deep Dive into the DOJ Ruling for Accessibility - 12pm
• June 20 - Shape the Future of Sustainable Travel - 1pm
• June 20 - How to Develop Experiences to Become a Must-Visit Destination - 1pm

Articles & Research

• Art Meets Economy
• Captivate travelers in 2024: 5 destination marketing trends
• Demystifying the Website Redesign Process: Here’s What You Can Expect
• Digital on the Rise: 3 of the Hottest Tech Trends in Hospitality in 2024
• Does Title II of the ADA apply to my destination marketing website?
• How AI is Reshaping Marketing for CMOs
• How destinations can harness opportunity with local universities
• How to Keep Your Visitor Guide Relevant to Today’s Traveler
• Planning an Event Bar
• Short Form Editing Tips for Destination Marketers
• The Magnificent Rebirth of the American Motel
• What's New in Meetings & Incentive Travel
• Why Should Cities Invest in Sports Tourism?

June

• Mon, June 3 - Marketing Grants Open
• Wed, June 12 - Virtual Huddle
• Wed, June 19 - State Offices Closed 

July

• Thurs, July 4 - State Offices Closed
• Wed, July 10 - Virtual Huddle
• Wed, July 31 - BARN Grants Close

August

• Fri, Aug 2 - Gov Council Mtg
• Fri, Aug 2 - Marketing Grants Close
• Wed, Aug 14 - Virtual Huddle

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 May 2024