July Newsletter

Welcome to July, the month filled with sunshine, road trips, and new memories in the making. 

Lately, I’ve found myself reflecting on the true meaning of hospitality.  If you look it up in the dictionary, you’ll find two definitions. One focuses on the business: “the activity of providing food, drink, and accommodation for customers.” But it’s the second definition that has captured my thoughts – “the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.”

Both definitions matter deeply in the tourism industry. Yes, it’s essential that we provide clean lodging, delicious food, engaging exhibits, and reliable services. These are the basics. But what keeps people coming back – what turns a visit into a memory – is something far more personal. It’s how we make people feel. 

That truth came into sharp focus for me recently with the passing of Luther Smith, curator of the Quindaro Underground Railroad Museum in KCK. I doubt many of you ever got to meet Luther, as he wasn’t someone who sought the spotlight, but to me, he embodied everything hospitality should be. 

I first met Luther many years ago when he was supporting the establishment of the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area. Later, I worked with him again as he brought the Quindaro Underground Railroad Museum to life. The museum itself was modest – no flashy displays, no interactive technology. Many of the exhibits were simple photocopies, curated by Luther and other volunteers. But what made that museum remarkable was Luther. 

He was always a calm, quiet presence, usually standing in the back of the room. And yet, he radiated warmth. Every time I saw Luther, he greeted me with a kind smile, made me feel like I was the most important person in the building, and took time to patiently answer every question. I learned more about the history of Quindaro from Luther than from any textbook. But more importantly, I learned from him what real, heartfelt hospitality looks like. 

In our work in tourism, it is vitally important to focus on the logistics. But at the same time, I hope we never lose sight of the human side of tourism – the warm welcomes, the listening ear, the sincere smiles.  Because at the end of the day, people may forget the entertaining exhibit, the tasty food, or the comfortable beds - but they will always remember how you made them feel. 

Hospitality that leads with kindness, generosity, and genuine care – that’s the kind of hospitality that truly matters. 

To The Stars,

Summer Sunflower starts Saturday! Read the press release and check out the participating venues here.

Remember to utilize the Coupons/Deals page on TravelKS.com by uploading your local offers thru the Extranet. Last summer this was one of our most frequently visited pages on our website. Larned is leading the way with 16 just for their city! 

Kansas Tourism 101 Workshops

Want to learn more about Kansas Tourism and the resources our office can provide? Or maybe you need a refresher on how to use the Extranet which is how you update your information on TravelKS.com. Kelli will be hitting the road in August & September to make a presentation in each tourism region. Please save the following dates on your calendar.  Times and more information will be announced soon.

• Tuesday, August 5 – Garden City
• Thursday, August 7 – Iola
• Tuesday, August 12 – Hoxie
• Tuesday, August 19 – Hutchinson
• Tuesday, September 2 – Lawrence
• Thursday, September 4 – Concordia

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 20-21 in Manhattan 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!

Tourism Industry Huddle

Did you miss the huddle on Wednesday? If so you can watch the recording here to learn more about the 2026 FIFA World Cup and hear information on the 2025 Kansas Tourism Conference & TIAK Marketing Awards. 

*Hint: You'll want to hear why you should update your website listings and events on TravelKS.com!

Check out the Industry Page to view previous huddles.

Grant Opportunities

It's time to submit your applications for the Tourism Marketing Grant! This grant was developed to assist organizations in innovative, dedicated advertising and marketing for new or first time projects. The application round is open and has a deadline of August 31st. If you have questions please reach out to Babette. 

Be sure to also check out other grants available from the Kansas Department of Commerce. 

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 Conferences & Workshops

• July 23-25 - Kansas Arts Network Conference - Wichita
• October 20-21 - Kansas Tourism Conference - Manhattan
• November 19-21 - Kansas Museums Conference - Great Bend

Webinars

• July 15 - Getting Grant Ready - 6:30pm
• July 16 - How to Thrive in AI Search Results - 11:10am
• July 24 - Social Media Success Made Simple - 12pm
• July 31 - 5 Ways to Use ChatGPT for Small Businesses - 12pm

Articles & Research

• 5 Tips for Getting ChatGPT to Recommend Your Business
• 8 Social Media Updates for Marketers
• 2025 Traveler Value Index
• How to Find & Connect with New Customers on Social Media
• Micro-Cations Surge as American Summer Travel Trend
• Top 10 Trends in Accessible Travel

July

• Sat, July 12 - Sunflower Summer Starts

August

• Fri, Aug 1 - Governor's Council Mtg
• Wed, Aug 13 - Virtual Huddle
• Sun, Aug 31 - Marketing Grants Close

September

• Mon, Sept 1 - State Offices Closed
• Wed, Sept 10 - Virtual Huddle
• Sept 5 - 14 - Kansas State Fair

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 2025