August Newsletter

Happy back to school month! I hope that you get to squeeze in one more Kansas adventure before fall arrives. 

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about partnerships and collaboration - what they really mean and why they matter.  These are two words we hear, and use, all the time.   Maybe so often that their true value and importance can start to be overlooked. 

In tourism, collaboration isn’t just a strategy – it is a necessity.  Visitors don’t see city limits or organizational boundaries.  They are looking for meaningful experiences.  And when a local museum partners with a nearby restaurant, or a festival teams up with a hotel or retail shop, the visitor benefits – and so does the entire community. 

Partnerships allow us to share resources, amplify our marketing, and create greater impact.  They can spark innovation, inspire fresh ideas, and help communities shine in ways they couldn’t alone.  At Kansas Tourism, we’ve seen firsthand how collaboration fuels growth.  Whether it’s through regional coalitions, cross-promotion between businesses, or public-private initiatives, success often starts with someone asking the simple question: What can we do better together?

Tourism is at its best when it reflects the spirit of the people behind it – creative, welcoming, and connected. And Kansas is filled with such people.  I encourage you to keep finding ways to connect, collaborate, and support each other.  Because when we partner together, we don’t just grow tourism – we grow Kansas. 

To The Stars,

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 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. Cost is FREE!

• 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

  Register Here

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!

As you heard earlier this week, Sunflower Summer has been extended to Friday, August 8th! Participating attractions have been notified but we encourage you to share the posts from our social accounts to your own social media.    

• Kansas Tourism Facebook
• Kansas Tourism Instagram

Tourism Industry Huddle

Join us for the next tourism industry huddle on Wednesday, August 13th at 1:00 PM.  This huddle will feature Conner O'Flannagan, the new state parks director with the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks. We will also hear an update from TIAK (Travel Industry Association of Kansas). 

Check out the Industry Page to view previous huddles.

Mobile Visitor Center

Have you seen our mobile visitor center out & about this past year? We try to keep everyone updated where its been on the Kansas Tourism Industry Facebook page. We are now taking requests for the Mobile Visitor Center to attend an event in your community from November 2025-December 2026. Please review the guidelines before filling out the form here. For questions please reach out to Kevin Crockett.

Vote Now

The Flint Hills Trail was nominated for Rails to Trails Conservancy’s (RTC) Hall of Fame. Since 2007, RTC’s Hall of Fame has honored America’s outstanding trails, recognized for their scenic value, use, amenities, historical significance and community benefit. This is an amazing opportunity to highlight the Flint Hills Trail. Show your support for the FHT by spreading the word and voting for it as many times as possible between July 31 and Aug. 6. 

International News

The Kansas Dept of Commerce International Division is hosting a free webinar “Kansans Abroad: From the Heartland to the Emerald Isle” on  Tuesday, August 5th, 2:00–3:00 PM.  With many Kansans and Kansas State University fans traveling to Ireland this summer for the Aer Lingus College Classic Football Game, there is a wonderful opportunity for Kansans to engage with people in Ireland and leave positive impressions of our state.  Join this panel discussion to gather insights into how to be intentional in representing your Kansas or K-State connections and make the most out of your travel experience.  Panelists include:  Grant Chapman, associate Provost for International Programs for K-State University, Claire Walsh, Senior Market Advisor with Enterprise Ireland, and Laura Lombard, International Division Director for the Kansas Department of Commerce.  For more information, reach out to Cassidy.Nolan@KS.gov

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

• October 20-21 - Kansas Tourism Conference - Manhattan
• November 19-21 - Kansas Museums Conference - Great Bend

Webinars

• August 4 - State of Travel 2025 Discussion - 9am
• August 5 - Kansans Abroad: From the Heartland to the Emerald Isle - 2pm
• August 7 - Zero Cost Social Media: Leveraging Free Platforms - 9am
• August 13 - Research-Backed UGC Strategies That Work - 11:10am
• August 13 - Virtual Huddle - 1pm
• August 14 - SEO Strategies to Get Your Business Found Online - 12pm
• August 19 - Understanding Trademarks, Copyrights & Patents - 9am
• August 20 - Kansas 250 - 3pm
• August 23 - Crafting Your Winning Pitch - 10am
• August 25 - Strategic Planning Tools - 1pm
• August 28 - Content Asset Creating Strategies - 9am

Articles & Research

• 5 Summer Content Ideas to Spice Up Your Social Media
• DestinationNEXT Futures Study
• Here’s How to Market to Different Generations
• How Travel Marketers Are Using AI
• State of Travel 2025

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

October

• Oct 1-8 - TBEX Summit & FAMs
• Wed, Oct 8 - Virtual Huddle
• Oct 20-21 - Kansas Tourism Conference
• Fri, Oct 31 - Attraction Development Grants Open

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 July 2025