TIAK EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR

COMMUNITY MARKETING

THROUGH STORYTELLING:

HIGH IMPACT, LOW COST

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13TH 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Join us on August 13th in Dodge City for our next TIAK Educational Seminar.

This dynamic event is designed to empower Kansas tourism professionals with fresh insights, practical strategies, and meaningful connections. Attendees will gain valuable tools and expert perspectives to help strengthen tourism initiatives and create lasting impact within their communities.

Ask a Kansan/The Kansas Voice: Turning Everyday Lives into Engaging Community Stories - FILI Creative

The seminar will also feature a panel discussion, Doing More with Less: Creating Tourism Impact, highlighting innovative ways destinations can maximize resources while driving engagement and growth.

Current panelists include:

• Linda Henderson, Rolling Hills Zoo

• Megan Welsh, Dodge City CVB

• Julie Roller Weeks, Abilene CVB

We look forward to bringing tourism professionals together for a day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration in Dodge City!

The cost of registration is $25.

Venue & Hotel

The Educational Seminar will take place in the El Vaquero room at the Santa Fe Depot located at 101 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd, Dodge City, KS.

There is a hotel room block at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites located at 201 4th Avenue, Dodge City, KS at a discounted rate of $134 plus tax. Please call the hotel directly at 620-225-1000 to reserve your room by July 12, 2026 at the discounted group rate.

#KTC26

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

TIAK MARKETING AWARDS

Don't miss your chance to showcase your creativity and marketing success! Submit your entries for the 2026 TIAK Marketing Awards by 5:00 PM on Monday, August 3rd.

Join TIAK in celebrating the outstanding work being done across Kansas tourism during the 2026 Kansas Tourism Conference in Wichita, October 20-21. Whether you've promoted an event, destination, attraction, or innovative campaign, we want to recognize your achievements.

One winner from each overall budget category will be presented at the banquet during the Kansas Tourism Conference in October from the following categories:

• Community Awareness
• Event
• Digital/Online Media
• Print Material
• Visitor Guide
• Member Community Collaboration

Thanks for your participation and we'll see you in Wichita in October!

Kansas Tourism Announces Sunflower Summer Attractions

Kansas Tourism has announced the 2026 Sunflower Summer attraction lineup, with more than 230 participating attractions across the state offering free admission to eligible Kansas Pre-K through 12th grade students and one accompanying adult from July 9 through August 2. The program gives families the opportunity to explore museums, zoos, historic sites, and other attractions statewide by claiming one-time admission passes through the Sunflower Summer app. State tourism leaders say the program encourages Kansans to discover both iconic destinations and hidden gems while creating memorable family experiences throughout the summer. Read more HERE.

TIAK PAC Contribution Requests!

During the 2024 election cycle, TIAK PAC contributed to 64 candidates with a 90% success rate. TIAK PAC's support of candidates is important as we work to build and develop TIAK's relationships with legislators impact the legislative process.

The TIAK PAC is seeking donations from individuals, not from CVB funds. Please scan Venmo QR code or click HERE for your contribution. If you would like to send a check, please send it to the TIAK PAC at 825 S Kansas Ave, Suite 502, Topeka, KS 66612.

Kansas Constitutional Amendment Vote August 2026

Potential Reform of the Supreme Court Judicial Selection Process

Kansas is the only state with a judicial selection process controlled by members of the state bar. In August 2026, Kansans will vote on whether or not to return the judicial selection process to a popular vote. Below are details about this proposed constitutional amendment.

Join TIAK and Kansas Tourism for a virtual Kansas tourism industry huddle the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 1 PM CT. View past huddles here.

WFIFA World Cup boosts US hotel RevPAR beyond forecasts

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has exceeded hotel industry expectations, with host cities seeing significantly stronger revenue growth than forecast, driven primarily by sharply higher room rates rather than large increases in occupancy. Cities such as Kansas City and Philadelphia posted some of the strongest gains, demonstrating that hotels were able to maximize revenue even without full occupancy. The results mark a notable turnaround from earlier concerns that bookings would fall short, highlighting how strategic pricing helped hotels capitalize on World Cup travel demand. Read more HERE.

Kansas Tourism Opens Applications for Tourism Marketing Grant Program

Kansas Tourism is accepting applications for its 2026 Tourism Marketing Grant Program, which provides funding for local destination marketing organizations, communities, and tourism businesses to launch new or first-time marketing initiatives that attract visitors and strengthen local tourism economies. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on August 31, with last year's program awarding $100,000 to support 20 tourism marketing projects across Kansas. Read more HERE.

Kansas City Sets the Standard as a FIFA World Cup 2026 Host City



Kansas City established itself as one of the standout host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026, earning international praise for its exceptional operations, welcoming hospitality, sold-out matches, and electric fan atmosphere across six games, including a quarterfinal. The region's preparation - including hosting four national team base camps, investing in infrastructure, and collaborating across Kansas and Missouri - showcased Kansas City's reputation as the "Soccer Capital of America" and demonstrated its ability to successfully host a global sporting event. Organizers say the tournament's success leaves a lasting legacy by elevating Kansas City's international profile, strengthening regional partnerships, and creating momentum for future world-class events. Read more HERE.

Kansas City World Cup Hotel, AirBNB numbers show early economic gain



Early World Cup data shows that Kansas City hotels and short-term rentals experienced a strong economic boost, with downtown and FanFest-area properties earning two to three times their typical nightly rates as international visitors chose to stay near the city's entertainment districts. While the full economic impact is still being measured, early results indicate visitor spending at local restaurants, bars, and businesses exceeded expectations, highlighting the tournament's positive effect on the region's hospitality industry. Read more HERE.

Labor Market Report

Please find the link below to the June Labor Market report. The July 2026 Kansas Labor Report will be released on August 21, 2026.

June 2026 Labor Market Report: Click Here!

Scroll down to Labor Report Documents for the News Release and Labor Force Data for the “Interactive Labor Force Dashboard” and “Printable County Unemployment Rate Map”.

June Lodging Report

TIAK has an agreement with Smith Travel Research (STR) to provide members with statewide reports on hotel occupancy each month. The following data is provided directly from STR:

Monthly and YTD Comparisons

Kansas had 64% property participation and 79% hotel room participation in July.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Educational Seminar

August 13th - Dodge City

Tourism Huddle

Second Wednesday of each month

August 12

TIAK Executive Committee Meetings

August 12

September 10

November 12

TIAK Board Meetings

August 13

October 20

December 10