President's Report

At a recent meeting on KCK's festivals and events, organizers cited challenges like rising costs, insurance and security. But one organizer poignantly highlighted an issue I hadn’t considered: their neighborhood parade dwindled and stopped because its core volunteers aged or passed away, and no one else stepped up. 

The incredible, often unsung, volunteers contributing to our local events and small museums are aging. For decades, these dedicated individuals have been the backbone of countless parades, festivals, historical societies and cultural landmarks. Driven by passion, a love for their community and a desire to share its stories, their countless hours of service, fueled by civic pride, allow many of our most unique experiences to exist and thrive. 

But the “super volunteer,” who dedicated enormous amounts of time, is vanishing. Many stalwart older volunteers, who've given generously for years, did not return to their roles after COVID-19. Their well-deserved retirements or reduced capacity are creating a significant gap. Finding new, younger volunteers to step into these often time-consuming roles is increasingly difficult. The institutional memory, deep-rooted connections and sheer commitment of these long-serving volunteers are not easily replaced. 

This shift presents a real concern for the future vibrancy of our local tourism landscape. If we can't inspire and engage new volunteers, we risk seeing some of these beloved events diminish or even disappear, and our smaller cultural gems struggle to keep their doors open and their stories alive. It’s a conversation we in the travel industry need to be a part of, so we can support and encourage a new generation of community champions to ensure these traditions and institutions continue to flourish across Kansas. 

Alan Carr

with Visit Kansas City Kansas

NEW VENUE LOCATION

We outgrew our original seminar location. New location is:

DAVE AND BUSTERS at the Legends

1843 Village West Parkway, Suite 201

Kansas City, KS 66109

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKERS AND PANEL

TACO TRAIL TOUR

What: Member Networking Event - Taco Trail Tour (4 stops)

When: Wednesday, June 4th from 6:00pm - 8:30pm

Where: Bus will depart/arrive from Fairfield Inn and Suites, KCK

Cost: $20 per person

Register Today!

See more details HERE

Thank you to Visit KCK for sponsoring and providing beverages on the bus!

Don't Turn A Blind Eye to AI

hosted by South Central Kansas Tourism Region

Missing the 2025 Kansas Tourism Conference, or simply feel that you need additional time with Burton Kelso to learn more about the use of AI? Here’s an affordable opportunity to learn more and fine tune your skills!

South Central Kansas Tourism Region will be hosting “Don't Turn A Blind Eye to AI.” This thought-provoking program explores the art and science of prompt engineering, a crucial skill for maximizing the potential of AI tools. Learn how to craft clear, concise, and creative prompts that elicit insightful responses, generate innovative ideas, and solve complex problems. Discover strategies for tailoring prompts to specific AI models and applications, ensuring that you get the most out of your AI interactions. giving hands on training on how to use generative tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Co-Pilot and Meta.AI. Also talking about how to use prompts, staying safe from AI cyber threats and using AI legally.

Presenter: Burton Kelson (learn more about who Burton is HERE)

Who: Anyone interested in utilizing AI for marketing

Date: June 25, 2025

Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm (registration desk and convention doors open at noon)

Where: Great Bend Events Center, 3111 10th St, Great Bend, KS 67530

Cost: $25 per person. Pre registration required for the event

Local Consult is KDOT’s public engagement process for the IKE program, held every two years to gather input from Kansans on potential expansion and modernization projects in each region. This process helps strengthen local partnerships, identify the KDOT programs that matter most to communities, and gather feedback on how KDOT can improve delivery.

Strong turnout at these events is critical in showing how important transportation is for our Kansas communities and businesses. Please click the link for the 2025 schedule, and we hope you will plan to attend!

The TRAIL Program—standing for Tourism, Redevelopment, Aid, Innovation, and Legacy—is a charitable initiative powered by Boot Hill Casino & Resort, dedicated to driving tourism and economic vitality across Southwestern Kansas. Through annual funding, the program supports events, organizations, and community projects across 22 counties (Wild West Country), strengthening the region’s appeal and long-term growth. The TRAIL is expanding its impact by launching a new scholarship initiative with Fort Hays State University, investing in the next generation of tourism and hospitality professionals. Additionally, TRAIL is proud to support current Southwest Kansas tourism professionals by offering discounted registration for the annual TIAK Tourism Conference. Learn more at BootHillTrail.com

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.

U.S. Travel Joins President Trump for White House World Cup 2026 Task Force Meeting

Earlier this month, President Trump hosted Cabinet officials, Members of Congress, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and industry leaders—including U.S. Travel CEO Geoff Freeman—at the White House. This was the first meeting of the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026, a direct outcome of advocacy led by U.S. Travel and our members.

The meeting marked the official launch of the task force’s work, under President Trump’s chairmanship, to coordinate federal efforts and ensure the U.S. is prepared to host both the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

• The administration underscored its commitment to using these tournaments to showcase America’s national pride and hospitality on the world stage.
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Why it matters: Together, the two tournaments are projected to generate $40 billion in economic impact and create 200,000 jobs.

The administration recognizes the important role these events play in driving inbound travel, and U.S. Travel is working closely with the White House in the lead-up to deliver a seamless travel experience.

• We welcome this progress and appreciate the administration’s commitment to welcoming visitors from across the globe with seamless travel, top-tier security and a focus on maximizing the economic opportunity ahead.

Our industry stands ready to partner to deliver a world-class travel experience that showcases the best of America.

Overseas Travel to the United State Rebounded in April

From U.S. Travel Association Monthly Research Snapshot

After significant declines in March, international inbound travel to the U.S. saw a meaningful rebound in April - at least from most parts of the world. But Canada's continued pullback weighed down overall growth and underscored uneven recovery.

Overseas visits to the United States rose 8% year-over-year in April 2025, reversing a double digit decline from March. North America was the only region to show a significant year-over-year decline, driven largely by a sharp shop in visits from Canada - with Canadian visits down 23% compared to April 2024.

Some of this high month-to-month volatility can be explained by the timing of Easter, which shifted from March in 2024 to April in 2025. To adjust for the effects of the holiday shift, combined data for March and April compared with the same two month period from 2024 shows overseas visits down 1.6%.

• Europe, Central and South America and the Caribbean all saw year-over-year gains of 25% or more in April (Department of Commerce).
• Canadian visits continued to significantly decline, with April marking the third straight month of double-digit year-over-year drops. Air arrivals were down 20% in April, and overnight land visits were down 26% (StatsCan).

Scale of Impact: From February through April, this decline translated to one million fewer visits from Canada, with an estimated $1 billion in lost travel spending.

Domestic Travel: Cooling Trends Continue

From U.S. Travel Association Monthly Research Snapshot

In contrast with the higher variability of international travel, domestic trips continued to be more consistent, albeit at low or slightly downward growth rates. Encouragingly, the enforcement of REAL ID requirements appears to have had little impact on passenger volumes. (For more REAL ID resources, see the U.S. Travel Real ID Guide).

Domestic Air Travel: Domestic passenger volume in April was effectively flat at +0.2% versus the prior year. For the first half of May, passenger volume was down 1.6%.

REAL ID Implementation: Passenger volumes showed little fluctuation in the period before and after the REAL ID requirements went into effect on May 7, 2025. Volumes for the seven days before and after that date differed by only 0.2%.

Hotel performance continues to show low, single digit changes in occupancy and revenue compared to 2024.

Economic Indicators Sending Mixed Signals:

• Consumer sentiment declined again in May - down 3% from April and well below levels at the start of the year (University of Michigan).
• However, conditions on the ground so far are yet to bear out that sentiment. Inflation remained in check in April, and unemployment rates were steady while job growth continued (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The U.S. Travel Travel Price Index shows prices for travel-related goods and services remained attractive relative to overall inflation, which has moderated.
• Gas prices in April were 12% below the prior year, fueling AAA's record 38 million projected auto trips for this Memorial Day weekend.

Visa Wait Times: Long Delays Persist for Key Inbound Markets

The State Department recently updated how it publishes visa wait time data - shifting from exact daily counts to broader 15- or 30-day ranges - and now tracks the "next available appointment" at each consulate.

The refreshed April data shows that for many prospective visitors, long waits for visa interviews should still be expected. Among the eight largest non-Visa Waiver Program inbound markets, the weighted average wait time decreased by only slightly - from 206 days in January 2025 to 188 days for the next available appointment as of April l2025.

Excessive visa wait times remain a key barrier. An analysis from Tourism Economics showed that extended wait times for prospective visitors reduces international inbound travel to the U.S. by more than one million visits annually, resulting in a loss of upwards of $3 billion in travel spending in America.

From the Sunflower State Journal

May 6, 2025

The state has named Conner O’Flannagan as the new state parks director, replacing Linda Lanterman, who led the division for more than 30 years.

As state parks director, O’Flannagan will oversee the operation of Kansas’ 29 state parks, which attract more than 7 million visitors each year. “I am eager to guide Kansas State Parks toward a future defined by sustainability, operational excellence, and enhanced public engagement,” O’Flannagan said.

“Our parks are treasured spaces, providing outdoor recreation and natural beauty for Kansans and visitors alike,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to working with our talented team and stakeholders to ensure these spaces thrive for generations to come.”

O’Flannagan has been with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks since 2019, serving in multiple leadership capacities, most recently as Region 3 supervisor. He has a master’s in park, recreation and tourism management from Clemson University and a bachelor’s in park management and conservation from Kansas State University. He also serves on the board of directors for the Kansas Recreation and Park Association.

Lanterman’s time at the agency was marked by the opening of three new parks, the expansion of recreational opportunities, and securing vital funding that strengthened state parks.

“Conner’s deep understanding of park management, his ability to bring people together, and his dedication to sustainability and accessibility make him the right person to lead Kansas State Parks into the next chapter,” Wildlife Secretary Christopher Kennedy said. “His vision aligns with our commitment to preserving natural resources while enhancing outdoor experiences for the people of Kansas.”

State Budget Expands STAR Bond Incentive to

Include Malls

From the Sunflower State Journal

May 6, 2025

Kansas has expanded its STAR bond program to allow redevelopment of failing malls, including Wichita’s Towne West Square and Leavenworth Plaza. Originally meant to fund tourism projects like the Kansas Speedway, STAR bonds can now support repurposing old malls into attractions. The change, added to the state’s $25.6 billion budget, sets criteria for rural and metro projects, with metro sites requiring $50 million investments and tourism draw. Supporters like Sen. Jeff Klemp see it as a way to revitalize decaying properties, not rebuild malls. Critics argue the program has grown too broad and mainly benefits large developers. Some lawmakers worry it strays from its original intent and lacks benefit for small businesses. The new provision comes amid past controversies over STAR bond spending on non-tourism items. Applications for mall-related STAR bond projects are due by December 31. The debate reflects broader concerns about economic incentives in Kansas. Despite opposition, lawmakers believe adaptive reuse of malls could help struggling communities. Read More

Labor Market Report

Please find the link below to the Labor Market report. The May 2025 Labor Report will be released on Friday, June 20, 2025.

April 2025 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”.

March 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 61% property participation and 77% hotel room participation in April.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Tourism Huddle

Second Wednesday of each month

June 11

TIAK Educational Seminar

June 5

TIAK Executive Committee Meetings

June 4

July 10

September 11

November 13

TIAK Board Meetings

June 5

August 14

October 9

December 11

Event Dates

Kansas Tourism Conference

October 20-21 - Manhattan

Registration opens in June