President's Report

The Kansas Tourism Conference is just around the corner, and I am looking forward to seeing each of you again! The TIAK Conference Committee and Bright & Carpenter have been working diligently to put together what is going to be a great number of opportunities to learn and grow in your profession, no matter the size of your community or your office.

I hope that each of you comes to the conference ready to glean new ideas from the list of speakers and presenters, and that you carve out time to connect with old friends and new acquaintances. Conference is always a time to recharge those batteries! See you in Olathe!

To the Stars…

Holly

2025 Legislative Agenda: We Need Feedback

TIAK's Legislative Development process needs your input. Let us know what issues are important to the travel and tourism industry in Kansas as well as your local community. Your participation will tell Kansas lawmakers exactly where the travel and tourism industry community stands on issues that affect the industry. Your lawmakers will listed, so exercise your right to be heard.

In Case You Missed the Latest "Sunflower Snapshot" – Your Ultimate Guide to TIAK & Kansas Tourism!

Are you new to the tourism industry or exploring Kansas for the first time? Our new video series, "Sunflower Snapshots," is here to answer all your questions and help you navigate the vibrant world of Kansas tourism.

Series Overview:

Our 15-part video series covers everything a newcomer needs to know and insider tips for industry professionals. Each video is designed to provide you with the essential knowledge to make the most out of your Kansas Tourism experience.

Join us on this exciting adventure and let "Sunflower Snapshots" be your guide to navigating the tourism world with us in the Sunflower State.

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

KTC 2024 is only weeks away!

Join us in Olathe, October 21-23, 2024

Are you ready to celebrate tourism? Join us in Olathe this October for the Kansas tourism industry's "don't miss" conference of the year. 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!

2024 KTC Hotel Block

The host hotel block is now full but you can still reserve a room at an overflow hotel. The event will take place at the Olathe Conference Center and the overflow hotel, Four Points by Sheraton Kansas City Olathe, is nearby.

Kansas Destination Specialist

Earn your Kansas Destination Specialist (KDS) certification before the deadline ends September 27, 2024 so we can recognize your efforts at the Kansas Tourism Conference.

Sponsorship Opportunities

FINAL CALL BEFORE WE GO TO PRINT! Highlight and promote what you have to offer the travel and tourism community: introduce a new product, or remind everyone of a great location, piece of merchandise, or service you are famous for. There are options to fit every budget. Click here for more information on #KTC24 sponsorship opportunities.

A BIG thank you to all our generous sponsors to date!

Kansas Tourism Hits the Road with New Mobile Visitors Center

Kansas Tourism unveiled its newest tool at the Kansas State Fair for inspiring visitation to the state. The eye-catching Mobile Visitors Center (MVC) van, wrapped in a stunning Kansas sunset design, will travel to large attendance events both in and outside of Kansas, providing information about the Sunflower State and encouraging people to visit. Come check it out at the Kansas Tourism Conference next month in Olathe! Learn more.

Kansas Tourism Announces Marketing Grant Awardees

Kansas Tourism announced $102,500 has been awarded for 16 tourism-related marketing projects to enhance and expand the advertising and attraction efforts of Kansas communities. Each project is designed to attract new visitors to Kansas through innovative campaigns. Learn more.

Kansas Tourism Sees Increase in Visitors

The number of tourists in Kansas exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the first time in 2023. In 2023, an estimated 37.9 million people visited the state, a 4% increase from the year before, according to an August economic impact report for the Kansas Tourism Division. Visitor volumes had steadily increased after a 2020 dip due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it wasn't until three years later that the number of visitors reached and exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Learn more.

Committee OKs Chris Kennedy as Wildlife and Parks Secretary

Acting Secretary Chris Kennedy's appointment to lead the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will move to the Senate. The chamber's Confirmation Oversight Committee approved the nominee one week after the committee postponed its vote to ask Kennedy more questions. Gov. Laura Kelly appointed Kennedy in March to replace retired former Secretary Brad Loveless. Learn more.

Job Postings Available

TIAK is committed to keeping our members connected and assisting with promoting job openings and internships. We've added several job postings to the website. Check them out!

Labor Market Report

Please find the link below to the August 2024 Labor Market report. The September 2024 Labor Report will be released on Friday, October 18, 2024.

August 2024 Labor Market Report: https://klic.dol.ks.gov/vosnet/gsipub/documentView.aspx?enc=O+qpCkhjA+v3dzYVbAEMjQ==  

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

August 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 78% hotel room participation in August.

Click on the graphic for the U.S. Travel forecast slide deck.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Tourism Huddle

Second Wednesday of each month

October 9

TIAK Executive Committee Meetings

November 7

TIAK Board Meetings

October 21 (KTC)

December 12

Event Dates

Kansas Tourism Conference

October 21-23 - Olathe

Destination Statehouse

February 12 - Topeka

Registration opens later this year