Volume 22, Issue 9 | September 2025 | | |
Published monthly for members of the Travel Industry Association of Kansas. | | |
President's Report
Our team at Visit KCK moved into a new office space last week. The process involved sorting through years of marketing materials, old strategy documents and memorabilia from the past. It was a powerful exercise in looking back at what came before us: the campaigns that worked, the lessons learned and the ideas that brought our organization to where it is today.
This physical process of deciding what to keep and what to archive is a perfect metaphor for the planning and budgeting we do this time of year. More than just a spreadsheet, budgeting is a strategic review of what was successful and where we should invest
in the future.
Somewhere in my career, I picked up a valuable framework for this, the 60/30/10 rule:
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60% on the tried-and-true programs that are the bedrock of your success.
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30% on promising initiatives that showed potential and have room to grow.
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10% on a wild idea, calculated risk or new experiment that could become your next big success.
This balanced approach ensures stability while still fostering the innovation we need to keep up with the changing travel landscape. And don’t forget to look at what’s in your archive. One folder I found on the 2013 MLS All-Star Game had a couple ideas we may just reuse for next year’s World Cup.
Alan Carr
with Visit Kansas City Kansas
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KTC 2025 is less than 1 months away! We invite you to be a part of the Kansas tourism industry's "don't miss" conference of the year.
Register Now! Join us October 20-21 in at the Manhattan Conference Center 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!
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Hike the Konza
Sunday, October 19, 2025 | 5:00pm-7:00pm
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2026 Legislative Survey: We Need Your Feedback
TIAK's Legislative Development process needs your input.
Please 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 community stands on the issues that affect the industry.
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SAVE THE DATE!!
Destination Statehouse
Mark your calendars for February 11-12, 2026 for Destination Statehouse in Topeka.
The evening event will take place on Wednesday, February 11th and the lunch on Thursday, February 12th.
Additional information will be available soon!
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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!
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Kansas State Wildlife
Action Plan
Kansas' State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), previously known as the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan, provides a comprehensive vision for managing Kansas' fish, wildlife, and wildlife habitats. A coalition of more than 3,000 conservation organizations known as Teaming with Wildlife, worked to keep species from becoming endangered by increasing state and federal funding for wildlife conservation. Learn More
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Talkin' Trails
You're invited to Talkin' Trails with Sunflower, a virtual listening tour where you can share your ideas, your trail needs, and help shape the future of trail investments in Kansas. These informal, virtual
one-hour sessions will be from noon to 1 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month through October. (The first session was July 15).
No registration is needed. Just use the Zoom link to join the conversation.
Sunflower’s deep-rooted commitment to funding and supporting trails will continue well into the future. This is an opportunity for any Kansan who cares about trails, health, and community development to help shape that future. Learn more at We Kan Tibits
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Preservation Grants
Grants from National Trust Preservation Funds provide seed money for preservation projects at the local level. Grants range from $2,500 to $5,000. Deadline to apply is October 1st.
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Promote Your Events
The Kansas Tourism event calendar is one of the most visited pages on TravelKS.com. Don't miss your chance to promote your upcoming events such as Labor Day, Halloween, and any Fall Festivals. Click HERE for instructions on how to add your events. If you need Extranet access or additional help contact Hunter at Hunter.Feyerherm@ks.gov.
| | Kansas Tourism Industry Huddle | | 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. | |
US hotel RevPAR expected to dip in 2025,
rebound in 2026
Lodging Analytics Research & Consulting forecasts a 0.7% decline in US revenue per available room for 2025, driven by a 1.6% drop in occupancy. However, RevPAR is expected to rebound by 0.9% in 2026. Hotel earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and hotel values are projected to fall in both years, with a slight recovery in values over the next five years. Read more HERE
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US visa rule adds hurdle for tourists,
business travelers
The State Department now requires nonimmigrant visa applicants—including tourists, workers, and students—to schedule interviews only at U.S. embassies or consulates in their country of residence and prove residency there, with fees remaining nonrefundable if denied. Effective immediately, this rule, along with measures like the upcoming $250 visa integrity fee, is expected to make qualifying for a U.S. visa more difficult. Read more HERE
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US travelers cut recreation spending to
prioritize trips
Americans are prioritizing travel over other recreational spending, according to the Modern Traveler Report by iSeatz. The report shows that 63% of travelers are cutting back on dining out, shopping and leisure activities to afford trips, with the average budget for leisure travel at $1,745. Travelers are also willing to spend more on comfort, safety and high-quality accommodations, with value being the most important factor when booking a trip. Read more HERE
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FIFA World Cup 26
Kansas City will host six matches from the FIFA World Cup 26, including four group fixtures and two knockout games.
Missouri's own Jadie Arnett created Kansas City's official Host City Poster design
'To learn more about FIFA 2026 Kansas City
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Please find the link below to the July Labor Market report. The September 2025 Labor Report will be released on Friday, October 17, 2025.
August 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”.
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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.
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Director of Marketing
Job description can be found HERE. To apply, send a cover letter and resume to Kim Anspach
| | | For additional opportunities to grow your career or post job opportunities within your organization, see additional listings HERE | | |
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Tourism Huddle
Second Wednesday of each month
October 8
TIAK Executive Committee Meetings
November 13
TIAK Board Meetings
October 9
December 11
Event Dates
Kansas Tourism Conference
October 20-21 - Manhattan
Destination Statehouse
February 11-22 - Topeka
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