President's Report

It is an honor to serve as the 2026 President of the Travel Industry Association of Kansas and to represent the professionals who advance tourism as a vital economic driver across our state. My tourism journey began in Dodge City in 2017 under the leadership of Jan Stevens. In January 2020, I stepped into the role of leading the Dodge City CVB at a defining moment for our industry. Through collaboration, strategic advocacy, and a unified voice, our destination—and our industry—continued to move forward, and it has been rewarding to see the momentum and impact we have today.

Dodge City has been, currently is, and always will be home. I grew up here, living on the same street as both sets of grandparents and in the same neighborhood as my cousins. I left home to complete my education and meet my husband, and after a literal coin flip, we returned west to build our careers and raise our family. This year, my husband and I will celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary in October—likely while I’m away at the annual Tourism Conference. Our two children, Annalynn (12) and Diesel (8), have become my greatest “volun-told” team, often in the trenches with me at tourism events, proudly playing “tourist for the day” and serving as some of Dodge City’s strongest ambassadors.

As we look ahead to 2026, tourism in Kansas is positioned for an extraordinary year—FIFA World Cup, America’s 250th anniversary, Route 66’s Centennial, major statewide initiatives, and incredible transformative developments such as the Chiefs’ announcement. In 2020, Kansas Tourism shared the story of the bison to remind the world that Kansas would be ready when travel returned—a message that continues to resonate with me. On the Kansas prairie, bison face storms head-on, gaining strength through the challenge. Guided by the TIAK Strategic Plan and the foundation built by past leadership, our industry is doing the same—moving head-on together to strengthen advocacy, secure sustainable funding, and ensure tourism remains a priority for Kansas communities and policymakers.

This work requires all of us. I encourage TIAK members to join us in February for Destination Statehouse, where we will come together to share our stories, demonstrate tourism’s impact, and advocate with one unified voice on behalf of our destinations. 2026 is our moment to speak up, stand strong, and show the world—and our policymakers—what tourism in Kansas can do.

Megan Welsh

with Dodge City CVB

The 2026 Legislative session began on January 12th. Click the link to the right for the most recent weekly Legislative updates and the bills that have been identified as issues which may be of interest to TIAK members.

If you should have any questions or concerns regarding the bills below, please do not hesitate to contact our lobbyist, Natalie Bright, at office@tiak.org.

Destination Statehouse

Join us February 11–12, 2026, as we come together once again to advocate for the power of travel in Kansas. This is your annual opportunity to connect with industry leaders from across the state and speak directly with legislators about the issues that shape our success.

Everything you need to plan your time in Topeka—from schedules to session details—can be found on the Destination Statehouse event page, which will continue to be updated as we get closer to February.

Sponsorships are now available!

We invite all TIAK members to help elevate this year’s event by partnering with us as a sponsor. Let’s make 2026 our most impactful—and most enjoyable—Destination Statehouse yet. Click here to view sponsorship opportunities.

The 2026 TIAK Legislative Reception will have a different feel this year. The venue will be the Children’s Discovery Center in Topeka. The museum has undergone a major expansion and we will be able to showcase this during our event. We will not have the traditional showcasing of regions, but more of a mix and mingle with legislators. The cocktail tables will be set so that each region will have a landing spot. Member’s will be able to showcase their communities in different ways. Since we are in a different venue, members can bring small food and drink items as well. The theme will be “America 250” showcasing how communities across Kansas will celebrate this event.  

We are excited to host legislators in a different venue with a different feel. As always, legislative turnout is best when local communities personally invite their legislators. Click HERE for the below invitation which you can email or print and hand deliver to them so that they know someone from their local community will be in Topeka. Please contact the TIAK office with any questions or concerns.

KTC 2026 Planning Is Underway—We Want Your Ideas



KTC 2026 planning is underway. If you have a great speaker or session idea, please send information to Marlee Carpenter at marlee@brightcarpenter.com 

Click here for more Kansas 250

Resources & Partners

The Kansas 250 Commission is excited to collaborate with the following National and Kansas State Agencies, as well as various businesses and non-profits across Kansas:



• America 250
• The White House - America 250
• Eisenhower Foundation
• Humanities Kansas
• Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks
• Kansas Museums Association
• Kansas Volunteer Commission
• United States Conference of Mayors
• Kansas Music Educators Association
• State of Kansas Library

As the nation approaches its upcoming Semiquincentennial in 2026, the Kansas 250 Commission will lead the state's efforts in commemorating this eventful moment in American history. The Kansas 250 Commission will also collaborate with local communities and partner organizations to provide a wide array of activities and events focused on America's 250th birthday. Click below for a starting point to spark your own celebration ideas!

State Fair Input Needed

The Kansas State Fair is looking for input regarding the 250th Birthday Celebration. Please review the below suggestions. Please provide input on the below or any other suggestions to Holly Lofton and Bryan Schulz.

• A very large State Map on the floor of the Bison Arena broke out by counties and having each county bring items that represent their county i.e., ag products, industry, commodities…
• Creating a banner for each county in Kansas to celebrate the 250^th Birthday and have them placed throughout the grounds in the approximate location as they are within the state. Approximate cost per county $300 - $350.
• Moving the Explore Kansas Booths to the Bison Arena for that last weekend to tie into the celebration.
• We will be having most of our contests surrounding the 250^th – i.e., apron contests, baking, educational options. These will all be announced in each of the department’s handbooks.
• Working with other state agencies including the library and museums to create displays.

Click HERE for a list of areas within the competitions area that will have special America 250 themes.

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.

2026 World Cup ticket requests exceed 150M

FIFA has received 150 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup during the initial 15 days of sales, surpassing demand from all previous tournaments. Fans from over 200 countries have expressed interest, making this edition 30 times oversubscribed and highlighting unprecedented global enthusiasm for the event. Read more HERE

Tourism coalition urges US-Canada border policy reset

The Beyond Borders Tourism Coalition, comprising major tourism associations from the US and Canada, is calling for a reset of transborder tourism policies after a significant decline in Canadian travel to the US in 2025. The coalition's recommendations include eliminating surprise fees, reassessing tariffs and investing in joint marketing to restore positive relations and boost tourism. Read more HERE

Amtrak sees record ridership, revenue amid investments

Amtrak experienced record ridership and revenue in 2025, with a 34.5 million customer trips and $2.7 billion in ticket revenue, driven by significant investments and increasing demand for train travel. The company invested $5.5 billion in capital projects, including new trains and station upgrades, enhancing the travel experience. Amtrak's Northeast Corridor remains the most popular route, and the train travel is often seen as more convenient and pleasant compared to driving or flying. Read more HERE

Labor Market Report

Please find the link below to the December Labor Market report. The January 2026 Kansas Labor Report does not yet have a release date.

December 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”.

December 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 62% property participation and 78% hotel room participation in November.

Executive Director

Explore Crawford County is seeking a dynamic, community-focused leader to serve as Executive Director. This position oversees tourism, marketing, events, and economic development efforts, while working closely with local businesses, organizations, and regional partners to promote Crawford County as a destination.

Click HERE for the full job description.

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to Jim Emerson at jemerson@crawfordcountykansas.org. Applications are due by February 8, 2026.

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

February 11

TIAK Executive Committee Meetings

March 12

May 14

August 12

September 10

November 12

TIAK Board Meetings

February 5

April 9

June 11

August 13

October 20

December 10

Event Dates

Destination Statehouse

February 11-12 - Topeka