TIAK Talk is published monthly for members of the Travel Industry Association of Kansas.
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PRESIDENT'S REPORT
By Kelly Peetoom
Hello Kansas Travel Partners. It's the end of August and officially the end of summer. Usually it's a time of new beginnings and adventures, new school year, fall sports, and a busy travel season for many of our destinations and attractions. However...this is 2020 and everything has been turned upside down.
Instead, we have new roles as: Cleaning Standards Expert, Zoom Call Coordinator, and Budget Guesser.
However, the Travel Industry has proven itself resilient in the past (ex: September 11th, 2008-2010 recession), and we will again. As many leaders have said, this is not a down cycle in the travel business, but a disruption never experienced before. So, here's a little encouragement as we endure this "pause" that's been forced upon all of us...
“Only in darkness can you see the stars.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
“When the world says to give up, hope whispers to try it one more time.” - Michelle Bengston.
Can't wait to see you all soon.
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Are you registered for the 2020 Kansas Tourism Conference?
#KTC20: October 19-20, Liberal
Can you believe that the Tourism Conference is less than two months away?! Enjoy inspiring speakers, valuable education, and fun networking opportunities. Kansas still has reasons to celebrate this year, and we can't wait for you to be a part of it.
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SPONSORSHIPS
We've added some new levels this year. 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.
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Don't forget! The cutoff to submit your Kansas Destination Specialist (KDS) points is September 18. View updated lists and access forms here.
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Help support the next generation of tourism professionals by contributing to the Student Scholarship Fund. Your donation will provide a conference scholarship to a student in a Kansas hospitality/tourism program of study. They'll get the opportunity to learn, network, and build upon their coursework.
Click here to donate...any contribution amount will help!
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DONATE TO THE SILENT AUCTION |
Proceeds from the Silent Auction help support TIAK programs throughout the year. If you would like to donate an item (minimum value of $50, please), click here. You can bring it with you to the conference or mail it in advance to: Finney County CVB, c/o Roxanne Morgan, 1513 E. Fulton Terrace, Garden City, KS 67846. Items must be received by October 1st.
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Kansas Primary Election Recap
County authorities have finished their vote tallies from the August 4th primary, and a few things are clear. Incumbents took a hit, conservatives earned a win, and it appears that both chambers took a good shift to the right. Many are attributing the upsets to Governor Laura Kelly’s sliding approval rating and voters’ general dissatisfaction with all levels of government - particularly their responses during the coronavirus pandemic.
Six moderate Republican Senators lost their seats to their more conservative primary challengers, three of them being current House members.
John Skubal (Overland Park) lost to House Representative Kellie Warren; Randall Hardy (Salina) lost to House Representative J.R. Claeys; Mary Joe Taylor (Stafford) lost to House Representative Alicia Straub; Dan Goddard (Parsons) lost to former House Representative Virgil Peck; Bruce Givens (El Dorado) lost to former El Dorado Mayor Michael Fagg; and Ed Berger (Hutchinson) lost to physician Mark Steffen.
One conservative seat in the Senate did flip to moderate, however, when Eric Rucker (Topeka) lost to House Representative Brenda Dietrich by roughly 1,000 votes.
If conservatives are successful again in November, this shift in power will ripple through Senate leadership positions, committee chairs, and what issues stand a chance in 2021. Medicaid expansion being a good example.
Senator Ty Masterson (Andover) and Senator Jeff Longbine (Emporia) have both been vying for the president position after Senator Susan Wagle decided to not seek reelection. As the way things look today, expect to see Masterson as the next leader of the upper chamber and a new slate of more conservative-leaning committee chairs.
On the House side, five Republican incumbents were defeated. Jan Kessinger (Overland Park) lost to Jane Dirks; Diana Dierks (Salina) lost to Steven Howe; Jim Karleskint (Tonganoxie) lost to Lance Neelly; Michael Capps (Wichita) lost to Patrick Penn; and J.C. Moore (Clearwater) lost to Brian Bergkamp.
It's still yet to be seen what ultimately happens to Democrat incumbent Representative Stan Frownfelter (Kansas City) after his 5-vote loss to 19-year old Aaron Coleman, who is amid physical and sexual abuse allegations.
A few federal races important to note are Roger Marshall’s win against Kris Kobach for U.S. Senate; Jake LaTurner unseating incumbent Steve Watkins for the U.S. Congressional District 1 seat; and Amanda Adkins advancing to take on 3rd District U.S. Congresswoman Sharice Davids.
Looking to November? Expect to see large amounts of money being dumped into key legislative races – especially in Johnson County – that might just swing the pendulum in a different direction.
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Kansas Cares About the Fair Campaign 2020
A year without a Fair presents unique and unparalleled challenges. The Kansas State Fair is looking for donor dollars to help compensate for revenue loss that will occur from not having the event this year.
Please support the Kansas State Fair by giving a tax-deductible, charitable contribution through the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation. The funds will help the tradition continue for future generations. Click here to learn more and donate.
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Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act
Important message from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions:
HR 7883 – the Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act has gained a few co-sponsors. But not enough. If you believe your fair – and the rest in the U.S. – needs assistance, then you must act now to contact your U.S. Representative. If you have already asked, and they do not appear on this co-sponsor list, then you must ask again for them to take immediate action.
Representatives from these states have signed on:
California (4), Kansas (1: Rep. Roger Marshall), New Jersey (1), Wisconsin (1), Delaware (1), Maryland (1), Oklahoma (1), Florida (3), Missouri (1), Texas (3), Iowa (1), Nebraska (1), Vermont (1).
Here is what the lobbyist from Washington has said, “If fairs really want a shot at this, they are going to have to push their Representatives harder to support.”
Will you do it? PLEASE CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES!
P.S. Please include your own stakeholder base – board, sponsors, volunteers, suppliers, and other supporters – in messaging and ask THEM to also reach out to your Representative, as well.
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Biweekly COVID-19 Webinars
TIAK, in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, has changed their COVID-19 Updates to every other week. Mark your calendars for the next one on September 9. Zoom login information is emailed on the Monday before.
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Tourism Cares Project
Several members have expressed an interest in benefitting the host community of the TIAK Annual Tourism Conference each year.
For 2020, the Liberal CVB has chosen the Liberal Area Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Services (LARC DVS) as the recipient of this new Tourism Cares Project.
LARC DVS serves Grant, Haskell, Morton, Seward, Stanton, and Stevens counties with offices in Liberal, Elkhart, Hugoton, Satanta, and Ulysses. They currently employ 11 advocates, an intake specialist, and an executive director. All services are provided free and confidential to anyone in need. In 2019, they provided services to 544 unduplicated individuals (with 431 of those being new individuals) and sheltered 48.
Donated items are either used by those in the shelter or provided to clients as they begin new lives. If you would like to participate in this giving opportunity, below is a list of requested items:
- Towels: bath, hand & washcloth
- Bed Sheets, blankets & comforters, pillows: Twin & Full
- Personal toiletries: Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, soap, disposal razors, deodorant, tampons & pads, toothpaste & toothbrushes
- Household: Laundry soap, fabric softener, bleach, household cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, paper towels, toilet tissue, glass cleaner, etc.
- Food Items: all non-perishable
Please bring your donations to the annual conference for LARC DVS to collect. To learn more about the organization, visit larcdvs.com.
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July 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:
Kansas had 64% property participation and 77% hotel room participation in July.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September 4, Topeka or by Zoom
TIAK Board Meetings
October 19, Liberal
December 10, Abilene
TIAK Executive Committee Meetings
September 10, by phone
November 12, Cottonwood Falls Retreat
Kansas Tourism Conference
October 19-21, 2020 in Liberal
October 18-20, 2021 in Wichita
TOURISM WEBINARS
Coupon code: TravelKS
September 3
September 10
September 17
September 24
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