Volume 16, Issue 5 | June 2021
TIAK TALK NEWSLETTER
TIAK Talk is published monthly for members of the Travel Industry Association of Kansas.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
By Jim Zaleski
Serving at the Pleasure of the Membership

Doesn’t time fly by? It seems like it was just yesterday that we met in Salina at Blue Skye Brewery before a great educational event. The next thing we know, it will be October before we can blink.

But as we come to the half-way mark of this post-pandemic year, I think it is important to look back and see just how far we have come.

TIAK has long fought for the travel industry and our association to have a “seat at the table.” This objective has been the fundamental building block of TIAK's advocacy efforts for more than a decade and supports the basic principles of the former KTI Initiative.

While falling just short of achieving its primary goal, the KTI Initiative did start TIAK along the path we find ourselves on today. I want to thank the decades of TIAK leaders that started us on this journey. Read more.
#KTC21 REGISTRATION IS OPEN

After this past year, we think our industry needs some TLC. This is why we're so excited about this year's Kansas Tourism Conference on October 18-20 in Liberal.

Enjoy inspiring speakers, valuable educational information, and fun networking opportunities with the colleagues you've been missing. Let's not ever forget that Kansas tourism has reasons to celebrate.

Don't forget to make your hotel reservations too!
Sponsorship Opportunities

The businesses shown below have generously agreed to support this year's Kansas Tourism Conference. If you're interested in joining them, we've added some new levels of giving. This is your chance to 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 that you are famous for.
Marketing Awards Due August 13

Even though it was virtual, last year's Awards campaign showcased the Kansas tourism industry's incredible talent in demonstrating what our State has to offer. TIAK members delivered as usual.

Help us tout our talent again by submitting your entries for the TIAK Marketing Awards by Friday, August 13. One winner from each overall budget category will be presented at the Awards Banquet during the Kansas Tourism Conference in October from the following categories:

  • Visitors Guide (both in-house and outsourced)
  • Online Marketing
  • Print Marketing
  • Destination Awareness
  • Events
July Tourism Huddle

TIAK and Kansas Tourism will host our next virtual huddle on Wednesday, July 14 at 1:00 PM. Details coming soon.

Questions should be submitted in advance to office@tiak.org; and there will be a maximum of 250 participants. Each update will be recorded and made available online to anyone that can't participate live.

Recordings of past updates can be found at: https://www.travelks.com/industry/covid19-resources.
Call to Action: Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area Renewal

Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) comprises 41 counties along the Kansas eastern border and Missouri western border. During the Civil War, our land was one of the bloodiest and hotly contested battlegrounds. The themes of racial justice, border wars, land acquisition and use, and economic development resonate today. The stories of Freedom's Frontier are the stories we still confront.

People from around the world visit Freedom's Frontier to learn a part of American history that might otherwise be lost. FFNHA-developed tourism tools such as its map, website, and the Freedom's Frontier App help visitors discover our history's themes and the communities that represent them. 

Every partner of the heritage area comes into it voluntarily. Today there are 324 partner sites through FFNHA.

We encourage all CVB's to reach out to your U.S. Congressional Delegation in both the House and Senate to support the reauthorization of the Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area, which needs a vote in both Chambers.

Please see the information items below to help guide you, including a contact list for the Kansas Congressional Delegation.
May 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 63% property participation and 77% hotel room participation in May.
Let’s Meet There: Industry Turns Focus to Restoring Professional Meetings and Events

The following message was written by Roger Dow, President and CEO, U.S. Travel Association
on June 22:

Our industry can accomplish amazing things when we come together.

This was so clearly demonstrated through the phenomenal collaboration and great success of the Let’s Go There campaign. Every sector of the industry—from the largest corporations to smaller destination marketing organizations—united with the simple goal of encouraging Americans to keep dreaming of their next vacation.

Now? In every pocket of the country, domestic leisure travel is roaring back.

However, there is still much work to do because the full recovery of the travel economy simply isn’t possible until all segments of travel rebound. That is why we’re turning our focus to the next chapter: Let’s Meet There, which launched on June 15.

Unlike domestic leisure travel, business travel and professional meetings and events (PMEs) are struggling. In total, the U.S. saw a decline of more than $200 billion last year in direct spending generated from business travel (of which roughly $100 billion was directly due to declines in meetings and events), leading to the loss of nearly 1.5 million jobs and $28.8 billion in tax revenue. Read more.
Membership Directory Now Password Protected
In light of recent email phishing attempts, TIAK is now using a password-protected membership database. To access, please contact the TIAK office for the password.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS


TIAK Executive Committee Meetings
July 8, September 9, November 11

Tourism Huddle
July 14

TIAK Board Meetings
August 12, October 18, December 9

Kansas Tourism Conference
October 18-20

Destination Statehouse
February 9, 2022