Drury Inn
400 West Douglas Avenue
Wichita, KS 67202
316-262-5000
Hotel
Address
Wichita, Kansas
The room rate is $XXX per night and the parking fee is waived.
Fairfield Inn Manhattan
300 Colorado Street
Manhattan, Kansas 66502
Room Rate: $124 per night
Last Day to Book : Saturday, September 20, 2025
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Manhattan
115 Blue Earth Place
Manhattan, Kansas 66502
Room Rate: $110 per night
We’re currently finalizing registration details and pricing. Information will be posted as soon as it’s available. We appreciate your patience and look forward to sharing registration options soon.
Conference registration includes access to all sessions, networking events, and meals. Early bird rates are available, so register soon to secure the best price.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 5:00 PM | Walk to dinner at Wichita Brewing Company |
| 7:00 PM | Keeper of the Plains Lighting |
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Registration/Information Desk Open |
| 8:00 AM | Exhibitor Setup/Silent Auction Setup |
| 9:00 AM | First Timer’s Orientation/Coffee |
| 10:00 AM |
Welcome Conference Kick-Of TIAK and Kansas Tourism |
| 10:30 AM |
Keynote: Andrew McCrea The Power of Place: Telling Your Community Story |
| 11:30 AM |
Data-Driven Survival in 2026; Master the art of the "3-Slide Victory Deck" to prove your DMO's ROI to any board or council Presented by: Kari Hoffman - Datafy |
| 11:45 AM | Luncheon |
| 1:00 PM |
General Session: Rewrite the Moment: On Camera Confidence and Story Repair for Real World Challenges Presented by: Visit Wichita and Media Panel |
| 2:00 PM | Break |
| 2:15 PM |
Ted Talks for the Tourism Professional (10 Minutes Each) 1. "45 Million Views from Goddard, Kansas: How a Stubborn Baby Hippo Taught Us Everything About Viral Tourism Marketing" Matt Fouts, Director — Tanganyika Wildlife Park 2. How Small Conversations Change Big Systems OR Rethinking Civic Engagement: Start with a Conversation Julie Roller Weeks - Abeline CVB 3. The Ripple Effect: What Happens When One Person Shows Up for Their Community OR From Bystander to Builder: The Journey of a Community Champion Colby Sharples-Terry - Kansas Tourism 4. "Dodge City Days/Neewollah/Winfield Music Festival”-Megan Welsh - Dodge City CVB 5. Heart of Hospitality-Karen Crane or Museum Partnership-Alexis |
| 3:30 PM | Break |
| 3:45 PM |
General Session
Found, Chosen, Booked: How Today’s Travelers Decide—and What Marketers Must Do Next”
Presented by: Heather Physioc |
| 4:45 PM | Instructions for Evening Event |
| 4:45 PM | Exhibitor Welcome Reception |
| 5:30 PM | KTC attendee reception and heavy appetizers |
| 6:45 PM | Bus to Wild Lights at Sedgwick County Zoo |
| 8:00 - 8:15 PM |
Return from Wild Lights Sports KS Mixer |
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Registration/Information Desk Open |
| 7:45 AM | Breakfast at Hotel |
| 9:00 AM |
General Session - AI Topic |
| 10:00 AM | Break |
| 10:20 AM |
General Session: Bridgette Jobe, Director of Tourism Kansas Tourism Update: Trends, Trajectory, and Opportunities Ahead |
| 11:45 AM | Buffet Luncheon/Visit Exhibit Area |
| 12:30 PM | Silent Auction Closes & Marketing People’s Choice Award Closes |
| 12:30 PM | TIAK Annual Meeting |
| 1:15 PM |
Breakout Sessions 1. Destination Storytelling Through the Lens: An Interactive Workshop OR Picture the Experience: Crafting Destination Stories Through Imagery Andrea - Kansas Tourism 2. Elevating the Guest Experience: Simple Touches That Make a Big Impact OR The Extra Mile Mindset: How to Host with Heart Visit Wichita/Manhattan/Colby 3. Everything You Wanted to Know About TGT (But Were Afraid to Ask) OR From Hotels to Hometowns: Making Sense of the Transient Guest Tax TGT Breakout KDOR/Panel |
| 2:15 PM | Last Sponsor Break & Exhibitor Tear Down |
| 2:30 PM |
Breakout Sessions (Facilitated by Visit Wichita Team) 1. CEO/Executive Director Roundtable/Succession Planning 2. Sales Facilitated Breakout 3. Marketing Facilitated Breakout |
| 3:30 PM | Break |
| 3:45 PM |
Toto, We’re Not Guessing Anymore Kansas Trivia Challenge 2027 Free KTC Registration Give Away |
| 5:00 PM | Reception |
| 6:00 PM | Kansas Tourism Dinner & Marketing Awards Banquet |
Each donation must be valued at $50 or more and will help fund important tourism initiatives across Kansas. To contribute, simply fill out the electronic form below.
Please bring your item with you to the conference.
For questions, contact Roxanne Lansink at [email protected] or Christina Hayes at [email protected].
The Kansas Tourism Conference is the premier event for connecting with tourism professionals from across the state. As a sponsor, you’ll gain valuable exposure and direct access to industry leaders.
Choose to include an exhibit booth with your sponsorship and enjoy multiple opportunities to showcase your business on the evening of Monday, October 21st and throughout Tuesday, October 22nd. It’s the perfect platform to promote your services, build relationships, and support the growth of Kansas tourism.
Your donation—big or small—makes it possible for a hospitality or tourism student from a Kansas program to attend the conference, network with professionals, and enhance their education.
It takes just $600 to fully sponsor one student, covering meals, lodging, and registration. Every contribution counts—donate as little as $10 to make a meaningful impact.
This annual contest honors the most creative and effective tourism marketing efforts across Kansas. Open exclusively to TIAK members, the awards recognize outstanding campaigns that promote destinations, events, and attractions in impactful ways.
Winners will be announced during the Kansas Tourism Conference this October, offering well-deserved recognition and visibility. Don’t miss your chance to showcase your work, gain industry recognition, and inspire fellow marketers.
NO MATTER WHERE YOU’RE TRAVELING FROM, THERE ARE PLENTY OF SITES TO SEE!
Visit the state website for more ideas!