Wow, time flies. I’ve had a circle on my calendar around October 18-20 all year, and now we’re heading into November. A big thank you needs to go out to Sally and her team at the Liberal CVB for their tremendous hospitality at the 2021 Kansas Tourism Conference.
Looking forward to the upcoming legislative and political season, it’s clear that the partnership between TIAK and State Tourism keeps getting stronger and stronger each year. I hope we have another strong turnout at our Destination Statehouse event planned for February 9, 2022 in Topeka.
This year’s KTC showed us why it is important to meet in person. Aside from the amazing karaoke, who would have thought we would experience what we did during our time together?
We traveled to South Korea and were shown from the eyes of a child how a war-torn country can change lives just through a caring person and a piece of candy.
Then we sat in seat 15A as we watched first-hand the “Miracle on the Hudson” unravel before our eyes. We learned how an incredible situation can bring out and transform the inner person for the the rest of your life. I don’t know about you, but these stories and places came to life in my imagination as I listened to the speakers – something that is more difficult to do virtually.
Again, I want to thank everyone that attended the KTC and made this year so special. Coming back together in person was my goal as your president this year, and you all made that happen.
For now, I will leave you with the words I spoke at the end of the annual meeting…
Family. That word perfectly sums up what TIAK means to me. For someone that’s a talker, I can’t put into words how it has felt watching the association respond to the challenges we have faced together. As the State Tourism video says, we collected ourselves and rushed headlong into the coming storm as a herd, as an industry, and as family. To the Stars…
By Jim Zaleski
Serving at the Pleasure of the Membership