Julie Curler Weeks, director of the Abilene Conference and Guests Bureau and president of the Journey Business Affiliation of Kansas, traveled to Washington, D.C., final week to characterize the Kansas Tourism Business on the U.S. Journey Affiliation’s Vacation spot Capitol Hill.
The Kansas delegation met with Senator Jerry Moran, Congressman Tracey Mann and Congresswoman Sharice Davids. The group additionally met with representatives from Senator Roger Marshall and Congressman Ron Estes’ workplaces.
Matters of debate included: rebuilding the workforce, reigniting in-person enterprise conferences and occasions, restoring worldwide inbound journey, and reimagining the position of journey and tourism in enhancing world competitiveness.
“The primary matter we mentioned was workforce challenges. Sadly, this isn’t distinctive to the journey and tourism trade, however all industries,” Curler Weeks stated. “In line with U.S. Journey, practically 75 % of all jobs misplaced in the course of the pandemic are within the leisure and hospitality trade. The assistance-wanted indicators and advertisements you see all through Abilene reinforce that statistic. For tourism to rebound, we should discover a solution to fill these jobs.”
Whereas companies proceed to make use of Zoom and different on-line assembly platforms for enterprise conferences, the group requested leaders to encourage company leaders and the federal authorities to return to enterprise and reignite invaluable face-to-face connections to revive enterprise journey – a crucial section of the U.S. economic system.
“Throughout our discussions, everybody shared their appreciation for the comfort of on-line conferences however questioned its effectiveness. There’s something totally different about assembly face-to-face that’s extra significant, and it additionally helps our economic system,” she stated.
Along with home journey, the group mentioned the necessity to restore worldwide journey.
“In Abilene, worldwide vacationers come to see or conduct analysis on the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, watch the Spring and Fall Nationals on the Nationwide Greyhound Affiliation, and have fun the American cowboy on the Previous Abilene City and the Dickinson County Heritage Heart,” Curler Weeks stated. “Sadly, Worldwide journey stays severely depressed, and it’s hurting communities across the nation.”
In Abilene, the 2022 Transient Visitor Tax Collections proceed to extend from 2021.
“Whereas the spherical is gradual, it’s regular. I hope a busy summer season journey season will assist us keep on observe to a full rebound and continued development,” Curler Weeks stated.