Annual Report - 1999
Convention and Tourism Advisory Committee
1999 Annual Report to the City Commission
1999 Schedule
The Convention and Tourism Advisory Committee met at the Chamber of Commerce office on a monthly basis
throughout the year. The schedule of meetings is enclosed.
Committee Members
Changes to the committee roster in 1999 were:
Retired from Committee:
Linda Weis
New Appointees:
Brenda Smith (re-appointed through 8/2003)
Bette Timmel (8/2003)
Don Heath - City Commission Representative
Attendance
A copy of the 1999 attendance record is included with this report.
Overview
Each month, the staff of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Division presented their
monthly activity report. The committee discussed those projects, asking questions and offering their input at each
meeting. Major areas of emphasis for the year included:
Sports / Special Events
NJCAA Women's National Basketball Championship
Salina hosted it's second NJCAA Women's National Basketball Championship in March. The tournament
attendance over five days was estimated at more than 9000. Salina was successful in their bid to extend the
tournament contract through 2003. The YWCA of Salina was named the official pre-tournament ticket outlet for the
event in 2000.
Other sports I special events hosted in 1999 included:
5A Baseball/Softball State Championships
4A Girls' & Boys' Basketball State Championships
8-Man Div I & II State Football Championships
3A/4A Volleyball State Championships
SAFECON
Wheatland Cluster Dog Show
SCCA Regional Events
ASA Softball Tournaments
State Debate/Forensic Events
Special Projects I Activities
"Salina, Discover the Crossroads": The Chamber's joint venture with the Salina Journal - Salina, Discover the
Crossroads magazine - continued through 1999. The magazine is designed to feature articles about the Salina
area, special events and activities, things to see and do, human interest stories and basic tourist information. The
publication is funded through advertising sales, and the content is set by an editorial committee. Distribution
included every motel/hotel room, each advertiser, Chamber tourist/relocation packets, at convention registration
booths and at each of the Visitor Information Centers across the state.
1-70 Association: As a charter member of the Kansas 1-70 Association, Salina participated in several cooperative
projects in 1999. These projects included participation in travel show, and print advertising campaigns in the
Kansas Travel & Event Guide, and America's Heartland Travel Guide, and USA Weekend.
KSAE: The Kansas Society of Association Executives continues to be an integral partner in our success in hosting
conventions. This association represents a large percentage of our convention clientele. A cooperative Salina
booth at the KSAE Annual Meeting and Trade Show in December featured the Convention and Visitors Division of
the Chamber, the Bicentennial Center and local hotels.
Kansas Adventure Times III: A new coalition was formed in 1998 which brought together three Kansas
communities - Salina, Hutchinson, and Hays - to capitalize on their similarities in tourism marketing. In 1999, this
coalition concentrated on print advertising in several publications. In addition, the coalition was represented at the
National Tour Association (NTA) marketplace, American Bus Association (ABA) marketplace and four Group
Leaders of America (GLAmer) trade shows.
TIAK (Travel Industry Association of Kansas): The Chamber continued participation in this state wide tourism
lobbying organization. In addition, we participated in a cooperative ad for hunting in two publications, and assisted
in forming another coalition of communities to market Kansas as a location for regional and national conventions
and meetings.
Convention Activities: Chamber staff kept the committee updated on convention activity in Salina. The Chamber
provided assistance to more than 250 conventions/meetings this year. More than 1100 of these events were
recorded by the Chamber, which brought more than 80,000 delegates to Salina. A few of the larger conventions
hosted in Salina this year included: Grand Masons, Baptist Churches of the North Central Region, No-Till on the
Plains Conference, Kansas Society of Land Surveyors, Kansas Commodity Classic, Kansas State Square Dancers.
SEGP: The committee reviewed one application for the SEGP grant funds in 1999. Their recommendation was to
award the requested $1,000 to Kansas Special Olympics for a new event they hope to bring to Salina. Monies will
be paid for marketing of the event, according the grant guidelines.
Smoky Hill River Festival: The Chamber provide partial underwriting for the Smoky Hill River Festival brochure,
and distributed 25,000 copies through tourist and relocation packets, at Visitor Information Centers, convention sites
and other Chambers and CVBs across the state.
Hospitality Facilities: New additions to the Salina hospitality industry in 1999 included two new lodging facilities,
the Candlewood Suites and Country Inn & Suites, and an attraction, Rolling Hills Refuge (see below).
Rolling Hills Refuge: This primary tourist attraction officially opened it's doors to the public in late October of 1999.
In the first five weeks of operation, more than 9,000 visited the park. The Chamber and the Refuge cooperated in
placing a one-page full color ad in the Kansas Attractions and Event Guide for 2000, and in another tourism guide to
be published through Banta Publications. Future cooperative ventures are planned in promoting this first class
facility, which provides the opportunity for tremendous growth in tourism for our area.
Hospitality Orientation: The Chamber hosted the first in a series of Hospitality Orientation seminars in 1999. The
"Walk on the Wildside" seminar provided an opportunity for front line employees (desk clerks, wait staff, etc.) to
become more familiar with the attractions, events and services available to our visitors. The group toured Rolling
Hills Refuge, Smoky Hill Vineyards & Winery, and took a driving tour of our Downtown attractions. Future sessions
will be held in 2000.
The commitment of this committee to Salina, and particularly to the tourism industry is essential in the growth Salina
continues to experience.
Submitted to Salina City Manager Dennis Kissinger
By Gerald Cook
President/Salina Area Chamber of Commerce
Member, Convention and Tourism Advisory Committee
January 1999
CONVENTION AND TOURISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE
1999 MEETING SCHEDULE
January 22
February 26
March 26
April 23
May 21
(Conflict with 5A state Baseball/Softball)
June 25
July 23
August 27
September 24
October 22
November 19
(Conflict with Thanksgiving Holiday)
December 17
(Conflict with Christmas Holiday)
98/99 Attendance
l=.i~tt:lSI~ Il!~j;.tlN~mi!~ $j:to.til~aQ~t~~~ NqY~{J~~~~'QfJ ~.ri~$$;r [1i~1:),1$.$~ ~'~f. .iJ!.......$9
01 IG~~~19c:;_()()~ N9__ NO Y_E~___ f\I()__ 'y'ES NO_____'y'~S
02 Don Heath NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
- __._~ __ .._""______.__._ ._...__.._.________~_ _.__~_ ._. - _u____nn_____ ~_____~___ ^_____.__..._ ____..__._____ _n_
03 Linda Weis YES NO NO YES NO NO NO
_._._--_._-_._-~--- _.~----~ --------- ----------- --',--"'- ._'--- .--...-.---------'--
04 Brenda Smith YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
------- .._---_.~~--- ...------ -~.- - ---'--'
05 Elizabet Feist NO NO NO NO NO YES NO
--'-------- ---'-'--- --~---- --- -----
06 David Fanshier YES NO YES YES YES NO YES
____.._..__..._..__ ~__.___ ___,___ _.._.__._____ _.__n.___ .__ ___
07 Roger Steinbrock NO YES YES YES YES YES YES
..,----.,.,------- -
08 Jennifer Sturges YES NO YES NO YES YES YES
-.'.--.--- -'-.---.'-'--" -------- ---
09 David Miller YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
.._.---_.._-_._----~ .-.._----- -------..--
10 Marlene Leister YES YES NO NO YES YES YES
99/00 Attendance
02/03/2000
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Fanshier 2000/8 NO YES YES YES I I
Steinbrock 2000/8 YES NO NO YES jl I
Sturges 2001/8 NO YES NO YES !
Miller 2002/8 YES YES YES YES _I I
Leister 2002/8 YES YES YES NO [ I I
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