Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Winter 2011

CVA Newsline is the quarterly member newsletter of the KCCVA. We encourage you to share this important information with your colleagues. And as always, we appreciate your feedback.

We are fortunate in Kansas City. Sure, the last two years have presented their share of complex and daunting challenges. But according to Smith Travel Research, the Kansas City region sold 398,787 more rooms in 2010, a 6.7-percent increase over 2009. Hotel room revenues rose by $30,410,757—a 6.2-percent increase. This represents 10 consecutive months of positive revenue and demand growth. Fortunately, the good news doesn't stop there. • Learn more

KC Prepares for March Spotlight as College Basketball Capital

Kansas City's love affair with college basketball couldn't be more obvious than during the month of March, as the city prepares to host postseason play for the Big 12 Conference, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In fact, during the month of March, KC will host more college basketball games than anywhere else in the country. • Learn more

Use Chill Out in KC to Reach Travelers in Shoulder Season

The KCCVA has launched a multi-media leisure marketing campaign during the winter shoulder season. Running through March 6, the Chill Out in KC campaign promotes cool, money-saving offers making a winter getaway to KC even more affordable. The marketing is staggered across four waves promoting: Kansas City Restaurant Week, Valentine's Day, Presidents Day weekend and March basketball tournaments. It's not too late to participate in this seasonal promotion. • Learn more

Watch Kansas City's New Promotional Video

The KCCVA is pleased to share its first HD promotional video entitled, "The City That Changed Everything." Produced by Scott Henson and T2 Productions, the video highlights several area attractions and tells the story of the city's remarkable revitalization. We encourage you to use this video to promote Kansas City in your operations. In addition to the new video, the KCCVA will be ramping up its HD B-roll collection this spring. To send us your company's HD B-roll, or to request the Kansas City promotional video file, please contact Laura Jahn. • Watch the video.

KC Books Another Animal Health Convention

The Pet Food Institute and the National Grain and Feed Association announced in December that they will bring their Feed and Pet Food Joint Industries Conference to Kansas City in September 2011. This is the second major animal health booking in the last year for the KCCVA as it kicks off an ongoing effort to attract more animal health meetings, part of a larger initiative to position Kansas City as the Animal Health Corridor. Kansas City-area companies account for nearly 32 percent of total sales in the $19 billion global animal health market. In addition, 44 animal health companies have their U.S. or world headquarters in Kansas City.

Kansas City Launches New Mobile Application

In October, the KCCVA launched a free mobile application that appeals to today's tech-savvy traveler. The Official KC Metro Guide is available for most smartphones including the iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and others through their respective mobile app stores or by visiting VisitKC.com. The industry-leading mobile application features traveler discounts, top events and all the necessary tools for planning a trip to Kansas City. The new mobile application is a collaboration of three entities: Handmark; Software Management, Inc.; and the KCCVA.

CVA Honored at Adrian Awards Gala

The KCCVA took home two awards from HSMAI (Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International) at its Adrian Awards Gala in January in New York City. The awards honor best practices in tourism-related marketing including advertising, public relations and digital marketing. This year, the KCCVA's website, VisitKC.com, won a Gold Award and its leisure marketing e-mail series captured a Silver Award. In its 54th year, the competition attracts more than 1,000 entries from around the world annually.

CVA Fills Three Staff Positions

•Alan Carr has assumed the role of Vice President of Marketing & Communications. Formerly the Director of Communications at the KCCVA, Alan has more than 12 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. He fills a vacancy left by the departure of Jill Van Houweling. Alan can be reached at 816-691-3829 or .

•Esther Walker-Young has joined the Services team as a Convention Services & Special Projects Manager. Esther brings seven years of experience in event management from her time with Vista Productions, as well as a background in member outreach while working in public television. Esther fills a vacancy left by the departure of Ruth Terrell. She can be reached at 816-691-3844 or .

•Betty Buettgenbach has joined the Services team as a Visitor Services Coordinator. Betty comes to the KCCVA after 10 years with The Nielsen Company. Her experience includes extensive training in office administration, customer service and human behavior. Betty can be reached at .

• Did you know? Kansas City has a lot in store for 2011, from the 150th anniversary of the Civil War to the opening of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Click here for the lowdown.

Confidence Replaces Caution in 2011

According to the U.S. Travel Association, the travel industry will "be above water" in 2011 with a modest increase in domestic travel and business travel performing slightly better than leisure. Corporate travel budgets are expected to grow by 4.45 percent this year, and a study by Orbitz revealed that 36 percent of travelers plan to spend more on leisure travel in 2011 than in 2010.

TripAdvisor Unveils 2011 Travel Forecast

According to a survey of 3,000 U.S. travelers by TripAdvisor, 90 percent plan to take two or more leisure trips in 2011, a slight increase from last year. While travelers were most excited about an increase in online travel deals in 2010, they are most concerned in 2011 about rising airfares (40 percent) and bedbugs (20 percent). (Jerry Henry & Associates)

CTA Class Schedule for 2011

Attention all frontline hospitality employees, volunteers or proud Kansas Citians: the Heartland Tourism Ambassador training sessions in 2011 are scheduled for: • Thursday, March 31, at the Merriam Historic Plaza & Visitors Bureau • Thursday, April 14, at the Kansas City Public Library - Plaza Branch • Thursday, June 23, at the Kansas City Public Library downtown • Thursday, July 21, at Johnson County Community College • Thursday, Aug. 25, at Embassy Suites KCI • Thursday, Sept. 22, at the National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial • Thursday, Oct. 27, at Argosy Hotel and Spa • Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Marriott KC Downtown

Praising its low cost of living and affordable housing, Kansas City came in #13 on Forbes’ annual list of America’s most affordable cities, released in early January. KC also found its way to recent top 10 lists for America’s Hottest Job Markets (Monster.com), Most Charitable Cities (Daily Beast), Best Cities for Business (MarketWatch) and Best Cities for Young Adults (Kiplinger).

Kansas City's reputation as the College Basketball Capital of America was reinforced in a recent Chicago Sun-Times article that highlighted winter getaways. The writer, Mary Lu Laffey, noted that during the month of March, KC will host a whopping 67 college basketball games.

•Southtown Council After Hours — March 1, 3:30-7 p.m., Alphapointe Association for the Blind, 7501 Prospect Ave.

•Member/Partner Benefits Review — April 30, 9-11 a.m., CVA offices, 1100 Main St., 22nd Floor

•National Travel and Tourism Week — May 7-15

•KCCVA Annual Meeting — May 10, Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Rd.

•Tourism Day at the K — May 19, 7:10 p.m., Kauffman Stadium, 1 Royal Way

•5th Annual FORE KC! Golf Classic — July 18, 9 a.m., Milburn Golf & Country Club, 7501 W. 69th St.

For more info about CVA member events or to RSVP, contact Karen Myer at 816-691-3813.

The following members have some good news to share. Click here for the full stories.

•Michael Stern Extends Contract with Kansas City Symphony

•Nelson-Atkins Museum Offers Tactile Tours for Visually Impaired

•Parisi Coffee Opens its First Coffee Shop in Union Station

•Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark Announces Six New Attractions

•Sporting Kansas City Announces Opening Game at New Stadium

•The Raphael Hotel Joins Autograph Collection

Does your company have news to share about a renovation, promotion, new offering or award? Send it to Andrea Sammarco with "Member News" in the subject line.

Our local hospitality community continues to grow. Join us in welcoming the following new CVA members.

•American Girl — Oak Park Mall store offering everything from doll clothes to a doll hair salon.

•Apple Bus Company — A "family-style" full-service transportation provider.

•North Star Events & Entertainment — Event specialists that provide theme décor, games, staffing and more.

•Kansas City Concierge — Unique convention and event concierge company.

•The Saint George Hotel — Timeless Weston hotel that once served steamboat captains and tradesmen.

•Michale Doyle Photography — Reliable photography group specializing in event photography.

•Kathy Disney Photography — Journalistic photography that captures candid life.

•Pizza Hut — Longtime favorite for pizza, wings and pasta.

Thank you to these community members for their continued support of the CVA.

•35 Years: The American Restaurant • Crown Center • Hallmark Visitors Centert • Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Kansas City • Kansas City Royals • Milano Italian Dining

•30 Years: Sosland Companies, Inc.

•15 Years: Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors • Leavenworth Convention & Visitors Bureau • Museums at 18th & Vine • Missouri Office Systems & Supplies, Inc. • National Agricultural Center & Hall of Fame

•10 Years: The Capital Grille • Conference Center & Town Pavilion Rotunda • Executive Beechcraft, Inc. • Lecompton Historical Society

•5 Years: M & S Grill • National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics