TOPEKA – The Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau earned two Marketing Awards from the Travel Industry Association of Kansas. The winners were announced Wednesday during the TIAK’s 2020 Kansas Tourism Conference taking place virtually through the month of October.
The TIAK Marketing Awards are chosen annually to recognize excellence in destination marketing initiatives across the state. They are divided into six categories and broken out by the organization’s marketing budget: Large (over $100,000), medium (20,000–$100,000), and small ($19,999 and under).
Great Bend falls into the medium category. The honors CVB earned included a print award for its Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo rack card and an online media ward for its Explore Great Bend website.
“I am over-the-moon excited about these awards,” said Christina Hayes, Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau director and community coordinator. “What an honor, and we cannot wait to show everyone what Great Bend can do next.”
This has been a goal of hers since 2016. “I love submitting our options so that we can continue to learn and grow and continue to make better marketing coverage for Great Bend.”
Other winners included:
• Community Awareness
Small Budget: Northwest Kansas Travel Council - community guide
Medium Budget: Abilene CVB - #AbileneStrong campaign
Large Budget: Visit Kansas City, KS - #SupportLocalKCK campaign
• Event
Small Budget: Downtown Hays Development Corp. - virtual welcome for students
Large Budget: Olathe CVB - Virtual Olathe Fourth Fridays
Small Budget: Seneca Area Chamber - Big Kansas Road Trip program guide ad
Large Budget: Visit Kansas City, KS - KCK coloring pages
• Online Media
Small Budget: Seneca Area Chamber: Big Kansas Road Trip video
Large Budget: Visit Kansas City, KS - KCK Mini-Escape campaign
• Visitors Guide (in-house)
Small Budget: South Central Kansas Tourism Region
Medium Budget: Merriam Visitors Bureau
Large Budget: Hays CVB
• Visitors Guide (outsourced)
Small Budget: Visit Shawnee
Medium Budget: Visit Manhattan
Large Budget: Explore Lawrence
• Best In Show
Seneca Area Chamber & Downtown Impact - Big Kansas Road Trip video
TIAK is a statewide membership organization whose mission is to speak with one voice for the travel and tourism industry in Kansas by supporting all components of the travel development field. Its goals are to influence government decisions, provide a forum for interaction among all industry sectors, and develop programs that positively reflect the impact of tourism on the state and local economies.
