By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
New hotels, a sports complex, and new places to shop. For years, many in Great Bend have worked to make the city a Kansas destination. Those efforts really paid off in 2022. Not only were sales taxes up for the city last year, but the Transient Guest Tax which fully funds the Convention & Visitors Bureau, surpassed $400,000 for the first time since being implemented in the 1970s. CVB Director Christina Hayes said it all goes to benefit the city.
"I think some people don't realize those taxes go to help our community," she said. "They go to help fund the street department, the water department. They go help us create these retail events to bring in more dollars. All of it's important, and I think in 2022, that was a huge success."
Great Bend's Transient Guest Tax is six percent and, by state law, must be used to fund the CVB. The tax generated nearly $435,000 last year, with $362,207 going to fully fund the CVB, and the remaining $72,441 going toward the Events Center.
"The CVB does have an Advisory Board that meets every other month and guides me on how to adequately use those dollars, and where we should focus our tourism efforts for the year," Hayes said.
Transient Guest Tax income gained steadily from $266,000 in 2013 to $349,000 in 2018. COVID-19 played a role in a dip over the next two years, but the tax drew in approximately 42 percent more in 2022 than it did in 2021 to generate $434,649 last year. Part of that is due to a rate increase, but the city is also becoming a destination.
"When the Expo grounds are full, the Events Center is full, and the sports complex is full on the whole year - we had no open weekends for those three venues," said Hayes. "What a great success on sales tax and Transient Guest Taxes for Great Bend."
Hayes will continue to use the money to promote Great Bend around the region, hosting more travel writers and working on Wayfinding signs in town. She continues to work with state tourism boards, and will again promote the city at the Omaha travel show and at another travel show in Texas.
"Over the years, we have found that it truly helps Great Bend to be at the table with other state tourism professionals," she said. "Therefore. we proudly represent our community statewide."