MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A series of major events and renewed conference activity are expected to bring thousands of visitors to Hutchinson in the coming weeks, according to the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber President and CEO Debra Teufel said May will be especially busy, highlighted by large-scale events such as Geocaching Woodstock and the USA National Horseshoe Pitching Championship at Rice Park.
Teufel said Geocaching Woodstock alone is expected to draw significant attendance.
“I believe the Geocaching Woodstock event is going to bring in like 3,000 people in Hutchinson, and it’s a multi-day event,” she said. “There’s so many things happening, I can’t even tell you all of them.”
The Chamber credits efforts by the Visit Hutch team for helping secure events that attract both regional and national audiences. Teufel pointed to ongoing outreach at industry gatherings and connections made through local organizations.
“Holly is really out there promoting Hutchinson and Reno County at a lot of national events and international events to bring new kinds of events to Hutchinson,” Teufel said.
In addition to tourism-driven events, Hutchinson is also seeing a resurgence in conferences and association meetings, aided by expanded meeting and lodging facilities.
Teufel said the addition of conference space connected to a hotel has been key in attracting organizations that previously chose other Kansas cities.
“For many years, we lacked that conference space attached to a hotel, and it really hit our transient guest tax. It hurt our local economy for not having that,” she said.
Recent activity includes hosting the Kansas County Commissioners Association, which held meetings and sessions in Hutchinson last week. Topics discussed ranged from legislative issues affecting counties to planning and public works.
Teufel said the city’s central location in Kansas, combined with improved infrastructure, is helping Hutchinson compete more effectively for events and conferences.
“We are a perfect location,” she said. “Now our conference activity is coming back.”