41 questions with Kansas Tour Company of Kansas
1) When did you get started?
Kansas Tour Company: 2020.
2) How did you think to start?
KTC: I have moved around the country a lot with my previous career. During moves and travels I always searched out the coolest places to eat and drink. So, it started with an idea to share the best in the Midwest and Kansas City. I met Robin who is my Tour Partner in Kansas City and we expanded our tours to include History, Food and Brewery tours along with the chauffeured tours for larger groups and corporate guests.
3) What inspires you?
KTC: To share the best of the city with everyone I meet.
4) Do you have a special connection to the location you operate in?
KTC: I grew up in the Midwest and traveled to Kansas City frequently.
5) What was your business’ first best seller or big success?
KTC: Walking Food tours were our original best success.
6) What was your first setback?
KTC: The pandemic was a challenge but we were thankfully prepared, even though we didn’t realize it. We had walking history tours which where outdoors plus self guided tours that guests were able to enjoy even during the pandemic.
7) How many people do you employ?
KTC: Our Tour Team varies during the year but has anywhere from 3-5 Tour Hosts. We are always looking for passionate locals to share stories of our great city.
8) What is your current best seller?
KTC: Our Downtown Streetcar Walking History tour is the most popular.
9) Are you seasonal?
KTC: We offer tours all year long.
10) Do you have an online experience?
KTC: Guests can book tours on our website.
11) Do you have a seasonal specialty?
KTC: In the fall we offer Ghost Stories tours. During the holiday season we offer a special Holiday tour.
12) What is the most interesting thing about your product or service?
KTC: We let guests pick when they want to take our tours. Any group of guests, from small to large, can request a tour on a day & time that fits their schedule.
What is the most interesting thing about your business itself? We are unique not only because we have tours available daily but we also have both history and food tours. We are able to customize tour experiences for groups to match what they want to experience in Kansas City.
13) What is the most interesting thing about how your business interacts with where you’re located?
KTC: We exclusively support locally owned businesses. This is our mission to share the local stories of our community and support its local business owners.
14) What are your long term plans for your business?
KTC: We will grow and continue to offer new tours in new ways.
15) Do you have any plans for next this year?
KTC: We plan to start offering our pop-up tours that are one time special events with exclusive behind the scenes access.
16) Do you do anything unique?
KTC: Our Tour Team members are empowered to create tour ideas that bring new stories to our guests.
17) Do you have any advice for other business owners about a subject you feel you excel at?
KTC: Listen to everyone. We have had great business ideas from our guests, our partners and our team.
18) Do you have a business thesis or specific mission?
KTC: Kansas Tour Company crafts custom experiences which connect people to the local story of our community.
19) What do you attribute your success to?
KTC: A passion to support the community and our team 49. Is there a reason that you operate where you do?
20) Do you have a favorite place to vacation?
KTC: Personally, I still have so much of America to discover. A road trip to a new location is always being planned.
21) How does your business adapt to change?
KTC: We are a small team with open communication so we can react to feedback and make changes quickly.
22) Is this your first business?
KTC: This is the first business we have owned.
23) Will you ever sell this business?
KTC: I don’t have any plans to sell.
24) Do you have a favorite quote?
KTC: “The noblest art is that of making others happy.” P.T. Barnum 80.
25) What do you like most about the operations of your business?
KTC: We are flexible which is not the norm in the tour industry.
26) How would you make the world a better place?
KTC: Continue to share stories of past and present so we can all learn from them.
27) What is your favorite thing about the world?
KTC: There are so many different cultures and people that we can learn things from.
28) What is your favorite state in the Midwest?
KTC: We have to say both KC states: Kansas & Missouri, of course.
29) What state in the Midwest are you located?
KTC: Kansas & Missouri
30) What is your favorite thing about the Midwest?
KTC: My favorite thing about the Midwest is its central location. Getting anywhere in the country is relatively easy. My second favorite thing about living in the Midwest is the friendliness of the people.
31) Have you traveled to any other states in the Midwest?
KTC: Many.
32) What is your favorite place to visit in your state?
KTC: It will have to be have to be Table Rock Lake. It’s such a majestic body of water, and thanks to careful management of the Corps of Engineers, it hasn’t been over commercialized like Lake of the Ozarks. It’s a fine day whenever I can be on the boat down there and just swim whenever I take a notion.
33) What is your favorite season?
KTC: Fall—the big oaks of the Midwest, and especially KC because we have so many trees within the city, are absolutely stunning. My second favorite season is summer, when I can swim all day.
34) Introduce yourself:
KTC: I am Robin, and I have the distinct pleasure of being a Tour Guide for the Kansas Tour Company. It’s the best job in the world because it never feels like work, and I learn new things every time I take a tour.
35) Where can people find you on social media?
KTC: @KansasTourcompany (Facebook, Instagram & TikTok) @KansasTourCo (Twitter).
36) What’s a good cultural destination in your area for tourists to visit?
KTC: Kansas City is lucky to have such a vibrant cultural scene for a city of our size. The Kauffman Center houses our Opera, Symphony, and Ballet. I’m an opera season ticket holder, and I have been coming to see performances here since before I moved back to the area. But performances I’ve seen from all three arms of our arts triumvirate are as good as any you’ll see in Chicago. We’re fortunate to have access to such a stunning venue and such a fine array of performances, and I’d like to see Kansas Citians take more advantage of these offerings. Not without mention is the Nelson Atkins Museum; it’s exquisite. We have an original Carvaggio, one of only ten or so pieces housed outside Rome, I believe.
37) Where do people visit most from?
KTC: The majority of our guests come to us by driving from somewhere in a nearby state. We do have a portion of our guests that are local to the KC metro. 217. What is the most popular destination in town for tourists to visit? I would say that the most popular place for tourists to visit in KC is the downtown area, to include Union Station and all down the streetcar line to the River Market. It’s a vast change from the Kansas City of my youth—think suburban shopping malls and a basically deserted downtown—and it’s really made our city vibrant.
38) What is the most underrated destination in town for tourists to visit?
KTC: In my mind, this would have to be the 18th and Vine Jazz district. It’s such an integral part of the city and our history, and both the Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum are wholly unique to KC. Stop in at the revered Arthur Bryant’s for some BBQ, and end the day with some Live Jazz at one of the clubs, and you’ve got yourself a quintessential Kansas City day.
39) What does your area offer that nowhere else does?
KTC: It would be so easy to say here, “well, there’s only one Kansas City!” But actually there’s two. I think we offer a unique bi-state city that offers a great time for any traveler; we have the best BBQ, we have great arts and cultural offerings, and we have many darling neighborhoods and suburbs for people to explore. From Strawberry Hill in downtown KCK (Kansas City Kansas) to the happening KCMO (Kansas City Missouri), I think we have something for everyone.
40) What are your tours like?
KTC: Our most popular tours are walking tours. Our History walking tours are 1 hour experiences to hear about our past and see landmarks plus historical buildings. Our Food walking tours are 3 hour experiences that visit multiple unique restaurants for food tastings and cocktails.
41) How far in advance should people book?
KTC: Our guests can book a walking tour up to 24-48 hours before the start time; depending on the type of tour. We have self-guided tours that are always available.
Find out more at Kansas Tour Company's website or follow on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok.