Happy Wednesday. Here’s what’s in store today:
🏨 Two local hotels honored by Condé Nast Traveler
📈 Downtown KCMO’s recent growth, by the numbers
🎤 10 can’t-miss concerts before the end of 2026
🤪 Wacky Wednesday: Sky-high swimming pool
Awards
Two Kansas City Hotels Named Among the Best in the Midwest
Hotel Kansas City
Two Kansas City area hotels were named among the 15 Best Hotels in the Midwest in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Checking In: Crossroads Hotel landed at No. 9, with a total score of 97.98. Crossroads Hotel was also recently awarded one Michelin Key for 2026, making it Kansas City’s only hotel to earn that distinction. Hotel Kansas City came in at No. 12, with a total score of 97.64. Not bad for a city better known for its barbecue than its bedding.
Reader Approved: The rankings are voted on entirely by travelers, not editors. Now in its 39th year, the Readers’ Choice Awards drew more than 750,000 responses from Condé Nast Traveler readers, who rated hotels, resorts, cities, and more across dozens of categories worldwide.
Can you guess which city has the No. 1 hotel in the Midwest? We’ll give you a hint: Kansas City has BBQ, this city has beer & brats. Find it HERE.
Community
Downtown KC Has Recovered 95% of Its Pre-Pandemic Foot Traffic
KC Daily
The Downtown Council’s latest State of Downtown Report shows Downtown KCMO isn’t just recovering, it’s growing.
Back in Business: Downtown has regained 95% of its pre-pandemic foot traffic and is home to 33,000+ residents, up 151% since 2000, thanks to 60+ office-to-apartment conversions. Visits are up 7% from last year after the World Cup. Workers living within 2 miles of the office have returned at a rate of 95%, compared to 76% overall.
Engine Room: Greater Downtown covers just 2% of Kansas City’s land but holds 105,000 jobs, a third of the city’s total, and nearly a third of those don’t require a college degree. It also generates 20% of the city’s tax revenue, which funds schools, parks, and libraries in every neighborhood. More than $10 billion in investment is expected over the next seven years.
Read the full report HERE.
Events
KC’s Biggest Concerts Before the End of 2026
KC Daily
Concert season is slowly coming to a close here in Kansas City, but there are plenty of great shows coming up before we flip the calendar to 2027. Here are 10 can’t-miss concerts before the end of the year:
Thomas Rhett: The Soundtrack to Life Tour
Morton Amphitheater | Friday, October 23rd | 7:30pm
Meduza
KC Live! | Friday, October 30th | 7:00pm
SOMBR - Your Are The Reason Tour
T-Mobile Center | Saturday, October 31st | 7:00pm
Goose
The Midland Theatre | Tuesday, November 3rd-Wednesday, November 4th | 7:00pm
The Jonas Brothers: The Burning Up Tour All Over Again
T-Mobile Center | Tuesday, November 3rd | 7:30pm
38 Special
Ameristar Casino & Hotel | Saturday, November 7th | 8:30pm
Cheap Trick: All Washed Up Tour
Uptown Theater | Wednesday, November 11th | 7pm
The Neighbourhood: THE WORLD TOUR
T-Mobile Center | Monday, November 16th | 7pm
For King and Country
T-Mobile Center | Saturday, December 19th | 7pm
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
T-Mobile Center | Tuesday, December 29th | 3pm & 7:30pm
Find a full list of concerts in Kansas City before the end of 2026 HERE.
KC Daily Picks
In Other News…
🧹 Clean Out Your Closet For a Cause: Donate clothing and household items to support Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City—turning gently used goods into funding that helps create life-changing mentorship opportunities for local youth.*
☀️ Soak Up the Sun: Sunlighten Day Spa in Overland Park has reopened after an extensive renovation. The updated space offers Intelligent Saunas from KC-based Sunlighten, red light therapy rooms, and a full lineup of spa services.
🏀 Cait + Tay: WNBA star Caitlyn Clark joined Taylor Swift at the Chiefs game this past Sunday. Clark grew up just ~3 hours away in Des Moines, IA, and is a lifelong Chiefs fan.
🏈 No Loss Club: The Chiefs are one of three NFL teams that remain unbeaten, alongside the Minnesota Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers. Next up: the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, October 25th at 7:20pm.
🍽️ Gather Around The Table: Have you signed up for KC Daily Dinner Club in Brookside on Thursday, October 29th? Your new friends have! Take a 15-question personality quiz, get matched, and we handle the rest.
🤝 Local Partners: KC Daily lands in 29,283 inboxes every weekday morning, and so could your business or event! Partnering with KC Daily is easy, effective, and 100% local.
*content is sponsored
Wacky Wednesday 🤪
Hotel Kansas City used to have a five-lane swimming pool on the 13th floor of its historic downtown building.
The building opened in 1922 as the Kansas City Club, an exclusive social club with restaurants, athletic facilities, a bowling alley, and 160 private hotel rooms. The 13th-floor pool was a unique feature, and some of its original tile remains today. The building reopened as Hotel Kansas City in 2020.
Thanks for reading today’s newsletter! If you enjoyed it, share it with someone who could use a staycation in Kansas City.
— Nick Hageman | Co-Founder @ KC Daily
