KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Visit KC is proud to announce the launch of the newly refreshed KC BBQ Experience program, the ultimate resource for enjoying Kansas City's signature cuisine. 

Originally released in 2018, the free KC BBQ Experience allows residents and visitors alike to track their barbecue adventures at more than 100 restaurants across the metro. 

Barbecue enthusiasts can go beyond just checking in with the revamped BBQ Experience, which now allows users to earn points and win prizes while supporting KC's local businesses. 

“Kansas City's foundation is built on friendly people and great food, authentically and passionately presented from the heart,” said Traci Moon, Visit KC's senior vice president of marketing and communications. “With over 100 barbecue restaurants on both sides of the state line, the revamped KC BBQ Experience makes it even easier to explore this historic local industry.” 

Racking up rewards with KC BBQ Experience is easy. Simply sign up for free on VisitKC.com, and your digital passport will be sent directly to your smart phone. Guests can then head to one of the 100-plus barbecue joints in the Kansas City area, where they can easily check in with their passport to earn points. Each restaurant is geo-fenced to ensure check-ins occur on-site. 

Supporting our local partners, users earn 2x the points when checking in at restaurants that are Visit KC members. 

“Visit KC is constantly working to find new ways to showcase area businesses, and we hope the new and improved KC BBQ Experience does just that,” said Lauren Logan, director of partnerships and events. “Diners now have a great resource to eat barbecue, support local and earn rewards.” 

Whether here for a weekend or for the long haul, BBQ Experience users can win rewards almost instantly. Just 100 points, or one check-in at a Visit KC partner restaurant, will land barbecue fans their first reward. 

Prizes include bottle openers, hats, aprons and more. The newly opened and world's first Museum of BBQ at Kansas City's Crown Center will serve as the primary site for redeeming prizes. 

The new KC BBQ Experience officially launched Friday, July 25, and is ready for users to blaze their own trail through KC's barbecue scene. To find more information about Kansas City barbecue, please visit VisitKC.com. 

BBQ Experience logos and Kansas City barbecue photos are available here for media use. Please credit Visit KC.  

About Visit KC            

Attracting millions of visitors to the Kansas City area annually, Visit KC is the internationally accredited chief hospitality sales and marketing organization for the region. With a mission of creating global passion for Kansas City, Visit KC collaborates with nearly 1,000 community partners to drive the marketing, sales and service of the destination's convention and tourism industry—a sector that supports more than 128,000 local jobs and generates millions of dollars in community spending and sales tax revenue. For more information about Kansas City, please visit the official Visit KC website. Travelers planning their next trip to Kansas City can also find inspiration and local insights in the 2025 Visit KC Visitors Guide.