11-07-18 Tourism Business Improvement District MinutesBoard of Directors Meeting
Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District
November 7, 2018
3:00 pm — 5:00 pm
Location: Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Minutes
Board Members Present: Zac Ford, Emily Schroeder
Board Members Absent: Shawn Campbell, Dan Moderie, Dawn Hendrickson, Janet Clark, Sean Morris
Staff Present: Joe Unterreiner, Diane Medler, Dawn Jackson, Vonnie Day
Guests: Scott Rieke, Best Western Inn Plus; Jeff Thompson & Matt Downing, Flathead Wrestling Club; Marcia
Spano, Skijoring at Rebecca Farm
A quorum was not met so no action was taken during the meeting.
1. Hear from the Public — none
2. KCVB Event Grant Requests — since a quorum was not present, proposals will be emailed to board
members for a vote.
Jeff Thompson with Flathead Valley Wrestling Club submitted an application for $2,000 - $2,500 to
be used for facility costs. The group is going to bid on two events for I" quarter of 2019 (they will
hold only one event). Both proposed events are projected to attract 700 — 800 wrestlers:
a) The InterValley Wrestling Tournament, March 15 —16 at Rankin, if held will draw wrestlers from
Montana and northern Idaho, the event location moves around Montana every year.
b) Making a Difference, February 23 at FHS, if held will attract wrestlers from a multi -state region, the
event is new to Kalispell, FVWC hopes to make it an annual event
Proposal: a cash grant of $1,000 and in -kind promotion of $500 plus 16 room nights for event
referees.
Discussion: the organizers are experienced and well-connected in the NW U.S. regional wrestling
community. They've already reserved FHS and Rankin gyms to accommodate the respective
events. Wrestling parents often travel for out-of-town tournaments. Projected room nights: 150-200
for either event.
Marcia Spano with Montana Equestrian Events submitted an application for a $3,500 grant for
Skijoring at Rebecca Farm, December 29 — 30. Grant funds will be applied to the prize purse. Last
year's event attracted 88 teams and more than 2,000 spectators in spite of unusually severe winter
weather. In addition to racing competition Saturday and Sunday, this year's event includes team
registration Friday night, Calcutta Night on Saturday and an awards ceremony Sunday
evening. Projected room nights: 120. Last year they had 35 out of market participants from around
Montana and CO, WA, CA.
Proposal: $2,000 cash grant plus $500 in -kind promotion from KCVB. Kalispell Chamber will
supplement with additional in -kind promotion.
Discussion: the event last year was well organized and feedback was excellent. It is the first of ten
events on the www.skiioringamenca.com 2018/2019 winter schedule and offers one of the largest
prize purses. Their goal for this year's purse is $25,000. Organizers are hoping to have more than 100
teams and plan to expand the retail and food offerings. The event falls on the weekend before New
Year's so has potential for extended stays.
3. Board Action Items
Quorum was not met so vote was not held to approve October 3rd minutes and September financials. Diane
presented final FY2018 financial statements for review and discussion.
4. Board Discussion
a. Event updates:
i. Indoor Soccer — registration is open and two teams have signed up, initial meeting with MSI
was held to begin recruiting teams, the need for a 41" field is being evaluated.
b. Event grant update:
The Big Sky 5V5 Wrestling Tournament was cancelled so grant funds were not distributed.
c. Marketing updates:
i. Strategic planning update — arrangements are moving forward with consultant Carl Ribaudo
who will be working with CVB/TBID to develop a marketing and organizational strategic plan.
Carl will begin the process by meeting with local stakeholders December 13 —17 and conclude
by providing an action plan in early March. Winter messaging is of special interest. Input on
critical success factors is requested from TBID members.
ii. Fall "Yourself" campaign — focus is on drive markets in Spokane, Eastern Washington, Calgary
and Lethbridge. Testing is being done in LA, San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago markets. The
drive market campaign features images showing road maps to Kalispell and talks about fall
and winter activities. Objectives are to get viewers to sign up for the CVB enews, view the
visitor guide and engage with the website. Spokane, Coeur d'Alene and Calgary are the focus
of the winter campaign. The focus will be narrow since winter messaging will be evaluated in
the upcoming strategic planning project.
iii. Other Marketing updates:
• National Forest Initiative — partnering with Glacier Country to sponsor a national program
promoting Flathead National Forest. As partners we get full rights to video, images and B
roll. Kalispell also be included in a corresponding national promotion.
• 1st Qtr FY19 website report — traffic is down from last year, however engagement is up.
SEM or SEO was limited during the quarter due to the switch in ad agencies on July I"
• Kalispell Bed Tax collections were up 15% for 41" Qtr of FY18.
• The new Brewery, Winery, Distillery & Cidery map is available in the VIC and on
discoverkalispel I.com.
c. Group, M&C Updates:
■ The aRes booking platform will be incorporated in the new Discover Kalispell website. All but
four TBID properties are already part of the feed so will be automatically included on the
platform. The remaining four properties are able to participate through an Extranet system.
Expedia currently shows 194 lodging properties when searching for Kalispell as it includes
properties in neighboring towns and short term rentals. The opportunity to direct book
through aRes will help keep consumers focused on TBID hotels. A soft launch of the
redesigned website is planned for the end of November.
■ Waiting for response from POMA.
• PNWAR Conference went to Big Sky.
• Montana League of Cities is a potential conference for September 2020. They are visiting for a
site tour at the end of November.
• Submitting RFP for Beer Now blogger conference pre/post excursions in fall of 2019.
• Working with MWED to evaluate whether Kalispell has the capacity to accommodate the
Innovate Montana Symposium in early fall of 2019.
• The International Bear Association Conference has been confirmed for late September, 2020.
Attendance will be 500+.
• MT High School Lacrosse Association is working with local teams to evaluate holding the
2020 championship in Kalispell.
• Meetings Today magazine featured Kalispell CVB in an article about the IRU Conference and
how the CVB showcased our destination in April when many seasonal visitor activities, facilities
and locations were not available.
• Dawn and Diane will schedule annual meetings with TBID members to be held late November
and early December.
• Dawn will call TBID members to get updated meeting guide information.
iii. IMEX - this was the 51" year Kalispell has been represented at IMEX. The Glacier Country group
had 18 scheduled appointments, three unscheduled and four walkups which was the largest
number of walkups ever. Many were attracted to the Montana booth by the opportunity to
take a photo with Montana Cowboy Jason St. Claire. The majority of the attendees were
incentive planners looking for 4 — 5 diamond properties. Many had never been to Montana
so the conference was an opportunity to build awareness of what the state offers. Since the
incentive segment is not as strong for Kalispell the CVB will evaluate future participation in
IMEX.
5. General discussion regarding recommended areas of focus for strategic planning process:
• Group discussed that they have felt the growth in WF: additional lodging properties, hockey tournaments
appear to be increasingly moving to Whitefish because the indoor rink, Whitefish Mountain Resort's
expansion of summer activities and the WF trail system add to Whitefish's attraction. They also do a good
job of promoting their downtown.
• Important for consultant to look at how we message the redefined Kalispell based on upcoming changes in
downtown with the removal of tracks and new development.
• More sports arenas and event centers are need in Kalispell. Missoula has increased their capacity and as
such are securing more events.
• Group discussed pricing strategies. Many felt the TBID properties need rate integrity rather than simply
lowering rates in a "race to the bottom".
• Scott Rieke will approach Country Inn & Suites about joining TBID as he is also an Associate Member and can
provide input on benefits.
• Should TBID assessment amount be reviewed? Should the amount be the same statewide?
Meeting adjourned at 5:00pm
Respectfully Submitted: Diane Medler
For Further Information, please contact:
Diane Medler, CVB Director, diane@discoverkalispell.com or 406-758-2808