05-01-19 Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District MinutesBoard of Directors Meeting
Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District
May 1, 2019
3:00 pm
Location: Kalispell Chamber Conference Room
Minutes
Board Members Present: Zac Ford, Dawn Hendrickson, Sean Morris, Lucy Weeder, Emily Schroeder, Janet
Clark, Bryce Baker
Board Members Absent: none
Staff Present: Diane Medler, Joe Unterreiner, Dawn Jackson, Vonnie Day, Meche Ek
Guests: Heidi Gilmond, Red Lion; Alan Brooks and Ben Mumm, Flathead County Human Trafficking Task Force
Meeting was called to order by Chair Dawn Hendrickson at 3:04 pm.
1. Hear from the Public — none
2. Presentation by Alan Brooks and Ben Mumm, Flathead County Human Trafficking Task Force. Since
lodging facilities are sometimes used for traffickers, they would like to enlist local lodging management
and staff watching for possible trafficking in their properties. Alan and Ben are offering a presentation
at the Red Lion, May 2 at 10am on how lodging personnel can help identify and report trafficking
activities. TBID members are invited and encouraged to attend. Based on observing local digital
communications, the busiest time of year for trafficking in the Flathead Valley is Spartan Race weekend.
Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign is a great resource for hoteliers and can be
downloaded on the MLHA website.
3. Event grant application — Northern Rodeo Finals. NRF representative, Bo Wagner, called in to provide a
summary of the event. Event grant application is available in board packet.
Motion was made by Bryce Baker to approve a grant of $4,000 cash plus 10 complimentary room nights.
The cash amount will be paid directly to Majestic Valley Arena. Motion was seconded by Sean Morris.
Discussion: the event will be held at the Majestic Valley Arena October 24 — 26, 2019. The event has
not been held in Kalispell, was in Butte for the last few years then Billings before that. NRF applied for
$7,500 in grant funds to be used for facility costs. Approximately 110 contestants will participate over
three evenings plus juniors and warmup events will take place during the day. Organizers estimate the
event will yield 250 — 350 room nights. NRF will be advised that the grant may not be awarded in
subsequent years. Board approved unanimously.
4. Board Action Items
a. Approval of minutes from April 3, 2019:
Motion was made by Emily Schroeder to approve the minutes. Motion was seconded by Lucy Weeder.
Discussion: none. Board approved unanimously.
b. Approval of TBID financial statements for March, 2019:
Motion was made by Sean Morris to approve the financial statements. Motion was seconded by Emily
Schroeder. Discussion: None. Board approved unanimously.
2. Board Discussion
a. Event updates:
Montana Indoor Soccer Championship —the tournament is a solid event with surveys indicating a 4.4/5
approval rate. Respondents did not favor the addition of the second location. A review is being
conducted of possible partners for next year's event. The ending account balance for the event is
$8,000+. The only limitation on participation is the venue. Next year, we will plan to have three fields in
the Trade Center.
Spartan Race -Spartan is holding an open house for racers Friday, 4 — 6pm to preview parts of the course.
VIP parking passes and spectator passes are available for TBID board members. Registration two weeks
ago was 6,800. Total registration is expected to be over 7,000.
b. Marketing updates:
• Visitor guide requests are burgeoning due to increased visibility on the new website and redirect ads
on Facebook. More than 600 requests for mailed copies of the guide have been received through
the Facebook ad campaign. Email addresses from all respondents are added to our database.
• The spring campaign promoting new non-stop flights is running.
o Includes an extensive digital campaign in Dallas area using MOTBD and Glacier AERO funds.
o Press trip with 3-6 selected travel media from Dallas to take the inaugural flight and spend 4
days in the valley including WF, GNP and Kalispell. Kalispell's itinerary includes two nights in
Kalispell, a kayak excursion on Flathead Lake, tour and activity at Purple Mountain Lavender
Farm, tour of the Conrad Mansion, and meals at downtown Kalispell restaurants.
o Electronic billboard displays in Chicago transit stations promoting the non-stop flights ORD-FCA.
o Discover Kalispell is running a digital campaign in the LA market promoting the non-stop flights
LAX-FCA.
o Also electronic billboards and a terminal takeover at John Wayne Airport promoting the LAX-FCA
flights which is a coop campaign with Whitefish CVB and Glacier AERO.
c. Group, M&C updates:
• Dawn is currently attending International Roundup in Spearfish, SD, continuing to build relationships
with tour operators established last year when Kalispell hosted the IRU.
• Diane and Dawn attended the Governor's Conference on Tourism in Butte during April.
• Meeting planners are being recruited and qualified to attend a Kalispell FAM in June following the
Glacier Country FAM.
• Dawn is maintaining a List of Upcoming Conferences & Events as a resource for hotels. The list is
updated regularly as part of her board report in the monthly board packet.
• Discover Kalispell is hosting a Post FAM to the Beer Now Conference which is being held in Great
Falls in June. The Kalispell Post Fam takes place on Sunday, June 9. The group consists of 30+ beer
bloggers and influencers. Their Kalispell visit includes an excursion to GNP, a scavenger hunt, and a
private event at the Museum at Central School where they'll sample local beers and meet with reps
from Flathead Valley breweries.
Discover Kalispell is hosting a press trip in June with a journalist on assignment with NW Travel
Magazine doing a story on biking in Kalispell and area. He will bike on the GTTS road and also spend
time on the Rails to Trails and visit shops, restaurants, etc. in Kalispell.
e. Wrap up of the 2019 state legislature bills impacting hotels and tourism —Joe Unterreiner.
Three major issues were addressed that may have a big impact on state tourism:
• SB 338 — added 1% to the state bed tax with resulting additional funds to go to the state museum in
Helena, Virginia and Nevada Cities, and the Daley Mansion.
• HB 661— a compromise was reached to set the Aviation Fuel Tax at 3% rather than the proposed
12%. Increased fuel costs may cause airlines to require AERO to provide increased minimum
revenue guarantees.
• Aquatic Invasive Species — $400,000 was pulled from the Montana Office of Tourism's bed tax
funding and allocated toward AIS prevention.
f. Additional notes on AERO:
• The American Airline flights from Dallas to Kalispell were added without incentive to the airline.
• Billings and Missoula had to do a $1 million MRG to add AA service.
• AERO will have to pay $47,000 MRG for the Chicago flight. Seats were down and fuel costs were up.
• The Chicago flight came in five years ago and AERO has had to contribute to a MRG every year.
• AERO paid MRG on the San Francisco winter flight two years ago.
• Discover Kalispell has contributed cash and in -kind marketing to support new flights.
Meeting was adjourned at 4:24 pm.
Respectfully Submitted: Diane Medler
For Further Information, please contact:
Diane Medler, CVB Director, diane@discoverkalispell.com or 406-758-2808