09-04-19 Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District MinutesBoard of Directors Meeting
Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District
September 4, 2019
3:00 pm
Location: Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Conference Room
Minutes
Board Members Present: Dawn Hendrickson, Lucy Weeder, Bryce Baker, Emily Schroeder
Board Members Absent: Zac Ford, Janet Clark, Joseph Alexander
Staff Present: Diane Medler, Dawn Jackson, Joe Unterreiner, Vonnie Day
Guests: Jamie Reeder, Kalispell Job Service; Dan Moderie, Super 8; Ben Heese, Executive Chef, Red Lion Hotel
Meeting was called to order by Chair Dawn Hendrickson at 3:07 pm.
1. Hear from the Public— None
2. Board Action Items
a. Approval of minutes from August 7, 2019:
Motion was made by Lucy Weeder to approve the minutes. Motion was seconded by Emily Schroeder.
Discussion: none. Board approved unanimously.
b. Approval of TBID financial statements:
Motion was made by Bryce Baker to approve the financial statements for FY19 (preliminary) and
July, 2019. Motion was seconded by Emily Schroeder. Discussion: None. Board approved
unanimously.
c. Approval of contract award to Lightning Bug PR for PR and Brand Content Strategy services.
Motion was made by Lucy Weeder to approve the contract award. Motion was seconded by Bryce
Baker.
Discussion: Five responses to the RFP were received: Partners Creative, Upward PR, Aspen
Communications, Hagadone/Blue 541 and Lightning Bug. The review committee members, Lucy
Weeder, Bryce Baker, Diane Medler and Vonnie Day, reviewed submissions and interviewed
representatives of four of the firms. The committee decided to award the contract to Tia Troy with
Lightning Bug PR due to Tia- s extensive background in tourism in the state including experience
communicating with meeting planners and tour operators, her passion, and her fresh approach. The
contract with Lightning Bug starts September 1st. Tia will be in Kalispell September 6 to meet with DK
staff and Flathead Beacon Productions. Board approved unanimously.
3. Board Discussion
a. Event grant updates:
• An event grant page is being created on the DK website. Applicants will be able to submit online.
• New event grant guidelines provide leverage to encourage recipients to expedite addition of the
DK lodging link to their website and other communications with event participants.
• The board discussed modifying the application schedule to quarterly or annual. Decided to
continue with existing schedule.
• Remaining FY20 grant funds available: $11,325.
b. Marketing updates:
• GPI enplanements in July were up 25.3% from July, 2018.
• American Airlines is adding a direct flight from LaGuardia next summer.
• American announced plans to double the size of the planes used for Chicago and Dallas flights next
summer.
• United will be offering the weekly Chicago flight through October.
• Airport expansion starts in 2021.
• The Airport transportation fee for hotel shuttles starts in January, 2020.
• Bed Tax collections were up 3% for 2nd Qtr of 2019.
• Digital retargeting campaign continues to do well with Google Ad Words attaining a 3.98% CTR and
average position of 1.8.
• More funds are being allocated to the Chicago market through September. Retargeted social ads
are achieving a good conversion rate.
• Northwest Travel & Life magazine ran an article about the Great Bear Wilderness and Stanton Lake
and included DiscoverKalispell.com as information source.
• TBID revenue for Q4 FY19 totaled $168,526, a 1% increase over FY18.
c. Group, M&C updates:
• Montana Ghost Town Preservation Society chose Hilton Garden Inn as host hotel for Sept 2020.
• MEDA — have committed to Kalispell for May 2020, no host hotel chosen yet.
• Montana Training Conference, June 2020, assisting organizers with planning.
• GPIA is hosting Airport Rendezvous in 2020. Offered assistance if the conference takes place in
Kalispell. Joe is attending the 2019 conference later this month.
• Battalion Reunion in 2021— working with organizers on group activity suggestions and hotel
selection.
• After their successful 2016 conference here, POMA has committed to holding their 2021
conference in Kalispell. It's unusual for them to return to a former conference location.
• Montana League of Cities and Towns has selected Kalispell for September, 2020 and will be
using conference facilities at both Hilton Garden Inn and Red Lion.
• International Conference of Low Volume Roads is at the Hilton September 15 —19. KCVB
assisted with transportation coordination and activities information.
• Dawn will attend the Small Market Meetings Expo in Green Bay, WI, September 24 — 26.
• Dawn is receiving increased number of requests from tour groups to provide a personal greeting
at their arrival.
• A new piece of group collateral was developed for the HTEC Conference: a flyer highlighting
activities for attendees to enjoy before, during, and after the event. The flyer can be customized
for future groups and events.
• Meetings Today featured a case study on Beer Now, a Post-Fam event organized and hosted by
Discover Kalispell in June. Discover Kalispell also placed an ad and a profile in the publication
which is a planning tool used by meeting organizers.
d. TBID renewal discussion and updates
• A recap report has been created covering the TBID's first 10 years, key segments and initiatives
and plans for the next 10 years.
• The report and petition documents will be sent to all TBID property owners for signature.
• The TBID expires the end of June, 2020, however posting requirements make it necessary to have
petitions signed by the end of October. Petitions must be signed by owners of record. Diane will
be in touch with property managers to get owner contact information.
• Diane will be contacting each owner and may ask board members to accompany her for meetings
with less -involved properties.
• Montana Base Camp RV Park — Charlie Harball has said the park meets the definition of a lodging
property and is within the city limits so should be part of the TBID. The TBID renewal is based on
getting approval from 60% of the acreage of TBID properties.
e. Roundtable Discussion:
• August was better than last year. We're benefiting from lack of wildfires.
• September is good for age 50+ travelers.
• This September is looking strong.
• School starting has pulled workers out of the labor market.
• Jamie Reeder with Job Service said efforts to recruit more local workers have been challenging
due to lack of interest from locals.
• After several years of using J1 Visa international workers, Hilton Garden Inn tried to hire locals this
summer. Results were disappointing. HGI will return to hiring J1 Visa workers next year.
• Job Service can assist with applications for the J1 program. They have a designated J1 staff person
who may be able to attend the October 2nd board meeting.
• Guests seem cranky and often express fear of bears.
• The west of side of Going to the Sun will be closed September 16 — 29. Advice on accessing other
areas of the park will be placed on the DK website.
f. Strategic plan and brand content development timeline/process
The board discussed what sets Kalispell apart, what defines us as a destination within itself outside of
GNP, Flathead Lake, etc.
• In the Inspiration stage of trip planning Glacier Park, outdoor recreation, scenery and charming
towns in our region are being promoted not only by Discover Kalispell but also other tourism
entities such as VisitMT, Glacier Country and Explore Whitefish. How does Kalispell differentiate
itself?
• Whitefish and Kalispell share some commonalities: breweries, farmers markets, trails, shopping,
restaurants, galleries, food trucks, hotels (flag and independent), and others.
• Whitefish possesses a number of unique attributes, for example a ski resort, nightlife, an in -town
lake and river, boutique retail, an extensive restaurant selection, a walkable downtown, etc.
• Kalispell possesses as many or more unique attributes, for example touchable history, larger
convention facilities, Kid Sports, authentic local culture, affordable variety, the Fairgrounds, box
and boutique retail, no resort tax, etc.
Meeting was adjourned at 4:25pm
Respectfully Submitted: Diane Medler
For Further Information, please contact:
Diane Medler, CVB Director, diane@discoverkalispell.com or 406-758-2808