10-28-20 Tourism Business Improvement District MinutesBoard of Directors Meeting
Kalispell Tourism Improvement District
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Online Access via Zoom
MINUTES
Board Members Present (via Zoom): Emily Schroeder, Zac Ford, Bryce Baker, Joseph Alexander, Britta Joy
Board Members Absent: Dawn Hendrickson, Janet Clark
Staff Present: Joe Unterreiner, Lorraine Clarno, Diane Medler, Dawn Jackson, Vonnie Day
Guests (via Zoom): Noelle Barnes - Kalispell Grand Hotel; Robert Hall - Holiday Inn Express; Chantelle McDuffie –
Lambert Hotels.
Meeting Called to Order at 3:10 pm by Emily Schroeder, Board Chair
1. Hear from the Public – none
2. Board Action Items
a. Approval of minutes from September 23, 2020
Motion was made by Zac Ford to approve the minutes. Motion was seconded by Britta Joy.
Discussion: none. Board approved unanimously.
b. Approval of TBID financial statements for September 2020
Motion was made by Bryce Baker to approve the financials. Motion was seconded by Zac Ford.
Discussion: none. Board approved unanimously.
3. Board Discussion
a. Board vacancy – applications received
Noelle Barr has submitted an application to replace Janet Clark. Her application will be voted on at the
November 2nd City Council Meeting.
b. Event updates
Bill Metzler with Montana Alpine Race School (MARS) submitted an application for an event grant of $5,000
for the USSA Regional Alpine Qualifying Race being held January 13 – 17, 2020 at Blacktail Mountain Ski Area.
The event is new to the Flathead Valley and will involve 85+ skiers ages 16 - 19. The first two days will be held
at Whitefish Mountain Resort, the last two at Blacktail Mountain Resort. MARS, based in Lakeside, is
organizing and acquiring equipment to get Blacktail set up to host annual qualifying races in coming years.
Grant funds will be used to purchase timing equipment, safety netting, and possibly tent rental needed to
meet COVID requirements.
A motion was made by Bryce Baker to award a grant of $4,000. Motion was seconded by Joe Alexander.
Discussion: equipment purchased with grant funds will allow Blacktail to hold the qualifying races for multiple
years. In case the January, 2021 event is cancelled or postponed, Discover Kalispell’s sponsorship will be
refunded or deferred to the next MARS-hosted ski race event of a similar nature and size at Blacktail
Mountain Resort. Motion passed unanimously.
c. Marketing and operational updates
i. Letter to the editor
• Diane presented a draft Letter to the Editor to be authored by the TBID. The purpose is to help the
community understand the role of the TBID and Discover Kalispell during the pandemic. That we’re
being respectful of the needs of the community, not just advertising for visitors to come to Kalispell.
Talking to visitors that are here as well to remind them of the health guidelines, to support our local
businesses, be kind and patient and recreate responsibly.
• Discover Kalispell, through the use of TBID funded projects, is a resource for the community, visitors
and other tourism partners in conveying safety information and messaging.
• There was concern from board members that the letter might arouse perceptions that tourism
brought COVID to the area as a result of TBID/DK promotions.
• No action was taken on submitting the letter pending further discussion. Will revisit at next meeting.
ii. Updated Financial and Marketing report
• The TBID account is in good standing with a strong cash balance to withstand the uncertainties of the
coming months.
• FY20 rollover funds – Board has approved reallocation of $42,800 leaving a balance of $119,395.
• The CARES Act Safety Grant is offsetting some staffing costs through December.
• Dashboard – STR report: September occupancy was up 0.4% YOY. ADR was down 1.4%.
• Average occupancy in September was 72.7%. We did well in comparison to our comp set average:
62.6%
iii. Group, M&C updates
• An increasing number of RFP’s are coming from Cvent.
• Hybrid (in person/virtual) meetings are trending due to the pandemic. Dawn is researching local
vendors who offer digital options and putting together program to promote to meeting planners.
• The M&C Quarterly Enews generated several FAM requests from meeting planners.
• TBID members are asked to respond to the monthly occupancy survey. The data collected is helpful
in forecasting. Survey results are anonymous. It would be helpful if more members responded to the
monthly surveys.
• Government per diem for Kalispell is $177 for July and August and $96 for all other months. Dawn
will research the process to expand the higher rate to include June and September.
• Montana Society of Association Executives has asked us to organize activities the day after their
conference in Whitefish.
iv. Coronavirus health crisis – roundtable discussion
• Everyone is experiencing pandemic fatigue.
• Business contract guests at TBID properties are asking about restaurants open on Thanksgiving.
Meche will send a list to hotels. Due to COVID uncertainty, some restaurants are not announcing
plans until closer to the holiday.
• The Health Department board met last week to discuss restricting restaurants and bars. The Chamber
submitted a letter against placing restrictions on those industries. Evidence has come out that trade
shows, weddings and political events have been the primary source of community spread.
• Whitefish restricted bars and restaurants to 50% capacity around Halloween.
• The state has not indicated any impending travel restrictions.
• The Health Department staff has requested that Health Department Board revisit limiting group
gatherings to 250 people if social distancing cannot be followed. They’ve revised the limit upward to
500 which excludes churches and outdoor events.
• Downtown Kalispell Art Walk will probably not take place this year due to COVID.
• There is concern about capping events at 25% capacity, also about short notice to bars and
restaurants who have to order food ahead of time for large events.
• The local Health Department shut down bars and restaurants in the spring before the state did.
The next meeting will be December 9th.
Meeting Adjourned at 4:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted: Diane Medler
For further information, please contact:
diane@discoverkalispell.com or 406-758-2808