12-09-20 Tourism Business Improvement District MinutesBoard of Directors Meeting
Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
3:00 — 5:00 pm
Location: Board of Directors in person at Kalispell Chamber
Guests — online access via Zoom
Board Members Present: Emily Schroeder, Noelle Barr, Zac Ford, Bryce Bennett, Britta Joy, Dawn
Hendrickson (via Zoom)
Board Members Absent: Joseph Alexander
Staff Present: Lorraine Clarno, Diane Medler, Dawn Jackson, Vonnie Day
Guests: Robert Hall, Holiday Inn Express (via Zoom)
MINUTES
The meeting was called to order at 3:59 pm by Chair Emily Schroeder.
1. Hear from the Public — none
2. Board Action
a) Approval of minutes from October 28, 2020
Motion was made by Bryce Baker to approve the minutes. Motion was seconded by Britta Joy.
Discussion: none. Board approved unanimously.
b) Approval of TBID financial statements for October 2020
Motion was made by Zac Ford to approve the financials. Motion was seconded by Bryce Baker.
Discussion: none. Board approved unanimously.
3. Board Discussion
a) Board roster and vacancy
• Joe Alexander has resigned his board seat after leaving Red Lion
• 2 board applications to fill Joe's seat were received and will be reviewed by the City
Council on December 21
• Noelle Barr agreed to take on the role of board treasurer
b) Event updates
• USSA Qualifying Race takes place at Blacktail and Whitefish Mountain Resorts January
14-17. The race announcement will be sent out December 15 and will include a link to
an aRes Kalispell lodging page so attendees can direct -book TBID lodging facilities.
Organizers expect 85+ racers and their families to attend. A TBID event grant of $4,000
was awarded. $2,000 of the grant has been disbursed for purchasing timing and safety
equipment. The remaining balance of $2,000 will be paid when proof of performance
and a post -event report are received.
• Spartan is planning to hold multiple races at the Montana event, May 1— 2, 2021:
Sprint, Super, Beast, Ultra and Trail Run.
• The status of the indoor soccer tournament is still indefinite for March 2021.
c) Hybrid meetings and group events — discussion
• The pandemic has hastened the development and adoption of virtual meeting
technology.
• Hybrid meetings have a face to face component and a virtual component which can take
several forms including video and live streaming.
• Virtual and hybrid meetings are here to stay, but they won't completely take the place
of face to face meetings.
• We need to let planners know Kalispell has what it takes to help them meet successfully
in current and post -pandemic conditions.
• Advantages of hybrid meetings:
• broader reach
• more revenue streams in terms of sponsorships
• lower carbon footprint
• analytics
• cost savings
• year-round engagement
• we'll be able to accommodate groups we haven't been able to in the past due to
capacity or weather
• Local resources available:
• venues
• content
• strong connectivity
• audio visual providers
• staging design for live and virtual
• podcast facilities — Kalispell Chamber, Sky Vault, FVCC
• What's next for hybrid meetings:
• let planners know were ready to assist with planning hybrid meetings and have
local resources needed.
• the Abbi Agency is working on a M&C campaign highlighting hybrid meeting
capability.
• the Discover Kalispell M&C website has been updated.
• a referral sheet for planners who need assistance.
• hotels may need to hire or train a staff member to serve as a digital event
strategist.
d) Marketing and operational updates
• Quarter 1 revenue was $224,785, down 13% from last year, but much better than the
40% drop that was projected in April.
• A motion was made by Bryce Baker to deposit the FY21 1st quarter check into the
reserve account with the stipulation that funds allocated for FY21 expenditures be
moved into the checking account as needed. Motion was seconded by Zac Ford.
Discussion: although the reserve savings account pays minimal interest, it offers flexible
access to funds when needed. Board approved unanimously.
• $1,600 FY20 rollover funds will be used to pay for Destination International membership
which is already an approved item. This will leave $160,595 in the rollover fund.
• Dashboard report highlights:
o October occupancy was up 4.7% over 2019. Gains were mostly in mid/mid upper.
o October ADR was up 4.5% over 2019.
o Kalispell performed well compared to our comp set whose average occupancy
was down 13.4%.
o Glacier Park October visitation was up 60% over October 2019.
o GPIA was down 19% in October.
• Photos and video: The board previewed a sample of fall/winter photos and a sizzle video
created by the Abbi Agency followed their October shoot. Photo and video projects are
being paid for with CARES Act grant funds.
e) Letter to the editor:
A motion was made by Zac Ford to submit a letter to the editor from the TBID board
emphasizing the importance of tourism to the local economy. The letter will also help
educate the community about the nature and mission of the TBID and explain the role the
TBID has played in safety messaging during the pandemic. The motion was seconded by
Britta Joy.
Discussion: Although submitting the letter may expose the board to criticism, it's important
for our community to have a better understanding of what the TBID does and that our
approach during the pandemic has been to educate the public about visiting and recreating
safely. Board approved unanimously.
f) Other notes:
• GNP is toying with a ticketed entry system for the summer of 2021. Serious discussion
must be initiated by the community. Jeff Mow has asked if there are groups that would
like to have a ticketed entry system evaluated for next July and August.
• The board expressed concern about making changes for 2021 considering the COVID-
related challenges of 2020. They acknowledged that a ticketed system of controlled
entrance is inevitable, just not next summer.
• Shuttles for the summer of 2021 are uncertain at this point.
• TBID Annual Meeting, January 27, will consist of a short business meeting and the 2020
year in review.
g) Coronavirus health crisis — roundtable discussion
• Members expressed concern about slow business over the coming winter.
• Lack of snow may affect ski traffic.
• Dawn Jackson reported that travel was easy, seating was spacious, boarding was orderly
and people were courteous on her recent flight to Nashville.
• Current hotel guests include medical professionals, extended stays for hospitalized
individuals, people moving to the area.
• Hotels are experiencing a few sketchy guests, but fewer than last year. Will be returning
to use of safety awareness lists.
• Discover Kalispell has hand sanitizers, masks, safety signage available.
Meeting adjourned at 4:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted: Diane Medler
For further information, please contact:
diane@discoverkalispell.cm or 406-758-2808