06-23-21 Tourism Business Improvement District Minutes Board of Directors Meeting
Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
3:00 – 5:00 pm
Location: Board of Directors in person at Kalispell Chamber
Guests – online access via Zoom
Board Members Present: Bryce Baker, Emily Schroeder, Robert Hall, Britta Joy, Zac Ford
Board Via Zoom: Noelle Barr
Board Members Absent: Dawn Hendrickson
Staff Present: Lorraine Clarno, Diane Medler, Dawn Jackson, Vonnie Day
Guests: Kip Smith, Rails to Trails Montana Tunnel Project
MINUTES
The meeting was called to order at 3:00 pm by Chair Bryce Baker.
1. Hear from the Public – Kip Smith presented information about the Rails to Trails Tunnel Vision 2021
Project, a collaboration between Rails to Trails and KALICO Art Center to paint professional murals on the
entries/exits of three tunnels along Kalispell's trail system. The project has two phases: 1) professional
murals on tunnel entrances which will be completed in July; 2) community-generated artistic designs
along interior tunnel walls. The organization submitted an application for a $2,000 Visitor Development
Grant to be used in Phase 2 to pay professional artists to lay out designs and for paint and supplies.
2. Board Action Items
a) Approval of minutes from May 26, 2021
Motion was made by Zac Ford to approve the minutes. Motion was seconded by Emily Schroeder.
Discussion: none. Board approved unanimously.
b) Approval of TBID financial statements for May, 2021
Motion was made by Emily Schroeder to approve the financials. Motion was seconded by Robert Hall.
Discussion: none. Board approved unanimously.
c) Grant Application – Visitor Amenity Grant
Motion was made by Zac Ford to award a cash grant of $1,200 to the Rails to Trails Tunnel Project. Motion
was seconded by Robert Hall.
Discussion: this is the second grant visitor amenity grant awarded by the board. Visitor Development
Grants are important as a contribution to the community and also as a long-term investment in enhancing
Kalispell as an attractive destination. Board approved unanimously.
3. Board Discussion
a) Event and grant updates
• A press release promoting the Event and Visitor Development Grant Programs will be released this
summer.
• The Spartan Race post report has been received. 7,061 racers and 348 volunteers participated in
the 2021 event. ADR was up for the weekend over 2019 and occupancy was up Friday, down
slightly on Saturday and significantly up on Sunday night. Discover Kalispell netted $3,438, less a
$1,000 donation to Flathead Posse for event security. Beer sales were down due to no spectators
this year and there were fewer vendors. The resulting decline in revenue was largely offset by cost
savings in the areas of surveys and recycling.
b) Marketing and operational updates
• The Abbi Agency has submitted a proposal for a new website to be launched in the spring, probably
April or May. The proposed cost from TAA is $66,050: a one-time fee of $53,550 plus 7 months @
$1,500 per month. A motion was made by Britta Joy to approve the proposal from The Abbi
Agency, contingent on getting sole source provider approval from the City. Motion was seconded
by Emily Schroeder.
Discussion: Diane will clarify payment schedule and details on maintenance fees with TAA. It was
agreed that if TAA’s maintenance fees come back being more than the amount currently being paid
to Flathead Beacon, the maintenance fee issue will be revisited with the board. Board approved
unanimously. The funds for this project will come out of the TBID reserve account.
• Glacier AERO approved $5,000 towards the Jet Blue and Frontier Airlines inaugural events. Discover
Kalispell worked with the airlines and GPIA to organize the events. Frontier’s inaugural flight on
June 17 was greeted by a water arch. Staff conducted a ribbon cutting, put together drawing prizes
and handed out welcome bags. JetBlue inaugural flight is July 1. Events will be take place at both
the JFK terminal as well as GPIA terminal. JFK events include distribution of promotional items to
travelers in the JFK terminal, gate decorations and refreshments, entertainment by Jack Gladstone.
In Kalispell passengers will be greeted with welcome bags and raffle prizes, also a ribbon cutting
ceremony with remarks from dignitaries.
• Montana was the fastest growing state in the nation in air traffic for the month of May.
• $10,000 additional grant funds have been received from the state to distribute information about
recreating responsibly. Discover Kalispell is using the funds to promote the Recreate Responsibly
messaging through a variety of sources: business cards for distribution to hotel and rental car
customers, messaging on the DK website, airport signs, radio ads and hosting two influencers.
• The scheduled closing of the west side of Going to the Sun Road on October 1 for road construction
has been cancelled for this year.
• The Turo app has helped ease the rental car shortage. The airport has formed an agreement with
Turo to allow rental car pickup onsite.
• The Abbi Agency is coming to Kalispell in July for a warm season photo shoot. Photos and videos
will be added to the photo library owned by Discover Kalispell.
c) Group, M&C updates
• RFP’s have been received from Northern Rodeo Finals for October 27 – 30 and Flathead Celtic
Festival for September 17 – 19.
• Kalispell PBR in June was well-run and well-attended.
• There has been an uptick in inquiries from new groups, both tour groups and locals.
• The USS St. Paul Reunion is receiving more registrations than expected. Discover Kalispell is
providing assistance with arrangements for Far West, museum and Red Bus tours.
• The International Bear Conference has decided to meet remotely and has cancelled hotel
reservations for their October event.
• A Virtual FAM was held in June in collaboration with Glacier Country. Hotels, unique venues,
recreation opportunities and transportation options were featured. There were 66 registrations for
the event, attendees received swag bags. Glacier Country covered all costs of the event except for
the swag. A video of the virtual FAM will be posted on the DK website and distributed to
participants.
• Dawn attended this year’s POMA conference in June to promote next year’s event in Kalispell.
Attendees expressed excitement about coming to Kalispell.
• The BMW Rally is happening in Great Falls this week. Discover Kalispell created a custom brochure
for event attendees encouraging pre and post excursions to Kalispell.
• Dawn recently completed a course in virtual event management. The course provided a lot of
useful information which she is willing to share.
d) Other updates:
• The Canadian government is now allowing Americans who have been vaccinated to cross the
border without a 14-day quarantine. July 21 is currently targeted as the first date that Canadians
will be able to cross the border if vaccinated..
Meeting was adjourned at 4:48 pm.
Respectfully submitted: Diane Medler
For further information, please contact:
diane@discoverkalispell.com or 406-758-2808