03-23-22 Tourism Business Improvement District MinutesBoard of Directors Meeting
Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
3:00 – 5:00 pm
Location: Kalispell Chamber or Zoom
Board Members Present: Robert Hall, Britta Joy, Zac Ford
Via Zoom: Noelle Barr, Bryce Baker, Dawn Hendrickson
Board Members Absent: None.
Staff Present: Lorraine Clarno, Diane Medler, Dawn Jackson, Marisa Mikonis
Guests: Corbin Bedard (Red Lion Hotel), Jamie Reeder (Kalispell Job Service). Via Zoom: None.
MINUTES
The meeting was called to order at 3:02 pm by Robert Hall.
1. Hear from the Public – Jamie Reeder provided updates on employee retention strategies and
programs. Britta commented on hotels always need extra help. Labor expenses are rising but hotel
revenues are not keeping pace so it’s difficult. The NW Montana Job & Opportunity Fair on April 14 was
identified as a way for hotels to recruit employees.
2. Corbin Bedard – Red Lion Hotel - Sonesta has purchased the Red Lion Hotel. The general Manager,
Corbin Bedard gave updates on the company. Sonesta will not be changing the name from Red Lion,
they plan to buy more chains world-wide. Their FY2021 had over $2 billion in hotel revenue The Red Lion
has been in the process of transitioning and training the new Sonesta standards, SOP, culture, along
with company raises for all employees. The renovations are still in progress. There are new elevators,
the HVAC system in the conference area was repaired and all rooms are fully available for use. The
convention area will be scheduled for renovation, dates unknown.
3. Board Action
a) Approval of minutes from February 23, 2022
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 February 2022
Motion was made by Britta Joy to approve the financials. Motion was seconded by Zac Ford.
Discussion: none. Board approved unanimously.
c) Approval of FY23 TBID budget, and DMO plan strategy
• Motion was made by Noelle Barr to approve the FY23 budget. Motion was seconded by
Britta Joy. Discussion: Diane reviewed the budgets for both TBID and the combined
budget (bed tax and TBID). Both budgets support one marketing plan. Total budget for
TBID is $700,000 ($625,000 approved projected revenue plus FY22 rollover). The
budget methods/tactics have not varied much from previous years but are listed
differently to fit the requirements from the Tourism Advisory Council. On the TBID
budget destination marketing accounts for 26% of budget, destination development at
9% of budget (that segment includes Discover Kalispell destination events such as
Spartan Race), and destination stewardship/management at 2% of budget. Board
approved unanimously.
• Motion was made by Zac Ford to approve the DMO Plan Strategy for FY23. Motion was
seconded by Noelle Barr. Discussion: Updates on the bed tax rules procedures allow for
spending on destination stewardship projects, managing visitors, increasing community
acceptance of tourism and community partnerships. Diane discussed the strategy
behind the FY23 DMO plan which includes destination marketing, as well as destination
stewardship/management, and destination development (events). The strategy
outlines who we want to attract to our destination, data we use, and goals for FY23.
Board approved unanimously.
4. Board Discussion
a) TBID bylaws
• Diane provided an overview of the TBID bylaws. Per public meeting rules all meetings
must have a 72-hour notice and be held in person. Other edits on the Bylaws included
updating and clarifying the language in some sections. The TBID Payment policy changes
effective July 1. The board discussed and did not have additional edits to what was
already recommended. The revised Bylaws will be submitted to the City for approval.
b) FY21 rollover funds available for allocation
• Pending projects that staff is researching include assisting to provide a shuttle stop in
Kalispell for the Under the Big Sky Music Festival, trail maintenance projects for local
trail such as Foys to Blacktail, Rails to Trails, Lone Pine, etc., and an informational kiosk
for travel information.
• Indoor sports facility update: Diane continues to reach out to various sports groups and
developers that have shown interest in an indoor sports facility. There are a few
concepts in the works related to youth sports and youth development. Diane
recommended commissioning a feasibility study that is narrower in focus than a broad
economic feasibility study. A study that looks more closely at sports tourism – how to
attract and what are the facility needs for our area. Staff spoke with the Huddle Up
group. They are a sports tourism industry consulting company and work with DMO’s to
provide a sports tourism facility planning proposal. This type of study is more within the
TBID approved price range than a broad feasibility study. Since funding is coming from
TBID we are required to follow the City of Kalispell procurement policies which include
issuing an RFP or RFQ. The board agreed to move forward with this concept for a study
and to issue an RFP to solicit proposals.
o Motion was made by Britta Joy to go forward with receive other RFPs for sports
tourism facility studies. The motion was seconded by Zac Ford. Board approved
unanimously.
c) Discussion of Group sales/M&C incentive program
• PEO, a conference coming to Kalispell in 2024, has come back with a reduced room
count as they want the conference to be at only one location. 425 rooms will be used
during the groups time in Kalispell verses the original quote of 740 rooms. PEO has
requested funding assistance for bus transportation and church service ($4250). It was
suggested that we do a room rebate based on actualized rooms versus a flat fee
incentive.
o Britta Joy made a motion for a $12 rebate for each actualized room night. The
motion was seconded by Zac Ford. Board approved unanimously.
• At the February meeting the board took action on the approval procedure for M&C
incentive requests. Board approved using an email voting process to approve individual
incentive funding requests. Based on changes to the TBID Bylaws, that motion was
rescinded. Robert made the original motion and Britta seconded, both agreed to rescind
the motion made at the February meeting.
o Britta made a motion to revise the M&C incentive program approval process to
include approval by the executive board if the incentive is under $5,000. Any
incentive over $5,000 will need approval from the full board at the next
scheduled board meeting or if time sensitive, a special board meeting will be
convened. The motion was seconded by Zac Ford. Board approved unanimously.
d) Event Updates
• Road Runner Magazine was in Kalispell to gather film and photo assets on snow biking.
The article will be published in the Fall. DK will run an ad in that issue and will receive
the images captured from snow biking and their time in Kalispell.
• Highlander event is being pushed to 2023, still working on identifying the appropriate
course and approval by the Forest Service.
• There is a potential bid in for an outdoor soccer tournament that will be held
throughout the Flathead utilizing all soccer fields in June of 2023, approximately 4,000
participants. This is a one-time event if approved for by the USYSA.
e) Staff reports
• Marisa updated on Spartan race planning with food vendors, downtown promotions,
and volunteers.
• Diane announced that the new 2022 visitor guide will be delivered next week. Also
showed the sneak peak of the new homepage design for the DK website.
• Dawn provided updates on conference losses due to lack of resort style lodging, time of
year availability/cost. She is working on the meeting planner FAM in June with Glacier
County, the June POMA conference welcome reception, and a proposal for the outdoor
writers association conference in 2024. Dawn attended the MSAE monthly meeting and
did sales calls to solicit business for Kalispell.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:09 pm.
Respectfully submitted: Diane Medler
For further information, please contact:
diane@discoverkalispell.com or 406-758-2808