07-27-22 Tourism Business Improvement District MinutesBoard of Directors Meeting
Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Kalispell Chamber or Zoom
Board Members Present: Bryce Baker, Britta Joy, Zac Ford, Corbin Bedard, Robert Hall,
Via Zoom: None.
Board Members Absent: Dawn Hendrickson, Chris Walters
Staff Present: Marisa Mikonis, Lorraine Clarno, Diane Medler, Dawn Jackson
Guests: Fabiano Pereira, Hilton Garden Inn
MINUTES
The meeting was called to order at 3:00 pm by Board Chair Bryce Baker.
1. Hear from the Public - None
2. Board Action Items
a) Approval of minutes from June 22, 2022
o Motion was made by Zac Ford to approve the minutes. Motion was
seconded by Corbin Bedard. Discussion: none. Board approved
unanimously.
b) Approval of financials for June, 2022
o Motion was made by Britta Joy to approve the financials. Motion was
seconded by Zac Ford. Discussion: none. Board approved unanimously.
4. Board Discussion
a) Indoor Sports Facility Study Update
o Last week was the kick-off call with the consultants, staff and board to
discuss next steps for the Indoor Sport Facility Study. Diane is gathering
data as requested and arranging stakeholder and user group meetings for
when SFC is in market the end of August. help connect with developers and
Logan Health.
b) Lodging discussion – June, July and forecast through Labor Day
o Occupancy within the Kalispell lodging properties have been up until the
month of July. The board reviewed STR occupancy charts for 2019-2022
and comparison of occupancy of comp markets. Discover Kalispell has
started a bi-weekly survey to go out to all lodging partners to gauge
availability for August, September and October.
o According to Marriott data, provided by Britta, retail leisure is downward
for August, the demand for meetings and groups are strong, but have
soften with the economy and asking hotels to be flexible with their terms
and conditions. Larger meetings are being seen to going to larger hubs
with direct flights. Although seat capacity is reduced this summer
compared to 2021 the flights are selling more seats while last year flights
were about 75% full so passenger numbers should be similar.
o The board would like to look in to gathering data from airport to see
projection of airline seats sold for upcoming months.
c) Marketing campaign adjustments for summer/early Fall
o Discover Kalispell is working with The Abbi Agency on a ‘gas card
campaign’. The board would like to divert some of the paid media to go
towards the new campaign to increase traffic targeting locations within
driving distance of Kalispell and those who will rent a car during their stay.
o Also revamp and start the ‘Fall under the Spell’ campaign the end of
August.
o Look into partnership with AAA to find data of where people are coming
from and review Zartico to view where people are from that are currently
in Kalispell.
d) Event updates
o Highlander has been on the ground to meeting Blacktail Mountain Ski Area
and Forest Service to discuss permitting. Diane and Marisa will travel to Big
Bear California for Highlander’s first U.S. event to understand event layout
in September.
o Spartan Race is locked in for next year. Glacier Country has committed a
grant towards the event. Diane will look into additional grants as the venue
fee will increase due to increases by the venue owner.
e) Staff reports
o Diane, Marisa, and Dawn had a staff retreat to discuss priorities and
initiatives for FY23. A summary of strategy to be provided to the board in
August.
o Follow up with Flathead Kind on City and Parkline Line Trail signs: They will
not have them as they do not feel like the messages align.
o Dawn’s letter to the editor on POMA and the significance of groups and
conferences bring to the economy and community was featured in the
Daily Inter Lake.
o Glacier Institute has a variety of tours going out this summer and fall. They
would like to partner with the hotels with packages of ‘learn and lodge’.
Meeting was adjourned at 4:12 PM.
Respectfully submitted: Diane Medler
For further information, please contact:
diane@discoverkalispell.com or 406-758-2808