05-02-18 Tourism Business Improvement District MinutesBoard of Directors Meeting
Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District
May 2, 2018
3:00 pm — 5:00 pm
Location: Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Minutes
Board Members Present: Dawn Hendrickson, Zac Ford, Janet Clark, Emily Schroeder, Shawn Campbell, Dan Moderie,
Sean Morris
Board Members Absent: none
Staff Present: Joe Unterreiner, Diane Medler, Dawn Jackson, Meche Ek, Vonnie Day
Guests: Heidi Gilmond, Red Lion; Lucy Weeder, Marriott SpringHill Suites
Meeting was called to order by Chair Zac Ford at 3:01 PM.
1. Hear from the Public— none
2. Board Action Items
a. Approval of minutes from April 4, 2018:
Motion was made by Dawn Hendrickson to approve the minutes. Motion was seconded by Janet Clark.
Discussion: none. Board approved unanimously.
b. Approval of TBID financial statements for March, 2018:
Motion was made by Dawn Hendrickson to approve the financial statements. Motion was seconded by
Janet Clark. Discussion: None. Board approved unanimously.
3. Board Discussion
a. Event updates:
Spartan Race — lodging updates are active on the DK website which is linked to www.spartan.com.
Racer numbers are tracking with previous years. The Beast Feast will take place at the Trade Center at
the Fairgrounds. Racers are being invited to Ladies Night in Downtown Kalispell and CVB organized a
Spartan after -party anchored by live music and drink specials at Scotty's and Kalispell Brewing Company.
Downtown Kalispell businesses were offered the opportunity to provide Spartan discounts and receive a
welcome poster to display. Comp codes for runners are available from Diane.
Dragon Boat — of the 36 registered teams, 19 are from out -of -market. One new Rocky Mountain
Championship team from Portland has signed up.
b. IRU Recap Report:
36 tour operators and 6 country reps participated along with 80 suppliers. Attendees participated in pre
and post -event fams in Billings in South Dakota. 3,600 face-to-face appointments took place between
suppliers and tour operators during the conference. CVB collaborated with Glacier Country to
showcase the area and arranged for numerous contacts between IRU attendees and local activity
vendors. The local fam trip included a stop at Xanterra's Red Bus Barn, a visit with Gracie the Bark
Ranger at Apgar, an opportunity to see inside Lake McDonald Lodge and hear from Jeff Mow and Mark
Ducharme. The group stopped at Glacier Outdoor Center for lunch and to meet activity providers who
work in and around the park. Brash Rodeo provided a special rodeo at MVA Monday night. The evening
also included line dancing, stick horse racing, roping games and dinner by Desoto Grill. Tuesday's
banquet took place at the Hilton Garden Inn which opened with a local activity showcase closed with
a performance by David Walburn. Thank you to the banquet wine sponsors: Red Lion, Hilton, Springhill
Suites and Homewood Suites. The conference wrapped up with a celebration Wednesday evening at
the Museum at Central School.
C. May 241"—TBID Red Nose Day Gathering
Open to TBID board members and their frontline crews. A trolley tour of Kalispell museums is planned.
Time and details TBA.
d. Marketing updates:
• The Fall / winter campaign focused on San Francisco, Los Angeles and drive markets. Target
travelers were experience seekers aged 25 — 65 who take up to 6+ trips per year. The objective was
to associate Montana winter activities with staying in a welcoming, comfortable location (Kalispell).
Media used was social media, digital advertising placements and a wallscape in San Francisco. The
campaign garnered 12 million impressions and a high click rate, especially from Los Angeles showing
that the LA market is interested in Kalispell. The campaign achieved a low cost per click of 19 cents.
Social media ads to our drive market (Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, and Tri Cities) were focused on
skijoring, Glacier Park winter activities and Pond Hockey event. Facebook canvas ads were included
in the social media mix and performed well.
• The spring / summer campaign is being directed at San Francisco. The ad budget is not sufficient to
include LA for this campaign.
• Proposals for the CVB RFP for Professional Services are due May 24.
• The FY 2019 Marketing Plan was approved by City Council.
• Diane has accepted a seat on the Conrad Mansion board of directors.
• MOTBD tourism grant program opens July 1. $750,000 in grants will be awarded in three categories:
arts, culture & heritage; visitor facility upgrades; niche product development. Tourism related
businesses, including lodging properties, are encouraged to apply.
• MOTBD is launching a Made in Montana program focusing on restaurants that use locally -sourced
ingredients.
• STIR report for March showed a 4.9% increase in occupancy over 2017, an increase in demand of
4.9%, ADR was up .5% and RevPar up 5.4%.
• ITRR is in the process of completing a Resident study that will be helpful to show legislators how
residents and state businesses would be affected by an increase in bed tax.
• Diane and Dawn attended the Governor's Conference on Tourism in Big Sky. The Montana TBID's
met during the conference. It was confirmed at that meeting that TBID funds cannot be used for
brick and mortar projects. A MLHA study on Airbnb in the state found that there are 680,000 rooms
with an occupancy rate of 49%. A suit was filed against the Ravalli County TBID by a member
lodging property. The original suit was thrown out but the plaintiff has filed a new suit against the
county and the individual board members. Joe will check on board member liability coverage under
the city's insurance. The state TBID's will meet next at the fall MLHA Conference.
• California is the top state accessing the DK website. The top three CA cities are LA, San Francisco
and San Jose.
• The top search and booking markets data for summer 2017 according to NSight were LA, New York,
Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Philadelphia and Denver.
• The TBID membership budget has been allocated to Voices of Montana Tourism for $2,500 and
Kalispell Downtown Association for $1,000. The board advised that a $150 membership in the
Hockaday would be a good way to express support to that cultural asset. The CVB currently
supports the Conrad Mansion and Museum at Central School by booking events and hosting tours.
• The board recommended that the $500 event grant to the Event at Rebecca be awarded again this
year. The sponsorship provides the opportunity to have a Kalispell display and presence at the
event.
• Heather Larson, a Pacific Northwest writer hosted by the CVB earlier this year has published two
articles thus far about her visit to Kalispell: one in Sip Magazine and the other in Northwest Ranger.
• Another location will be needed for the June TBID board meeting since the Chamber conference
room will be reserved for a trail planning session for the new corridor. Diane will send an email to
TBID partners.
d. Group, M&C Updates:
• RFP was sent for HAAS Educator Conference for July 2019.
• Working leads: International Air Cadet Exchange, National Retired Shooters Association (has
chosen the Red Lion), US Wheat Associates, Wilderness Management and MT League of Cities.
• Hope with H Tech whose conference is in July 2019 is hoping for a lower rate ($110) if the group
separates into two locations.
• Chany Ockert provided a Bring It Home lead for the Professional Trail Builders Association.
• State CVB sales professionals met at the Governor's Conference to discuss unique challenges
they face and ways to convey the info to partners in the state tourism system.
• TBID members are reminded to get group info to Dawn. CVB can provide welcome bags.
• The lodging package page will be used to post updates on room availability for the State Soccer
Cup in June. Inform Dawn of any updates.
e. General updates:
• Holiday Inn Express has postponed remodel for 18 months. Rooms will be scheduled first.
• Hilton Garden Inn will start room remodel the end of May, lobby remodel will begin later this
year.
• Super 8 is finishing up the room remodel and getting new landscaping.
• ABVI will get new exterior paint.
• Red Lion is get new exterior paint and a new lighting panel for the ballrooms.
• Country Inn & Suites has opted to wait a year to join the TBID.
• Columbia Falls is erecting a sign over the entrance to Nucleus Avenue identifying it as the
Gateway to Glacier.
• Hiker, biker access is open on the Going to the Sun. Guided rides are available through Glacier
Guides.
Meeting was adjourned at 4:07 PM.
Respectfully Submitted: Diane Medler
For Further Information, please contact:
Diane Medler, CVB Director, diane@discoverkalispell.com or 406-758-2808