2017 Highlights

KALISPELL CONVENTION & VISITOR BUREAU

DISCOVER KALISPELL

2017 HIGHLIGHTS

U.S. ASSOCIATION OF CHAMBER OF KCVB HOSTED FOUR M&C FAM’S COMMERCE EXECUTIVES (ACCE) (familiarization tours) IN 2017: selected the Kalispell CVB Winter Marketing • Brand USA representatives and Campaign for its highest honor in commu- 14 tour operators from the UK nication excellence at the National meeting • Two meeting planners from the Pacific in Nashville July, 2017. The campaign was Northwest, which resulted in a credited with helping expand air service on meeting booked for 2019 United’s direct flight from Kalispell to SFO, • Montana based conference and event July through September. planners considering Kalispell for 2020 conference INDOOR SOCCER – KCVB’s newest • Freelance writer and event planner destination event, Montana Indoor Soccer for Meeting News NW, toured hotels Championships, will kick off March 2-4, 2018. and venues for June/July issue As the first indoor soccer/Futsal tourna- ment in the state, it provides youth soccer DB CANCELLATION - Although the 2017 teams the opportunity to train year-round MT Dragon Boat Festival had to be cancelled and brings visitors to Kalispell during a low due to unhealthy air quality caused by wildfire THE SPARTAN GUINNESS WORLD RE- occupancy demand time of the year. smoke, all but four teams chose to defer their CORDS ATTEMPT for most people doing registration to the 2018 event. Burpees at one time. This KCVB event during Spartan weekend drew people into STEP ON GUIDE SERVICES – Vonnie Day downtown Kalispell and created an incentive completed certification in providing histori- to book lodging in Kalispell. 757 participants cal and cultural tours under the auspices of of all ages lined up at the entrances to Depot the National Association for Interpretation. Park to help break the existing record of The CVB is now able to fill requests for a 689. Although it was a successful community local guide from groups holding conferences -wide event, Guinness ruled that not all par- in Kalispell and tour companies passing ticipants met their exacting burpee standard, through the area. so the record was not awarded.

TBID COLLECTIONS FY’17 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW FY’18 BUDGET Projected = $525,000 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018) Actual = $596,513 (14% increase) BED TAX COLLECTIONS: Total budget = $745,000: 159% increase since FY’11 51% increase since FY’11 $615,000 TBID and $130,000 Bed Tax TRAVEL & TOURISM STATISTICS - 2016

STATE 12.3 million visitors spent $3.16 BILLION

Glacier Country region received highest percentage of spending state-wide, 32%

Tourism supports

47,660 JOBS GLACIER NATL PARK GLACIER PARK INTL AIRPORT 1 IN 9 JOBS 3.3 MILLION supported by visitations through 253,735 non-resident travel November, 2017 total enplanements 11% INCREASE YTD through November, 2017 Tourism generates over 9% INCREASE YTD Months with the largest

$20 MILLION variation in visitations: Months with the largest to the state general fund April -30% variations in enplanements: June +28% January +5.71% FLATHEAD COUNTY July +23% April +6.98% non-resident visitors spent August +21% May +4.94% $505 MILLION September -19% June +19.88% October +11% July +14.92% November -49% August +15.35% (ITRR, VOICES OF MONTANA TOURISM)

WHO IS THE KALISPELL VISITOR?

803,645 nonresident visitors spent at least one night in Kalispell during 2016 12% increase over 2015 INTERNATIONAL 17% of groups all 1st time visitors; 74% all repeat; 18% flew on portion of trip TRAVEL TO KALISPELL

78% plan to return within 2 years 100 tour operators Top sites visited: GNP, YNP, Flathead Lake State Parks offer product in Kalispell. 52% said vacation/recreation primary reason for trip Over 21,000 room nights 62% stayed in hotel/motel; 16% stayed at home of friend/relative; 12% campgrounds generated from International Top Residency of origin: Alberta, WA, CA, MN, AZ, TX, IL, FL, ID, NV travelers in Kalispell during 2016.

(ITRR, KALISPELL VIC) (RMI, T.R.I.P. REPORT)

2 KCVB/TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT 2017 TAKING KALISPELL ON THE ROAD

PUBLIC RELATIONS Earned Media (FY17): over 90 million impressions from online and print media generated through KCVB initiatives. Calgary Outdoor & Adventure Show, KCVB hosted three press trips in 2017: MARCH  THRIFTY NW MOM – Seattle-based blog targeted to affordable family travel in Calgary Women’s Show, the northwest. OCTOBER  ADVENTURE CYCLING – Family bicycle trip highlighting trails in Kalispell and Glacier Park. Included professional photography for KCVB library by Tom Robertson. International Roundup  POINTS NORTH – Atlanta based lifestyle magazine, article covered vacation in Annual Conference, Kalispell and running the Glacier Half Marathon. MAY Incentive, Travel, MEDIA EVENTS: Met with over 50 travel writers at networking events in San Meetings & Events, Francisco and Seattle in partnership with Glacier Country, Whitefish and Missoula. OCTOBER Connect Northwest, FIRE CRISIS COMMUNICATION PLAN: Worked cooperatively with MOTBD, Gla- cier Country and WCVB to provide talking points as well as regular updates for local busi- NOVEMBER nesses to reference when conversing with visitors. Created social media posts for communication updates and redirecting visitors to activities outside of areas affected by wildfire.

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Agassiz m Goat Haunt 22mi Brown Lake ft Be Glacier rk 35km Pass Fo Kintla rth Thunderbird Lake Goat Haunt No Glacier Glacier Janet Overlook 30mi y CANADA ll 47 k km E Lake Rainbow e e Ch UNITED STATESCustoms Olson B e ie G r f r ID Francis Falls Miche M ive R Dixon C R Wabun o Glacier e u A e n M E Glacier L t ALBERTA U IDG a 10 Best Winter Activities in Kalispell-NW Montana, Thrifty NW Mom N Weasel R E i Akokala RCUPIN n Collar L PO r MONTANA Round Kootenai In a Lake Glacier I Whitecrow Belly River Prairie Valentine Cre te M V ek Lakes Glacier 89 kala rn o C a k I Cosley 1 A KE Rainbow o t se 4mi LA n N io t oo Glacier t Lake M 2 i n in 2km n Stoney Gable a e G O a Glenns 1 S N Cerulean n t l 0mi Indian Pass a A t t a Lake s H M S o 16km awk l Lake 17 Big W Lake Stoney a O w B D T o

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N c e n l o FLATHEAD NATIONAL FOREST o N t Lake Lake o r Lake s te Sue r e a t d Margaret h W Lake Old Sun in 6 w mi Lower Q E Lake Glacier in UARTZ LAK Redgap te 10 Quartz Ipasha r km Middle n Lake Pass dyCreek a Lake Quartz Vulture Ptarmigan ne 4 Bikes, Burgers & Beer in Western Montana’s Center of Everything, Adventure Cycling F wm Glacier en mi o o Lake Ahern Tunnel K r 0.3 B M 6 k mi F km

L Glacier i Poia y 0.5 n Ha km A 1mi e Lake T Polebridge GLACIER r a 2km T Helen Polebridge l O Lake Kennedy Swiftcurrent Babb P

Lake Ridge Lake DUCK LAK Grace R Many E F Hidden Many Glacier l Ptarmigan 1 a Lake C Glacier 2mi A r Information k t Meadow e Falls e h Iceberg 19 e L e Entrance km Cr Du ake e ck Road N k Lake a Apikuni Sw re

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Swiftcurrent Creek Lake Swiftcurrent Y Pass y M R R Evangeline c Lake a C iv g A B oal n D Grinnell Cr e i Lake ee r o k g M n The Loop Lake Montana Dragon Boat Festival, National Geographic Traveler g Ruger a o l Josephine n L Camas d Napi Point T 9mi o Lake Cataract N s 13 A Lake Grinnell I 1 mi na 4km d co n A 21 n Packers Creek u km Logging Creek da Glacier o S y Roost GA n H NATIONAL R a R D LATTOP E Dutch E Cracker C N Weeping W AST F Lake O Lake E In Arrow W MOUNTAINSt. Mary O u Wall L s A t id L

s Lake L i e d N Piegan Pass Going-to-the-Sun Road Saint Mary Visitor Center e o h

r c N t t Saint Mary Entrance h Du Logan Pass o F Avalanche r o t rk h R Trout Trail of Visitor Center Saint Mary o Rising Sun F ad Creek the Cedars o Lake 6646 ft / 2025 m Otokomi R ft r o k Nature Trail 18 4 se mi m R Lake Goat 6 o 29km 448 a Hidden Lake C 136 d Camas Lake r BLACKFEET en e 2 A idd Nature Trail Sun Point ek To Creek 8mi v H Browning 45km Rogers a Hidden Sunrift Nature Trail INDIAN RESERVATION Entrance C Lake l How to Plan The Perfect Fall Trip to GNP, Yahoo Finance and U.S. News & World Report a a m Lake McDonald n Gorge E as Lake Jackson K c A Baring Falls L Big Creek Outdoor McDonald h Forests and Fire Avalanche Glacier Y Education Center Falls e SAINT MAR Nature Trail M Lake Overlook cG Florence Cree k 11mi e ig 18 e Lake McDonald St Mary B km 89 Big Creek Johns Falls U.S. Forest Service Virginia Lake Snyder ry Falls Lakes Sperry a Falls t M Red Eagle Glacier in C Sa Lake a E PARK m W a er Gunsight k s O yd e Sn re H L sh C R Lake Fi o ft Spra a 3 gu Jackson E d m e Gunsight M 2 To 0mi A 1 Glacier e 315 W d Eureka 3 Sperry Pass y P Fish 96 2mi Sprague Lake i 32 1 le a c km 3mi G 5 Chalet Blackfoot g in A 1 a B 21km Creek km Ellen e Creek I E R O rn Glacier n e Wilson S d w F e o D Lincoln R L d s l a A Medicine Race-cation Please, Points North o d N R Lake O Harrison u W cD un Owl Lake Cut Bank Apgar M S H H E e- ln Glacier Pumpelly I Visitor Center K h co T LA -t R n Glacier EF to E Li I g- D Triple SH in Y o N Divide M G S R pson k A O m N n ho Pass Ban G U o T t W E Apgar Transit Center is Cu H N rr rk I T 2mi a o T F A Glacier Institute H E 3km West Entrance At antic h I l t F N Medicine r I o S S Field Camp Park Headquarters N Grizzly Lake H To Starr School

R L A Harrison A and K West Glacier Browning E 3mi Lake Morning Star Railroad Depot k e N Lake e Lake 1 5km r Blankenship 0mi C White sh Lake Five k G 16 c Cut Bank Pass 93 km l a Pitamakan Sandpoint ID to Kalispell MT, Northwest Travel & Life State Park Bridge e y s N E Lake Kiowa u Pitamakan Pass O in 49 89 s M a ek Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway c i e Two oc d Cr Medicine M d Beaver Oldman Kiowa to l Dry Browning and Whitesh 2 e Woman Lake Entrance 9 h Dawson mi c 9 The Museum of n mi F Pi Lake Surprise 14km o Bu alo Pass Running 14km the Plains Indian

r Pass No Name k Woman Lower Two Lake Eagle Coram Lupfer Medicine Lake 12mi Teakettle Lake Twin Falls Running Eagle 19km Mountain Glacier Pumpelly Pillar Falls Falls Nature Trail Two Medicine FLATHEAD NATIONAL FOREST F 5936 ft la Junction the Two T 1809 m ad Upper Two Medicine w 40 Columbia Falls o Ri 4mi v Medicine Lake M 93 er Two Medicine 6km East Glacier Park Lake e Campstore d S i to Browning o Hungry Horse c u U.S. Forest Service in River t F e h L C 12mi F A oa o l 19km r T k H ek Cobalt F re East Glacier Park l E C 2 a Lake Lake t A

206 S Glacier Park h D Two Medicine Pass e Stanton Isabel W Railroad Depot International a d Lake 2 Legend To A Kalispell Airport N d a To e R ir h u Unpaved road Kalispell t M A a l GREAT C F N r e e G 2 Continental Divide k Trail E Firebrand k k e e Pass 3 mi Glacier Warden/Ranger station re e C r 5 km Distance R C k indicator A ar le N P O Warden/Ranger station Picnic area G BEAR (infrequently sta ed) E

Food service and Riding stable Campground lodging H Primitive campground U 57mi Boat tour/rentals N Self-guiding trail G 92km Marias Pass R WILDERNESS Y 5220 ft Backcountry campground H Autumn 1591 m O LEWIS AND CLARK Wheelchair- R Railroad EssexDepot Creek Summit S U.S. Forest Service accessible trail E NATIONAL FOREST Lookout tower Walton Creek C on tin r en a tal e AREA B D FLATHEAD i v i Goat Lick Overlook d NATIONAL FOREST e

Devil Creek VISITOR SERVICES U.S. Forest Service

FREE MAPS, BROCHURES In 2017 the Kalispell VIC saw: www.DiscoverKalispell.com • 6,314 walk-in visitors

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%(** AT THE VISITOR • 10,459 total inquiries 3$5. INFORMATION CENTER • 12% decrease over 2016

KCVB/TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT 2017 3 DESTINATION MARKETING

FY17 MARKETING CAMPAIGNS: Total impressions = 18,294,453 Total clicks to website = 19,701

WINTER CAMPAIGN: SOCIAL MEDIA: Objective – increase awareness of 34,323 the new direct flight from SFO to 6,015 FCA, to promote winter activity in 3,138 NW Montana, and generate email 415 subscribers leads through a trip giveaway. In- Total impressions in 2017 = 5,378,926 cluded out-of-home campaign in SF (transit bus wraps and BART VISITOR GUIDE station signs), native content on Weekend Sherpa - a Bay Area out- 4,404 door subscription based media, and # requested and downloaded through Facebook advertising. DiscoverKalispell.com

12.7 million impressions; 30,000 copies distributed 4,259 clicks to website through visitor information requests, travel shows and media events and at brochure racks located in target markets. SPRING/SUMMER CAMPAIGN: DISCOVERKALISPELL.COM: Objective – increase awareness of Kalispell’s events and activities and promote direct flight from SFO to FCA through targeted social media and highly targeted digital advertising 167,964 Unique users placements. Included sponsored stories through SF CBS news website and SFGate.com, 26% increase and targeted social media advertising through Instagram and Facebook. Portion of the 384,474 Total page views campaign was also directed at Eastern WA highlighting vacation-making events. 11% increase

5.5 million impressions; 15,442 clicks to discoverkalispell.com; social media ads in SF market delivered a 1.81% CTR.

E-MARKETING: M&C enews database = 927 subscribers Consumer enews database = 13,107 subscribers Avg. open rate = 38.65% Avg. CTR = 17.49%

4 KCVB/TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT 2017 VACATION-MAKING EVENTS The 2017 KCVB Signature Events generated over $4.7 million in economic impact to the Flathead Valley.

Montana Pond Hockey Montana Spartan Race Montana Dragon Boat Festival JANUARY 20-22, 2017 MAY 6-7, 2017 SEPT 9-10, 2017 73 teams from AB, SK, BC, OR, WA, Over 7,100 registered racers ID, CT, AZ, UT, ND and MT The 2017 event launched the HIGHLIGHTS: Rocky Mountain Championship division, HIGHLIGHTS: 6,588 racers from 100+ miles away; an invitational race division showcasing 79% of participants from out of market; 5,451 racers from 200+ miles away; top dragon boat teams from avg. length of stay 3.13 nights; bears spotted on the race course. western U.S. and Canada. a marriage proposal on the ice (she said yes) SURVEY COMMENT: Unfortunately the event was cancelled SURVEY COMMENT: “A beautiful area of the country due to unhealthy air quality caused by “Great venue. Great people. we might otherwise have not wildfire smoke. We look forward to Great beer. Love MT” experienced” hosting teams on September 7-8, 2018.

KCVB PROVIDED $12,250 IN CASH AND IN-KIND SPONSORSHIPS DURING FY17 FOR KCVB EVENT GRANTS NEW OR EXPANDING EVENTS THAT GENERATED ROOM NIGHT STAYS IN KALISPELL:

 Treasure State Cowboy Mounted Shooters  Glacier Half Marathon  Flathead Valley Hockey Association  The Event at Rebecca Farm  Flathead Gymnastics Academy  Flathead Celtic Festival  Flathead Lake Skijoring  Kalispell Pee Wee Baseball

KCVB/TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT 2017 5 Brand USA Fam - UK Tour Operators MEETINGS, CONVENTIONS & GROUP SALES

Hotel Occupancy (October 2016 to October 2017) Group Sales Hotel Room Nights RESULTING FROM 2017 RFP’S 22 RFP’s = 56.4% AFVISA = 105 avg. annual occupancy 8 meetings, 530 room nights North American Junior Riders = 280 National Invasive Species = 35 avg. annual ADR Holder/Dermody Wedding = 20 $111.45 Spartan = 50 Elite Professional Bullriders = 80 -2% decrease in rooms sold TOTAL = 530 ROOM NIGHTS Future Room Nights (STR - SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH) for conferences and events booked & assisted through KCVB:

 2018 International Roundup  2018 MT Association of Group Assistance Chamber Executives Hotel Services Occupancy Mix  2018 North America Young Riders (Welcome bags, information, (FY17)  2019 Northwest Public Power meeting facilitation): Board of Trustees  Group was 8% of total occupancy  Provided 720 Welcome bags to  2019 MT Young Professionals Summit  Transient was 67% of total occupancy conference attendees

 Busiest month for groups was July TOTAL = 1,275 POTENTIAL  Assisted 16 groups with hotel and (based on reporting hotels) ROOM NIGHTS venue information or on-site support

6 KCVB/TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Bring It Home

An incentive program directed to local professionals to bring group events such as conventions, meetings or tradeshows home to Kalispell. KCVB offers incentives for referring those op- portunities. During 2017, KCVB awarded incentives to 17 referrals. Booked business resulted in a meeting booked at a Kalispell hotel.

Meeting Planner FAM campaign

Sent FAM trip invites to over 10,000 meeting planners located in CA, ID, MN, OR, and WA. Out of 38 qualified meeting planners that ap- plied, 5 were accepted to attend the fall 2017 FAM. Unfortunately the FAM had to be post- poned until spring 2018 due to wildfires and associated smoke.

Meetings & Conventions Linked In Promotion

www.linkedin.com/company/ kalispell-convention-&-visitor-bureau

ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN: 11,735,719 impressions Meeting Planners from Washington at the Homewood Suites 82,745 clicks 0.71% CTR

78% OF MEETING PLANNERS stated that CVB services were VERY IMPORTANT to the success of their meeting.

(DESTINATION ANALYSTS)

KCVB/TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT 2017 7 TBID MEMBERS KCVB AERO INN HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS STAFF AMERICA’S BEST VALUE INN HOMEWOOD SUITES BY HILTON Joe Unterreiner, Executive Director BEST WESTERN PLUS FLATHEAD KALISPELL GRAND HOTEL Diane Medler, Director LAKE INN & SUITES KALISPELL HILLTOP INN BLUE & WHITE MOTEL KALISPELL SUPER 8 Dawn Jackson, Group Sales Manager ECONO LODGE LA QUINTA INN & SUITES Vonnie Day, Sales & Marketing Admin Assistant FAIRBRIDGE INN & SUITES MARRIOTT SPRINGHILL SUITES Meche Ek, Visitor Center Coordinator GLACIER RIDGE SUITES MOTEL 6 GREENWOOD VILLAGE INN & SUITES QUALITY INN HAMPTON INN RED LION HOTEL HILTON GARDEN INN TRAVELODGE KCVB PARTNERS Opening 2018: COUNTRY INN & SUITES BY RADISSON Partners Creative SnowGhost Design Flathead Beacon Daily InterLake Glacier Country Tourism

TBID BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dawn Hendrickson, Chair, Homewood Suites Zac Ford, Vice Chair, Hampton Inn Janet Clark, Treasurer, Kalispell Grand Hotel Dan Moderie, Super 8 Emily Schroeder, Hilton Garden Inn Lisa Brown, Red Lion Hotel Shawn Campbell, America’s Best Value Inn

8 KCVB/TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT 2017 KALISPELL CONVENTION & VISITOR BUREAU • 15 Depot Park • Kalispell, MT 59901 • 406-758-2811