Missoula Legislator Education Forum Webinar
Value of Tourism for Missoula and Montana – Event was September 25, 2020
Jobs, Community, Economy – Tourism is a leading industry for Montana strengthening small businesses and supporting thousands of jobs. While Covid19 has been a great disrupter for the global economy, now is the time to consider how tourism will be part of Montana’s story of recovery.
By understanding the past, we can steer our path to the future. While we’ll adapt to a new world, future opportunities will present themselves and we want to be ready for them with the right partners in place.
In other years, Voices of Montana Tourism would host a legislative candidate lunch with a panel of business leaders to provide education on tourism. By moving to this online format, we want to offer our candidates a forum to share their perspective. All pre-registered candidates will have an opportunity to speak and respond to questions. The webinar will be open to Missoula voters, businesses and tourism stakeholders.
Voices of Montana Tourism is an independent non-profit that provides education and does not advocate for political candidates, legislation or policy.
Agenda:
- Introduction by Dax Schieffer, director of Voices of Montana Tourism
- The role of Destination Marketing Organizations for Montana communities, Racene Friede, executive director of Glacier Country
- Local role of DMO by Barb Neilan, executive director of Destination Missoula
- Legislator panel questions as presented by Stuart Doggett, executive director of Montana Lodging & Hospitality Association
- Legislator candidate panel presents – candidates present included:
- Connie Keough – House District 91
- Dan Salomon – Senate District 47
- Danny Tennenbaum – House District 95
- Katie Sullivan – Housed District 89
- Lori Conley – Housed District 96
- Lou Ann Hansen – House District 97
- Margaret Gorski – Senate District 44
- Tom Browder – House District 92
- *Received regrets in advance from Brad Tschida (HD97) and Kathy Whitman (HD96)
Resources and presentations:
Event Page with Videos and Resources
Value of Tourism for Missoula and Montana
Local Impact – Destination Missoula
Contacts:
Dax Schieffer – dax@voicesoftourism.com
Racene Friede – racene@glaciermt.com
Barb Neilan – director@destinationmissoula.org
Stuart Doggett – stuart@montana.com
Flathead Legislator Education Forum Webinar – Sept. 28
Value of Tourism for the Flathead and Montana
Jobs, Community, Economy – Tourism is a leading industry for Montana strengthening small businesses and supporting thousands of jobs. While Covid19 has been a great disrupter for the global economy, now is the time to consider how tourism will be part of Montana’s story of recovery.
By understanding the past, we can steer our path to the future. While we’ll adapt to a new world, future opportunities will present themselves and we want to be ready for them with the right partners in place.
In other years, Voices of Montana Tourism would host a legislative candidate lunch with a panel of business leaders to provide education on tourism. By moving to this online format, we want to offer our candidates a forum to share their perspective. All pre-registered candidates will have an opportunity to speak and respond to questions. The webinar will be open to Flathead voters, businesses and tourism stakeholders.
Voices of Montana Tourism is an independent non-profit that provides education and does not advocate for political candidates, legislation or policy.
Click HERE to attend via zoom.
Agenda:
- Introduction by Dax Schieffer, director of Voices of Montana Tourism
- The role of Destination Marketing Organizations for Montana communities, Racene Friede, executive director of Glacier Country
- Local role of the DMO by Diane Medler, executive director of Discover Kalispell and Dylan Boyle, executive director of Explore Whitefish
- Legislator panel questions as presented by Stuart Doggett, executive director of Montana Lodging & Hospitality Association
- Legislator candidate panel presents
- Facilitate question and answers for panelists
- Adjourn by 1 p.m.
Bozeman Legislator Education Forum Webinar – Oct. 1
Value of Tourism for the Bozeman area and Montana
Jobs, Community, Economy – Tourism is a leading industry for Montana strengthening small businesses and supporting thousands of jobs. While Covid19 has been a great disrupter for the global economy, now is the time to consider how tourism will be part of Montana’s story of recovery.
By understanding the past, we can steer our path to the future. While we’ll adapt to a new world, future opportunities will present themselves and we want to be ready for them with the right partners in place.
In other years, Voices of Montana Tourism would host a legislative candidate lunch with a panel of business leaders to provide education on tourism. By moving to this online format, we want to offer our candidates a forum to share their perspective. All pre-registered candidates will have an opportunity to speak and respond to questions. The webinar will be open to Bozeman area voters, businesses and tourism stakeholders.
Voices of Montana Tourism is an independent non-profit that provides education and does not advocate for political candidates, legislation or policy.
Click HERE to attend via zoom.
Thursday, October 1
12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Agenda:
- Introduction by Dax Schieffer, Director of Voices of Montana Tourism
- The role of Destination Marketing Organizations for Montana communities, Robin Hoover, Executive Director of Yellowstone Country.
- Introduction of Convention & Visitor Bureau Partners in the Region
- Legislator panel questions as presented by Stuart Doggett, Executive Director of Montana Lodging & Hospitality Association
- Legislator candidate panel responses
- Facilitate question and answers for panelists
- Adjourn by 1 p.m.
Great Falls Legislator Education Forum Webinar – Oct. 7
Value of Tourism for Great Falls and Montana
Jobs, Community, Economy – Tourism is a leading industry for Montana strengthening small businesses and supporting thousands of jobs. While Covid19 has been a great disrupter for the global economy, now is the time to consider how tourism will be part of Montana’s story of recovery.
By understanding the past, we can steer our path to the future. While we’ll adapt to a new world, future opportunities will present themselves and we want to be ready for them with the right partners in place.
In other years, Voices of Montana Tourism would host a legislative candidate lunch with a panel of business leaders to provide education on tourism. By moving to this online format, we want to offer our candidates a forum to share their perspective. All pre-registered candidates will have an opportunity to speak and respond to questions. The webinar will be open to Great Falls voters, businesses and tourism stakeholders.
Voices of Montana Tourism is an independent non-profit that provides education and does not advocate for political candidates, legislation or policy.
Click HERE to attend via zoom.
Wednesday, October 7
12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Agenda:
- Introduction by Dax Schieffer, Director of Voices of Montana Tourism
- The role of Destination Marketing Organizations for Montana communities, Rebecca Engum, Executive Director of Great Falls Montana Tourism
- Legislator panel questions as presented by Stuart Doggett, Executive Eirector of Montana Lodging & Hospitality Association
- Legislator candidate panel responses
- Facilitate question and answers for panelists
- Adjourn by 1 p.m.
Montana Strengthens Tourism Industry
May 1, 2019
MEDIA CONTACT: DAX SCHIEFFER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
406-539-1026 – dax@voicesoftourism.com
Montana Strengthens Its Tourism Economy
HELENA, MT – Tourism, a leading industry in Montana, does not grow by accident. Over time, as Montana’s economy has diversified to support a growing visitor economy, several critical milestones were first achieved. In 1987, Montana implemented a 4% lodging tax with proceeds statutorily directed to marketing promotion at the state, regional and local level along with supporting tourism assets such as Montana State Parks and the Historical Society.
In 2003 an additional 3% bed sales tax was created to support general fund operations for Montana. This spring, another milestone was met when the legislature passed SB 338 to increase the 3% tax to 4%. The funds generated from this additional 1% will be used to establish a grants program to enhance rural museums and historic sites across the state as well as providing funds to invest in Montana’s Heritage Center Museum in the Capital City. In turn, after five years when the Heritage Center renovation is complete, funds will further support important areas such as marketing promotion at the state, regional and local level and Montana State Parks.
According to the Institute of Tourism and Recreation Research, in 2018 12.2 million non-resident visitors spent $3.7 billion in Montana. Those dollars then circulate through main street businesses and support wages for nearly 60,000 jobs.
Research shows that many travelers are shifting behaviors to focus more on experiences and connections to place vs. material goods in retail. The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines cultural heritage tourism as traveling to experience the places, artifacts and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.
Many states have taken advantage of the upward traveler trends in heritage tourism as visitors tend to stay longer and spend more money per day. Montana is rich in history with a wide range of stories from dinosaurs, tribal experiences to gold rushes and Copper Kings. These stories can be enhanced by the Montana Historical Society and its member communities across the state with this additional support.
Not only are there significant economic benefits from this segment of the visitor economy, but heritage tourism also strengthens engagement and can be a differentiating factor unique to Montana and not available with other vacations. The heritage traveler enjoys learning new things which they then will value and will want to care for it. Generally speaking, when travelers connect to an area, they are also more apt to speak positively of the experience to friends and family generating future visitors.
Voices of Montana Tourism serves as a united voice for Montana’s tourism stakeholders. Since its creation in 2011, Voices has led the effort with education and outreach to communicate the immense value a sustainably-grown tourism industry provides for all Montanans.
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Non-Resident Visitors Spent $3.7 Billion in 2018
UM Report: Visitors Spent $3.7B in Montana Last Year
Full report: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/itrr_pubs/385/
MISSOULA – Last year, 12.4 million out-of-state visitors contributed over $3.7 billion in travel spending to Montana’s economy, according to a recent report from the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana.
The latest report finalizes preliminary estimates from January with new fourth-quarter tourism data. The new data showed that Montana tourism in the summer months generated more than half of the year’s tourism dollars. Forty-six percent, or 5.7 million visitors, traveled to Montana in the third quarter of the year, July through September, and spent 52% of the $3.7 billion. Travel groups spent an average of $156 per day, for a total of $1.9 billion during the summer months.
During the first and second quarters of 2018, traveler groups spent an average of $161 and $135 per day, respectively, totaling $440 million and $853 million in spending. Fourth quarter spending in 2018 totaled $499 million, with traveler groups spending $130 per day on average.
Visitation to Montana was down 1% in 2018, though spending in the state increased nearly 11% overall.
“It’s really a nice overall picture for the year, with the number of travelers holding nearly steady, but we had over a 10 percent increase in what the state’s visitors spent while they were here,” said Kara Grau, ITRR assistant director of economic analysis.
Visitors spend most on fuel, dining out and lodging according to Grau.
“Even travelers just passing through Montana make stops for fuel, food and possibly a night or two as they make their way through the state, not to mention those here for longer vacations, so it’s no surprise that spending on those things always tops the list,” Grau said.
Tourist spending on outfitted and guided activities has increased over the past few years, surpassing retail spending by travelers to become fourth on the list of spending categories.
Grau said this jump can be attributed to a shift in tourists valuing experiences over things.
“We saw a bit of an increase in the proportion of vacationers compared to 2017, along with a decrease in the proportion of travelers in Montana simply passing through,” says Jeremy Sage, ITRR economist and associate director. “That, along with a good 2017-18 ski season, likely bolstered traveler spending during the year.”
In 2018, out-of-state travelers directly supported nearly $3.2 billion in economic activity for Montana and over 43,000 state jobs, as well as indirectly supporting an additional $2.1 billion in economic activity and more than 16,200 jobs.
For more information about 2018 visitor spending estimates, visit https://scholarworks.umt.edu/itrr_pubs/385/. All information and reports published by ITRR are online at http://www.itrr.umt.edu.
Please do not reply to this message. To contact ITRR, please e-mail itrr@cfc.umt.edu
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Explore Indian Country – New Guide Book Available
INDIAN COUNTRY
There is great diversity among the twelve tribes located in Big Sky Country in their languages, rituals, histories and governments. Each tribe has a distinct and unique cultural heritage that contributes to modern Montana. Indigenous languages and traditions are alive and well throughout Indian Country, where visitors are welcome to experience the varied customs of each tribe.
Click here to download the full guide.
Montana Access by Air
March 14, 2019 MEDIA CONTACT: DAX SCHIEFFER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 406-539-1026 – dax @voicesoftourism.com
Flying in and out of Montana easier than ever
New airlines, new routes and more seats increase enplanements 32% in five years
HELENA, MT – Air access to major markets is a critical factor for economic development and Montana has added over 500,000 enplanements in five years with a record 2.2 million passengers in 2018. This growth supports nearly every sector of Montana’s economy with tourism, gas and oil, new business development and technology company growth. More convenient flights also improve access and lower costs for Montanans who travel for leisure or business.
Remarkably, this growth in air access is taking place in one of the most remote areas in the contiguous United States. Geographically, Montana is the furthest area from major urban markets. This distance increases costs in fuel to travel longer and adds time to flights limiting efficiency for airlines to maximize trips in a day per plane, creating a strategic disadvantage relative to other remote airports competing for new service.
Several ingredients contribute to attracting new airlines and encouraging existing airlines to add routes to new cities and increasing seats per plane. The first component starts with effective promotions to put Montana at the top of desirable destinations to visit for potential travelers. Second, airlines like to minimize risk and are attracted when communities can form public/private partnerships to provide revenue guarantees to develop new travel markets. The added bonus for these arrangements can be targeted marketing campaigns in those new markets that supports the first need.
Expenses are a major factor for airlines consideration and Montana airports have kept airline costs low to incentivize airlines to maintain and consider new service. Airports can keep airline costs low with on time arrivals and departures with adequate gate and luggage systems and modern air traffic control technologies. Another incentive includes a $.02 rebate applied to the $.04 aviation fuel tax that helps when airlines consider market opportunities for limited resources throughout the nation. Without these incentives, other states may become more attractive than Montana for new service.
“While Montana has a lot of momentum in growing air access, it’s important to recognize success is not by accident and we are always competing with other markets in the country when trying to negotiate with airlines,” said Dax Schieffer, Voices of Montana Tourism Director. “A downturn in capacity of seats in and out of Montana would not only make travel less convenient, it could also increase costs for Montanans to fly as less competition would predictably raise fares. It was recently reported that when American Airlines entered the Missoula market, travelers saved $2.8 million in fares in the third quarter of 2018.”
Voices of Montana Tourism serves as a united voice for Montana’s tourism stakeholders. Since its creation in 2011, Voices has led the effort with education and outreach to communicate the immense value a sustainably-grown tourism industry provides for all Montanans.
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Resident Travel Report Released
Contact: Norma Nickerson, director, UM Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, 406-243-2328, norma.nickerson@umontana.edu; Jeremy Sage, assistant director, 406-243-5552, Jeremy.sage@umontana.edu; Kara Grau or Megan Schultz, 406-243-5685.
Montanan’s DO travel in Montana and spend money
MISSOULA – Montana residents took over 13.5 million day trips and 4 million overnight trips for leisure, business, or other trip types at least 50 miles away from their home in 2017. Their spending on these trips totaled nearly $2.87 billion according to a report from the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana.
Resident day trips represented more than three times the number of overnight trips, and subsequently more total dollars are spent due to day trips ($1.66 billion in day trips; $1.21 billion in overnight trips).
Business day trips and leisure overnight trips by residents have the highest spending of all trip types. Day and overnight business trips contribute $1.36 billion to travel spending. Leisure trips contribute $1.13 billion to the economy while other types of trips such as medical, shopping, and so forth, contribute $374 million.
The highest percent of all travel dollars were expended in Glacier and Southwest Montana travel regions (see map), as they represent 50% of all resident day trip and 48% of all overnight travel dollars.
“What is interesting,” said Norma Nickerson, Director of the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, “Is that the western part of the state receives the most dollars from residents traveling there, but Yellowstone County captures 13.2 percent of all resident travel spending, the highest of all counties. Billings accounts for 97 percent of the traveler’s dollars in that county.”
Missoula County, with 503,900 overnight trips and $153,976,000 in spending is the next highest recipient county of resident travel dollars, followed by Gallatin and Lewis & Clark Counties.
“Restaurant and bars make up the highest spending category in each county, out spending gasoline and lodging,” said Dr. Nickerson. “Apparently eating out and visiting local breweries is a great excuse to travel at least 50 miles from home.”
Results of the ITRR study show that residents’ county of origin to other counties reflects the Montana population. The most populated counties (Yellowstone, Missoula, Cascade, Gallatin, Lewis & Clark, and Flathead) represent the highest percent of visitation to all other counties.
The report looks in detail at the top six counties where residents spent overnights: Yellowstone, Missoula, Gallatin, Lewis and Clark, Flathead, and Cascade. If the top outdoor activities from each (scenic driving, day hiking and wildlife watching) are removed, there are interesting differences. Yellowstone and Cascade counties show the highest percent of their visitors enjoy recreational shopping while special dining tops the other four counties. Going to museums landed in the top eight activities for Gallatin County, viewing art exhibits was in the top eight for Lewis and Clark County and motor boating emerged in Flathead County. All six counties also had participation in going to local breweries with Missoula County having the highest percent who indicated a need to taste the local brews.
Total travel industry spending in Montana is $6.23 billion dollars; 54 percent contributed by nonresidents and 46 percent by resident travel within the state. Nonresidents provide the economic impact to the state by bringing in new dollars. Residents provide their impact to counties outside their current residence.
The ITRR study surveyed 10,795 Montanans ages 18 and older who were intercepted at gas stations and rest areas throughout the state during 2017 to assess overall trip types and numbers. An additional survey was completed by 1,341 residents who provided more detail into a specific trip within the past month.
More information on the study is available at https://scholarworks.umt.edu/itrr_pubs/367/. All information and reports published by ITRR are available online at http://www.itrr.umt.edu.
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Guest view: We’re lucky to live in a popular destination for tourists
Guest view: We’re lucky to live in a popular destination for tourists
May 6-12, 2018 marks the 35th anniversary of the 1983 congressional resolution that established National Travel and Tourism Week. This is a week to reflect on the contributions and accomplishments of the travel community and celebrate the value travel holds for our economy, businesses and personal well-being.
In Montana, with successful promotions attracting 12.4 million non-resident visitors, most who arrive during the summer months, it can be easy to get hung up on the inconveniences created with more people on the roads, lined up in stores or in the places we like to eat.
I believe National Travel and Tourism Week is a great time to reflect on the positive impacts the visitor economy brings to Montana.
Tourism fuels Montana’s economy as non-resident visitors spent $3.4 billion in 2017 according to the Institute of Tourism & Recreation Research. Those dollars are spent on guides, outfitters, restaurants, retail, farmer’s markets and hotels that helps Montana’s small businesses and main streets.
Tourism creates jobs, according to ITRR, visitors supported 53,000 jobs with $1.35 billion in salaries directly related to tourism industry jobs. Those dollars that were injected into Montana’s economy from visitors will circulate in our communities many times over.
Tourism lowers the tax burden on all Montanans, in the past seven years over $161 million has been deposited to the state general fund from lodging taxes alone. Tourism lowers taxes $491 for each Montana household.
Tourism improves Montanans access to other places with growing air service that includes new non-stop cities, large aircraft and even new airlines. The foundation for continued expansion of Montana’s economy across many sectors including high tech, healthcare and manufacturing relies on reliable air access. Since 1987 when Montana’s tourism industry began to grow, airline enplanements have more than doubled to nearly 2,000,000 per year.
Tourism supports communities to promote and preserve the qualities that make Montana a great place to live, work and play. Travelers add to the lifestyle many Montanans enjoy by supporting more restaurants, shops and special events. What we enjoy now is far more than what the state’s population could support on its own.
I’m proud to live in a state that is a desirable place for others to visit. I feel lucky about that. Sure, I may wait in line a little longer this summer, but I’m going to thank and welcome that visitor, because they are making Montana better.
Dax Schieffer is director of voices for Montana Tourism.
