KALISPELL — Kalispell lodging properties saw significant cancellations for group business due to COVID-19.
However, Discover Kalispell-- a division of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce -- has been able to rebook group business meetings offering a glimmer of hope for this coming fall.
Discover Kalispell Director Diane Medler said group business meetings took a major hit in Kalispell for spring and summer months due to cancellations.
But thanks to hard work, Medler said cancellations have rescheduled by 80% for this coming fall and 2021, helping offset the loss of revenue in the short term.
Sh told MTN News that Kalispell hotels and convention centers used for group meetings have been flexible with rearranging dates going forward.
“The hotels have been excellent to work with as far as understanding the need for the group to cancel and reschedule and being flexible with that as well, that’s important,” said Medler.
Medler said in 2018 and 2019 more than $280,000 were spent in Kalispell thanks to group business meetings, adding that the meetings bring significant revenue to the city helping a broad range of local businesses.
“It’s just a wide variety of other businesses that get impacted by people coming here for a group event,” said explained.
Medler said Discover Kalispell will continue to work closely with the Flathead City-County Health Department to ensure safety remains a top priority as meeting dates become finalized.
