Support tourist assessment

The members of the Big Mountain Commercial Association (BMCA) would like to express our support for the tourism promotion assessment (TPA) that 50 Whitefish businesses have elected to add to the cost of their product.

The Big Mountain Commercial Association is made up of 70 local businesses that cooperatively fund the SNOW bus with Whitefish Mountain Resort. The SNOW bus provides more than 50,000 free rides to residents and visitors each winter throughout Whitefish, to the mountain and back to town.

The TPA assessment is funding important efforts to keep all businesses in Whitefish viable and thriving. These efforts include:

¥ A public relations program that solicits travel writers to come to Whitefish, who then write articles for magazines and newspapers all over the country about a great place to visit.

¥ Fulfillment pieces for visitors that include the Web site www.explorewhitefish.com, and the annual Whitefish Travel Planner and Whitefish visitor map, which describe and locate dining, lodging, shopping, arts, activities, banks, services and transportation.

¥ Marketing efforts (often undertaken in conjunction with the Montana Office of Tourism and Glacier Country, our regional tourism commission) that strive to generate visitation during the shoulder seasons and increase visitation in the winter.

When compared to other mountain resorts and regions, Whitefish is on the low end of the spectrum with regard to taxes and assessments. It is not uncommon to see 12-16 percent taxes/assessments in these regions, including Canada.

We are equally aware that Whitefish has a competitive advantage over these other areas with higher taxes/assessments, but when you consider the importance of tourism to Whitefish and the greater area, a penny on the dollar is insignificant.

However, the amount of funds being generated by a penny on the dollar is significant enough to enable Whitefish to compete with other destinations. Visitors to Whitefish who pay this assessment are helping us to continue to have a beautiful, economically viable community, with award-winning restaurants, bars, shops and other attractions.

Many new business owners have chosen to locate in Whitefish following a visit that came about as a result of promotional efforts like those listed above. By patronizing these businesses and paying the assessment we are all helping to keep one more year round job available and one more business or attraction open.

Jennifer Fisher, Kandahar Lodge

Dan Graves, Whitefish Mountain Resort

Ruth Lane, The Purple Pomegranate

Nina Stefani, Glacier Restaurant Group

Dennis Drumheller, Rocky Mountain Lodge

Doreen Marcia, Whitefish Mountain Resort

Chris Schustrom, Garden Wall Inn

Addie Brown, Kristiana Mountain Homes

Rick Cunningham, BMCA director