Thank You for Joining Our I-9 Webinar

Thank you to everyone who attended our recent “I-9 Compliance and Workplace Enforcement” webinar. We appreciate you taking the time to stay informed and protect your businesses, and we hope you found the information helpful and actionable.

Help Shape Our Next Lunch & Learn: Risk Management

We are planning a second Lunch and Learn in January focused on Risk Management (date to be determined), and we want to make sure we’re covering the topics that matter most to you.

What keeps you up at night when it comes to managing your hotel’s risk? Staffing and HR? Guest safety? Insurance and claims? Contracts and vendors?

Please reply to this email and let us know what risk management topics you’d most like us to cover so we can tailor the session to your needs.

For Sale: Conference Room Tables in Helena

Don’t forget to check out the For Sale page on the MLHA website for member-to-member deals. Our newest listing comes from the Great Northern Hotel in Helena, which is selling conference room tables:

• 8-foot skinny tables – $20 each
• 10-top tables – $40 each

If you’re looking to refresh your meeting space or add to your inventory, this is a great opportunity. Please email sales@gnhotelhelena.com if you are interested.

Member Benefits Reminder

Have you visited our Member Benefits page lately? From advocacy and education to exclusive discounts and webinars, make sure you’re taking full advantage of your MLHA membership! Questions? Contact Ella (406-564-7198) or Peggy (406-461-9945).

Montana Overall: Occupancy declined to 57.5% (from 63.8% in October 2024), while ADR edged up to $151.46 (vs. $146.03). RevPAR fell 6.5% year-over-year, with softer demand weighing on overall performance.

Billings: Occupancy decreased to 54.6% (from 61.9%), and ADR decreased to $120.51 (from $127.71), resulting in a 16.7% decline in RevPAR. Total room revenue saw a significant pullback, reflecting one of the steepest declines among Montana markets.

Bozeman/Yellowstone: Occupancy dipped to 63.6% (from 67.5%), while ADR rose to $194.43 (vs. $186.83). RevPAR slipped 1.9%, reflecting strong rate performance but softer demand than last year.

Missoula: Occupancy edged down to 61.2% (from 64.7%), with ADR falling to $160.42 (vs. $169.24). RevPAR dropped by 10.4%, reflecting a notable decline in both rate and demand.

Helena/Great Falls: Occupancy ticked down to 56.3% (from 60.3%), with ADR essentially flat at $123.65 (vs. $122.92). RevPAR declined -6.1%, reflecting generally steady but slightly softer conditions.

Butte: Occupancy fell to 62.5% (from 65.8%), while ADR increased to $140.36 (from $138.30). RevPAR decreased by 3.6%, driven by lower occupancy despite higher rates.

Flathead/Glacier: Occupancy eased to 58.1% (from 61.4%), while ADR rose to $142.77 (from $130.96). RevPAR increased 5.4%, with rate growth offsetting softer occupancy.

Updates from the Montana Department of Commerce

Commerce is currently accepting applications for the Opportunities in Rural Economies Planning Grant. Businesses and non-profits are eligible to apply. For more information, contact Finance Grants Coordinator Kathy Bartlett at kathy.bartlett@mt.gov or 406-841-2792.

The Wood Products Revolving Loan Fund is accepting new applications under updated program guidelines. The program has transitioned to a loan participation structure for funding requests of up to $2 million and will continue to offer direct loans for amounts under $1 million. The application portal will remain open until all available funding has been committed to eligible businesses. Currently, the WP RLF has $1.1 million available for lending. For more information, contact Program Specialist Chris Ryan at chris.ryan@mt.gov. 

The Montana State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 Loan Participation Program application portal for remaining Tranche Three funds will remain open until all available funds are fully obligated. Submissions will be reviewed in the order they are determined to be fully and properly completed. Upon completion of all required application materials, the application will be scored and reviewed by the loan review committee. All application determinations, approved or denied, will be promptly provided to the participating lenders. This process will continue until all funds have been committed to eligible businesses. Future opportunities will be supported through recycled SSBCI 2.0 funds as loans are repaid.

The Montana State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 Loan Participation Program-Recycled Funds application is open and will remain so for the duration of the program, with capital availability contingent on repayments from existing borrowers. A list of participating lenders with funds for recycling can be found on the SSBCI webpage.

Native American Collateral Support Program funding available: The NACS Program is now accepting applications online, which can be found on the website under “Application Process.” Currently, $170,832 in cash funding is available. For more information, contact Program Specialist Chris Ryan at chris.ryan@mt.gov or 406-841-2594.

The Economic Impact and Destination Event Grant will accept applications now through Dec. 18. The Destination Event Grant Program helps Montana’s communities with destination events and new events that will increase tourism, including regional, national and international visitors, promote Montana's unique attributes and generate additional community revenue.

• Economic Impact and Destination Event Grants Program overview webinar: Dec. 15 at noon. Includes information about the 2026 application, scoring criteria, the timeline, and a Q&A session. 

The Big Sky Film Grant will open Dec. 1. This grant program aims to build and support partnerships with filmmakers and production companies to create Montana film industry jobs. Application deadline is Feb. 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (MST). For more information, contact the Film Office.