E.L.F. Program Update: Emergency Housing for Victims

The Montana Department of Justice (DOJ) is making progress on SB 522, an initiative to provide emergency housing for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence. The program, known as the Emergency Lodging Facility (E.L.F.) program, is a collaborative effort between the DOJ, the Office of Victim Services, and representatives from Montana’s lodging industry.

Our Board Treasurer, Shelli Mann of the Boothill Inn & Suites, has been instrumental in ensuring this program addresses the needs of both victims and the lodging businesses involved. As the program nears its launch, several facilities, including Super 8 Kalispell, Days Inn and Suites Downtown-University Missoula, Hampton Inn and Suites Whitefish, and Boothill Inn & Suites, have volunteered to enroll and be featured as resources for others. These facilities will be included on flyers distributed to advocates and other businesses interested in joining the effort.

To ensure the program’s success, more lodging facilities are needed to step forward and join the list. Participation is entirely voluntary, and listing your property only indicates your willingness to consider involvement on a case-by-case basis. This list will help local advocates connect with facilities willing to provide emergency lodging for those in need.

If your property is interested in participating or you’d like more information, please get in touch with Shelli Mann at shelli.mann@boothillinn.com. This is a unique opportunity to support a program that directly helps vulnerable members of our community while demonstrating the strength of Montana’s lodging industry.

Commerce's Event Grant Promotes Tourism and Contributes to Virginia City Miner's Day Success

The Economic Impact and Destination Event Grant Program, administered by the Montana Department of Commerce, aims to boost local economies by attracting tourism through destination events. Authorized under Senate Bill 540, this program offers grants to help communities market and host events that will draw regional, national and international visitors.

Polson police receive grant to improve traffic safety

The Polson Police Department (PPD) is thrilled to announce the award of a $50,701 grant from the Montana Emergency Tourism Assistance Program. This funding will launch the C.A.R.E.S. Program (Community Awareness Regarding Enforcement & Safety), aimed at improving traffic safety and public awareness in Polson, especially during the busy tourist season.

Commerce Awards Grant Funding for Tourism-Related Emergency Service Projects

HELENA, Mont. - The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that 26 local safety agencies will share more than $1.4 million of grant funding to support tourism-related emergency service projects in rural areas. The funding is through Commerce's Montana Emergency Tourism Assistance Grant Program. The METAP program is designed to support services provided by public or private safety agencies including law enforcement, firefighting and ambulance or medical services.

Commerce's New Revolving Loan Program Allocates $24 Million of Grant Funding to Support Montana's Tourism Industry

HELENA, Mont. - The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that $24 million of grant funding has been awarded to 12 local economic development organizations to generate revolving loans to further develop and enhance Montana's tourism industry. The funding is through Commerce's Tourism Development and Enhancement Revolving Loan Fund Program.

October STR Now Available

Key Trends

Montana Overall: The occupancy rate rose by 5.2% compared to October 2022, with a notable 10.4% increase in revenue per available room (RevPAR). Year-to-date, the average daily rate (ADR) improved by 2.9%, but occupancy declined by 1.4%.

Bozeman/Yellowstone Area: This area experienced an 8.6% increase in RevPAR for October and a substantial 11.1% rise in total room revenue. Year-to-date metrics remain stable.

Missoula: Missoula saw a significant RevPAR increase of 20.4% in October and an 11.4% jump in occupancy, indicating strong performance.

Billings: Billings lagged behind other areas, reporting a slight October occupancy decline (-0.1%) and a 1.4% drop in RevPAR.

Helena/Great Falls: Both cities reported improvements in occupancy and RevPAR for October, with Helena achieving a 16% growth in RevPAR.

Butte: Butte was the standout performer, with a remarkable 41% surge in occupancy for October and an impressive 59.2% increase in RevPAR.

Click Here to Download the October Smith Travel Report

Updates from the Department of Commerce

2025 Governor's Conference on Tourism

April 27-29, 2025

Delta Colonial, Helena

The Montana Department of Commerce Governor's Conference on Tourism is an annual conference that brings over 350 tourism and business professionals together to educate, network, and inspire one another.

Early bird registration fee: $250

After December 20, 2024: $300

Registration closes on April 1, 2025. Spots are limited, so plan your registration accordingly.

Click Here to Register

Click Here to View Room Blocks

Click Here to Preview Agenda & Speakers

Commerce's Office of Tourism will host the following webinars:

Dec 4: Preparing for Tourism
Dec 10: Strategies for Great Grant Writing

The Big Sky Film Grant is open and closes Feb. 7, 2025. The film grant program aims to build and support partnerships with filmmakers and production companies to create Montana film industry jobs.

The Tribal Tourism Small Business Grant application cycle is open through Dec. 15, 2024.

The Tribal Business Development Grant is open for applications through Dec. 20, 2024.

Early-bird registration for the Montana Department of Commerce’s Governor’s Conference on Tourism is open through Dec. 20. Exhibitor applications will be accepted through Dec. 15. Showcase your business and connect with key industry leaders and professionals. For more information, contact mtgovcon@mt.gov.

The Pilot Community Tourism Grant Program Round 2 application cycle is open and will close on Dec. 31, 2024. For more information, contact tourismgrants@mt.gov.

Applications are open for "Exporter of the Year" awards. Don't miss this opportunity to spread the word about your 2024 export success. Contact our Export team for more information.

Join Commerce's Export team in the Montana Pavilion at IWA Outdoor Feb. 27-March 2, 2025, in Nuremberg, Germany. Commerce, through the Small Business Administration's STEP grant, pays for all booth expenses, including booth space and reimbursement of up to $2,000 for participants' travel costs. Commerce also coordinates all show preparations. Contact our Export team for more information.

Holiday season poll: 52% of Americans likely to travel for leisure

Fifty-two percent of Americans plan to travel overnight for leisure in the next four months, and hotels remain the top lodging choice for both leisure (45%) and business travelers (59%), according to a new survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and conducted by Morning Consult.Sixty-six percent of Americans are more likely (25%) or equally as likely (41%) to stay in a hotel this fall or winter compared to a year ago.

DHS to Supplement H-2B Cap with Nearly 65,000 Additional Visas for Fiscal Year 2025

DHS, in consultation with the Department of Labor, announced that it expects to make an additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas available for FY 2025, on top of the congressionally mandated 66,000 H-2B visas that are available each fiscal year.

Commentary from AHLA:

This increase significantly expands the number of available H-2B visas beyond the cap of 66,000 for FY25 and comes after months of successful AHLA lobbying and advocacy efforts, including the passage of AHLA-backed legislation that became law in March.

AHLA is chair of the H-2B Workforce Coalition, and expanded H-2B visa availability is a perennial priority for us, as many hotels depend on seasonal workers to operate. While we welcome the increases announced today, AHLA will continue to press the Administration and Congress for a more permanent and predictable system for worker visas.

Federal Court Invalidates the DOL's Final Overtime Rule

On November 15, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas vacated the Department of Labor's (DOL) final rule, raising the salary thresholds for being exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The ruling applies nationwide and means employers do not need to increase employee salaries in January 2025 to maintain their exempt status.

Commentary from AHLA:

Under this rule, the salary threshold at which employees must receive overtime pay was set to rise to $58,656 on January 1, but the court’s decision returns it to $35,568.

AHLA led a coalition of business groups to sue the DOL on behalf of our members because the new rule would have devastated our industry. The one-size-fits-all approach would have drastically increased costs for small businesses and could have led to job consolidation, reclassification of employees, and reduced critical flexibility for workers. The automatic escalation every three years also failed to account for market conditions and regional considerations. The lodging industry is proud that compensation for hotel employees continues to outpace the rest of the economy.

AHLA releases new employee safety device buyer's guide, comparison matrix

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and its technology committee, Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG), today released an updated buyer's guide and comparison matrix to help hoteliers assess the latest generation of personal safety devices for hotel staff.