Discover Kalamazoo reports modest visitor‑spending growth, missed hotel revenue target; cites ARPA help and sports facility timeline

Jane Ghosh, president and CEO of Discover Kalamazoo, updated commissioners on visitor spending, revenue and priorities for 2026 on Dec. 2.

Ghosh said 2024 visitor spending rose 3.6% and that Kalamazoo remains strong compared with similar counties. However, she said accommodations tax revenue for 2025 underperformed—"hotels are performing very poorly in 2024"—and that the organization missed its budgeted accommodations tax target for the year. She credited a $60,000 ARPA grant from the county with helping Discover Kalamazoo exceed net‑income targets despite the shortfall.

Ghosh highlighted priorities for 2026: continued leisure advertising (targeting beyond 50 miles), supporting the indoor youth and amateur sports facility to secure future hotel room nights, diversifying group business (including medical conferences), and a new 10‑year tourism master plan that will begin site visits this week.

Commissioners asked detailed budget questions about specific revenue and expense lines, prior‑year reimbursements tied to the indoor sports facility and projected expense reductions for 2026 (Ghosh estimated about $150,000 in cuts). She also said the organization has invested in accessibility mapping (Wheel the World) and launched an app and kiosks to reach visitors.

Next steps: Discover Kalamazoo will continue to refine its 2026 budget assumptions and return to the board with more details; the board has a first reading before it on bond issuance connected to the event center assessment district.