Explore Livingston presents six-page strategic plan focused on residents, slower‑season tourism
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Summary
Explore Livingston presented a concise strategic plan that emphasizes resident quality of life while targeting slower‑season tourism. Presenters outlined five priorities, funding mechanisms including TBID/LBID/DMO rules, and said the group will publish detailed appendices and hold community meetings.
Explore Livingston executive director Chris King and consultant McLaren Latta presented the coalition's six‑page strategic plan to the Livingston City Commission on Feb. 17, saying the effort prioritized resident quality of life alongside tourism development.
"Data shows that tourism is the largest economic driver in the county," McLaren Latta said, noting the plan relied on more than 40 collaborators, roughly 1,500 survey responses and a 50‑page appendix of supporting studies. The plan identifies five priorities: economic development targeting slower season product development, attainable housing, funding for "Rivers, Roads and Rescue," informed and responsible visitor practices, and visitor economy resilience.
Chris King explained how the city's three destination funding streams work and who decides how the money is spent. He described the downtown Livingston Business Improvement District (LBID), the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) — a $2 per room per night assessment within city limits — and the Destination Management Organization (formerly the CVB) rules set by state statute. "The tourism business improvement district is $2 a night per room flat rate for the hotels within the city limits," King said, and noted the LBID budget is capped in the near term.
Commissioners pressed presenters on data sources and geographic scope. Commissioner O'Neil noted different numbers from University of Montana studies; presenters said some cited data cover Park County rather than the city and pledged to detail which metrics are Livingston‑specific in the plan appendix. King and Latta also committed to adding clearer labeling in the summary to distinguish county‑level and city‑level figures.
The plan includes an implementation section: community presentations, a "Live Like a Local" campaign, and an annual marketing and budget review. King and Latta said the TBID grant list and full data appendix will be posted with the minutes and distribution materials. Commissioners asked for the TBID grants table and other materials to be added to the public record; staff said they would include the spreadsheet in meeting minutes.
The presentation closed with multiple commissioners noting support for the plan’s focus on resident benefits as a condition of future tourism promotion. Staff and the presenters said they will return with budget plans, marketing specifics and board nominations later this spring.
