Civitas works with hundreds of improvement districts of all shapes and sizes every year, helping them form, renew, or modify, and we recognize the immeasurable effort and time that goes into this process.
District Formation of the Year
We are delighted to announce that the District Formation of the Year is the Minneapolis Tourism Improvement District!
This groundbreaking formation marks the first Tourism Improvement District in Minnesota, establishing a powerful new funding mechanism expected to generate an estimated $7 million annually through a 2% assessment on lodging properties.
Several key factors made this formation truly exceptional:
- It’s the first TID in Minnesota, a historic milestone that sets a precedent for destinations across the region.
- It was built on real partnership. Local hotels, Meet Minneapolis, and City leadership came together around a shared vision for sustainable tourism growth.
- The funding will go toward high-impact initiatives. These include integrated marketing and PR campaigns, sales efforts that drive group and meeting bookings, destination branding, and the development of signature visitor experiences.
Minneapolis has demonstrated what is possible when an entire hospitality community comes together around a bold vision. With the support of hotel leaders, the dedication of Meet Minneapolis, including Bill Deef, retired Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, and the commitment of the City Council, the MTID was brought to life, creating a sustainable funding source that will elevate the city’s competitiveness, strengthen its workforce, and deliver measurable returns for the entire community. The district will also support sustainability programs and workforce development, helping to cultivate a vibrant, well-equipped hospitality sector for years to come.
“The Minneapolis TID formation was led by one of the most committed and determined group of hotel owners and general managers. Their focus on strengthening Minneapolis’ visitor economy made the formation of the Minneapolis Tourism Improvement District possible. Through Meet Minneapolis’ President & CEO, Melvin Tennant’s vision, the organization’s CFO, Sandy Christensen, provided steady, practical guidance on the district’s fiscal and organizational structure, helping ensure a strong foundation. The Minneapolis City Council is a true champion of the tourism industry; we are grateful for its unanimous support throughout the approval process,” notes Tiffany Gallagher, Vice President & Deputy Executive Officer and Gina Reed, Director of Project Management of Civitas, who partnered with the destination through this formation.
Congratulations to Meet Minneapolis and its leadership, Melvin Tennant, the City of Minneapolis, and the dedicated hotel community on being selected as Civitas’ District Formation of the Year!
District Renewal/Modification of the Year
We are delighted to announce that the District Renewal/Modification of the Year is the Berkeley Tourism Business Improvement District!
This revolutionary renewal not only proactively renewed years early but also raised its assessment by 2%, raising an additional $1.5M for the destination, almost triple its original budget.
The renewal achieved remarkable success, and its uniqueness can be attributed to several key elements:
- A landmark modification with an assessment increase from 1% to 3% (an approximate 197% increase), and a renewal two years early.
- The unique investment in the community in regard to arts and culture by dedicating 10% of assessment funds to a Cultural Tourism program.
- The incredible relationships and trust between the DMO, the City, and the businesses.
Berkeley has embraced the powerful idea that success in tourism is a team effort. This industry doesn’t operate in a silo, but rather, it takes the entire community rowing together. And through transparent communication and dedicated investment in arts and culture, the District has proven itself as a true benefit to all.
Emily Brown, Civitas’ Project Manager & Director of Operations, who worked closely with the destination on this project, said, “Visit Berkeley’s renewal was impressive on multiple fronts, renewing two years ahead of schedule and tripling their assessment rate is no easy feat. It takes real trust between a destination, its stakeholders, and the City, and President & CEO, Jeffrey Church, was the driving force behind building that alignment. He made a compelling case for why the increase and early renewal were essential to keeping Berkeley competitive, and it was a privilege to support him and the Visit Berkeley team through the process.”
Congratulations to Visit Berkeley and its leadership, Jeffrey Church, on being selected as Civitas’ District Renewal/Modification of the Year!
