Meet Minneapolis has successfully introduced the first ever Tourism Improvement District in Minnesota.

This will generate an estimated $7 million annually, providing sustainable funding for tourism promotion through a 2% assessment on lodging properties. The Minneapolis TID will fund high-impact initiatives designed to attract more overnight visitors and elevate Minneapolis’ competitiveness among peer cities. Priorities include integrated marketing and PR campaigns, sales efforts to drive group and meeting bookings, destination branding, and the development of signature visitor experiences. The district will also support sustainability programs and workforce development, helping to cultivate a vibrant, well-equipped hospitality sector.

Hailed as a milestone, advisor Civitas said the MTID is the result of a strong collaboration between local hotels, Meet Minneapolis, and city leadership, demonstrating what is possible when stakeholders align around a shared vision for sustainable tourism.

“We are grateful for the City Council’s approval of the Tourism Improvement District ordinance. It is a transformative moment for Minneapolis tourism,” said Melvin Tennant, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis. “This dedicated funding mechanism will give our city the ability to attract more visitors and events and generate greater economic impact for our community. The leadership and partnership of our local hotels in making this investment possible will allow us to advance the shared goals of our tourism and hospitality industry. Together, we’ll build a stronger, more resilient hospitality workforce and visitor economy for Minneapolis.”

Photo courtesy of Meet Minneapolis

Left to right: Jeff Johnson (Minneapolis Convention Center), Melvin Tennant (Meet Minneapolis), Eric Thieling (Hilton Minneapolis), Mark Labovitz (Lion Hotel Group), Council Member Michael Rainville, Michael Clark (Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot), Mayor Jacob Frey, Council Member Katie Cashman, Florian Riedel (Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis), Council Member Robin Wonsley, Aaron McDougle (Hyatt Regency Minneapolis), Dennis Wilson (The Marquette Hotel), Bill Deef (Meet Minneapolis)