Arizona tourism heads north

The many sides of Arizona’s tourism industry travelled north this week, meeting with the travel press at the state’s annual Media Marketplace in Toronto.

Thirteen Arizona tourism partners showcased their respective destinations, including representatives from the Arizona Office of Tourism, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Tucson, Sedona, Yuma, the Navajo Nation Hospitality Enterprise, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff and Glendale.

Tony Alba, media relations manager for the Arizona Office of Tourism, told PAX that while Canada is Arizona’s number two market in terms of visitation (second to Mexico, a market which consists mostly of drive-in visits for shopping, Alba explained), Canadians are tops when it comes to visitor spending, Alba explained, with BC and Ontario being the country’s top two markets.

Alba said that while Arizona’s tourism industry felt the effects of the economic downturn of 2008-09, the market has rebounded in recent years.

"It’s been a little bit stagnant over the last five years but in the last two years we’ve seen a rebound," Alba said. "Part of it was the economy; we’re keeping an eye on the Canadian dollar. We’re seeing growth and although it’s modest, growth is still growth and we’re happy about that. We’ve weathered the storm over the last couple years; last year, we were up 1.2 per cent over 2013.”

In terms of traveller demographics, Arizona attracts a wide range of travellers by catering to interests ranging from active outdoor lifestyles to relaxing at luxury properties, Alba explained.

“We do really well with millennials,” he said. “The boomers are still a big market for us – they have money and they’re willing to spend it provided you give them a compelling reason, but the millennials are extremely important.”

“It’s a great area for biking, hiking and kayaking but we also have great resorts, spas and unmatched scenery. It’s such a diverse state; you can be in the Phoenix area with 80 degree weather and then travel two hours north and go skiing.”

And while tourism draws catering to contemporary interests are plentiful in the state, those looking for the charm of the Old West can live the cowboy life in the state’s southern region, particularly places like Tucson.

“We have some working ranches where they’ll stick you on a horse and put you to work!” Alba said.

PHOTO: Tony Alba, media relations manager, Arizona Office of Tourism; Marsha Mowers, director, public relations, Connect Worldwide Canada; Mary Rittman, director of public and community relations, Visit Tucson; Joanne Hudson, public relations specialist, Flagstaff Convention & Visitors Bureau; Blessing McAnlis-Vasquez, marketing project manager, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community; Amy Griglak, digital marketing manager, Tempe Tourism Office; Kurtis Shaul, Marketing Manager, Grand Canyon Resort Corp.; Laurie Berg Sapp, assistant communications director, Glendale; Doug MacKenzie, director of media relations, Visit Phoenix; Donovan Hanley, director of sales, Navajo Nation Hospitality Enterprise; Michelle Streeter, director of communications for Visit Mesa; Kegn Moorcroft, public relations manager, Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau; Dustin Mylius, marketing manager, Yuma Visitors Bureau; Megan Neighbor, director of communications, Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.