News from Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau

What is the value of tourism in Arizona?

Is it the 200,000 families who depend on tourism jobs for their livelihood?

Is it the annual 37.4 million domestic and international visitors who directly spent $18.5 billion in our state?

Is it the quality of life that accompanies living in a state as beautiful and culturally rich as Arizona?

The value of tourism in Arizona is all of those things and more. As a Tempe resident, you are also affected by the tourism industry. It's not just hotels who benefit from out of town guests. It's restaurants, attractions, car rental agencies, locally owned shops, audio visual companies, printers...the list goes on and on.

Many of the reasons that you choose to live in Tempe are the reasons that our visitors choose to come here - Angels spring training, events like P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & ½ Marathon, Tempe Marketplace, Arizona Mills, Mill Avenue and Tempe Town Lake.

The Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau connects tourism to our city. We provide information and resources for visitors and meeting and event planners. We connect them to information about restaurants, attractions, events, hotels, meeting space and all that there is to see and do in our area. We fulfill requests for information from visitors, we conduct marketing campaigns that promote Tempe and we provide Tempe story ideas to the media.

In spite of the recent negative publicity surrounding our state's immigration bill, the value of tourism and its positive impact on our livelihoods and the cultural richness of Arizona are not diminished.

In response to the publicity surrounding this issue, Bruce MacMillan, the President/CEO of Meeting Planners International, said, "Our industry is about connecting people, opportunities and ideas. Using travel boycotts as a political weapon in Arizona (or anywhere) only hurts the local communities and the workers in the State that benefit from the meeting and event industry. It also frustrates growth and innovation at a time when it's never been needed more. We encourage options for dialogue that don't sacrifice a $7 billion Arizona meeting and event industry in the middle of an economic recovery."

While these are interesting times for tourism and many other industries in Arizona, these are promising times, too.

Tempe has welcomed our newest attraction, the SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium at Arizona Mills. SEA LIFE has more than 30 display tanks in 12 different habitat zones, making homes for more than 5,000 sea creatures. A 360 degree viewing area makes you feel like you are part of the exhibit.

On the sports scene, Tempe's reputation as a sought-after events destination has helped us to land another national running event. Tempe, partnering with Scottsdale, will co-host the newest event in The Women's Half Marathon Series. The inaugural event will be held on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. Starting in Old Town Scottsdale, the scenic, walker-friendly course winds along the Arizona Canal and adjacent to Papago Park. The race will finish in Tempe Beach Park and be followed with an unforgettable lakefront celebration.

SEA LIFE and the Women's Half Marathon chose Tempe because we have an exciting, vibrant city, a city that has a long history of hospitality and diversity. We are committed to continuing that tradition of hospitality and doing all we can to maintain Tempe's recognition as a welcoming destination.

And, along with the Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association, we ask that you join with us in supporting the thousands of families whose jobs are dependent on tourism. Encourage your friends, family, associations and business contacts to visit us and experience our state firsthand.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Nowack
President/CEO