Header
Member Newsletter
 
May 2010
President's Message
 
Stephanie Nowack
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 & � 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
Save the Date - Annual Breakfast on June 10!
 
Annual MeetingTune in for the latest news about the Tempe CVB and our tourism industry at our Annual Breakfast! Please RSVP by June 3rd. 
  
Date: Thursday, June 10, 2010
Time: 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Location: The Buttes, A Marriott Resort
 
Tickets are $30 each or $270 for a table of 10. For more information, contact Sofia Preston: [email protected]  
or 480-894-8158.
Welcome New Members!
 
D'Arcy McGee's - www.tempe.darcymcgees.com
California Pizza Kitchen - www.cpk.com
Sucker Punch Sally's Old School Diner - www.suckerpunchsallysdiner.com
SWANK Audio Visuals - www.southwestscenic.com
Southwest Scenic Group - www.swankav.com 
Member Spotlight - Campus Flowers
 
Campus FlowersCampus Flowers serves Tempe and Arizona State University with over 50 years of experience. This family owned and operated business offers the finest floral arrangements and gifts, backed by service that is friendly and prompt. Every customer is important to their professional staff, ensuring that every experience is a pleasant one. The Campus Flowers team helps you make any occasion - birthdays, holidays or special events - memorable and beautiful.
 
Campus Flowers is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. In addition to a large selection of flowers, Campus Flowers also carries green and blooming plants, dish gardens, gourmet gift baskets and balloons. They deliver to the entire Tempe area, and can also assist with nationwide delivery. Corporate accounts are welcome.
 
1435 E. University Dr., Ste. 110
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 968-0389
www.asucampusflowers.com   
Welcome Amy Miranda to the Tempe CVB Team!
Amy Miranda 
Amy Miranda recently joined the staff at the Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) as a Group Sales Manager.

Miranda's focus on the group sales team will be corporate and associations for Arizona, California, Texas and ASU. She will participate in sales missions, telemarketing campaigns, familiarization trips and tradeshows that relate to her specific market segment. 

Originally from Maine, Miranda has now lived in the Phoenix area for 19 years. She has worked in valley hotel sales for over 12 years including properties in Tempe, Scottsdale and Phoenix.
 
Amy can be reached at 480-305-1357 or [email protected].
Member News
 
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Arizona Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association recently awarded their Lifetime Achievement Award to David Rosenbaum, Director of Sales at the Fiesta Resort Conference Center. Congratulations! 
 
Tony Awards Viewing Party
ASU Gammage is hosting an official Tony Awards Viewing Party on Sunday, June 13. Red carpet activities begin at 4 p.m. and the live simulcast from Radio City Music Hall in New York City begins at 5 p.m. This exciting debut event was featured in Variety magazine, where Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, ASU Gammage's Executive Director is quoted describing the event. For ticket information visit www.asugammage.com.
Upcoming Events
 
Here is a sample of Tempe's events in the coming weeks. For a complete calendar of events, visit http://www.tempecvb.com/calendar.asp.  
 
Jazz in the Garden Concert Series
May 28 & June 4, 11, 18, 25, 2010
Desert Botanical Garden
480-941-1225
www.dbg.org   

Chuck Amuck: A Legacy of Laughter
Through June 18, 2010
Tempe Center for the Arts
480-350-2822
www.tempe.gov/TCA   

Garden Flashlight Tours
Thursdays and Saturdays through August 28, 2010
Desert Botanical Garden
480-941-1225
www.dbg.org
 
11th Annual Summer Family Exhibition
May 29, 2010 - August 2, 2010
ASU Art Museum
480-965-2787
asuartmuseum.asu.edu  
 
Tempe Little Theatre: Tale of the Allergist's Wife
June 4-20, 2010
Tempe Center for the Arts
480-350-8388
www.tempe.gov/TCA  
 
IN THE HEIGHTS
June 15-20, 2010
ASU Gammage
480-965-3434
www.asugammage.com

July 4th Tempe Town Lake Festival
July 4, 2010
Tempe Town Lake
480-350-5189
www.tempe4th.com

Exhibition: Cars and Guitars
July 10, 2010 - October 16, 2010
Tempe Center for the Arts Gallery
480-350-2822
www.tempe.gov/TCA 
Thank you for Thinking Tempe First!
 
Sincerely,
 
The Tempe CVB team
In This Issue
President's Message
Save the Date
New Members
Member Spotlight
Welcome Amy Miranda
Member News
Upcoming Events
On the Road
Quick Links
On the Road
One the Road
 
Tempe CVB staff members are always traveling across the country to spread the word about Tempe. Here's where they have been or are going to be in the coming months.

Amy Miranda
MPI Education Forum
Tucson, AZ
August 13-15, 2010
 
Amy Richert
Arizona Governor's Conference on Tourism
Tucson, AZ
July 12-14, 2010
 
Mark McMinn
MPI World Education Congress
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
July 24-28, 2010
 
Connect Marketplace
Louisville, KY
August 12-15, 2010
 
Affordable Meetings National
Washington, D.C.
September 7-9, 2010
Arizona Governor's Conference on Tourism
Tucson, AZ
July 12-14, 2010
 
Arizona Governor's Conference on Tourism
Tucson, AZ
July 12-14, 2010
 
Shawn Lewis
Arizona Governor's Conference on Tourism
Tucson, AZ
July 12-14, 2010
 
Arizona Governor's Conference on Tourism
Tucson, AZ
July 12-14, 2010
 
Western Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus CEO Forum
Sedona, AZ
August 5-7, 2010