Dear Industry Friends,

Rand McNally and USA TODAY have teamed up to create a community of road traveler teams to review and judge the best stops on America's highways and byways. For one month, 5 teams hit the open road to reveal the best towns in five categories; including: Most Beautiful, Most Patriotic, Best for Food, Friendliest and Most Fun. Ultimately, each team will pick the #1 Best of the Road in each category which will bring worldwide exposure and publicity to the winning towns. And Sedona is in the running!

With almost 700 votes for the Most Beautiful category, Sedona made the top 6 Most Beautiful Small Towns in America list! The fate of Sedona lies in the hands of Team Two for the Road who will venture to the top 6 towns in the Most Beautiful category this month. Each town will welcome Two for the Road to their town with events, festivities and exciting activities to showcase each individual town's beauty, charm and local/visitor character.  

Traveling with each team are two small film crews to document their adventures and experience in every town. The film crews for 2012 Best of the Road are from CBS News and the Travel Channel. The winning town will receive National Accreditation in USA Today, on Rand McNally.com, USAToday.com, and be included in the 2013-14 Best of the Road Atlas, in GPS Devices, and several blogs.

This program has generated over 5 million media impressions in print, online, social media and broadcast so far, which we hope your clients have seen and are now considering Sedona as their next vacation destination!

Please let the Sedona Chamber of Commerce Tourism Bureau assist you with information, itinerary ideas, and in obtaining rates and information from Sedona businesses.

There is a Sedona for everyone - Come find yours!

Sedona Marathon Event - February 2, 2013

On Saturday, February 2, 2013, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, along with the entire Sedona area, will welcome thousands of runners, their families and friends for a weekend of fierce competition and neighborly camaraderie in the world famous resort destination of Sedona, Arizona. More than 2,000 runners will participate in 5K, 10K, Half and Full Marathon races which will take the runners through the scenic Coconino National Forest, known for its magical red rock formations, and onto the streets of what many consider one of the most beautiful places and the most sacred spots in the world. For details and registration information, go to  www.sedonamarathon.com. Group and wholesale rates are available. Please contact Sedona Chamber of Commerce at  sado@sedonachamber.com.

Sedona ranked as Top Spiritual Centre

Travel + Escape ran a special series titled "Travel That Transforms" by Kiva Bottero. The TV series ranked Sedona in the Top 4 Spiritual Centres in the USA. Click here for more information.

USA Today Ranks Sedona in Top Places for Spiritual Reflection

10 Best Places in the World for Spiritual Reflection by USA Today.  Click here to read more! 

Meera Lester, author of Sacred Travels (Adams Media, $15.95), says visiting certain sites can help you reconnect with that feeling. "We get a sense of peace or connection," she says. "It's a spiritual yearning that calls us to these places." She shares several favorite spots with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.

Sedona Ranked Most beautiful sacred spots on Earth by Yahoo! Travel

Sedona has long drawn people interested in healing, spirituality, mysticism, and metaphysics, who come for more than just the dramatic red-rock beauty. Today, visitors can easily walk or hike to the four popular spots, and once there, you can meditate or just soak up the good vibes. Many feel recharged and uplifted after visiting a vortex, and some guests even report having visions or deeper experiences while in town.  Click here to read the article.

Budget Travel also ranked Sedona on the Top 10 Most Beautiful Sacred Spots around the World,  click here to read the whole story and see the beautiful photos.

Transformation at Enchantment Resort & Mii amo Destination Spa

Enchantment Resort put the finishing touches on a two-year, $25 million renovation. The project included refurbishment of all 218 guest rooms; expansion of the Meeting Village; the transformation of the Clubhouse; a larger pool area; and a new retail boutique and outdoor spaces. The Club House now features 3 dining options - a new signature restaurant, a wine-bar and lounge plus the updated Tii Gavo for casual dining. The renovation has heightened Enchantment Resort's already sophisticated seating amid the red rock beauty of Boynton Canyon while elevating the onsite experience that has kept guests coming back for many years.

Walk the web site where you can see the results of the completed renovations! It is stunning!!!  Enchantment has always been spectacular - and it is hard to imagine improving upon Mother Nature's design of Boynton Canyon. But improved it is - they guarantee that your clients will be completely enchanted with their stay.

Victoria Strubbe, Leisure Sales Manager, at 480.264.3019 (direct) will be your contact.

Hot Dates, Hot Group Tour Rates - Hilton Sedona  

The Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa is offering especially great rates to group tour operators.  Book a tour and stay on a Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday night between November 25, 2012 to March 13, 2013 and receive the resort's best group rates ever and it includes breakfast!  Group tour rates start at $119 and some blackout dates do apply.  Please visit the website to view their accommodations and amenities at  www.HiltonSedonaResort.com.  To qualify for this discount, tour must actualize with a minimum of ten rooms on peak night.  Rates are based on single and double occupancy.  Please call or email Amy Johnson to book your tour or for more information.  928-284-6925, amy.johnson@hilton.com.

Amara Resort Finishes Renovations   

Amara Resort & Spa, located in Uptown Sedona recently completed their outdoor phase of a major renovation. Highlights include a negative edge infinity salt water pool and spa that will be used year round, 3 new poolside cabanas complete with Flat screen TVs and phones, three new fire pits, and a new outdoor ceremony site surrounded by two new water features. Visit AmaraResort.com

Invitation from Photography by Janise Witt