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Sedona Chamber of Commerce e-News
March 18, 2013
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March 20: Strategies for Success
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Have you ever run into someone you met at a networking function and they tell you how they just used your competitor's services? OUCH! Why would they do that? The answer is almost certainly because you didn't have a consistent follow up system in place. e-Newsletters are very inexpensive and VERY effective - when you understand the principles of newsletters that create profits.
On Wednesday, March 20, spend your lunch hour learning "How to Create e-Newsletters that Make Prospects Say YES!" when Mary Cravets - Business Coach presents at the Chamber's monthly Strategies for Success Lunch Training. The program runs from 11:30 am - 1:15 pm and is held at the SVVAR building at 55 Sinagua Dr. You will learn:
- 3 ways an e-Newsletter builds your business
- the 5 key elements that make your newsletter successful
- how to connect e-Newsletters with social media tools
- how to streamline the process so that it's not overwhelming, and
- how to get started for FREE!
The cost is $15 for Chamber members, $20 for non-members and includes lunch. Call the Chamber at 204-1123 to make your reservation by 12:00 pm on the Tuesday prior. Don't miss this opportunity to learn effective newsletter skills from one of the most successful business coaches around. |
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March 27: Highlight your Business at the Volunteer Breakfast
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The Chamber Visitor Center will host a Volunteer Breakfast for members to highlight their business at Sound Bites Grill on Wednesday, March 27 from 8:00 - 9:30 am. With approximately 70 visitor center volunteers talking to 1000's of Sedona visitors, this is a great opportunity to present your business information directly to the volunteers who make referrals to businesses. Cost is $50 and includes breakfast with a 5-minute spot to highlight your business.
Please contact Donna Retegan, Director of Visitor Services, to reserve your Business Spot. Space is limited to 10 members on a first-come-first-serve basis. Sign up deadline is Monday, March 25 at 5:00 pm. |
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March 28: Networking Mixer
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There will be NO PARKING on site. Instead, shuttle service will be provided from the overflow parking lot of King's Ransom Inn on Sombart Lane, by Sedona Trolley. In addition, Mixer attendees are encouraged to remain past the normal closing time of 7:00 pm to enjoy music and dancing until 8:00 pm provided by our hosts.
Cost to attend the Networking Mixer is $10 for members, $15 for non-members at the door. No RSVP is required to attend the Mixer. If you would like to contribute a raffle prize, please bring your prize to the Chamber of Commerce Administrative Office by 5:00 pm Wednesday, March 27. |
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March 29: City Sign Code Meeting Slated
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At a recent meeting with West Sedona businesses, owners and managers voiced concerns about the City's Sign Code, communications with the City and enforcement of that code. Sedona Chamber of Commerce, working with City staff, has slated a meeting for ALL interested Chamber members on Friday morning, March 29 from 8:30 - 10:00 am at the Sedona Public Library's Si Birch Community Room (3250 White Bear Rd). This meeting will include an overview presentation of the code by Cari Meyer, Sign Code Enforcement Officer for the City, and an open discussion forum so members can learn more about this important aspect of doing business in Sedona.
This program is FREE, but we ask you to RSVP by calling the Chamber at 204-1123 by Thursday, March 28 at 12:00 pm.
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Tables at the Tradeshow Mixer are Available NOW
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The Tradeshow Networking Mixer is scheduled for Thursday, April 25 at the Sedona Elks Lodge. Tradeshow Networking Mixers allow our members the opportunity to purchase an exhibition table on which to promote their products and services to potential new customers. Each mixer attracts between 175 - 250 attendees. There are only two Tradeshow Networking Mixers this year, so don't miss out!
Call Catherine at 204-1123 if you would like to reserve one of the ten Tradeshow mixer tables for your business for $100. Admission to the mixers is $10 for members, and $15 for non-members, which includes food and two drink tickets. No reservations are required to attend the mixers.
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Imagine Traveling in Green, Green Ireland - Discount Rate Ends April 1
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Picture yourself in beautiful green Ireland. The opportunity is at hand as Sedona Chamber of Commerce prepares an excursion departing October 27 for eight days and nights. For the incredibly low price of $2,499 (double occupancy, booked prior to April 1), you'll enjoy round trip airfare from Phoenix, six nights at Castlemartyr Villas, a visit to the Cliffs of Moher, the Rock of Cashel, Kilkenny Castle, Killarney and the Ring of Kerry. You even have the opportunity to extend your trip for additional time in Dublin.
Chamber Discoveries, the organizer of this excursion, is a top notch company that is willing to work with individual passengers to allow travel from different cities, extensions to the travel time and more. Their guides are superb, knowledgeable and very accommodating. This is a trip you won't want to miss! For the full information package that will answer all your questions, visit SedonaChamber.com and download the Information Package. Call your friends, kids, grand kids or even old chums and encourage them to make this trip with you. It will offer memories to last a lifetime and all for a remarkably affordable price. Check it out today! |
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Marketing Opportunities for Members... |
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Opportunity To Reach Canadian Market |
The Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau has once again teamed up with CT (Canadian Traveller magazine), Canada's only destination, education-focused travel trade magazine to promote Sedona in a number of key issues and guides.
Over the last few years, Arizona has seen record increases in the number of Canadian tourists choosing our state as their world-class vacation destination. This trend is expected to continue in 2013/2014 with over 50 tour operators offering packages to Arizona, increased lift from major Canadian gateways, and a very strong Canadian dollar currently trading at par to the US. Now is the time to aggressively promote to and educate Canadian travel agents about the unique diversity of our area and how to sell it to their clients.
As part of our negotiation, CT has provided special discounted advertising rates for our Tourism Bureau Members, making participation inexpensive and easy. Click here for more information or contact Myles Armstead, CT Account Manager at (250) 339-3688.
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March & April - Outdoor Adventure Deals |
"Outdoor Adventure" is the Tourism Bureau's marketing and PR theme for the months of March and April. What does this mean to you? Now is the time to post your outdoors-oriented deal to VisitSedona.com.
Our Deals & Discount Packages section of VisitSedona.com is one of the most highly-visited sections of our site. While the Outdoor Adventure, Tours & Attractions category is live year-round, we will be promoting this particular category now more than ever. Why not take advantage of this FREE Tourism Bureau Membership opportunity?
Tailor a deal to the Outdoor Adventure theme (generic submissions will not be accepted), and provide your package on our website by clicking here. Be sure to select the "Outdoor Adventure, Tours & Attractions" category. This opportunity is open to Tourism Bureau members only.
Contact Michelle Conway with questions at 204-1123 or mconway@sedonachamber.com. |
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FREE Spring Training Marketing Opportunity! |
Arizona's Spring Training baseball industry contributes $632 million to the state's economy each year, according to a pair of new studies released by the non-profit Cactus League Baseball Association.
In order to attract visitors to Sedona, we are running a Facebook ad campaign to promote Sedona "Spring Training" packages which will drive the user to our Visit Sedona website and VisitSedona.mobi.
There is still time to provide us with a deal/package! Please tailor a deal to the topic of Spring Training, and provide your package on our website by clicking here. Be sure to select the "Spring Training Deals" category. This category will be live until April 1. This opportunity is open to Tourism Bureau members only.
Contact Michelle Conway with questions at 204-1123 or mconway@sedonachamber.com |
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Reach Tour Operators and Travel Agents via Chamber e-News
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The Sedona Chamber of Commerce Tourism Bureau sends out quarterly e-Newsletters to 2,000 highly qualified national and international tour operators and travel agents who bring business to Sedona. Those members that have updates for tour operators/travel agents, those that are willing to work with them and offer wholesale rates, group rates, etc. or offer unique programs that are appealing for tour operators to include in their tour programs, please prepare a text of 150 words or less including your contact information. Please note that many of them are working on programs which will be offered to their clients in the future, normally 6 to 18 months out, so the content should be relevant time-wise.
Those members that are interested in including your information in the next travel trade newsletter, which is scheduled to go out at the end of this month, please send your information to Sachiko Sado at sado@sedonachamber.com by Tuesday, March 26.
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| Brand USA to Launch New Consumer Marketing Campaign in Germany |
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Brand USA, the year-old tourism marketing organization for the United States, will launch its international travel and tourism campaign in Germany beginning in November. Read more... |
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Recent Clippings assisted with or provided by the Sedona Chamber
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 The Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau introduced their brand campaign "My Sedona" to promote and advertise Sedona as a destination experience that is completely customizable and personal. Since then, we have worked with hundreds of Media, Travel and Trade professionals whom have used our fantastic photos and verbiage in their own publications. Below is an example of a recent article in Smarter Travel Magazine who ranked Sedona among one of the "Top 10 Best Cities for Girlfriend Getaways".
smartertravel.com/photo-galleries/editorial/10-best-cities-for-girlfriend-getaways |
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Helpful Information and Other Tools
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