Yavapai News

SEDONA, Ariz. – Starting July 1, 2023, the city of Sedona will be the official Destination Management Organization (DMO) for Sedona, and in that, will begin taking media and travel trade requests. All businesses in Sedona’s city limits are encouraged to fill out the Tourism Business Form so their information can be used in media and travel trade referrals and leads, and in future visitors guides and marketing efforts.

In the last two months, the city of Sedona has been busy setting up an in-house tourism program after the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau did not renew its contract for tourism management and marketing services with the city, leading the city to designate itself as the official DMO for Sedona. Through the build out of this program, the city will support tourism to ensure a healthy economy but also balance business needs with resident quality of life.

During 2021 and 2022, with the rapid increase in visitation to Sedona and the associated impacts, the city council paused funding for destination marketing and refocused its efforts towards tourism management and mitigation. As the Sedona economy has softened somewhat over the last year, additional strategies for both targeted destination branding and marketing, and responsible destination management and environmental stewardship must be explored.

Tourism Advisory Board

Additionally, in an effort to solicit a range of community perspectives around the topic of tourism in Sedona, the city seeks applicants for a new Tourism Advisory Board. This voluntary body, vetted and chosen by city council, will consist of 11-people appointed to advise the city council and staff on decisions related to tourism strategic planning, branding and marketing, visitor management programs, regional tourism efforts and any other tourism related matters assigned to it by the city council. Learn more and apply before 5 p.m. on July 10, 2023.

Media and travel trade information

All media requests may be sent to media@sedonaaz.gov and for information on booking group events or travel trade resources, email travel@sedonaaz.gov.

Fill out the Tourism Business Form

All tourism related businesses in Sedona city limits: please sign up to be included in the tourism program’s database by filling out the form at www.sedonaaz.gov/tourism.

Looking for talent

To help with the build out of the tourism program, the city is hiring a Tourism and Economic Initiatives Coordinator to execute tourism and economic diversification initiatives and serve as a liaison to the tourism and economic development industries. Apply at www.sedonaaz.gov/jobs.

More information

Learn more about the city’s tourism program by visiting www.sedonaaz.gov/tourism or contacting Special Initiatives Coordinator Kegn Moorcroft at (928) 203-5179 or kmoorcroft@sedonaaz.gov.           

Original source can be found here.