Sacco: A behind-the-scenes look at Experience Scottsdale

Experience Scottsdale feels a great responsibility to ensure those dollars are spent strategically, effectively and prudently. Since 1987, we have been one of the largest partners of both the City of Scottsdale and the Town of Paradise Valley, and we pride ourselves on our organization’s three-decade tradition of transparency with our city and town councils and staff.”

Rachel Sacco, Experience Scottsdale CEO & President

Did you know that Experience Scottsdale works with thousands of journalists each year to secure articles and television segments that promote travel to the city?

Or how about that Experience Scottsdale generated $96 million in future economic impact last fiscal year alone by booking meetings groups into Scottsdale-area hotels and resorts?

Though Experience Scottsdale has spent more than 30 years building Scottsdale’s tourism destination brand, many Scottsdale residents are unfamiliar with the inner workings of our nonprofit.

That’s understandable, because Experience Scottsdale’s efforts largely target leisure visitors and clients outside of Arizona. For example, Canadians see Experience Scottsdale’s commercial; New York media receive our public relations pitches; Chicago meeting planners connect with us at trade shows; and London travel advisors participate in our hands-on training sessions.

Meanwhile, our local community may never come across our various, year-round promotions that establish Scottsdale as a destination for meetings, events and leisure travel.

We hope to change that on Feb. 26. Experience Scottsdale is inviting Scottsdale-area residents and employers to learn more about our organization during a behind-the-scenes session at ASU SkySong.

Over the course of 90 minutes, my staff and I will share how Experience Scottsdale is working to enhance the community by promoting the Scottsdale area as a luxury destination. By attending, you’ll learn who we are, what we do and how we do it.

That includes an overview of all our department efforts, from seasonal marketing campaigns that inspire travelers to visit during the summer to familiarization tours that allow hundreds of meeting planners, journalists and travel professionals to explore Scottsdale firsthand. We’ll also share details about Experience Scottsdale’s industry research and finances, including how we use bed-tax collections from Scottsdale and Paradise Valley hotels and resorts to promote the region.

Experience Scottsdale feels a great responsibility to ensure those dollars are spent strategically, effectively and prudently. Since 1987, we have been one of the largest partners of both the City of Scottsdale and the Town of Paradise Valley, and we pride ourselves on our organization’s three-decade tradition of transparency with our city and town councils and staff.

Now, we want to share our work with you. As a resident, business owner or employee of Scottsdale or Paradise Valley, you are an important stakeholder. We work on behalf of our entire community to ensure Scottsdale’s tourism industry thrives. And that’s important, because we all benefit from a strong visitor industry that puts thousands of people to work and injects millions into our tax coffers, supporting critical public services, events and projects that elevate our quality of life.

We hope to see you on Feb. 26 to introduce you to our organization. Because space is limited for the session, RSVPs are required.

Visit ExperienceScottsdale.com/BehindtheScenes for additional information and to RSVP.

Editor’s Note: Rachel Sacco is the president and CEO of Experience Scottsdale.