9 minute read
Opening Its Doors
TOURISM Talk
Opening Its Doors
By Rachel Sacco Experience Scottsdale
For Scottsdale’s tourism industry, March 12, 2020, was a day clouded by confusion and uncertainty. Major League Baseball canceled the remaining games of the Spring Training season, cutting short our largest event of the year.
Shortly thereafter, businesses shut their doors and people stayed home. Vacations were postponed. Meetings and conferences were canceled. The COVID-19 pandemic continued to rage across the country, throwing Scottsdale’s founding industry — its most valuable industry — into a tailspin.
The situation, however, calmed exactly one year later. In March 2021, vaccinations rose, COVID-19 cases declined and spring events returned, along with a full Cactus League season. People longed to travel after being confined to their homes. More specifically, they longed to travel to Scottsdale.
Suddenly, visitors once again filled our hotels and resorts, restaurants and attractions. Though fewer in number than years past, these visitors provided much-needed relief to our businesses and much-needed tax revenue to our community. What inspired these travelers to vacation in Scottsdale, making them eager to enjoy the warm sunshine and wide-open spaces of the Sonoran Desert?
Perhaps it was a heartwarming commercial they saw. Perhaps a social media post from a trusted influencer. Perhaps a detailed magazine article. Perhaps a travel adviser’s enthusiastic recommendation.
Whatever captured their attention, none of it happened by chance. Because Experience Scottsdale never stopped working on behalf of our industry and community over these past 18 months. We developed strategies that allowed us to be efficient and flexible so that our efforts evolved as the pandemic evolved. We connected — albeit virtually — with travel professionals and media so they would share Scottsdale’s opportunities with their clients and readers.
Experience Scottsdale’s marketing campaigns also kept leisure visitors engaged. In the fall, our email campaigns encouraged locals to support Scottsdale’s hospitality businesses. In the winter, our social media promotions enticed people to road trip to Scottsdale. In the spring, our TV commercial showcased the memories awaiting travelers in Scottsdale.
Despite this optimism amongst travelers and hospitality businesses alike, the virus is still very much among us — as are its scars. International and business travel, both pillars of the tourism industry, have yet to return to full volume. Experience Scottsdale continues to strive for recovery for these segments, championing the destination in international markets and educating meeting professionals about Scottsdale’s venues. Once wider travel resumes, we are confident international travelers and meetings groups will choose Scottsdale.
According to Longwoods International, 9 in 10 U.S. travelers have travel plans over the coming months. The steps Experience Scottsdale has taken since March 2020 have ensured Scottsdale remains top of mind for all travelers. Recovery is on the horizon, and though much work remains for Experience Scottsdale, we are hopeful that our industry will emerge from this crisis stronger than ever.
Rachel Sacco is the president and CEO of Experience Scottsdale, which establishes Scottsdale as a year-round, luxury travel destination.
SEPTEMBER 2021
Business Horoscopes
By Weiss Kelly, PMAFA
ARIES 3/21-4/20
Each season brings its own changes in our planet, just like each month brings changes to our lives. Last August’s eventful chaotic happenings may seem to intensify until midmonth. Spend two weeks ridding yourself of unneeded clutter starting with the new moon on September 7. Address self-care. Network the week of September 23.
Personal Power Days: September 21, September 22, September 23
TAURUS 4/21-5/20
Unexpected occurrences in housing, banking and supply chains bring shakeups every 24 hours. This forces you to go in a diff erent direction. Be fl exible with money September 10 to September 26. Instead, review your assets.
Personal Power Days: September 24 and September 25
GEMINI 5/21-6/20
Last month’s projects have been disrupted because of the outer planets. You seem to handle it well. The new moon on September 7 is a good time to make cold calls or take a new approach. You’ll get a response by the full moon on September 20. Virgo rules health. Things are changing rapidly this month. Ask how this aff ects your work.
Personal Power Days: September 26, September 27 and September 28
CANCER 6/21-7/22
September is a challenging month, especially for small-business owners. Don’t give up. Realtors or those in construction celebrate; it’s a sellers’ market. The planet of action, Mars makes September a proactive month. There’s going to be a rapid fi nancial change in the month head.
Personal Power Days: September 1, September 2, September 3, September 29 and September 30.
LEO 7/23-8/21
Last month’s second full moon will aff ect the rest of your year. This month’s Virgo sun highlights your fi nance. Stock market investors should expect shockwaves. Underline the week of September 12 and forward. Order electronics or other heavy-money items for Christmas before September 27. You’ll be more socially active the last two weeks of the month. Take a short two-day break.
Personal Power Days: September 4 and September 5
VIRGO 8/22-9/23
September is a progressive and demanding month. The focus is on world aff airs like climate control, COVID-19 and developing viruses. The world is fi lled with misinformation. Do your part. Take a self-assessment. You’ll complete tasks, so create an agenda. Use the last half of September for personal time. For football fans, let the games begin.
Personal Power Days: September 6 and September 7
LIBRA 9/24-10/23
Address work-related changes in the next three weeks. World aff airs will make a dramatic transformation. Sun entering Libra on the September 23 motivates your positive attitude. Your work relationships and social affi liations are important and will improve rapidly. Check all travel, signed papers, agreements and orders before September 17.
Personal Power Days: September 8 and September 9
SCORPIO 10/24-11/22
Slow down a bit and try not to react to fi nancial issues. Respond to social associations. Circle the weekend of September 10 as a starter. Get together with like-minded people who have information. Try to inject happiness into your life. In October, get together with likeminded people to address fi nancial compromises. Watch your spending at the end of the month.
Personal Power Days: September 10 and September 11
SAGITTARIUS 11/23-12/21
Although your sign is known for being lucky, you haven’t escaped the planet Uranus’ surprises. It will affect your work and remove what needs to be altered. Uranus rules technology and spirituality. Prepare for challenges that could relate to travel or litigations. Some Sags may be waiting for a decision associated with education, travel, legal fi eld or sports. Expect new restrictions or laws to be announced on September, a new moon, or September 20, a full moon. Don’t worry. You’re lucky.
Personal Power Days: September 12 and September 13.
CAPRICORN 12/22-1/19
You will have the support you need to face the last mile of a two- to three-year uphill battle to success and happiness. Capricorns, you love a challenge. This month, you’ll encounter advancements thanks to education. The week of September 13 introduces change in the fi nancial market.
Personal Power Days: September 14, September 15 and September 16
AQUARIUS 1/20-2/18
You’ll begin your journey forward by leaving part of the past behind you. September focuses on money obligations. You will have clarity midmonth as decisions will be reached. It’s a favorable month to start a budget or savings account. You may want to change directions in your job. Send out resumes.
Personal Power Days: September 17 and September 18
PISCES 2/19-3/20
It’s not a “me” month. It’s more of a “we” month. Monetary stress could start in the wrong direction. You can make financial adjustments in spite of any excessive spending of last month. Work with the cycles of the moon to start a project on September 7. You may have to compromise. Personal Power Days: September 19 and September 20
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