Spring is here and it is a good time to reflect on the 2016-2017 winter season. With the Governor of Arizona signed designation of Arizona's Winter Wonderland, Flagstaff continues to see an increased interest from both the drive-market and the international markets for visits in the winter season. The key accommodations metrics for the main snowplay season (December - February) showed a year over year increase in overnight stays in Flagstaff of 22,500 room nights for these three months.

These additional overnight stays have a strong ripple effect on the Flagstaff economy by providing additional spend in many different business sectors beyond just hotels. It is important to note that our efforts to drive visitation is coupled with educating the visiting public on safety during the snowplay season, being prepared, respecting property, providing options of things to do beyond snowplay, and yes, encouraging them to spend the night.

National Travel and Tourism Week. This industry holiday happens every spring; this year it occurs on May 7-13. Originating from the U.S. Travel organization, ustravel.org/events/national-travel-and-tourism-week https://www.ustravel.org/events/national-travel-and-tourism-week, it is designed to educate our communities and our government officials of the value and importance of travel on the U.S. economy.

The Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau will be doing outreach, including a presentation to the City Council, as well as some community-facing advertising on the value of our tourism economic sector.

Flagstaff Visitor Center to host Train Day - May 13, 2017

Join us for a day of train related activities at the annual Flagstaff Train Day, May 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The celebration will include live music, displays of railroad items, local artists, historic reenactments, face painting, a Kids Depot area and a kiddie caboose train ride. The event will kick off with a cake cutting by Mayor Coral Evans.

All activities are free and a full schedule of Train Day activities can be found at http://www.flagstaffarizona.org/trainday/.

Meetings and Events Sales Activity Update

Jessica Young,Sales and Marketing Manager for Meetings and Events, recently coordinated a three day Navajo sales mission February 27-March 1, with stops in Window Rock, Fort Defiance and Tuba City to meet with Navajo Nation meeting/travel planners and provide updates on Flagstaff properties. Jessica also attended the Connect Diversity Marketplace March 27-30, where she conducted appointments with 32 meeting planners.

This trade show focuses on multicultural and LGBTQ business in the meetings, sports and events industry. For more information on either of these events, email Jessica Young jyoung@flagstaffaz.gov.