Sedona council approves $60,000 contract amendment for summer marketing campaign

The Sedona City Council unanimously approved an amendment to a professional services agreement to add up to $60,000 for summer destination marketing, council members said at a regularly scheduled meeting where staff and business owners described softer visitation and lower hotel revenues.

Lauren, a city tourism staff member, told the council the additional funds would expand digital and connected-TV advertising and pay for a banner placement in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport’s Terminal 4. "I'm here to ask for an extra $50,000 for the summer for the current summer destination marketing campaign advertising," she said, and later described a proposed total amendment of $60,000 to the contractor's agreement.

The action matters to local businesses because city staff said several economic indicators showed a summer slowdown. Lauren reported that May sales tax receipts were up 1% while bed-tax receipts fell about 10% and that combined hotel and short-term rental rooms booked were down 4.3% in June compared with the prior year. She also said…