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Go Lake Havasu reports record visitation metrics, plans visitor‑center reimagining and autism‑friendly initiatives
Summary
Go Lake Havasu presented its annual report to the council, citing rising bed‑tax receipts and web traffic, new marketing efforts including an autism travel initiative, and plans to reimagine the visitor center and expand event funding.
Terrence Kincannon, CEO of Go Lake Havasu, gave the council an annual presentation Sept. 10 outlining visitor‑marketing efforts, audience growth, fiscal results and planned investments in the visitor center.
Kincannon told the council the bureau’s web and social metrics showed year‑over‑year growth in many international and domestic markets, he cited a year of higher‑than‑forecast revenues and said bed‑tax and restaurant‑tax receipts were at record levels for the period reported. He described marketing and travel‑trade activity that included hosting travel writers and tour operators, attendance at industry marketplaces and cooperative marketing in Europe and Mexico.
The nut graf: the bureau reported rising tourism indicators and proposed investments to support more visitors, while also emphasizing accessibility and visitor experience improvements that officials say will broaden Lake Havasu’s market.
Kincannon described a new “autism travel” initiative: he said all full‑time staff completed training to become certified autism travel professionals and the bureau will work with attractions and the city to identify quiet zones and other visitor accommodations. He also said the visitor center will be “reimagined” with a removed stage, new flooring, a circular information desk, new video monitors and upgraded exterior LED signage controlled from bureau offices.
Other details presented included distribution of printed materials (200,000 visitor guides and 35,000 dining guides), a reported more than 100,000 annual visits to the city’s visitor center, and a mix of media placements ranging from national television shows to international print outlets. Kincannon answered council questions about audience geography, noting increased interest from Germany and Mexico and ongoing coordination with the Arizona Office of Tourism.
Ending: Council members praised the bureau’s outreach; Kincannon said the bureau will undertake a visitor study in the coming year and hire staff to expand cooperative marketing efforts.
