Experience Scottsdale reports strong Q1 engagement; staff previews budget timing and Old Town marketing investment
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Summary
Experience Scottsdale reported higher web traffic, improved occupancy and pace on group bookings; staff said no new budget packages will be proposed now and that updated 26-27 revenue forecasts and an Old Town marketing investment will be presented in January.
Rachel Pearson, vice president of community and government affairs for Experience Scottsdale, presented the first-quarter highlights of the organization—s five-year contract with the city. She said the organization ran campaigns in 20 drive and fly markets, generated more than 390,000 page views for summer content, and ran promotions with partners including Expedia and Capital One.
Pearson said the fall —unwind— campaign helped raise occupancy nearly nine percentage points for the shoulder season and that hotel revenue increased noticeably during that period. On the meetings side, she reported that bookings within Scottsdale city limits are up 23% over the same time last year and that the destination has achieved about 68% of its room-night goal for the season.
In a staff budget update, Judy Doyle (senior director of enterprise operations) said staff are not proposing new out-of-budget packages at this time, are awaiting updated 26-27 revenue forecasts in January and anticipate an investment in additional Old Town marketing dollars. Staff also said they will adjust event funding guidelines to fit updated allocations and will return to the commission with proposed budgets and guidelines ahead of council review.
