Understand More Arizona’s Complex Tourism Policy

Understand More About Arizona’s Complex Tourism Policy, see how other cities align with it, and learn how it took Sedona over 20 years to get a fair and balanced policy. Think through the communities unintended consequences and the damage it has caused Sedonans.

Arizona’s Complex Tourism Policy and the history of public policy in Sedona

For over two decades, I studied Arizona’s Tourism Policy, additionally spoke to the Sedona City Council and city management about the City’s Tourism program. The city policy had a conflict of interest as the city-taxes was funded a regional membership group, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce.

Having a business and seeing city-imposed tax dollars be given to a private special interest group that competed with the businesses inside the city changed the landscape of Sedona, it caused so much harm, hinder, hurt the Sedona citizens and stakeholders. These actions over marketed Sedona causing the housing issues while promoting short-term rentals. It increased traffic, day trippers and created grid lock.

In 2012, I started doing research on destination marketing and tourism programs as I couldn’t comprehend, and I didn’t agree with the ridiculousness policy the city was implementing. It was unlike any other city in the world. It discriminated against the city businesses, residents and empowered a special interest group with millions of taxpayer’s monies without any contract that protected the people’s assets. It was a no bid contract!

The Sedona Chamber and Lodging businesses started in 2012 to pitch funding.

City Council was given by me benchmark comparisons on tourism programs in Arizona along with the Sedona Chamber’s Membership distribution and chamber members disqualifications them. Chamber members were not exclusive to “Tourism”, a direct violation for “tourism bureaus”. Many Others in Sedona spoke up, including Eddie Maddock, Jean Janks, and Henry Twombly. It all fell on deaf ears.
City council claimed they knew better. They gave the special interest groups the only voice on the matter. Some even claiming that it was a pass-through tax, indicating that it was a “Wesselhoff” chamber tax. The City were fools and approved this horrific policy.

Many were ridiculed for over twenty years, I even got sued to shut me up. The city feed this lie to the public for over twenty years with millions of city-taxes being given to the Chamber without any regulations or a contract to secure public assets.

In 2022, I really tried to make change. I did more research, infographics and fine-tuned the correct way that Arizona governments run their tourism programs. I shared it with city council. The new city tourism policy mirrors my recommendations that I have shared with them since 2012.

Arizona’s Complex Tourism Policy benchmark comparing State & Cities Policy

Arizona’s Tourism policy Benchmark is understanding Arizona’s Policy Tourism Taxes & Designation Marketing Organizations, how they are structured with checks and balances a tool moving forward creating solid public policy and relations.

Understanding a regulated complex system from the State, County and Municipality levels can be a challenge, and takes some time to do so. I’ve connected the dots with the variable elements of Regulations State Policy, Requirements, Arizona Revised Statutes and removed opinions or misinterpretations.

Starting at the state level begins the path of understanding the policy of the state, creates a roadmap of understanding. The Arizona Office of Tourism sets the policy for the state. As the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the state, the Arizona Office of Tourism partners with local DMOs for the purpose of coordinating tourism promotion with the state. Destination Marketing Organizations – Tourism AZ AOT provides the DMO’s with incredible resources and assistance.

While most may miss the details at this level, the lengthy research is complex however Donna Joy has provided years of detailed reports, sources, along the analysis needed including Competitive Peer City Benchmarks, complex Data Driven Analysis, Comprehensive & Verified source-based reporting which is grueling or boring for most.

How does Sedona Tourism Taxes operate? Who, when and where are Sedona Tourism Taxes.

• The incorporated City of Sedona imposes sales and bed taxes on those businesses inside the city limits. Those businesses outside the city limits don’t have city-imposed sales and bed taxes. Please not that this is a city tax, and not all businesses pay city-imposed taxes. Furthermore, the unincorporated Sedona and surrounding area have no tourism-related-district and there is no county DMO.

How does Arizona’s Complex Tourism Policy align with Arizona Cities and Towns?

Peer City Tourism Benchmark Report compares State, County, Cities & Towns DMO polices and eligibility requirements and guide us to proper policy. Arizona’s Complex Tourism Policy Tourism Benchmark Data-Driven Research Analysis by Donna Joy links to sources, info-data trackers are provided. Tourism Government Models DMO Benchmark – Donna Joy Arizona Cities and Towns development for other cities and towns.

Arizona Governments Tourism Benchmark report compares four Arizona government models provide positive logical analysis. “Government Tourism Destination Marketing” in Arizona follows the regulations. Transparency with each unique city or town.