STOP the City of Sedona “Tourism First Agenda” Vote NO on Home Rule option
Under the City of Sedona Tourism First Agenda, the only things that have grown are TRAFFIC, CITY GOV, TAXES, COST of LIVING, GOV WASTE & DAYTRIPPERS!!!!!!
When the City Council voted to give the regional chamber members 55% of city-bed-taxes (2013) and increased the city-sales-tax (2017)
the city poured millions of dollars into a “tourism first agenda”. This is when we saw the start of tourism changed. Year after year of pouring millions into this type of government paid marketing we saw more day-trippers along with a shortened stay.
STOP the City of Sedona’s “Tourism First Agenda” Vote NO on Home Rule July 21,2026
Those that came to Sedona to stay, and played: art collectors, repeat customers, along with the wedding industry were pushed out due to day trippers causing traffic. They destroyed the magic.
Tourism numbers haven’t changed. Businesses did a significantly better job marketing their own businesses then when the city of Sedona or chamber did. The City and Chamber cheapen tourism. Data proves this.
Under Adam watch and HOME RULE the Sedona City Council voted to give the regional chamber and its members 55% of city bed tax in a no bid contract. The chamber members didn’t qualify as they weren’t 100% in the city and not exclusive to tourism.
The chamber and it’s members also didn’t qualify to be a Municipality Destination Marketing Organization due to the required guidelines. The Chamber joined an association Destinations International Home | Destinations International to gain status as a DMO the chamber joined and got DMO status by paying for membership.
The Chamber marketing was regional not in tourism. This action destroyed our town cheapening the tourists to day trippers. The chamber received this money unrestricted. No controls or measurements. They were able to keep all the assets. And there was no covenant not to compete.
VOTE NO on Home Rule and tell all your friends and neighbors to do so.
9-500.06. Hospitality industry; discrimination prohibited; use of tax proceeds; exemption; definition
The City of Sedona Discriminated against its own businesses by giving the Sedona chamber in a NO-BID contract 55% of city-bed taxes to the chamber to market chamber regional members who didn’t qualify for tourism marketing.
Sedona Chamber members had less than 23% of city-businesses
Sedona Chamber Members had only 2.5% of in-city lodging members in 2018
Sedona members’ dues were around 400K for years.
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