“Scottsdale City Council candidates are asked about the future of tourism in the latest Q&A series provided by Independent Newsmedia.”

— Melissa Rosequist, Scottsdale Independent

•How do you think Scottsdale can evolve to survive the global pandemic of 2020?

Eventually we will bring the Covid-19 situation under control and we will recover. We have an opportunity to come back even better, and more capable of weathering future shocks. We need to focus on outcomes, build budgets around long-term fiscal sustainability, run on real data in real time, build trust and accountability, and remain flexible through collaboration and partnerships. We can use this emergency as an opportunity to replace old systems with new and better ones; we can build back more prosperous, more prepared, and more equal.

The world has changed, and we need to look to new revenue sources and economic diversification. We’ve been talking about this since the 1970s but we need to do much more. Attracting technology companies and developing our medical, biotech and higher education sectors is a priority. These industries are better suited to withstand recessions. Scottsdale has to be where these companies choose to locate. Scottsdale must be open for business!

We need to build on our high wage jobs, our livability, and our vibrancy. Our economy is based on retail sales tax: it’s where 47% of our revenue comes from, and we need to make sure it stays robust. Even in our new world, there will be a need for Class A office space and to capitalize on our investment along the 101 and our central valley location. There are 200 software companies in Scottsdale and 30,000 health care workers- we have a huge base to draw on but it needs to be developed more. Now is the time to be thinking ahead, and thinking differently.

•If you are elected to City Council, how will you champion tourism?

We need to make data-based decisions for when it is safe to resume crowd activities. Our first task is to handle our public health crisis. If people don’t feel safe, no amount of marketing will attract them to our city. Experience Scottsdale has launched a “Be Scottsdale Safe” micro-site with information on what businesses are doing to keep people safe. Efforts like this are important.

We are fortunate in Scottsdale to have so much open area; this remains a crown jewel to share with the rest of the world, and something we can capitalize on. We have many activities to offer that don’t require crowds or indoor spaces. We must also work to transform our downtown area into a thriving, vibrant year-round destination for residents and tourists alike to enjoy.

We will need to look for opportunities and innovative ways to support our tourism industry while it recovers. Experience Scottsdale has been hard at work on this, and sends weekly updates with both relevant data and new ideas. They are spotlighting businesses that have implemented new measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. They are rolling out “virtual toolkits” for meeting planners. They have launched an aggressive campaign to encourage visitors who are within driving distance to Scottsdale. Healthcare is a strong segment for Scottsdale, with pharmaceutical and healthcare meetings accounting for 20% of Experience Scottsdale’s bookings last fiscal year. Medical meetings and medical tourism is a segment that can be developed more as the situation improves.

These are all good ideas, again, as long as we take the steps to keep residents and tourists safe.

•What makes Scottsdale a special place for people to visit and how can that message be translated during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?

We have outdoor living and activities that are unparalleled by other tourist destinations. People can experience the beauty of our mountains and the fresh air. Covid didn’t change that for Scottsdale. We have more opportunities to innovate, and to create small, intimate tourist experiences. Westworld and other venues have been offering drive- in movies. Many of our resorts have accommodations that spread people out. Meals can be prepared in restaurants and brought to rooms for families and visitors to enjoy. Resorts and hotels can ensure and communicate that they are operating in a way that keeps employees, residents and visitors safe.

For the first time in more than 10 years, a new- build hotel is about to open in Old Town Scottsdale. The Canopy by Hilton will be opening in late September, with 177 rooms, meeting space, and two new restaurants. We are open for business and moving forward!

The best way for this message to be translated is for us to get our public health crisis under control and be an example for others. Seeing in the news that Scottsdale has the situation under control and prioritizes public health would be the most valuable message we could broadcast. We can also set an example and communicate to the rest of the world that Scottsdale is a “Golden Rule” City that is welcoming and accommodating to all.

•When you think about the future of Scottsdale tourism, how do you plan to build that vision through public policy?

Tourism is a critical industry for Scottsdale and always will be. In 2018, Arizona hosted 45 million visitors. Visitors not only stay here at our 50 resorts and hotels; they also shop at our retail stores and dine at our 825 restaurants. For 2018, visitors to Scottsdale created an annual economic impact of $3.1 billion. In addition to sales tax revenue, hotel/motel users contributed an additional $22 million in bed tax revenue in 2018. Bed tax revenue funds tourism events such as the annual Parada del Sol parade and a variety of capital projects at WestWorld, the Scottsdale Stadium, Museum of the West and the Tournament Players Club which hosts the Phoenix Open—all of which, in turn, generate needed tax revenue for the city. Many of these events will have to be reimagined/reconfigured.

Interest in travel is severely depressed amidst the current public health crisis. COVID presents a unique opportunity to bounce back stronger than before. We need policies that protect our open spaces, the rights of all our residents, and provide space for new innovations. The best policies are crafted in collaboration with all stakeholders, use data, are transparent, and keep implementation in mind. We need to decrease the “silos” in city government, and make sure we bring everyone who cares about the city together, working to build a brighter, positive, inclusive future.

This article was originally published in the Scottsdale Independent. See the full article at The Future of Tourism