Sedona Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Wesselhoff holds up a miniature reproduction of a billboard, one of eight, that will be placed around the Phoenix area advertising Sedona’s “spirit of adventure.”

By Tommy Acosta, Associate Editor

SEDONA, AZ - Feb 28, 2009 - If it were up to Jennifer Wesselhoff, president and CEO of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, everyone in Arizona, the country and around the world would know what a wonderful and exciting place Sedona is to visit.

At the Feb. 24 City Council meeting Ms. Wesselhoff revealed an ambitious plan by the Chamber to market Sedona as a prime-destination point for those seeking adventure, relaxation, spiritual awakening and natural beauty.

“Sedona is about the spirit of adventure,” she said. “We want to get that message out to everyone. We are very excited. We have a really cool marketing program to drive tourism to Sedona.”

With the economy as it is and people pinching pennies, the tourism market has tightened and competition for those who still have the resources to travel on vacations has increased exponentially. The Sedona Chamber of Commerce is ready to aggressively go after its share of the tourism market.

The Chamber wants to get the word out that Sedona provides the greatest opportunity for spiritual awakening, hiking, buying great art, balloon and aerial adventures, entertainment, hospitality, great dining, luxury accommodations, biking, horseback riding, great golf courses, kid’s activities, meditation and serenity.

The big vehicle to get the message out the Chamber is banking on, is billboards – eight giant billboards placed strategically across the Phoenix area in March and April.

Each billboard will be different focusing around delivering the central message that Sedona is all about “the spirit of adventure.” According to Ms. Wesselhoff, they are big, colorful and sure to catch the eye.

Sedona Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Wesselhoff presents the Chamber's new marketing campaign to the Sedona City Council.

“These billboards will feature our new brand image,” she said. “More than 50 million people will see these billboards in the next few months. People will be sure to notice them. They are beautifully done. They will get people’s attention.”

The Chamber also launched an updated Web site called www.visitsedona.com. The Web site provides potential visitors with options for activities: where to eat, where to shop, discount packages, where to go for entertainment, information on booking weddings, arts and culture, just about everything a visitor would have interest in. It also features fabulous photos of the Red Rocks.

“The Web site is very beautifully done,” Ms. Wesselhoff said. “It has warm colors, features programs; and businesses can post their own calendar of events. Visitors are looking for value and we provide values for them in our new Web site.”

To help direct traffic to the new Web site, the Chamber is purchasing a custom-newspaper wrap in the Arizona Republic featuring Sedona, the Web site, Sedona businesses and a new brand image. The advertisement will be sent to 10,000 Arizona Republic non-subscribers in targeted Phoenix zip codes chosen to get the most bang for the buck by targeting specific demographics.

Further, the marketing campaign will extend to American Express Card holders. Each month a direct mailing will be made to 20,000 American Express Card holders directing them to www.visitsedona.com. Local advertisers can be included in the mailing.

“We expect to get at least 1 million unique visitors to our visitsedona.com Web site in 2009,” Ms. Wesselhoff said. “We are very excited and optimistic about our new marketing efforts and are looking forward to a good tourist season this year.”
 

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