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Building on Tourism Tool Chest

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TourismTourism is a major multi-million contributor to the economy of Prescott, and city leaders are optimistic that impact will continue to increase.

To encourage even more visitors to the greater Prescott area, the City of Prescott Office of Tourism is distributing a comprehensive 64-page brochure at visitor centers throughout the state. It also will be available at nine different information centers in Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, which recently was ranked the ninth busiest airport in the nation – more than 20.3 million passengers go through its gates.

The brochure also will be distributed at consumer and tourism trade shows throughout the United States and in several foreign countries.

The colorful brochure contains not only general information about the Prescott area, but also about events and special activities such as the World’s Oldest Rodeo, the July 4th Parade and Christmas City activities that make Prescott unique, according to City of Prescott Director of Tourism Don Prince.

It also has details about dining, shopping, lodging, the performing and visual arts, museums and educational centers, and outdoor recreational attractions such as golfing, boating and fishing and day trips. Several pages are dedicated to real estate.

What makes the brochure especially unique is that it costs the City of Prescott and its taxpayers virtually nothing except for the minimal costs of distribution.

 

Brochure Represents More Than Five Years of Strategic Planning

 

Prince explained that he had been pushing for a comprehensive brochure since 2010, when he first became tourism director.

“Budget restrictions then limited us to a very small eight-panel brochure. It didn’t have space to describe all that is available to appeal to visitors,” he said.

The limited budget prompted Prince to seek other options. He found one in a publishing firm called RAXX Media and RAXX Direct Marketing; the media production center headquartered in Casa Grande specializes in local consumer-oriented promotional brochures and magazines.

Elaine Earle, RAXX publisher and chief financial officer, says 85 advertisers supported the Prescott Visitor Guide. “We had a close collaboration so that useful information such as weather, drive times, day trips, lodging, maps and so on are clearly highlighted. We fully expect this to be an annual publication.”

RAXX proposed to print 35,000 copies at no cost to the city. “It will answer the requests we get for information generated by our national advertising campaign,” said Prince. “It will be used by our sales staff as those people meet with meeting planners, tour operators, travel agents and the like.”

“The informative brochure will likely bring new visitors to the community,” said David Maurer, chief executive officer of the Prescott Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a new tool in the tourism tool chest, and it may reach audiences that have been missed before.”

 

Tourism: A Major Economic Driver

 

Tourism’s beneficial economic impact has been documented in the “Prescott Visitor Intercept Study” conducted in 2014-2015 by the Northern Arizona University W.A. Franke College of Business, co-funded by the Arizona Office of Tourism and the City of Prescott.

 

Among key economic findings were:

 

  • $267 million was the result of direct spending by visitors.
  • $340 million was calculated as the total economic impact from visitors.
  • $100 million in labor income was a consequence of having visitors.
  • $46 million in federal, state and local taxes were generated annually from visitors.

 

The study also reveals that 61 percent of visitors are from out-of-state, with most coming from California. Maricopa County provides the majority – 67 percent – of visitors.

Two-thirds of the visitors stay overnight and collectively spend thousands of dollars on lodging, food, entertainment and shopping, with the average length of stay for overnight visitors at three-and-a-half days.

Hotel occupancy rates for the past 12 months are up seven percent from last year.

The Prescott Chamber of Commerce reports that, in just November, more than 2,000 visitors entered the office.

“The brochure is a great project in our evolution and advancement in promoting Prescott as a primary destination,” says Margo Christensen, vice president of marketing for Ponderosa Hotel Management Services, who serves on the Arizona Lodging and Hospitality Association board and the Prescott Tourism Advisory Committee.

“The completion of this specific marketing tool is a good example of how we have advanced and stepped up our promotional efforts. The past five years have seen the Prescott Office of Tourism evolve into a highly effective department with the focus of making Prescott a highly visible destination for state, national and international visitors,” she added. “I think local businesses and attractions are really going to love this brochure, which has at its ultimate purpose the boosting of the local economy.” QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Packing Your Bags for 2016

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TravelThe saying “Home is where the heart is” may well be true. Yet, the roads less traveled – or untraveled all together — tug at many a heartstring like the Italian troubadour plucking his lute.

Meet Stan Kephart — known as Stan The Travel Man. He founded HomeTowne Cruise & Tour Center in Prescott. Now 68 years young, a few years ago, he sold it to client Bud Jones.

But Stan the Travel Man’s passion for the business and clients compel him to remain happily working part-time. Plus he knows the industry intimately. As well he might. He’s been at HomeTowne — “the ‘e’ was added for affectation,” he chuckled — for some 20 years.

“It’s an interesting marketplace,” he said of the Prescott region. “There’s a senior and retirees element. And there’s an affluent market that has the money and time to travel.

As long as they have those — health and desire to travel — it’s finding and connecting them to what they want. That’s what we do best. And we’re local.”

Kephart acknowledges the impact of technology and big-box vendors on brick-and-mortar agencies, adding that they were not the predicted death knell. “They’ve a place in the industry. I think most of us prefer to deal with the same person as opposed to calling a big-box store or getting online with nobody and trying to ask a question and not having anybody know who or what you are. What customers are looking for is the best of both worlds. We call ourselves a click-and-brick agency.”

He says travel is dependent on disposable income and vulnerable to economic malaise. When the 2007 housing crash hit, he says HomeTowne survived because of an increase in advertising dollars and broadened product lines in response to market shifts.

“Instead of one big trip a year, people started taking three shorter trips,” while prioritizing affordability and more bang for their buck. “There’s ways to go on cruise ships without going into a room with a balcony. You can go on an inside cabin with no window and spend a lot of time on deck.”

The world is unchanged, and destinations develop themselves, he has observed. “Who in the ’60s wanted to go to Vietnam? Cambodia? Everyone wanted to go to Vietnam five years ago.”

He noted, “We’ve seen desire-based travel develop rather than everybody stampeding somewhere because everyone’s going there. Maybe you’re getting older and want to know where you came from – what we call heritage travel. Or you’re stressed and want to veg on a beach. Or you’re a culinarian and want to experience a food or wine vacation. Also, people are looking at modes of travel. That’s given rise to the incredible boom in river cruising, the long slow methodology of getting on and off every day, and mega-ships that carry 5-to-6,000 people. They’re like a city on the ship – amazing works of art and engineering.”

He notes another emerging market: trans-generational travel. “Grandma and grandpa take the grandchildren, which also gives mom and dad time to themselves.” In the past, trans-generational travel was out of reach to anyone but the moneyed. “Now, it’s becoming available to Mr. and Mrs. Middle America and their grandchildren.”

For the dampening impact of economic earthquakes, one force is potentially deadlier: an act of terrorism.

“We had in the months preceding a very large group on a cruise in the Mediterranean. When 9/11 happened, the cruise line was financially hit so badly because everything just stopped. So many travel agencies went out of business. We had insurance so even though their vacations were dashed, no client lost one penny.

“But the 9/11 disaster scared people,” Kephart added. “Fear is the biggest negative, especially to travel. People are afraid to go, and rightfully so.”

Yet, that can be overcome by lowering the price. “Money trumps fear in many cases. I’ve seen it. Something that was $1,500 is now $700. So a person [who thinks,] ‘Well, I was thinking it might not be so good to go to Paris… buuuuut maybe if I could go for that, I’d go,'” he explained.

Kephart’s travel outlook for 2016 is “excellent.”

“There’s been pent-up demand due to economic conditions, a four to five year back span where people made decisions based solely on their pocketbook and inability to go. That pent-up demand is being pressed from the other side. They’re getting older, their shoulders or knees hurt so they want to do it while they have the wealth now and health now,” he said.

Trans-generational travel will continue to blossom, he thinks. “Also, I think you’re going to see, especially here in Prescott, small groups of locals traveling. They like to meet others. It’s a great way to experience other people of similar likes and maybe have an affinity.”

Stan the Travel Man closes on a characteristically optimistic note: “There’ve been worse times in history. This time doesn’t hold a candle to the Inquisition or Great Plague. We’re really in a good place in many ways and I think people who recognize that are going to do what they can to fulfill their own wish lists.” QCBN

By Gussie Green, QCBN

 

Photo by Gussie Green

Prescott Named Top Retirement Community

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KayakPrescott has made another list of best retirement communities, this time by USA Today. In a list of Top 10 retirement cities, three are in Arizona. Prescott was named the third best place in the United States to enjoy ones’ golden years.

The top city for retirement is listed as Phoenix, with Tucson in fourth place.

Authors of the Top 10 list said Arizona ranked so well because of low property taxes, weather, a relatively low crime rate and quality of health care options.

Other cities in the top ten include Arlington, VA., Des Moines, Denver, Austin, Cape Coral, FL., Colorado Springs and Franklin, TN.

 

 

 

 

Prescott Named Top National Destination

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Prescott KayakIf you see a lot of strangers in town, do not be surprised. It is possible they have taken the advice of the world’s largest travel site, TripAdvisor, which in December ranked Prescott as the “Number Three Destination on the Rise” in the United States – and a terrific place to visit.

Only two communities ranked above Prescott: Wildwood, New Jersey, and Nags Head, North Carolina.

The decision ranking Prescott as number three in the country is based upon the compilation of feedback from travelers throughout the world who evaluate the communities they visit.

Prestigious praise such as that from TripAdvisor often has strong impact upon economic growth within a community.

Margo Christensen, vice president of marketing and public relations for Ponderosa Hotel Management LLC, says TripAdvisor is consumer controlled. “It has very rigid policies and protocols. Its recognition of Prescott is a well-earned and well-deserved honor that’s the result of some incredibly hard work on the part of Prescott business and hospitality industry owners these past few years.”

Christensen explains that in 2007-2009, when Prescott was in the depths of the recession, hotels and restaurants (primary audiences for TripAdvisor) were barely surviving. At that time, Prescott was almost at the bottom of the Arizona tourism and hospitality barrel among non-metropolitan communities.

She credits area business owners, marketing experts and community leaders with kicking solid marketing tools into gear, especially through social media marketing.

Prescott then began attracting attention from travelers nationally and internationally. Those same travelers visited Prescott, spent money, liked what they saw and experienced. They in turn told TripAdvisor. Positive reviews grew.

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Maybe box the below or grayscale it, use this as a “drop in” with main story

What TripAdvisor Said About Prescott

The Trip Advisor website (tripadvisor.com) describes Prescott like this:

“Nestled in the conifer forest of a historic city boasting much in the way of adventure and culture. Golfers flock to the six pristine courses, while outdoor enthusiasts find exciting hiking trails, secluded picnic spots and adventure on the waters of its five lakes.

Discover the history of the Old West in the City’s museums, historic railway and Pioneer Home Cemetery, where ‘Big Nose Kate’ Elder, wife of Doc Holiday, found her final resting place.”

 

Also mentioned, illustrated with attractive color photographs, is that Prescott has 52 different things to do, something new for every week of the year.

Among those attractions are the 184 restaurants and cafes, 36 hotels and motels, the lakes, trails, museums, library, walking tours, Heritage Zoo, art galleries, antique shops, the World’s Oldest Rodeo, theatre and performing arts venues, four colleges, shopping malls, Whiskey Row, outdoor recreational facilities for various sports – and more.

The site also includes a year-round weather chart.

The below goes with the first content.

 

What Makes Prescott Appealing as a Destination?

TripAdvisor, which claims it has more than 280 million unique monthly visitors, has seen mentions of Prescott grow from almost nothing five or six years ago to more than 12,000 reviews just recently.

City of Prescott Tourism Director Don Prince says Prescott’s rapid climb to high visibility among travelers is the result of several local factors.

“Visitors are attracted to destinations that are authentic and offer a true ‘sense of place.’ Prescott is fortunate. The historic downtown has hundreds of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. The community offers visitors a variety of events to enjoy. For example, the City-sponsored ‘Summer Concert Series’ around the Courthouse Plaza is a good example of free entertainment during the summer months.”

Prince says visitors enjoy the safe and comfortable walkable downtown area, where they can experience authentic history and culture preserved in museums. He says they also appreciate the diverse recreational opportunities with trails, lakes, boating and fishing, softball, tennis, golf and other facilities.

“The positive reviews visitors leave on sites such as TripAdvisor help spread the word about our ‘hidden gem’ of a destination,” Prince said.

Prescott Chamber of Commerce CEO Dave Maurer is thrilled with the endorsement. “That fact that this ranking is based on comments made by visitors to Prescott clearly shows the appeal of the ‘Old West’ as well as our scenic beauty, outdoor recreation and unique shopping opportunities. I suspect visitors are surprised to find everything they discover in Prescott. The climate, the history, the diversity of vacation opportunities and certainly the topography are not what people expect to find in Arizona.”

Prescott Mayor Marlin Kuykendall said he is gratified to see that tourism promotion is having such a positive impact upon growth and economy in the area. “We all benefit when visitors bring ‘new money,’ stay a few days and take home pleasant memories about ‘Everybody’s Hometown.’”

Communities that TripAdvisor ranked below Prescott stretch from coast to coast and border to border.

They were

#4        – Telluride, Colo.

#5- Pompano Beach, Fla.

#6 Traverse City, Mich.

#7   Avalon, Calif.

# 8       Waikoloa, Hawaii

#9        Knoxville, Tenn.

#10      Gulf Shore, Ala.

 

TripAdvisor is not the first national or international organization to rank Prescott as a desirable community. Recently, Sunset Magazine, National Geographic Adventure magazine, Money magazine, Smart Money/Wall Street Journal and several other highly-circulated publications have praised Prescott as a Top 10 city in which to retire or in which to live and launch a business. QCBN

By Ray Newton

Quad Cities Business News

Sedona Joining Region’s Dark-Sky Efforts

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Dark Skies Susan Amon
Susan Amon

Long before Percival Lowell decided Northern Arizona’s dark skies were worth his infusion of Eastern investment dollars, the region’s star-filled, Milky Way-laden clear evenings awed gazers, be they Native peoples, Spanish conquistadors, or pioneer settlers. When larger settlements rose, awareness of natural resources including the valuable nighttime opaqueness gained momentum, led by the region’s world-class professional observatories, Lowell Observatory and the U.S. Naval Observatory, Flagstaff Station (NOFS). In 2001, Flagstaff received the very distinguished title of world’s first international dark sky city from the Tucson-based International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), a non-profit organization that “advocates for the protection of the nighttime environment and dark night skies.”

In August, Sedona also received the coveted title, meaning two of the now eight cited cities are in our little parcel of the American West. For businesses, organizations and governments, it is an honored reminder of just how special Arizona’s sky conditions are and what that means to the local bottom line.

There is no more pertinent issue than a city enacting and committing to stringent outdoor lighting restrictions in the IDA’s decision-making process. When Flagstaff introduced stricter restrictions in 1989, Sedona closely followed, building on existing local support for environmental preservation.

“Arizona is now the first state in the union to have two Dark Sky Communities. With Flagstaff and Sedona being so close together, and already being tourist destinations, the new designation for Sedona will add to their visibility and attract new visitors to the region,” said Scott Kardel, acting IDA executive director.

As part of the designation process, Kardel says the City of Sedona brought City Hall into full compliance with the code, provided resources for lighting retrofit projects such as the one carried out at Posse Grounds Park, and in 2012-13, provided matching funds to encourage business and commercial property owners to voluntarily bring their grandfathered outdoor light fixtures into compliance with the ordinance. And earlier this year, the city approved further protections that expanded the use of adaptive controls and light curfews for city-owned lighting, according to the IDA. While there are skeptics among the business community, as there are in every city where such efforts have been undertaken, Kardel adds that proper lighting saves money and that Sedona’s ordinances are nothing new.

Even so, the official IDA designation came not a minute too soon for many. “The longer a community waits to achieve a Dark Sky compliance or registration, the harder it becomes. More and more improperly shielded lights will be installed. With the Dark Sky designation, this will insure that future buildings and lights will be of the shielded type, correct color temperature type and help protect the darkness,” said JD Maddy, president of the Astronomers of the Verde Valley, a group of amateur and retired astronomers. “We have had fairly dark skies here in the Verde Valley for quite some time. This helps protect that.”

Central to the designation efforts for decades now is Keep Sedona Beautiful (KSB). “It’s very important to keep Sedona’s skies dark so future generations can enjoy the views of the heavens,” said Joanne Kendrick, chair of KSB’s dark-sky committee. “KSB will continue to reduce light pollution so that Sedona can continue to live up to the expectations of an International Dark-Sky Community.”

While very excited by Sedona’s designation, one of the architects of Flagstaff’s lighting codes and IDA designation efforts cautions that obstacles still lie ahead. “The challenge will remain. The pressure for increased lighting will remain relentless and the effort to protect night skies requires constant vigilance. For example, the recent industry efforts to change to white LED lighting must be weighed carefully against the dramatically increased impacts white light has on light pollution. We all hope that as the industry moves towards LED lighting, an increased awareness of the environmental impacts will lead to the development of more night-friendly LED lighting that can meet energy as well as dark-sky needs,” said Chris Luginbuhl of NOFS, a foremost expert in lighting and light pollution.

The region’s other major astronomical research institution is even more interested in Sedona’s designation. With its $53 million cutting-edge Discovery Channel Telescope perched on the Mogollon Rim east/northeast of the Verde Valley, Lowell Observatory is staying closely engaged with area localities and their efforts to curb light pollution.

“IDA Dark Sky Community designation signifies a substantial and community-wide commitment to preserving the night sky. Sedona’s joining Flagstaff as a Dark Sky Community shows that dark sky preservation is a widely held regional value in Northern Arizona, and I’m glad to see the IDA’s acknowledgement of Sedona’s efforts,” said Jeff Hall, Ph.D., Lowell’s director.

For Jennifer Wesselhoff, president/CEO of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Bureau, Film Office & Sedona Marathon Event, the city’s “brand manager,” the designation is another tool in her arsenal. “As the destination marketing organization for Sedona, we are always looking for new ‘products’ to promote. While we’ve been promoting Sedona’s dark, starry skies for many years, the IDA designation lends credibility to that effort. We are very proud to be named as the world’s eighth international dark sky community,” said Wesselhoff.

Area dark sky activities for the general public include Astronomers of the Verde Valley viewing events like those held at Red Rock State Park, outings with tour operator Sedona Stargazing, and Sunday evening stargazing at Page Springs Cellars.

“We are seeing increasing evidence that ‘dark sky tourism’ is growing in popularity,” said Kardel. “Both [Flagstaff and Sedona] are well poised to take advantage of this.” The designation also helps differentiate Sedona from other western destinations it closely competes with for tourist dollars, like Napa Valley and Santa Fe, notes Kendrick.

For the tourism and astronomy sectors, dark skies are among Northern Arizona’s valuable commodities, broadened by Sedona’s recent efforts for night-sky preservation. Percival Lowell might have been wrong about seeing artificial canals on the surface of Mars, but he certainly was not wrong about setting up telescopes in the neighborhood. QCBN

 

Tom Vitron is a freelance media consultant based in Sedona. He has served as the communication manager at Lowell Observatory, on the faculty of NAU’s School of Communication, and is now a contributing Friend of Lowell and works for Page Springs Cellars winery, where he sells fine Arizona wines and runs Sunday stargazing nights.

thank you, Susan Amon, for the excellent photograph featured here.

 

Twin Arrows Called Premier Destination

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Twin Arrows The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise (Navajo Gaming) is honored to announce its recently expanded Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort, located 20 minutes east of Flagstaff, has been awarded AAA’s coveted Four Diamond Award for its stunning architecture, customer satisfaction and infusion of Navajo culture into its architecture, amenities and decor.

“We had a vision in the early development of Twin Arrows to design a flagship Navajo gaming and hospitality facility capable of achieving AAA’s Four Diamond Award standards, and more importantly, to hire and train a predominantly Navajo workforce capable of exceeding their stringent guest service standards,” said Derrick Watchman, Navajo Gaming CEO. “It is the deepest honor to receive this distinction just one year after our grand opening. I congratulate our entire team on this achievement, thank AAA for inspiring us to reach for their Four Diamond Award and invite guests to our premier travel destination to enjoy the Twin Arrows gaming hospitality experience.”

The announcement came after a recent evaluation of the breathtaking facility and its 110-room resort expansion. The achievement ranks Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort as a premier establishment esteemed by AAA’s professional inspectors, the hospitality industry and its millions of members. Only five percent of the more than 29,000 properties approved by AAA achieve this prestigious distinction. Additionally, Twin Arrows Navajo Casino is the only Flagstaff destination to receive this honor.

The resort was evaluated on its casino, 200-room hotel, multiple dining destinations – including the Zenith Steakhouse, indoor swimming pool, fitness center and other amenities the resort offers. Of special note was the conference and convention center with a 9,000 square-foot banquet center with 25-foot ceilings, indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, VIP boardroom, complimentary valet and complimentary high-speed Internet access throughout the resort and event center.

The ranking is shared in all AAA/CAA travel information and with its more than 54 million members worldwide.

“Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort is committed to providing every guest with a personalized experience and attentive service in comfortable, high quality surroundings,” said Linda Gorman, director of communications and public affairs for AAA Arizona. “This property exceeded the expectations of the most discriminating traveler – the AAA inspector.” QCBN

 

For more information on Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort visit www.twinarrows.com or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TwinArrowsAZ

 

Snowbowl Inviting Visitors to the Mountain

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Snowbowl.jpgArizona Snowbowl has started its summer operations, The scenic chairlift is open 10:00 am – 4:00 pm every Friday, Saturday, Sunday plus two holiday Mondays (May 26 and September 1) during the summer season (Memorial Day Weekend through mid-October).

Take in the dramatic scenery of northern Arizona from a bird’s eye view atop an extinct volcano at 11,500 ft (3,500 m). Enjoy hiking, interpretive talks, play a round of disc golf or treat yourself to lunch on the patio with a mountain view. The Agassiz Lodge comes alive in the summer offering music on the weekends and a family friendly menu with indoor and outdoor table service.

Snow Remains on the Mountain

Even in a year with record drought conditions, Arizona Snowbowl still has snow in many areas on the mountain. In fact, when unloading the scenic chairlift ride at 11,500 ft, guests will be able to walk up to an area that still has several feet of snow. So bring the family and experience snow in May.

Private Events at Agassiz Lodge

Due to higher demand for events at Arizona Snowbowl, guests can now rent Agassiz Lodge for private functions. From birthday parties to corporate meetings, Agassiz Lodge offers indoor and outdoor seating up to 100 guests. Combine your next event with a private sunset chairlift ride or take advantage of the mountain environment to wow your guests.

Winter Recap

The success of the 2013-14 winter season is attributed to the new snowmaking system. Arizona Snowbowl averages 260 inches of natural snow annually, but received barely over 100 inches this past winter. Without snowmaking, Arizona Snowbowl would not have been able to offer such quality skiing and riding and could have faced the possibility of not opening. The 2013-14 winter season realized 122 consecutive days of being open and over 140,000 visitors to the mountain.

 

Gosar Promoting Tourism

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Grand CanyonU.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) is issuing the following statement commending the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) decision to allow 1,721 additional Grand Canyon flights per year utilizing quiet technology:

“I was thrilled to learn that the FAA has allowed additional quiet flights over the Grand Canyon. This commonsense decision will create good-paying jobs and boost economic activity in an extremely rural area.

“By recognizing quiet flight technology improvements, the FAA has given us an example of a federal agency using evidence-based decision-making. Now, more of Arizona’s visitors get to experience the beauty of this natural treasure through unique aerial tours. As a result of the FAA’s decision, we are accomplishing two important goals: keeping noise in the Canyon to a minimum while growing this critical sector of our economy.”

BACKGROUND:
The air tour and tourism industries at the Grand Canyon are critical to Arizona’s economy. In 2011, tourism at the Grand Canyon helped sustain more than 300,000 jobs. The air tour industry around this historic landmark supported 1,250 good-paying jobs in Arizona and Nevada during that same timeframe.

Rep. Gosar played a critical role in the FAA’s decision to allow additional quiet flights at Grand Canyon National Park because his bill was enacted into law.

In the 112th Congress, Rep. Gosar, introduced bipartisan standalone legislation, the Grand Canyon Tourism Jobs Protection Act of 2012 (H.R.4198), to protect tourism jobs and preserve natural quiet at the Grand Canyon National Park.

The provisions of H.R.4198 were ultimately codified into public law through Section 35001 of H.R.4348, also known as MAP-21.

Prior to this legislative victory, Rep. Gosar raised awareness of this issue through a series of letters, including:

In February 2011, Rep. Gosar and five of his colleagues sent a bipartisan letter to House Transportation Conferees asking them to codify the definition of natural quiet for the Grand Canyon.
In June 2011, Rep. Gosar and seven of his colleagues sent a bipartisan letter commenting on the National Park Service’s draft Environmental Impact Statement for flight rules over the Grand Canyon.

In March 2012, Rep. Gosar and five of his colleagues sent a bipartisan letter to then Secretary of Interior Salazar containing comments and a series of specific questions about the future of aerial tours and natural quiet technology at the park.

Fee Free Day at Grand Canyon Monday

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Martin Luther KingGrand Canyon National Park will be joining national park units across the country in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day with fee-free entry into the park on Monday, January 20, 2014.

Park visitors are reminded that fee-free designation applies to entrance fees only and does not affect fees for camping, reservations, tours, or use of concessions. Park entrance stations will have the Interagency Senior and Annual Passes available for those who wish to purchase them.  Visitors who plan to spend time in the park beyond January 20th will need to pay the regular entrance fee for the remainder of their stay.

 

This year, additional fee-free days will occur in honor of Presidents Day (February 15-17),  kick off to National Park Week (April 19-20),  National Park Service Birthday (August 25), National Public Lands Day (September 27) and Veterans Day (November 11).

 

Grand Canyon’s South Rim sits at approximately 7,000 feet. As a result, visitors should be prepared for winter weather and driving conditions, and should be aware that road closures and temporary suspension of shuttle service may occur with little or no notice if winter weather passes through the area.

 

 

For more information on what there is to see and do in Grand Canyon National Park. Please visit the park’s websitewww.nps.gov/grca.  For more on national park fee-free days, go to http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm

 

January is Learn to Ski – Snowboard Month

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Arizona Snowbowl Skier Photo

With the New Year, many of us are resolving to learn something new, and Arizona Snowbowl is making it easy for first-time skiers and snowboarders.

January marks the sixth annual Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month in the United States, and with natural and machine-made snow on the San Francisco Peaks, people of all ages are taking advantage of the winter sports opportunities available to them.

Through Arizona Snowbowl, the Quad Cities area and the rest of Arizona have had access to skiing and snowboarding for more than 75 years. But this month, outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of January special pricing for Learn to Ski programs by visiting www.arizonasnowbowl.com.

The program is designed to teach the first-time skier or snowboarder the fundamentals of snow sports and mountain safety. The Learn to Ski package includes a Hart Prairie Beginner Area lift ticket, full day rental equipment, and a two-hour lesson.

Lessons start promptly at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the base of the Hart Prairie Lift. Participants are encouraged to arrive in their equipment and ready to go at least 15 minutes prior to their lesson time. Guests may register for the Learn to Ski Program in the Rental Shop.

To make sure everyone has a safe, fun, comfortable, and successful experience on the slopes, here are some tips:

 

What to Bring and Wear

 

Keep it warm and dry:

  • Keep boots, gloves, helmets, and any other gear you wear in the car or bus where it’s heated, not in the trunk.
  • Take an extra pair of dry socks to put on when you arrive at Snowbowl. It is a good idea to have dry socks just before you hit the slopes to be sure you have warm feet. Do not wear two pairs of socks; it will make your feet colder.
  • Wool is GOOD; cotton is BAD, this includes all clothing items.
  • Wear shoes or boots that are appropriate for walking in snow and puddles.

Dress in layers:

  • It is worth investing in a pair of waterproof ski pants, as jeans get wet and will make you cold.
  • It is best to dress in layers as temperatures can vary throughout the day.

Inner Layers:

  • Fleece or wool pants (long underwear) and a sweater (two layers) are a great choice.
  • Wool socks will keep you warm through the day, although taking extra clothing and socks to change into after skiing/snowboarding is recommended.

Outer Layers:

  • It is very important to have pants and a top outer layer that are at least water resistant. A waterproof or water resistant jacket and pants are your best bet for day-long warmth.

Sunscreen protection and lip balm:

  • Bring and apply sunscreen! Arizona Snowbowl is situated at an elevation of between 9,000 feet and 11,500 feet. The atmosphere is far thinner than most of us are used to and sunburns happen quickly, even in cloudy conditions. Arizona Snowbowl’s Sports Shops carries sunscreen and lip balm for your convenience.

Head and Eyes Protection:

  • Be sure to have proper eye protection. Sunglasses or goggles (especially if it’s snowing) are extremely important in cold weather.
  • We recommend wearing a helmet for safety and to keep your head warm; and a gator will protect your face and neck.

Gloves or Mittens:

  • Make sure your gloves or mittens have a waterproof, breathable shell and are well insulated. Mittens, along with hand and toe warmers, are usually better for those susceptible to cold hands and feet.

For Your Energy Level:

  • It is a very good idea to eat a good breakfast. Snowbowl has breakfast available, including breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches, yogurt, cereal, etc.
  • Bring plenty of water and drink it!
  • Bring snacks to stick in pockets and backpacks. This can save the day when you’re feeling tired or worn out.

 

Finally, do not attach your lift ticket to your jacket, because you may take your jacket off as the day gets warmer. It should be attached to ski pants or ski bibs, easy for lift operators to see.

Arizona Snowbowl has the largest beginner ski terrain in the Southwest covering 50 acres, including two chairlifts and two surface conveyors. The conveyers act like moving sidewalks and take the intimidation out of getting on and off a chairlift.

Remember, some people feel the effects of the high elevation, so it is important to take it easy, be prepared and enjoy Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month! QCBN

 

Written by Jason Stratton, the marketing director at Arizona Snowbowl. For more information visit www.arizonasnowbowl.com.