Visit Yuma gives update at City Council work-session
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Visit Yuma presented its annual report to the city council at tonight's work session.
Visit Yuma is a nonprofit organization funded through the hospitality tax.
“Visit Yuma serves the community in a bunch of different ways including putting out an annual visitor guide. We have our visitor center downtown on main street, we also do some marketing, we do some sales, we work with tour operators,” said Marcus O. Carney, Visit Yuma Executive Director.
Visit Yuma has recently completed some local campaigns such as “Soak Up Every Minute” and “Hello I am Yuma” to help put a positive spin on the sunniest place on Earth.
“It’s something we’ve been really excited for. We made five videos, we’ve been doing some ads, they have been playing all around the region, attracting our drive traffic, attracting our flying market, trying to get people to come down here to Yuma,” said Carney.
The “Hello I Am Yuma” was so well done, it received a few accolades.
“As far as the ‘I Am Yuma program'... I’m a big fan, that’s great, well put-together. I suspect you’re going to get another award next year,” said Yuma Mayor Douglas Nichols.
Visit Yuma Executive Director Marcus Carney shared statistics on hotels, occupancy rates, available rentals, and revenue as well.
Members of the council were then able to share their opinions on the subject.
“And I would encourage the consideration by this council and mayor to go forward in looking at the river because I think that is an untapped money source,” said Council Member Ema Lea Shoop.
Visit Yuma's next project is looking for ways to take advantage of the increase of winter visitors set to make their way to the city in the next few months and some of Arizona's big sporting events like the men's NCAA final four in Glendale next April.
