Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau’s role in the community is multi-faceted
THIS ARTICLE APPEARS IN THE RED ROCK NEWS
March 24, 2023
The Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau’s role in our community has many facets and includes everything from supporting trail preservation, hosting a business mixer, initiating a recycling drive, and honoring over 200 women business leaders.
It is understandable why people have a hard time understanding what we do, because we do a lot!
I have been asked a multitude of questions about the SCC&TB’s role through events and Coffee Chats at the Chamber and thought it may be of interest to share our community’s curiosity with you.
What is your mission? The SCC&TB’s Board-approved mission reads as follows: To serve the community by making Sedona the best place to live, work, play and visit.
How do you carry out the mission? Being the best place to live, work, play and visit means we seek to balance Sedona’s economic needs, our small-town quality of life, our priceless environment and the experience we offer the millions of annual visitors who support our economy.
On March 9, the SCC&TB donated $104,000 from the city of Sedona and the Sedona Trail Keepers to the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund to help the USFS and their nonprofit partners maintain more than 400 miles of local trails, balancing our environmental and economic needs. On March 8, we honored our region’s female leaders during our 2nd Annual International Women’s Day Awards Luncheon and on March 15, we initiated a Shredding Event, collecting thousands of pounds of recyclable material to make another positive environmental impact in our community.
How are you funded? The Chamber is supported entirely by dues paid by chamber member partners. Our Tourism Bureau budget and annual program are approved by the Sedona City Council, using a portion of the bed tax paid by visitors who stay in Sedona hotels. Residents who are not business-owning Chamber members do not pay for any Chamber or Tourism Bureau activities.
Who are your members? We represent more than 730 local businesses, the vast majority independently owned. Many are family-run, sometimes across multiple generations, and you’re sure to already know many Chamber members. Local businesses generate jobs and the sales taxes that help pay for public services – not to mention improving property values. Our members support hundreds of local nonprofits through fundraisers, donations and volunteer work. Over 100 are certified as sustainable for conserving energy and water, recycling and going zero waste.
How long has the Chamber existed in Sedona? The Chamber’s story began in 1948, long before Sedona had a city government. Back then, so much community business was done at Chamber headquarters that one newspaper called it “Sedona’s unofficial City Hall.” In the 60s, our campaign to eliminate billboards along our scenic byways saw many businesses voluntarily dismantle theirs to keep Sedona’s beauty unobstructed. We have owned the Forest Road Visitor Center since the 1960s when the Lions Club purchased the site and donated it, a generous act we still commemorate with a plaque at the Visitor Center.
How is the Chamber operated? The Chamber is a 501 (c)(6) nonprofit, with policies established by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Board appoints the President/CEO who is responsible for programs and operations including staff appointments.
What services does the Chamber provide your members? To list just a few: Exclusive access to our weekly members-only newsletter with updates on local business news; access to Chamber mixers and business development workshops to aid growth; exposure in the Experience Sedona and Hometown Guides, with hundreds of thousands of recipients; posting on our Business Directory on SedonaChamber.com and exposure on VisitSedona.com seen by more than 1.5 million prospective visitors per year; business brochures placed at our Visitor Center; “Strategies for Success” workshops, and seminars that assure each partner gets maximum benefits from their membership.
We work in many other aspects of community life. We always welcome inquiries and are open to new members. Just contact Partner Services Director Erin Bruce at ebruce@sedonachamber.com. Or please join me for my next Coffee Chat on March 30 at 8:30 a.m. at the Chamber Administrative Office at 45 Sunset Drive. Space is limited, so RSVP at SedonaChamberEvents.com. Hope to see you there.
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–Michelle Conway, President/CEO
Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau