First let me say thank you for the Sedona Times. Appreciate your presenting alternate points of view on all issues, especially those that don’t make the “headlines”.
With that, I refer to two articles in the October 29th issue: one by Peter Fagan about the state of Sedona finances, and the other by Ernie Strauch regarding the position of Mayor. In an indirect manner, I’d like to address both of those articles.
Recently, our car club had their once a decade gathering in Sedona. You must have noticed the cute little cars all over town in mid-October? This is our third time here, and our largest. Nearly 400 people from 35 states and 6 countries. While the event officially ran 4 days, many came early or stayed late. And what did these 400 people bring to Sedona? Much needed tax revenue for one! It came in the money we spent with the resort for food and beverage. In money spent with local businesses as we prepared for the event. In the bed taxes for some 600+ room nights. From breakfasts, lunches and dinners. From shopping in galleries and other businesses in and around town.
This is the reason there has long been a call for a conference center in Sedona.
But we proved, a conference center isn’t what is needed. What is needed is cooperation between the city’s agencies and the city’s businesses. Co-operation that is sorely lacking!
Having never put on such an event, I first contacted the Chamber of Commerce through their event contact number and was promptly told that it was impossible to hold such an event in Sedona, that it couldn’t be done. We should consider Little America in Flagstaff. Calling at another time I was definitely made to feel that they were available to help people from out of town put on events. Since we were local, we could do it ourselves. That was in mid-2008.
It was not until having a conversation with our Mayor, Rob Adams, was I put in touch with all the people I needed to speak with; particularly for permits and police awareness. This was in August of 2009, with the event just 2 months away! Over a year of working in the dark. No networking, no information. Not knowing who to speak with. After that conversation with the Mayor, we got more done in the next four weeks with the town than we had done in the year previous!
And business support was absent also. We contacted every hotel and B&B in town to help us find rooms for our attendees. Only 2 responded at all! Our host resort, Poco Diablo cooperated fully, but they only had so many rooms. King’s Ransom became our secondary hotel, although people did stay at other venues around Sedona.
Restaurants and galleries were contacted to be involved; a business card or flyer for our goodie bag to tell our attendees about your business. Again, few responses. The few restaurants that did participate, from all we’ve heard, did see a flush of customer’s from our group. This is mass advertising at minimum expense. How much does it cost to give a discount coupon, or a gift certificate? If no one uses it, the business has lost little. If it gets used, its an opportunity to get people in the door! Oh, I know the reasons why people didn’t get involved. They range from lack of money to “we’re always getting these requests so we give to none“. Then these business owners wonder where is their business!
Our members had a great time, loved Sedona, loved Poco Diablo. Many will make Sedona a destination for future trips. Our local members will definitely come again, and probably eat at those new restaurants they are now aware of, because they bothered and they cared.
The difference between an appointed mayor and elected one? Once upon a time I saw Pud Colquit at the Sedona Marathon where she gave her little mayoral speech. Then she turned to her companion and said “lets get out of here”. She didn’t even stay to see the runners off, much less be there to great the winners. On the other hand, Rob Adams stepped up to help in any and all ways that he could. Came to our warm up party to great our members. Made the effort to welcome these folks who had traveled to Sedona to spend their money so we can continue to enjoy all the benefits of living in this city!
To me, the bottom line is, if we want to keep the tourist dollars flowing in this town, we need someone who is not interested in business as usual. Who is willing to shake it up. To get out of the little cliques that exist within our city council and do a little of what ever it takes to make outsiders welcome. We don’t need a conference center. Sedona can attract all the people it can handle, if the powers to be make the effort to welcome them, and the businesses get into the idea that a share of the pie is worth more than no pie!
Thanks for your time
Candace Delaney
