Message From The General Manager

Laura Chastain

Spring has sprung in the Canyon!  It is exciting to see so many visitors here again!  I know there are still many on-going projects for our local businesses and that you are looking forward to their completions - don't forget to let me know when you're finished so we can show off you new look!

Michael Keller, General Manager Delaware North has resigned as our Chamber Board President.  Michael has taken his dream job in Yellowstone National Park and we wish him well in his new endeavour.  Additionally, Jon Streit, General Manager for Xanterra and Chuck Easton Director of Engineering for Xanterra are both retiring. Both provided long years of service to the Grand Canyon Community and we wish them joy and happiness in their next chapter of life.

Our new 2017 Visitor's Guide is at the printer and will hit the streets soon!  Click here to see the online version. As soon as we receive our inventory we will distribute locally.  I realize that many of you use Certified however I also know they can't always keep up and we know the new guide will be well received so we want to make sure you have plenty on hand.

The National Park Service is already planning the Grand Canyon's 100th Birthday Celebration and they want your feedback on how to make it a Grand Celebration.  Please complete a brief survey  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CK2FML5 to share your ideas.

Grand Canyon Community News weekly email was launched at the beginning of March and we have over 200 people on the weekly email list.  If you are not receiving the weekly email you can sign-up here and select Community News.  The goal of the Community News is to combine all Grand Canyon Area Activities, Events, Meetings etc. in one place.  While I had been including some Community News in this monthly update all Community News will now be distributed through the weekly Community News email.  If you have a Community announcement click here to submit your information.

Grand Canyon High School Job Fair was a huge success.  Thank you to all the local businesses for supporting our local youth! We had over 20 businesses/departments represented at the event.  Cherie Benefield is still looking for local businesses that want to present to her Career Class different career opportunities for students.  If you want to be a guest speaker please contact Cherie at cbenefield@grandcanyonschool.org 

March Recap

March 4-6 Grand Circle meeting in Durango.  Many members have been at different trade shows and events where National Park Service has announced changes are underway for Commercial Tours.  I spoke with Donald Leadbetter, Tourism Program Manager and he confirmed there are 2 main areas that will be changing.  1) Commercial Entry Fees.  He noted the Commercial Entry Fees have not increased since 1998 and that they are working on a new schedule which will follow inflation.  Once they announce the new schedule it will be at least 18 months before it will take effect.  2) Commercial Use Authorization Permits.  NPS is working on a consistent method for the permits.  Each park has had it's own way of charging and they are moving to one consistent method across all parks.  It will most likely include an annual self-report and some sort of cost recovery fee based on the size of your operation.  There will be a period for public feedback and comments which I will share.  If you want to follow up directly with NPS Donald can be reached at donald_leadbetter@nps.gov

Veteran Support

I am actively working with Northern AZ VA Health Care System and trying to obtain extended services for Veteran's right here at the Grand Canyon.  The VA currently shows 250 veteran's enrolled in zip codes 86023 and 86046, I know we have more.  We are building a case for services and will be requesting money from the VA to establish these services here for our local veterans.  Can you please let me know exactly how many veteran's you have working for you via email with subject Veterans and whom the best contact at your business would be for disseminating information to our local veterans.  As we work through this process I may be asking for additional letters of support to be included in the VA proposal. 

Chamber Partner Opportunities

Vacation Races has some Partner opportunities for the October 14th 1/2 Marathon event.

They are seeking partners for Lodging, Restaurants and Entertainment in exchange for...

• comped rooms for Vacation Races staff and/or discounted room/rental rates for runners *we expect most visitors will check in on Thurs, 10/12 and check out on Sun, 10/15*
• discounted meals or other restaurant promotions for runners
• discounts on an activity offering or product

Vacation Races would love to include you on the Grand Canyon half marathon website as a partner and provide you an ad in our race guide (digital and print) at no cost. If you cannot offer a discount or perk, we invite you to be included on our website and in the race guide for a fee of $250.

Expo
If you feel runners are your perfect demographic, we invite you to participate in our race expo. For $250, we will provide you with, at minimum, 10x10 space & the opportunity to engage with thousands of runners & their friends & families. You are responsible for bringing your own supplies including a tent, table & chairs.

Contact Laureen Jenkins   Laureen@the-event-lab.com or call 704-989-1615.

Chimani has some Partnership Opportunities

Later this month Chimani is launching Chimani Perks - a discount saving club for national park travelers. This is a first-of-its-kind program which will be build directly into our mobile apps and will be rolled out nationally on April 19th. We currently have over 150 businesses enrolled in the program so far.

As a national park related business, you can participate in this program for free. In exchange for a discount (10-15%) to a small number of our paying members of the Chimani Perks program, you get free advertising in our National Parks by Chimani and Grand Canyon National Park by Chimani mobile apps - which is a combined audience of 750,000 users.

You can view a two-page guide here.

To sign-up it only takes two minutes:  http://www.chimani.co/signup

If you have any questions, free free to contact: partners@chimani.com 

Current Marketing efforts

Facebook

You came for the Cactus League - Now stay for the View

56K impressions on the ad and over 1,000 clicks into the ad.

Our Facebook page had 13 posts a reach of 31K with 2K post engagements, 127 page views, and 46 page likes.

Facebook now has the ability to ad offers.  Please let me know if you have an offer you would like me to advertise on our Facebook page.

Print Advertising included:

Full page ad in the Spring Drive Guide – circulation 200,000
1/6 page ad in Experience Sedona guide – circulation 275,000
1/3 panel Northern Arizona Exposure Map – 275,000 circulation
Vancouver Travel show March 4-5 250 Grand Canyon Guides

Plus our new Visitor's Guide!

National Park Service News

Pipeline Updates by NPS

As many of you are aware, the park is managing multiple closures and incidents on inner canyon trails.

Due to the complexity and number of issues, we have requested a Type 2 incident management team to help us manage this incident. The team may be in place sometime the week of April 3.

On Tuesday, March 14, 2017 the Grand Canyon National Park water utility crew identified significant damage from a storm-caused rockslide to the North Rim water supply line, including an estimated 300 foot section of missing pipeline. One crew is scaling the rock and debris above the pipeline before major repairs begin. A second crew is making repairs to the pipeline safely out of the rockfall area. While scaling occurs, the North Kaibab Trail is closed for hiker and worker safety above the Redwall Bridge.

Repairs to the pipeline and associated breaks due to charging the line may take eight weeks or longer.

Concurrent with the scaling and pipeline repair projects, Roaring Springs pump repairs and maintenance will occur and trail crews will repair damage on the North Kaibab Trail as well as clear debris from the Uncle Jim Loop and Widforss Trails.

During this incident, the North Rim will not accept any housing requests for work-related projects unless the request is from an employee working on North Rim opening operations or repair work on the trails, water line, or other facilities.

In addition to incidents on the North Rim, the Colorado River Trail between Pipe Creek and the Silver Bridge is closed while trail crew repairs a retaining wall that was damaged in a rockslide on March 28. The trail will be closed for about a week.

We have updated the park webpage, social media sites, and the Incident Information Line (928-638-7688). We will continue to update you as crews make repairs, assess damage, and as the incidents evolve. Thank you all for your patience, flexibility, and hard work.

Earth Day by NPS

Join us as we celebrate the 47th Anniversary of Earth Day on Saturday, April 22nd from 10 am to 2 pm at the Visitor Center Plaza.

Activities will include a litter clean up at Mather Point, recycled art projects, and giveaways from participating organizations including the Sierra Club, National Weather Service, Keep it Wild, and many others.

Media Requests

We are starting to see a number of media requests.  I have updated our media room page and added a Google form for media to fill out.  I will receive the requester’s information via email and in a pdf form which I will then share with those on my media list.  If you’re not on my media list please make sure your company has completed our contact information form at https://goo.gl/forms/pIjxEphNWWY9jLz82