Tourism Updates and Marketing Campaigns

The Town Council got some good news from Tusayan Tourism Coordinator Jessica Remington. According to a recent Placer Report, a data-driven location analytics tool, total trips in Tusayan reached 39,300 for June, marking a 2.3% increase from May, despite a 5.3% decline year-over-year. The top five feeder regions identified were Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco.

Accessible Tourism Initiative

Joe Jamison representing VistAble, a disability inclusion organization, pitched a program to establish Tusayan as the first "certified accessible gateway" to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. He noted that travelers with disabilities spend $100 billion every two years. Because Tusayan's infrastructure is relatively new, accessibility is built-in rather than retrofitted.

The proposed program involves an online training course for the local hospitality workforce. The proposal outlines a town-funded, two-year package priced at $10,500 annually. Council members raised concerns regarding corporate chain participation and compliance with Arizona’s "gift clause".

Mayor Clarinda Vail noted that "at least 800 of the 1200 rooms" in town belong to large corporate chains with their own internal protocols.

New Town Hall Project Progress

Town Manager Greg Clifton provided an update on the development of Tusayan’s Town Hall, specifically highlighting the Request for Statements of Qualifications (RSOQ) for the new Town Hall Project Manager. Earlier that day, the town hosted a mandatory pre-submittal conference for interested firms.

Clifton reported excellent commercial traction, noting, "Glad to report there are three parties who look like they'll be submitting on this. We thought there would be good interest. That's good interest." He explained that the strict meeting requirement helps filter for "bona fide submitters that are not just going to show up at the last minute and tender something to the town, but rather people who are engaged on the front end."

The final submittal deadline for the RSOQ is August 28.

Event Planning and Infrastructure

Preparations are underway for Indigenous People's Day October 12th, featuring vendors, dancers, and a drone show. Council members debated whether to rotate tribal highlights annually or include a multi-tribal representation of their nine tribal neighbors.

Finally, the 2034 General Plan public comment window closed with one submission. Clifton noted the procedural adaptation of working without a planning commission and proposed involving the town's new hearing officer: " In my opinion, it adds more transparency to the process, and it also affords our hearing officer a chance to have a good familiarity with the general plan". The council agreed.