Five-Year Tourism & Events Strategic Plan
Tourism is one of Scottsdale’s largest and most impactful industries, in terms of jobs, tax revenue, economic impact, and quality of life for Scottsdale residents. It’s crucial that Scottsdale’s tourism grow sustainably — in a way that not only benefits visitors and hospitality businesses but also Scottsdale’s residents.
In 2021, Experience Scottsdale and the city of Scottsdale partnered with the experts at Resonance Consultancy to define a clear vision for the future of Scottsdale’s tourism industry and a roadmap for the management and marketing of tourism.
This vision was informed by more than 100 stakeholder interviews, and the strategic planning process allowed city leaders, industry stakeholders, and residents to prioritize key areas of focus through workshops, presentations and consultations.
In January 2023, the Scottsdale Tourism & Events Strategic Plan was approved to help guide the next five years of Scottsdale’s tourism industry to achieve the following vision:
“As stewards of the destination, Experience Scottsdale promotes its unique characteristic while the City of Scottsdale develops and manages the facilities, programming and events required to enrich both the visitor and resident experience in a manner that seeks to minimize the impact of tourism on our environment while maximizing its economic benefits for everyone involved.”
The plan touches on the following key priorities:
- Community Well-Being
- Culture & Creativity
- Festivals & Events
- Meetings & Events
- Outdoor Pursuits
- Placemaking & Entertainment
- Sports Tourism
- Travel & Hospitality Advocacy
The plan identifies 33 strategies and 115 action items within those priorities. Strategies include: positioning Scottsdale as a thought leader in sustainable tourism; celebrating Native American and Western heritage; promoting and growing Scottsdale as a bicycling destination; enhancing walkability and access within Old Town Scottsdale; advocating for labor standards and talent well-being; and more.
Sustainability Master Plan
The city of Scottsdale has long championed environmental stewardship, and in 2021, the city began crafting its first community sustainability plan in partnership with Arizona State University’s Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions. The Scottsdale Community Sustainability Plan will help the city “envision and realize our future as a sustainable, resilient and thriving community.”
Since 2021, the city has hosted staff and community workshops and worked with the Scottsdale Environmental Advisory Commission and Scottsdale City Council to refine the proposed draft plan, which seeks to enhance and expand the work already being done in the community through thoughtful planning and stewardship.
The city continues to finalize the plan with proposed solutions that address energy, water, waste, air quality and extreme heat. The plan aims to improve Scottsdale’s natural environment while offering other positive outcomes, such as cost savings, health and safety, equity and economic vitality.
Scottsdale’s goals for sustainability and the environment also are outlined in the Scottsdale General Plan 2035, which was adopted by the Scottsdale City Council and ratified by voters in 2021.
Learn more about the city of Scottsdale’s sustainability efforts, including heat mitigation and shade and tree planning, here.
