Visit Southern Arizona organized in June 2019. The purpose of the organization is to promote southern Arizona tourism, activities, events and other tourism destinations in southern Arizona. As a starting point, the organization is focusing on Cochise County in Arizona with discussion of expanding its collaborative efforts throughout southern Arizona in the future. The county is expansive with many opportunities to increase awareness of activities, events and destinations for locals as well visitors.
The organization currently operates under start up management with the intention of hiring a dedicated staff sometime during 2020. Representation on the Board of Directors is intentionally diverse in an attempt to reach to different areas of the county and a variety of industries. Board representation includes participants with a variety of areas of expertise including membership development, event planning, tourism development and marketing, business owners, lodging owners and managers, governmental liaisons and others.
Several committees have been formed to focus on the development of several key areas:
• Executive Committee – day-to-day management and leadership of the organization.
• Finance Committee – establish an initial budget structure for the organization and monitor finances
• Management Valuation Committee – oversees/evaluates temporary management and will outline requirements for staffing.
• Nominating Committee – identify and nominate additional Board members.
• Marketing Committee – identify key marketing opportunities; organizes and promotes events hosted by the organization.
• Fund Raising Committee – identify potential funding sources and key participants.
• Negotiating Committee – reach out and meet with governing bodies to negotiate support.
Arizona locations include but are not limited to: Benson, Bisbee, Douglas, Sierra Vista, Tombstone, Willcox, Boquillas, Bowie, Cascabel, Charleston, Cochise, Dos Cabezas, Double Adobe, Dragoon, Fairbank, Gleason, Hereford, Huachuca City, Lowell, McNeal, Miracle Valley, Naco, Paradise, Pearce, Pirtleville, Pomerene, Portal, St David, San Simone, Sunizona, Sunsites, Warren, Whetstone and more.