Mesa Tourism Bureau Turning Stay-Cations Into Save-Cations

Bureau-Generated Savings Program and Citywide Summer Values Help Make Low-Cost Summer Vacations Possible

(MESA, Ariz.) – With National Tourism Week fast approaching (May 9 – 17) and travel trends pointing to shorter hauls and shorter stays, the Mesa Convention & Visitors Bureau wants Arizona travelers to know they can afford a vacation this summer. Starting May 1, the bureau is launching their Mesa Money campaign giving visitors staying in Mesa this summer $10 off each night for up to three consecutive nights at participating Mesa hotels. Guests wanting to take advantage of the savings simply download the Mesa Money voucher from the bureau’s website and present it at check-in to receive the discount. Nine hotels are participating in the Mesa Money program including two Best Western properties, four Marriott hotels, Holiday Inn & Suites and more. The offer cannot be combined with other discounts. For a complete list of hotels and to view restrictions, visit www.VisitMesa.com/Values.

“Mesa has always been an affordable vacation hub for travelers across the state heading to the Valley in the summer months and even in bad economic times, it still rings true,” said bureau President & CEO Robert Brinton referring to the lower summer rates Mesa boasts when compared to neighboring cities. “When families save on the overall hotel bill, it allows for more spending on nearby attractions and activities and those trip enhancers play just as vital a role in creating a lasting and memorable vacation.”

Doing their part to keep Arizonan’s traveling and saving, the Mesa CVB has also re-launched their Summer Values website (www.VisitMesa.com/Values) which lists dozens of deals in a variety of categories including accommodations, dining and attractions. Potential travelers can view and compare Mesa hotel rates and packages and book directly from the site. The bureau anticipates updating the summer values section weekly and is encouraging visitors to check back often as more deals and discounts are announced by Mesa businesses.

In addition, the bureau has posted three budget-friendly vacation itineraries that showcase how a family of four can take an affordable vacation in a down economy. The downloadable budget-friendly itineraries cover stays from one night to three nights with budgets ranging from $200 to $600. Also on the site is a Summer Savings Tip Sheet that guests can download for ideas and insider tips on how to get the most value out of their stay in Mesa with examples on how to take advantage of free museum admissions, selecting restaurants where kids can eat free and planning stays around free festivals and events for entertainment value.

To kick off the summer promotional efforts, the bureau will be heading north taking their savings message to parts of northern Arizona which has traditionally followed a reverse migration pattern as those area residents head to the Valley each summer for attractions like waterparks, shopping and discounted resort stays.

“We’ve partnered with our hotels and are ready to get Mesa visits up this summer,” said Milt Fort, director of marketing for the bureau who is spearheading the bureau’s three-month regional advertising and marketing campaign to boost summer visitation to the city. “It’s a two-fold effort focused on education. On top of the incredible deals that can be had in Mesa right now, we also want to encourage would-be travelers to keep their summer travel plans intact and know that a vacation is still possible on a reduced budget.”

Sweetening the deal are the numerous renovations and upgrades that Mesa hotels have undergone over the past year. The Hilton Phoenix East Mesa completed an $11 million renovation which included a complete overhaul to the pool area which features a six-foot cavernous waterfall, large Jacuzzi spa set in Arizona boulders, fire pit, and cavern. The Holiday Inn & Suites in Mesa recently completed their multi-million dollar renovation which included a complete overhaul of the guestrooms and public spaces. Mesa’s newest hotel, Hyatt Place at Mesa Riverview, just opened their doors and is offering low introductory rates for guests booking stays this summer.

New attractions like Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill and summer mainstays like Golfland/Sunsplash are also expected to give a boost to summer visitors staying in Mesa. The bureau will be featuring both venues in the multiple online contests running this summer in regional markets for exclusive experiences in Mesa. In addition, the summer campaign is going viral with the bureau launching a contest on the social media engine, Twitter. Anyone following the Visit Mesa account on Twitter is eligible to enter an online contest and win tickets to the grand opening of Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill at Mesa Riverview.

For more on summer savings in Mesa, visit www.VisitMesa.com/Values or call the Mesa CVB at 480-827-4700.

Submitted on behalf of Mesa Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Mesa Convention & Visitors Bureau is responsible for marketing Mesa, Arizona as a leading vacation, small meeting and sports travel destination to regional and national target audiences, including travel agents and group tour operators, meeting planners, leisure visitors and media.

Readers can request a complimentary 2009 Official Mesa Arizona Visitors Guide at www.VisitMesa.com or by calling 800-283-6372.

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