Open Jaw :: On The Town ::

with Caleigh Arbuckle
14NOV08

Tatum Luoma, Director of PR, Sarah Reck, Tourism Sales Manager, and Laura McMurchie, Director of Communications, Scottsdale CVB

Chris Ryall, Travel Marketing Experts, and Laura McMurchie, Scottsdale CVB

Scottsdale Sizzles With Surprises

The reps from the Scottsdale CVB were in town last week to host a luncheon at Yorkville’s Sassafraz. Although they planned the visit to coincide with Toronto’s big freeze, they got here right smack in the middle of our Indian Summer. It was over twenty degrees here the whole first week of November. Not that anyone was complaining, although the Arizonians might have been a little overdressed!

They had a goal…to help us discover the unknown facts of their destination and lay to rest (no pun intended) the notion that they are “God’s waiting room”. Scottsdale has been enjoying a significant increase in the numbers of young couples and families visiting, especially those from Canada. One of the reasons, of course, is the convenience of Air Canada’s direct flights from both YYZ and YYC. With a population of just over 235,000, Scottsdale was host to 8.4 million visitors last year.

Friends of the Scottsdale CVB were each tasked to tell us “3 known and 3 unknown” facts about their properties and services. Some of the neat things we heard about include the authentic experience of the Rancho de los Caballeros Hotel which has a fleet of 100 horses as well as skeet shooting and other Western activities. On offer throughout the town are world class entertainment venues and clubs, including Axis Radius where P. Diddy hosted an exclusive Super Bowl party, and the private plunge pools at the Four Seasons (which we were told don’t come with the model in the picture). Not to mention chauffeured shopping excursions in a limo brought to you by Spree! The Art of Shopping, that actually cost less than a round of golf. Count me in on that one!

Aside from the unknown facts about Scottsdale's offerings, their golf and spas are world-renowned and that most desirable climate is sure to keep enticing Canadians.