Arizona is seeing a population surge as people continue to choose our state as their home. But our popularity as a visitor destination is equally robust, with Maricopa County offering one of the strongest pipelines of new hotels and resorts in the country.
The Arizona Office of Tourism and other Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) such as Visit Phoenix, Experience Scottsdale, Tempe Tourism Office and Visit Mesa work year-round to attract visitors to Arizona from across the country and around the world. Arizona welcomed more than 40 million overnight visitors statewide in 2022, whose spending is critical to supporting industry jobs and local businesses and driving the economy overall.
Whether they’re here for a child’s soccer tournament, Cactus League Spring Training or even the occasional Super Bowl or NCAA Final Four, travelers want to make the most of their time in the Grand Canyon State. AOT and our DMO/CVB partners shine in filling itineraries with a wide variety of authentic Arizona experiences that our visitors seek. The more we can engage our visitors, the longer they’ll stay with us and, ultimately, the more our economy benefits.
Promoting their destinations to travelers is the primary focus of our local DMO/CVBs — and they also work with economic development organizations, as the revenue generated supports vital community services. These are among the tourism and tax benefits the cover story this month explores.
The feature story this month looks at another side of the issue explored in last month’s cover story, which took a dive into diversity, equity and inclusion programs and their powerful impacts at many of our major employers. Pushback comes almost inevitably with any change, and in “Dealing with DEI Pushback,” Amri B. Johnson offers insightful strategies to help businesses navigate through these challenges if they surface among their workforces.
Some businesses will face impacts from an imminent change on another front. Attorney Heather Macre discusses “Big Changes Are Coming to HIPAA Laws Heading into Summer” in this month’s Legal feature. And these changes include significant penalties for infractions.
Diversity is under the microscope again in this month’s Roundtable — an underrecognized aspect known as cognitive diversity — as Don Alix suggests businesses tap into the strength of diverse thinking in “Balancing Cognitive Diversity in the Workplace.”
From the By the Numbers article on the growing use of generative AI in marketing to the Economy feature on key steps to help Arizona business owners who are considering selling their business, this June edition of In Business Magazine is packed with varied and relevant content to help strengthen and grow our business community.
In Business Magazine also presents its annually updated, comprehensive Business Owners’ Legal Services Guide, compiled to help business owners find the best legal expertise for specific needs.
I’m pleased to work with In Business Magazine to help bring you this June edition, and I hope you enjoy the read.
Sincerely,
Lisa Urias
Director
Arizona Office of Tourism
As a proud fourth-generation Arizonan, Lisa Urias has built her career on crafting and promoting the multi-faceted brand of Arizona through several companies, organizations and roles. Urias’ family has a long history of service to Arizona — a value she holds dear. Her more than 35 years as a marketing and PR professional has taught her that a strong organizational culture, a responsive strategic plan, diverse perspectives and dedication to innovative ideas lead to sustained success.
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