Experience Scottsdale

Experience Scottsdale: official tourism promotion for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley

Experience Scottsdale is a private, non-profit organization, incorporated as a 501(c)(6) entity, that holds contracts with the City of Scottsdale and the Town of Paradise Valley to carry out destination marketing on behalf of both administrations. The organization was founded in 1987 as the tourism arm of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce and began operating as an independent organization in 2001.

Its staff numbers nearly 40 full- and part-time employees, and it has a volunteer board of directors composed of representatives from the local hotel, tourism and business sectors. Its primary funding comes from bed-tax revenue collected by Scottsdale resorts and hotels, as well as other transient non-hotel lodging, such as short-term rentals; the City of Scottsdale allocates half of that tax to destination promotion, and the majority is used to fund the contract with Experience Scottsdale.

Areas of activity

The organization works along several complementary lines. On the one hand, it markets the Scottsdale area as a world-class destination through advertising campaigns, social media actions and various marketing and sales tactics. On the other, it works with meeting planners from all over the world to attract their events to Scottsdale. It also manages destination exposure through both national and international media coverage, and trains travel agents so they can sell the destination to their clients, in addition to working to get Scottsdale information included in brochures and promotions.

Meetings, events and leisure travel

The organization's activity covers the recruitment of meetings, events and weddings, as well as leisure tourism. Among the services it offers to industry professionals are the submission of requests for proposals (RFPs), the Meeting Fam program, access to maps and guides, photo and video assets, virtual backgrounds, a vendor directory, virtual site visits, voluntourism options and sustainability programs. For travel professionals, the organization provides resources such as top reasons to visit the destination, itinerary ideas, special offers, rate requests and informational materials.

Resources for visitors and the local community

Experience Scottsdale's website organizes visitor information around activities, dining, nightlife, outdoor adventure, golf, spa and wellness, shopping, art and culture, and signature experiences. It includes itineraries, maps and guides, news, special offers, transportation and weather information, and sections dedicated to accessibility and sustainability, as well as a section for exploring Arizona beyond Scottsdale. The official visitors guide is offered free of charge, and there is the option to subscribe to a newsletter.

In the community sphere, the organization carries out initiatives to promote local tourism, recent advertising campaigns, social impact programs, recognition of Destination Champions and actions to travel responsibly in Scottsdale. It also publishes visitor and industry research, maintains a frequently asked questions section, offers a speaker request service and collects testimonials. Its community partners include the City of Scottsdale, the Town of Paradise Valley, the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, Scottsdale Sister Cities, Scottsdale Arts, Scottsdale Gallery Association and Scottsdale Leadership, along with companies such as Camelback Linen Service, NewGen Business Solutions, Shamrock Foods and ROXX Vodka.

Structure and objectives

The organization states as its vision to establish Scottsdale as a year-round luxury travel destination, and as its mission to enhance the local community by promoting the area as a luxury destination for meetings, events and leisure travel. Its stated objectives are to generate visitor-related economic impact for the Scottsdale market area, foster positive relationships with customers and stakeholders, run an effective business and enhance the long-term health and development of the destination. The organization publishes an annual report; the 2025-26 report is available for download.