2009 ARIZONA MAIN
STREET
AWARDS
Best
Economic Restructuring Project
Sedona Main Street Program nominates the
Sedona Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center renovation and restructuring
of services for Arizona Main Street 2009 Awards for Best Economic
Restructuring Project.
The Sedona Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor
Center opened in 1956 in a 965 square foot single-story building and
served growing numbers of visitors from that facility until 2008.
Severely outdated and structurally compromised, with insufficient
capacity to meet current demand, the Visitor Center desperately needed
to renovate the building and restructure their services to provide 21st
century facilities and technologies. As the only official resource for
visitor information, its’ decision to retain this original location in
our primarily tourist “downtown” and rebuild from the ground up was
critical to the Sedona Main Street District.
The new 1100 square foot building
presents a welcoming face of Sedona and houses a state-of-the-art
facility that utilizes technology, maximizes space, enhances the visitor
experience and allows opportunities to develop new tourism products
through onsite training. Physical improvements include efficient
customer service and work areas, accessible and accommodating visitor
spaces, user friendly kiosks, updated public restrooms (in partnership
with City), improved signage and a pedestrian plaza with seating and
umbrellas (donated by local newspaper). The Visitor Center stands as a
testament to the Chamber’s commitment to environmental sustainability,
featuring: reclamation and reuse of 76% of the old building materials;
new flooring of recycled materials; waterless urinals in public
restrooms; energy-saver lighting with a dimmer system that supplies
energy on demand; environmentally harmonious architecture; low-water use
landscaping and native plants.
State-of-the-art Internet kiosks maximize
space, enhance the visitor experience, allow for tech-savvy, up-to-date
information about the region and the state, and reduce demand for print
collateral. Innovative features are:
1.
Customized software allows businesses to update listings with
photos, specials, amenities, directions/maps
2.
Short Messaging System allows visitors to text information
immediately to their PDA or cell phone
3.
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) allows visitors to connect
with businesses directly for reservations
4.
Automated tracking & email reporting notifies businesses monthly
of numbers of user sessions and referrals
5.
Customized software allows for future remote placement of kiosks
6.
“Book a Room Now” functionality allows visitors to view available
room inventory and reserve directly
7.
An Outdoor Kiosk provides full-service visitor information 24
hrs/day, 7 days a week
The Internet kiosks were an immediate and
ongoing success with economic impact for the Chamber and local
businesses. Just five months tracking data revealed: 17,353 Member
Directory Page Views; 319 Short Message Systems sent; 344 VOIP calls
made; and 15% increase in “Experience Sedona” Guides distributed. The
first two months the kiosks were in service, the Visitor Center served
16% more people; their projected minimum of a 10% increase over the long
term represents a significant impact of 24,000 additional visitors
served annually!
The Kiosk software was developed to the
specifications of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and they own the
license to it, in a shared agreement with the software developer. They
are negotiating for its use as a visitor kiosk in hotel lobbies
regionally (where its access via any laptop would enable concierges to
download information), at nearby airports and area visitor centers.
Currently investigating opportunities to place a kiosk at
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Flagstaff
Pulliam Airport, Los Angeles Airport, Europe, Korea and Japan, their
sale of the software is certain to provide consistent revenue generation
for the Chamber as well as greater Sedona exposure. This cutting edge
technology has the potential to be used on a global basis.
The restructured services and building
offers Sedona visitors a first class experience and draws visitors
directly into the Main Street District. Tourism is Sedona’s primary
industry and the area’s economic well-being is directly related to the
caliber of service provided by the Chamber Visitor Center, since a
well-informed visitor will stay longer and spend more money in the
community.
View Photos - download pdf file below
2009/azms2009awards/SMSP 2009 Eco Restructuring Visitor Center
Before - After Photos.pdf
