Research and Statistics
2008-2009 Flagstaff Visitor Profile
Press Room: Recent News
11/18/09 Experience a High Country Holiday in Flagstaff
09/24/09 Send a Chill up your Spine this Halloween Season
09/23/98 Fall/ Winter Calendar of Events now Available
09/15/09 FUTS Trail to Add Vital Downtown Link
08/20/09 New Flagstaff CVB Director
05/27/09 Winter visitor spending exceeds $15.8 million during 2008-2009 season
06/01/09 Flagstaff Pulliam Airport receives FAA Safety Award
05/13/09 Flagstaff Pulliam named Airport of the Year
Experience a High Country Holiday in Flagstaff
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (November 18, 2009) —Head north this winter and enjoy a High Country Holiday in Flagstaff. Little America Hotel will officially kick-off the season with the Holiday Lights Festival, Nov. 28. There are also a variety of events taking place throughout December where visitors and residents will have the chance to experience a hometown holiday in true Flagstaff style.
Join Santa at Heritage Square on Dec. 4 for the annual Winter Wonderland Celebration featuring live entertainment, light refreshments and the lighting of the tree. This year’s festivities are in conjunction with the First Friday Art Walk. The spirit of the season continues on Dec. 12 when the 11th Annual Northern Lights Holiday Parade rolls through historic downtown.
Throughout the month of December, take a Holiday Tour of Riordan Mansion or explore the Holiday Skies at Lowell Observatory. Spend the weekend before Christmas, strolling through the festive downtown streets, browsing unique shops or enjoying a delicious meal at one of the many area restaurants.
Then, on Dec. 31, welcome the New Year in true Flagstaff style at the New Year’s Eve Block Party and Great Pine Cone Drop atop the historic Weatherford Hotel. This popular, long-time tradition is the northland’s version of the Big Apple in Times Square. There is a drop at 10 p.m. for families and another at midnight for adults.
Overall, there is nothing like the holidays in Flagstaff. For more information and a complete calendar of seasonal events, visit or call the Flagstaff Visitor Center at (928) 774-9541. Located in the historic train depot at One E. Route 66, the Flagstaff Visitor Center is open Mon – Sat 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., closed Christmas and New Years Day.
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Send a Chill up your Spine this Halloween Season
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (September 24, 2009) —With more than a century of haunted history and ghostly legends about bank robbers, ladies of the night, lost and forbidden loves, eccentric hotel guests and unfortunate train accidents, Flagstaff has earned a reputation as one of northern Arizona’s most haunted cities.
To share this rich, colorful and eerie past with guests, the Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau will offer walking tours of “Haunted Flagstaff” every Friday and Saturday, October 2 through October 24 at 3:00 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. And at 3:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. on October 30. (Please note: There will not be a tour on October 31.) The tour is free and open to the public. They will begin at the Flagstaff Visitor Center in the historic train station located at One E. Route 66. Reservations required, call 928-774-9541, if you dare.
Take a stroll through Flagstaff’s paranormal past. Visit the Orpheum Theater where the balcony specter and bathroom poltergeist roam, the Weatherford Hotel where a mysterious floating woman haunts the Zane Grey Ballroom and the Hotel Monte Vista where a phantom bellboy waits to offer guests room service.
Ghostly tales, unexplained phenomena and hair-raising accounts of Flagstaff’s past fill the “Haunted Flagstaff” walking tour. For more information, call 928-774-9541, toll free 888-697-7778 or visit flagstaffarizona.org.
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Fall/Winter Calendar of Events now available
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (September 23, 2009) —The new Fall/Winter Calendar of Events is now available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center and CVB. This year's calendar is printed in full color on recycled paper, using wind-power energy and features 6 months of unique events in the Flagstaff area that take place October through March.
There is nothing quite like autumn in Flagstaff. The leaves are changing colors, the days are cooling off and the city is alive with a mix of concerts, art shows, exhibits and festivals.
Enjoy seasonal activities in Arizona’s high country with the Festival of Science (September 25 – October 4), the Arboretum’s Fall Open House (October 3) and the Museum of Northern Arizona’s 6th Annual Celebraciones de la Gente (October 24-25). Be sure to make time to shop in historic downtown, explore the starry skies at Lowell Observatory, take in the historic charm of the 19th Century Riordan Mansion or discover Native cultures at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
The summer travel season is drawing to a close, and the time is right to head north. Fall into Flagstaff’s captivating autumn foliage as aspen leaves dust the forest floor in a blanket of color with shades of golden yellow, orange and auburn. Experience cool temperatures, amazing scenery, exciting festivals, events and outdoor activities throughout the Fall and Winter. There is something for everyone and the Flagstaff Calendar of Events is the perfect guide.
For more information or for a complete event listing check out flagstaffarizona.org or call the Flagstaff Visitor Center at 928-774-9541 or toll free at 888-697-7778.
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FUTS Trail to Add Vital Downtown Link
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (September 15, 2009) —The Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) is adding a small, but very important link this fall with the construction of the FUTS Route 66 Downtown trail project.
From mid-September through November 2009, work will be ongoing between Beaver and San Francisco streets, in front of the Flagstaff Visitor Center at the historic train station. When complete, this project will provide for a missing trail system link and add to the City’s overall bicycle-pedestrian system. The Flagstaff Visitor Center and its parking lot will be completely open during construction to welcome visitors!
For more information, call 928-774-9541, toll free 888-697-7778 or visit flagstaffarizona.org.
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New Flagstaff CVB Director
Flagstaff, AZ (August 20, 2009) —After serving as the Interim Director of the Flagstaff Convention & Visitors Bureau since August 2008, Heather Ainardi accepted the director position in August of this year.
Ainardi has been with the Flagstaff CVB for three years, previously serving as the public relations manager and film commissioner.
“Heather has done an incredible job leading the CVB on an interim basis for the last year and her continued leadership will be a tremendous asset to Flagstaff’s tourism industry,” said Stacey Button, City of Flagstaff Economic Vitality Director.
In her new role, Ainardi oversees all operations at the Flagstaff CVB and Flagstaff Visitor Center, and will continue to serve as the City’s Film Commissioner.
“I look forward to continuing the progress we’ve made to develop and maintain Flagstaff as an ideal visitor destination,” said Ainardi.
To reach Heather please call 928-779-7611 or email hainardi@flagstaffaz.gov. For more information about how the CVB is promoting Flagstaff, visit flagstaffarizona.org, call 928-774-9541 or stop by the Flagstaff Visitor Center located in the historic train station at One E. Route 66.
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Winter visitor spending exceeds $15.8 million during 2008-2009 season
Flagstaff, AZ (August 27, 2009) —Winter visitation has long been an important contributing factor to Flagstaff’s tourism industry. The Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau initiated a Winter Visitor Study that took place from December 26, 2008 through March 10, 2009, to measure the economic impact of visitors who come to Flagstaff during the winter months for downhill skiing and snowboarding. The total spent on lodging, dining and retail for this particular group exceeded $15.8 million during the 102 day ski season.
“This is the first step in a multi-year project to gauge the impact that winter visitors have on our economy,” said Heather Ainardi, CVB Acting Director. “The information gathered each year will serve to create a winter visitor profile that will be used to better promote Flagstaff as a year-round visitor destination.”
Part one of the study was conducted at Arizona Snowbowl. Preliminary figures show that of the visitors surveyed, 76 percent were Arizona residents and 24 percent came from out of state, primarily California, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. Of the total in-state visitors, 77 percent came from the Phoenix area, 14 percent from Tucson and 9 percent from other areas in Arizona. Also, the majority of people surveyed turned out to be repeat visitors who come to Flagstaff an average of five times within a 12 month period.
The study found that the estimated total amount spent on hotel/motel lodging exceeds $2.75 million. Approximately 44 percent of visitors stayed in a hotel/motel with 2.6 nights being the average length of stay. The total hotel/motel lodging sales tax paid to the city, county and state was $288,369.17.
The study also found that the estimated total spent in restaurant/bars exceeds $4.74 million, of that, a total of $495,360.25 sales tax was paid to the city, county and state. The estimated total spent on other goods and services exceeds $8.33 million. That amount translates into a total of $704,319.95 sales tax paid to the city, county and state.
“March is Flagstaff’s snowiest month on average and typically draws large Spring Break crowds,” said J.R. Murray, Arizona Snowbowl General Manager. “Had we not had record high temperatures and minimal snowfall the overall economic impact of visitors would have been even greater.”
When asked what activities they planned on participating in besides skiing/snowboarding, visitors answered, 63 percent for snow play, 37 percent planned on visiting the historic downtown district and 36 percent were going shopping.
The FCVB plans to continue the Winter Visitation Study during the 2009-2010 season. This year’s study was compiled by Gary Vallen Hospitality Consultants, a division of University Associates Incorporated. For more information regarding the tourism industry in Flagstaff, contact the FCVB at (928) 779-7611 or online at flagstaffarizona.org.
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Flagstaff Pulliam Airport receives FAA Safety Award
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (September 15, 2009) — Flagstaff Pulliam Airport has received the Federal Aviation Administration Western-Pacific Region’s 2008 Airport Safety Award. Flagstaff Airport competed against other Arizona, California, Nevada and Hawaii airports for this honor.
“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized as a model of safety amongst the Western Pacific Region of the FAA,” said Kevin Burke, Flagstaff City Manager. “This is a big award and speaks to the dedication to detail and hard work the staff at Pulliam puts in every day.”
The award recognizes commercial aviation airports that have taken actions, instituted programs or otherwise operated in a manner deserving of special recognition for improving airport safety. The nomination came as a result of a 3-day FAA certification and safety inspection earlier this year which the airport passed with no discrepancies. Pulliam Airport was also applauded for maintaining a highly trained and professional staff certified in airport rescue firefighting, airfield maintenance, heavy equipment operation and emergency medical response.
“Recognition at this level speaks volumes about the tireless and skilled effort our small staff puts forth every day of the year to keep Pulliam a safe and secure airport that our passengers can trust,” said John Lauher, Airport Director. “I couldn’t be more proud of our crew. Airport operations present unexpected challenges on a daily basis and these folks never miss a beat.”
FAA will present the award at the 5th Annual Western-Pacific Region Airports Conference in Los Angeles on June 2. Earlier this month Pulliam Airport was named Airport of the year by the Arizona Airport Association, it is the only facility ever to have earned that designation more than once. .
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Flagstaff Pulliam named Airport of the Year
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (June 1, 2009) —The Arizona Department of Transportation Aeronautical Division named Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, Airport of the Year at their annual recognition banquet, April 29 at the High Country Conference Center at Northern Arizona University.
This award emphasizes an airport's contribution to the community through aviation advocacy and community outreach, airport management, special events and recognition.
“We are pleased that Flagstaff Pulliam Airport has received this award,” said John Lauher, Airport Director. “And the only facility to have received the Airport of the Year designation two times.”
In addition to receiving the Airport of the Year designation, John Lauher was elected an executive Director for the Arizona Airport Association. In this role
Lauher will be responsible for AzAA promotions and marketing. Lauher is a mechanical engineer who has been active in civil and military aviation for the past forty years, including thirty years as an Air Force fighter pilot. After retirement in 1997, John began his second career as the Operations Supervisor a Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. In 2007 he moved into the role as Airport Director.
The AzAA was formed in 1979 to bring together the representatives of public and private airports and others interested in the general benefit of aviation to provide information, expertise and support to all those in the State's aviation industry. Further, the Association works to foster public recognition of airports and the airport executive profession, and to assist in the future development of air transportation in Arizona. For more information visit azairports.org.
Air service to Flagstaff's Pulliam Airport is available via US Airways and Horizon Air. Pulliam Airport is located five miles south of downtown Flagstaff, Just off 1-17.
In partnership with Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air provides daily flights to and from Los Angeles International Airport, where a wide selection of domestic and international connections can be made. 800-547-9308 horizonair.com.
U.S. Airways provides daily flights to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor International airport, where a wide selection of domestic and international connections can be made. 800-235-9292 usairways.com.
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“Flagstaff, it’s the perfect season!”
The mission of the Flagstaff CVB is to develop, promote and maintain Flagstaff as a year-round visitor destination with professional services that will benefit the community economically, environmentally and socially.
© 2010 Flagstaff Convention & Visitors Bureau. All rights reserved. Contact us at 928-774-9541, 800-842-7293, or