By Victoria Harker | Chamber Business News
A bill to help Arizona cities and counties better market their best features to would-be tourists has passed its first hurdle in the state Legislature.
The measure, SB 1335, would allow for the creation of funding vehicles, called Tourism Marketing Authorities (TMAs), that collect fees assessed on sold hotel and resort guest rooms. Those fees would then be allocated to cities and counties to use for marketing campaigns.
Currently, there are 180 TMAs across the U.S. If approved in Arizona, this could give communities a leg up in competing for visitors, advocates said.
