Visitors Mean Business
The Power of Travel in Mesa
Every visitor to Mesa contributes to the vitality of our community, driving economic growth and enriching the lives of residents.
Visitor spending is a powerful economic driver for Mesa, fueling local businesses, creating thousands of jobs, and generating millions in tax revenue that benefits residents. Every visitor who experiences Mesa contributes to our city’s growth, ensuring a thriving community for all. In 2023, Visitors contributed:
- $1.2 billion Total Economic Impact of Tourism in Mesa (2023)
- $748.6 million Direct Visitor Spending (5.4% increase from previous year)
- 8,071 jobs supported by tourism-related industries
- $84.7 million in state & local tax revenue generated
Without these visitor-generated tax revenues, each Mesa household would need to pay an additional $439 annually to maintain current city services.
In the last 3 years, Mesa hotel rentals have generated more than $346 million in gross revenue* and contributed more than $24.2 million in tax revenues to the City of Mesa. The $24.2 million is a combination of City of Mesa Transient Lodging Tax (or TLT, also known as the hotel bed tax), and the City of Mesa Transaction Privilege Tax (or TPT, also known as the sales tax on hotel room consumption). This figure does not include all the tax revenues generated by the purchases at restaurants, attractions, retail centers and amusements by the visitors occupying these hotel rooms.
The Role of a Destination Marketing Organization
As the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for Mesa, Visit Mesa is dedicated to positioning and promoting the city as a premier destination for leisure and business travel. By strategically marketing Mesa to key visitor segments, Visit Mesa plays a vital role in attracting out-of-town guests who contribute to the local economy.
Key Areas of Focus
The Halo Effect of Destination Marketing
A recent Halo Effect Study conducted by Visit Mesa revealed that destination marketing efforts extend far beyond attracting visitors—they enhance economic development, business attraction, and resident sentiment toward their own city. A healthy visitor economy is a catalyst for community growth.
How is destination marketing funded?
Visit Mesa is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization primarily funded by the collection of hotel bed taxes in Mesa, and not funded by resident taxes. In fiscal year 2024, the City of Mesa investment in Visit Mesa from the hotel bed tax collections was $3.5 Million. For every single one of those dollars, Visit Mesa returned $26:1 in estimated future direct visitor expenditures.