Sedona Chamber of Commerce Survey Report
Sedona
businesses
optimistic
about 2007;
concerned
about road
construction
by
Sylvia
Sommerville
Sedona
businesses are optimistic about the economy for 2007, according
to a recent membership survey by the Sedona Chamber of Commerce.
Seventy percent of the 242 respondents (out of 800 members
polled) said they expect business to be excellent (13 percent)
or good this year (56 percent). Sixty percent said they expect
to do better in 2007 than in 2006, and only five percent expect
to do worse.
Nonetheless,
there is concern about the impact of Highway 179 construction.
Three-quarters of the respondents believe construction will have
some negative effect on their business. Nineteen percent expect
serious repercussions; 37 percent anticipate moderate effects
and 19 percent expect slight interference.
Access to
Sedona concerns the chamber-member respondents because tourism
is critical to most of their business success. Sixty-seven
percent said that less than half of their business comes from
Sedona residents, and 36 percent indicated that local traffic
represents less than 10 percent of their business
Internet
important to Sedona businesses
Ninety-seven
percent of the respondents said they use the Internet. Some of
the key tasks performed on-line are:
•
communicate with customers and suppliers,
• buy and
sell products and services, and
• research
other businesses.
It’s no
surprise, then, that the Sedona Chamber’s Internet services rank
high on the list of importance to Sedona businesses. Almost all
respondents gave the Sedona Chamber of Commerce high marks on
both its tourism and chamber Web sites.
Other
chamber services extremely important to area businesses are the
Chamber Directory, Visitor Center referrals and brochure
distribution, and member communications. The respondents give
these services very high marks.
The
chamber’s tourism bureau also ranked very highly. Respondents
are pleased with the way the Sedona Chamber of Commerce promotes
Sedona to potential visitors and addresses visitor needs when
they are in town.
Sedona
Chamber receives great report card
Every
program tested - both for the Sedona chamber and its Tourism
Bureau - ranked above the midpoint on a five-point rating scale,
and most programs were rated well above the midpoint. According
to Behavior Research, Inc., the company in Phoenix that
tabulated the results, “Not a single program ranks below a mean
reading of 3.2 on a five-point scale. These are truly
remarkable findings.”
It’s no
wonder then that most respondents felt they were getting value
for their money by being members of the Sedona Chamber of
Commerce. Eighty-three percent of respondents said their chamber
membership was an excellent (37 percent) or good value (46) for
the money spent; 65 percent gave the Tourism Bureau high praise.
Both are improvements from ratings received in 2003, the last
time the chamber’s membership was polled.
In its
report, Behavior Research, Inc., concluded that the chamber and
its tourism bureau “have made significant strides since the 2003
study period in raising the level of satisfaction with their
programs and services – and it was rated quite highly then.”
The
respondents represented the following business categories:
• real
estate/construction
•
accommodations/lodging
• retail
•
attractions/activities/tours
•
spiritual/metaphysical
•
professional services
• media and
advertising
• arts and
culture
•
wedding/photography
•
restaurants/food and beverage
• medical
•
transportation/travel
•
associations and organizations
and other
areas.
For more
information about the membership survey, contact the Sedona
Chamber of Commerce at 204-1123.
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