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, supporting local businesses, sustaining thousands of jobs, and generating tax revenue that helps fund government services. Every visitor who stays, shops, dines, and explores in Mesa contributes to a stronger local economy and a thriving community.
In 2025, visitors contributed:
- $1.2 billion in total economic impact
- $763.9 million in direct visitor spending
- 8,137 jobs supported (directly and indirectly), representing 1 in every 14 jobs in Mesa
- $85.8 million in state and local tax revenue generated
Without visitor-generated state and local tax revenue, each Mesa household would need to be taxed an additional $432 to replace it.
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 2025, the City of Mesa investment in Visit Mesa from the hotel bed tax collections was $3.3 Million. For every single one of those dollars, Visit Mesa returned $24:1 in estimated future direct visitor expenditures.