VISIT MESA ANNUAL SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS INNOVATION AND IMPACT AS MAYOR MARK FREEMAN PROCLAIMS 'VISIT MESA DAY'

Mesa, AZ— September 23, 2025 — Visit Mesa hosted its annual summit today, bringing together industry leaders, community partners and city officials to celebrate a year of significant growth and progress, held at the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West. The event, sponsored by Las Sendas Golf Club & The Vistas Pavillion, centered on the theme “Human-Driven, Future-Focused,” underscoring the organization’s commitment to leveraging innovation while preserving the personal touch that defines Mesa's hospitality.


A major highlight of the summit was the official proclamation by Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman, a lifelong Mesa resident and dedicated public servant. He declared today, September 23, 2025, as Visit Mesa Day, honoring the organization's role in promoting the city as a premier travel destination and its positive impact on the local economy.


Visit Mesa's President and CEO, Marc Garcia, highlighted the remarkable economic impact on the city, noting that last year alone, Mesa welcomed 4.4 million visitors who spent over $749 million, supporting over 8,100 jobs and generating $84.7 million in state and local taxes. In total last year, the visitor economy generated $1.2 billion in economic impact for the city, which equates to over $2 million in visitor spending every single day.


“The progress we've seen is a testament to the power of collaboration and a shared vision for elevating Mesa," said Garcia. "We are fortunate to have such a dedicated community and are committed to building a strong future together."


The program also provided an overview of Visit Mesa’s successful strategic and marketing plans and highlighted its key priorities for 2026. These include pioneering AI innovation with a new AI concierge tool, a city-wide initiative to elevate customer service, and an expanded food inclusion program in partnership with the Kyah Rayne Foundation.


In addition to the proclamation, the summit recognized an outstanding individual and organization for contributions to the Mesa community and visitor industry at large.


The Mike Whalen Spirit of Community Service Award was presented to Chris Glover. This award, a tribute to the late community leader Mike Whalen, was presented by emeritus board member Dave Wier, who spoke of Mike's unwavering commitment to service. Chris Glover was recognized for his countless hours dedicated to Visit Mesa's board committees and his extensive volunteer work with organizations such as Community Bridges, Keys to Change, Valley Metro, Child Crisis Arizona and Paz de Cristo.



The Mesa Visitor Industry Champion Award was presented to Arizona Athletic Grounds (AAG). With its 275-acre campus and 475,000 square feet of indoor space, AAG has become a beacon for sports tourism, drawing 2.4 million visitors a year and hosting major events like Section 7, one of the largest high school basketball recruiting events in the country. The organization was celebrated for its monumental impact on youth and amateur sports.



The event concluded with a keynote address from acclaimed author, speaker and consultant Tania Katan. She led a high-energy, workshop-style session, sharing insights from her award-winning book, Creative Trespassing: How to Put the Spark and Joy Back into Your Life and Work. Katan's presentation inspired attendees with engaging, real-time activities that demonstrated how to tap into creativity and innovative thinking.


Learn more about the power of travel in Mesa at visitorsmeanbusiness.com


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About Visit Mesa 

Visit Mesa is the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) responsible for positioning and promoting Mesa, Arizona, as a top destination for leisure and business travel. Learn more about Visit Mesa and its mission to promote the value and vitality of Mesa’s visitor economy to create a better community at visitmesa.com. 


  CONTACTS:    
Zoey Shircel, Communications Manager, Visit Mesa     Direct: 480-682-3654, E-mail:  [email protected]  

Alicia Boe, Communications Director, Visit Mesa   Direct: 480-825-7695, E-mail: [email protected]