Arizona joining 'tourism sultans'
A new report says Arizona is seeing a surge in international arrivals, hotel outperformance and rising visitor spend in 2026 — positioning the state as a fast‑growing tourism market and a ripe target for destination‑aligned event packages. That trend suggests stronger tourism demand and more co‑marketing options with state/regional partners. (travelandtourworld.com)
Travel & Tour World quoted Allianz Partners data ranking Phoenix the #1 U.S. domestic destination for Valentine’s Day 2026 and reported booking volume up about 50% year‑over‑year for that weekend. (travelandtourworld.com) The Arizona Office of Tourism’s FY26 Cooperative Marketing Program offers a 50% match on AOT‑negotiated media buys for eligible rural, regional and tribal partners, with the FY26 campaign window running Sept. 1, 2025–Aug. 31, 2026. (tourism.az.gov) Arizona is centering Route 66 centennial activity across 2026 — the state lists roughly 385 miles of Route 66 with 158 unbroken miles in western Arizona, and Kingman’s centennial calendar includes events such as the I ♥ 66 Fest (Oct. 16–17, 2026) and the statewide Route 66 Fun Run (May 1–3, 2026). (tourism.az.gov) The VAI Resort project in Glendale, estimated at about $1.2 billion and planned to include an adjacent Mattel Adventure Park, remains a major prospective draw for West Valley overnight stays even as developers have delayed setting a firm opening date. (azcentral.com) Air connectivity is expanding: Phoenix Sky Harbor announced new nonstop routes entering service in 2025–26 and American Airlines has confirmed six additional routes from Phoenix for 2026, improving feeder options for group and incentive travel. (azcentral.com) Statewide visitor spending hit a new record of about $29.7 billion in 2024 according to AOT‑reported figures, while Phoenix alone recorded roughly $5 billion in visitor spending for 2024. (azallianceforgolf.org) Market forecasts show Phoenix/Arizona hotel metrics recovering into 2026: CBRE/CoStar Hotel Horizons projects Arizona RevPAR near $67.96 with occupancy around 63.3% in 2026, while STR/CoStar 2026 U.S. hotel forecasts project modest full‑year RevPAR growth nationally. (pip.cbrehotels.com)
