ESCAPE TO MESA: EAST VALLEY CITY OFFERS AZ RESIDENTS NEW VACATION PACKAGES
FOR CLOSE-TO-HOME GETAWAYS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Arizona residents looking to get out and explore close to home will want to check out the latest vacation packages offered now in Mesa. The city’s tourism marketing office, Visit Mesa launched a series of themed vacation packages as part of their Escape to Mesa campaign targeted to area locals and statewide residents. Visit Mesa partnered with the City of Mesa’s Economic Development team on the local outreach aimed at reopening the city’s tourism industry for visitors. Escape to Mesa vacation packages feature a $150 incentive to guests that book a 2 or more-night stay in Mesa hotels and will be available for a limited time. The booking incentive will be marketed through the end of the year, while supplies last.
There are three themed vacation packages to choose from: Weekend Warrior, Family Fun and Relaxation Retreat. After visitors book their Mesa hotel stay, they can register their upcoming vacation on the website, www.EscapetoMesa.com and qualify for $100 toward a Mesa experience, attraction or service and an additional $50 gift card to a Mesa restaurant. “Escape to Mesa is a new collaboration between the City of Mesa and Visit Mesa designed to help support our tourism industry,” City of Mesa Mayor John Giles said. “I hope Phoenicians and other statewide residents take advantage of this special offer and enjoy a stay at one of our stellar hotels and check out the fun activities our great city has to offer. Let’s make up for lost vacations right here in Mesa.”
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MERRY MAIN STREET IN MESA
For the sixth consecutive year, Merry Main Street will bring holiday revelry to downtown Mesa. The spectacular celebration of the season will be held Nov. 27 through Jan. 2. Mesa’s Christmas Tree will be glowing each night of Merry Main Street. The nearly four-story tall tree will once again be located on Macdonald at Main Street. Merry Main Street will again feature the Winter Wonderland Ice Rink with more than 5,000 square feet that will attract skaters taking to the ice under the stars. This year, to provide a safe and healthy environment for all patrons, tickets must be pre-purchased for a specific day and time. There will be a maximum of 50 skaters at one time. The area around the ice rink will be adorned with vintage holiday decorations not used in downtown Mesa since 1967. Santa’s sELFie Village returns along with free visits from Santa himself. Updates about Merry Main Street will be available at www.merrymainst.com.
MESA IS THE COUNTRY’S FIRST-EVER AUTISM CERTIFIED CITY
Mesa is the first-ever Autism Certified City in the U.S. designated by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), raising the profile of the East Valley city to millions of individuals with autism and millions of annual travelers impacted by autism. The innovative initiative has already raised the national profile of Mesa, with both the Fire Department and Police Department offering autism certification courses for their officers and staff. Visit Mesa helped secure this new designation inviting businesses to participate in specialized autism training geared toward executives and front-facing hospitality and service staff to better recognize Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and service the needs of ASD travelers from the planning stages of a vacation to when they arrive in the destination, and throughout their stay. You can learn more about the 60-plus Certified Autism businesses and download a travel guide at www.AutismTravelAz.com.
