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About SAAA

Founded formally in 1999, the Southern Arizona Attractions Alliance, a 501 (c)(6) non-profit organization, was created to develop innovative marketing techniques in collaboration with other Arizona tourism boards to enhance awareness of the variety of educational , recreational and entertainment activities available in our communities to cooperatively promote tourism and visitation in southern Arizona. Founding organizations included Old Tucson, Arizona Aerospace Foundation, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson Museum of Art and Visit Tucson (MTCVB).

Arizona Attractions Mission

The mission of the Arizona Attractions Alliance, a non-profit  organization, is to provide awareness to the general public about the variety of entertaining, educational and recreational attractions operating in state of Arizona, USA and develop economic and workforce assistance programs. Arizona attractions contribute to the overall economic value of their region and to the state of Arizona. (501 (c)(3) application in progress)

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UA Attractions logo
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Primary Marketing Vehicles

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  • Arizona Attractions/Tucson Attractions Passport

  • Southern Arizona Attractions Map Brochure

  • Southern Arizona/Tucson Attractions Website

  • VIsitWidget – A Southern Arizona trip planning guide for the Desktop and a free app for your Smartphone

  • Social Media Postings

  • B2B Trade Shows (Chambers) & Consumer Shows (Tucson Home Show, El Tour)

  • Co-Operative Advertising and Outreach/Advocacy

  • Annual Meeting with educational programming

  • Ambassador Showcase of the Attractions (B2B show)

  • Weekly Podcast from KVOI 1030 AM show, The Morning Voice, with host Tom Moulton every Thursday from 7-9am featuring the latest on Arizona's Attractions and Events/Festivals - Open to all SAAA Members - Just give me a call!

 

Education/Professional Development

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  • Monthly Meetings

  • Monthly Educational Topic

  • SAAA Pledge of Practice

  • Annual Meeting of Attractions

 

Advocacy

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  • Represent and Protect the interests of the Southern Arizona Attractions

  • Partner with DMO’s, local and state governments, Chambers, Cultural Organizations and others

 

SAAA 2026 STAFF

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​​Staff:

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SAAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  • President: Mark Kadow, CEO, Games and Gadgets (Tucson, Phoenix area stores and game sites)

  • Vice-President: Kris Siuda, Dynamic Range Jeep Rental, Marketing - Web Master, PAG/RTA

  • Treasurer: Bob Stewart, Chair Emeritus, Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee

  • Secretary: TBD

  • Program Committee Chair: Heather Ingram, Executive Director, Coit Pharmacy Museum and Health Services

  • At-Large: Dave Johnson, Executive Director, Tucson Auto Museum

  • At-Large: Diane Culen, Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee, Past Chair

  • UA Liaison: Nick Letson, Flandrau Science Center, & Planetarium, Marketing Manager

     

MEMBERSHIP KIT

 

Membership is open to attractions and businesses involved in tourism located in southern Arizona.

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MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

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The SAAA has membership meetings take place monthly. Our next meeting will be held in June 17. The meetings will now be scheduled the 3rd Wednesday of each month beginning at 9:30 am. Meetings will be held at various attractions and member locations throughout Tucson. Attraction co-workers, guests and prospective members are encouraged to attend.  Most meetings have an educational program along with networking opportunities. If you are interested in hosting one of these activities, please contact TMoulton@tucsonattractions.com

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MEETING AND EDUCATION SCHEDULE!
OPEN TO ALL MEMBER ATTRACTIONS AND GUESTS
 

2026

January 28...Fox Tucson Theatre, Program: Kelle Maslyn, Pima County Economic Development and the Quality of Life.


February 24...27th SAAA Annual Meeting: (Elections, Educational Program, Awards Celebration), Tohono Chul Pavilion (3-6 pm), Open to all Attractions and Tourism Entities


March, 2026... No Meeting this month due to the areas community festivals and spring break vacation surge.


June 17...SAAA General Meeting: Breakthrough Leadership Bob Logan, University of Arizona – Retired Coach, Development Officer President, Find Your Path, LLC June 17th, 9:30 -11am Arizona History Museum | 949 E 2nd St. Tucson, AZ​

Register Here.


July 15...SAAA General Meeting: Volunteerism and Docent Development July 15th, 9:30 – 11 am Location: Catalyst – Art State Arizona, formerly SAACA (Tucson Mall ) Panel discussion led by our attractions, top volunteer and docent program leaders (Development, Training, Retention and Recruitment)

 

August 19...SAAA General Meeting: Attracting Young Adults to your Venue (Pt 1) August 19th, 9:30 – 11 am Location: TBD (Contact us if you want this workshop at your location!) Join us for a panel discussion featuring successful strategic advertising and marketing agencies currently working with attractions on targeting younger visitors.

 

Sept 16...SAAA General Meeting: Developing/Attracting Conferences/Business Meetings to Your Venue September 16th, 9:30 – 11 am Location: TBD (Contact us if you want this workshop at your location!) Panel Discussion and breakouts on developing/executing Conventions, Conferences, Business and Association Meetings, Group Outings. Learn from the experts from Helms-Brisco and attraction special event managers.

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UPCOMING NETWORKING & MARKETING OPPORTUNTIES

Joint Mixer with FeatsAZ July 22nd, 5:30-7:30pm Location: Agave House | 942 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ Come network with industry professionals and learn more about FEATSAZ and the SAAA. Arizona

 

Governor’s Conference on Tourism August 12th-14th, Location: JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort | 3800 West Starr Pass Blvd., Tucson, AZ. Register Here

 

SAAA Ambassador Showcase October 21 (Tentative Date), 9 am-1pm Location: Bear Down Gym – University of Arizona | 1428 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ Show Off your Attraction to over 100 Tourism Meeting, Sales, Expo, Event Planners. Feature your attraction in the newest networking methods. Sponsored by Visit Tucson.

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Past

January 18…Virtual Meeting on the SAAA 25th Anniversary and Program Initiatives.
February 8...SAACA Catalyst, 8:30 – 10 am, Program: Networking – Meeting Your Goals in a Networking Session, Stacy Fowler, Tucson Networking
March 14……25th Annual Fiesta Celebration, Award Ceremony, Old Tucson, 8 – 10 am, Program: AI: Becoming an Extra-Ordinary Person with AI
April 11…”Tourism, Community, and Storytelling in the Age of AI,” a hands-on session where attendees will learn the potential of generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Adobe Firefly for business content creation being held at the Arizona History Museum on April 11 beginning at 9 am.  Register Here!

October 14, Showcase 24

November 21, AZ Daily Star Offices, 10 am – 11:30 am, Tucson Media Partners. Program: Our new Partnership, How you can best utilize their successful marketing resources from print to digital.

December, TBD, Holiday Party

January 30, Pima County Historic Courthouse, Launch 2025 Event: Lee McLaughlin, VP Marketing - Visit Tucson

March 27, Tucson Media Partners, AZ Daily Star Building, All about Tucson Media Partners Marketing

April 16,  SAAA Annual & Awards Celebration, Tucson Wagon and History Museum, 10 - 12 noon. Register Here!

September 30, Attractions Showcase 2025, Register Here

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