West Chandler Branding and Tourism Update

City of Chandler — Regular Meeting (2022-02-09)

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Economic 
Development 
Advisory Board 
Meeting
February 9, 2022

Mayor and Council| February 9, 2022|  
Mayor and Council 
Strategic Framework 2021-2021

Economic Development Division | February 9, 2022|  
West Chandler Branding & 
Marketing Initiative

West Chandler
•
7 square miles
•
Employment corridor
•
636 businesses
•
29,090 jobs
•
9,685 housing units
•
23,183 residents
Data Sources: Maricopa Association of Governments Employer Database (2019), ESRI Business Analyst (2021)
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West Chandler Marketing

Data Source: MAG Employer Database
4
Employment Base
Top Industry Clusters by Employment
Business 
Services
3,680
26%
Others
13%
9%
28%
7%
29,090
Total Jobs in
West Chandler
Construction
High-Tech Mfg.
Retail
2,610
8,260
2,170
4,910
Transportation
& Distribution
17%
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West Chandler Marketing

Major Employers
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West Chandler Marketing
Top Employers Include:
•
Intel
•
Verizon
•
Avnet
•
Basha's
•
Arizona Nutritional Supplements
•
Rogers Corporation
•
Allstate

Development Stats
Source: CoStar (2/1/2022)
7
Type
Existing Space
12 Mo. Deliveries (SF)
Under Construction (SF)
Retail
2.4M
0
0
Office
1.6M
0
0
Industrial
9.4M
292K
0
West Chandler Marketing

Retail Real Estate Stats
West Chandler Marketing
Metric
Current Rate
5-Year Average
Market Rent Per Square Foot
$19.81
$18.50
Vacancy Rate
8.0%
8.1%
Sales Price Per Square Foot
$208
$188
Vacancy Rate
Vacant & Available SF
Source: CoStar (2/1/2022)
8
8

Office Real Estate Stats
West Chandler Marketing
Vacancy Rate
Metric
Current Rate
5-Year Average
Market Rent Per Square Foot
$25.54
$23.97
Vacancy Rate
12.6%
13.4%
Sales Price Per Square Foot
$218
$201
Vacant & Available SF
Source: CoStar (2/1/2022)
9

Industrial Real Estate Stats
West Chandler Marketing
Vacancy Rate
Metric
Current Rate
5-Year Average
Market Rent Per Square Foot
$11.15
$9.31
Vacancy Rate
5.3%
7.0%
Sales Price Per Square Foot
$166
$129
Vacant & Available SF
Source: CoStar (2/1/2022)
10

Area Strengths/Opportunities
Industry Base: Many employers are in 
manufacturing and other production-related 
industries less impacted by the economic 
downturn.
Real Estate: Mostly built out with few vacant 
parcels. Ability to focus efforts on identifying and 
repositioning underperforming properties.
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West Chandler Marketing

Area Strengths/Opportunities
Freeway Access & Visibility: More than 3.5 
miles of frontage on Loop 202 and 2 miles of 
frontage on Interstate 10.
Workforce: 1.2 million workers within a 30-
minute drive with 36% possessing a bachelor's 
or advanced degree. Shorter commutes from 
West Valley with completion of Loop 202 South 
Mountain Freeway.
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West Chandler Marketing

I-10 Broadway Curve Project 
•
Multi-year road improvement project.
•
Impacts to Chandler will primarily be the Ray Rd. on 
and off ramps with completion tentatively scheduled 
by the end of the year.
•
Will continue to educate businesses about ADOT 
resources for construction updates (e.g., mobile app and 
resource page).
•
Full project completion by end of 2024.
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West Chandler Marketing

Traffic Counts 
High traffic counts and visibility attract retail uses and employers 
looking for a prominent location along Interstate 10.
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West Chandler Marketing
•
157,194 vehicles per day 
between Ray Rd. and Warner Rd.
•
154,822 vehicles per day 
between Chandler Bl. and Ray Rd. 
Will monitor impact of I-10 Broadway Curve Project on traffic along I-10.

City Initiatives in West Chandler

Community Outreach
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West Chandler Marketing
•
In Fall 2020, reached out to key West Chandler stakeholders, 
including representatives from major employers, retail, 
hospitality, education, real estate, and neighborhoods.
•
Held virtual meeting to discuss the area, benefits of place 
branding, and ideas for displaying the West Chandler brand.
•
Followed up via survey, which revealed that stakeholders 
believe signage would be most impactful to promote West 
Chandler and distinguish the area from Tempe and Phoenix.
•
Based on feedback, staff sought City Council approval to 
design and install signage.

Place Branding Update 
•
West Chandler signs have been 
installed at seven locations within the 
area with two more planned. 
•
Will continue to promote installation 
of the signage through City marketing 
channels.
•
Won Arizona Sign Association’s 2021 
Monument Sign Design award.
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West Chandler Marketing

Goals for Place Branding
Promote economic growth while 
encouraging pride in the community by: 
1. Connecting the places we live, eat, 
shop and work.
2. Highlighting the area’s unique assets 
and character.
3. Championing growth and revitalization. 
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West Chandler Marketing

Marketing Action Plan 
A) Work to maintain an attractive and viable employment corridor, 
providing the City with needed tax base and jobs. Planned activities 
include: 
1. Continue to educate real estate brokers and developers with bi-
annual area updates (Spring/Fall).
2. Host annual ACA/GPEC Employment Corridor bus tours (Spring/Fall).
3. Meet monthly with top area employers as part of Economic 
Development’s overall Business Retention & Expansion efforts.
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West Chandler Marketing

B) Develop a brand identity that helps position the area to attract new 
employers in targeted industries. Planned activities include: 
1. Craft messaging focused on West Chandler’s advantages for 
businesses looking to start, expand or relocate.
2. Execute a digital marketing campaign targeting c-level decision 
makers to raise awareness of opportunities in West Chandler.
3. Promote success stories from existing businesses in key industries. 
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West Chandler Marketing
Marketing Action Plan

C) Strengthen the area's image among residents, workers, and visitors. 
Planned activities include: 
1. Publish informative content weekly to dedicated social media 
platforms (LinkedIn, Twitter).
2. Publish quarterly blog posts with trending business news.
3. Identify community ambassadors to help elevate key messaging. 
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West Chandler Marketing
Marketing Action Plan

Enhanced Marketing Activities 
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West Chandler Marketing
•
Partnership opportunities with Chandler Chamber, ICSC, etc. 
•
West Chandler landing page on chandleraz.gov & visitchandler.com 
•
Digital billboard on I-10 
•
Print ads in local newspapers: Wrangler, SanTan Sun,
Chandler Arizonan and Community Impact
•
Geo-targeted ads and boosted social media posts
•
Editorial in CityScope Newsletter mailed to Chandler residents
•
West Chandler Wednesday gift card giveaways to encourage residents to patronize 
businesses within the West Chandler area

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West Chandler Marketing
Marketing in Action
chandleraz.gov/westchandler
Dedicated landing page on 
Chandleraz.gov. Since Nov. 1, 
2021 this page has received a 
total of 392 pageviews with 
an average time of 3:49 on 
page.

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West Chandler Marketing
Marketing in Action
westchandler.com 
Dedicated URL that points 
to a landing page on 
visitchandler.com. Since 
Nov. 1, 2021 this page has 
received a total of 329 
pageviews with an average 
time of 4:45 on page.

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West Chandler Marketing
Digital Billboard 
Marketing in Action
Billboard ad was displayed 
along the I-10 from Nov. 29 –
Jan. 9. The ad received a total 
of 36,501 spots delivered
with over 4 million delivered 
impressions.

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West Chandler Marketing
Print Ads
Marketing in Action
Print ads ran from Nov. – Jan. to 
encourage making a stop in West 
Chandler. Ads were placed in the 
following publications: 
•
Wrangler News
•
The SanTan Sun 
•
The Chandler Arizonan 
•
Community Impact Newspaper

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West Chandler Marketing
Marketing in Action
CityScope
An article was placed in the 
Dec./Jan. CityScope publication. 
This is a monthly insert in the City 
utility bills which are sent by mail 
and digitally. Current distribution: 
•
17,265 paperless customers
•
67,682 printed customers

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West Chandler Marketing
Social Media Giveaways
Marketing in Action
Three gift card giveaways were held 
on Visit Chandler’s Instagram. The 
giveaway was to encourage 
residents to patronize businesses 
within the West Chandler area. 
•
Over 890 entries 
•
8,200+ accounts reached
•
Featured 16 different businesses 
in West Chandler

Questions

EDAB
February 9, 
2022

HOTEL/MOTEL GROWTH IN CHANDLER
0 
1,000  
2,000           3,000            4,000
2022
2019
2018
2017
2009
2000
Chandler, AZ Hotel Supply
STR, Inc. 2022
2,580 
3,618 
3,778 
3,914 
3,872

December 
2021
CY2021
CY2020 
CY2019
OCCUPANCY
68.3%
65.3%
49.2%
68.7%
ADR
$111.57
$101.36
$100.49
$110.56
RevPAR
$76.26
$66.15
$49.40
$75.94
SUPPLY
-2.5%
2.5%
8.7%
3.3%
DEMAND
46.9%
36.0%
-22.2%
9.7%
STR, Inc. 2022
TOURISM INDUSTRY STATS

FISCAL YEAR-TO-DATE
•
Held more than 200 one-on-one appointments with meeting and event planners to 
promote Chandler as a small meetings destination.
•
2021 Expedia Summer campaign netted 5,900  rooms booked across 30 hotels.
•
Visit Chandler was recognized as a reader’s choice award recipient for Smart Meetings 
2021 Platinum Choice CVB awards.
•
VisitChandler.com website traffic in 2021 has nearly doubled than 2020 and 54.8% 
higher than 2019.

VISIT ARIZONA INITIATIVE
MARKETING GRANT
•
Funding Source: American Rescue Plan (ARPA)
•
Eligible entities:  DMOs and regional partnerships.
•
Competitive grant. 
•
Only one Visit Arizona Marketing Grant awarded per entity, per application period. 
•
AOT awarded applications based on geographic location, demonstrated financial 
need, scope of work merit regarding the tourism industry, and alignment with AOT’s 
Statewide Strategic Recovery Plan.

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES
•
Print Placements
•
Broadcast Placements
•
Outdoor Placements
•
Digital Media Placements
•
Website Development/Enhancement
•
Printed Material
•
Audio-Visual (Film, Video, Photography)
•
Event Sponsorship (Event Sponsorship funding is capped at 25% of total award)

STRATEGY
Support Chandler hotels by broadcasting messaging that encourages 
consumers and meeting professionals to choose Chandler for their 
vacation or next meeting.
Digital
Campaign
Direct 
Business 
Outreach
Blog & Social 
Media Posts
Videos

MEETINGS OUTREACH
• Develop a branded, digital campaign, Meet in Chandler with new creative
• Email blasts, via marketing partnerships
• Robust digital campaign to include banner display ads and retargeting
• Editorial-style, blog articles with Chandler content on key platforms
• Develop a small, printed rack card to be used by hotels with select 
information
• Video series specific to hosting meetings and events in Chandler
• “Bring it Home” campaign

Digital 
Ads
Email 
Blasts
Retargeting 
Ads
Blogs
Social Media 
Opportunities
Cvent
Meeting Professionals




Helms Briscoe 
Meeting Professionals




Conference Direct
Meeting Professionals




Connect
Meeting Professionals




Chandler Businesses


Geo-Targeted 
Meeting Professionals




BUSINESS TRAVELER OUTREACH
• Video creation
• Expand summer Expedia campaign
• Digital campaign targeting business travelers
• Work with Chandler hotels to “Google My Business”
• Outreach to Chandler businesses

Digital 
Ads
Retargeting 
Ads
Social Media 
Advertising
Business Travelers



Business Travelers
Remote Workers



Business Traveler
By trade, target for Chandler 
development



Geo-Targeted 
Chandler Businesses




NEW 360/3D IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
• Showcase the community from sky and ground
• Incorporates image galleries, video, text boxes, etc.
• Virtual site visits
EXAMPLE: Discover Durham

QUESTIONS