Tourism Business Accelerator Program

To foster a robust tourism economy, it is vital to cultivate a diverse array of businesses that sustain, promote, and advocate for tourism in Tucson. Visit Tucson is dedicated to championing these entrepreneurial job creators through our pilot Tourism Business Accelerator program. The Tourism Business Accelerator is an educational and networking program designed to help diverse local businesses tap into Pima County’s $2.9 billion tourism industry.

Visit Tucson will offer five (5) positions in the first cohort of the Tourism Business Accelerator program. The program is designed to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the local tourism industry by providing business training and mentoring, networking opportunities, and free membership to local businesses in underserved populations; specifically, businesses owned by people of color, women, veterans, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Applicant Eligibility

Business must be based in the metro Tucson region and focus on tourism and hospitality.
Tourism business categories include but are not limited to restaurants, retail, attractions, transportation providers, galleries, museums, and meeting and event services.
Applicants may not be current or former partner/members of Visit Tucson.
Businesses must have been in operation for at least one year.
Participation in this program is open to local businesses owned by people of color, women, veterans, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Program Features

Selected businesses will receive the following benefits and services valued at $2,650:

Five (5) business growth trainings led by subject matter experts.
Three (3) one-on-one business coaching sessions from qualified International Coaching Federation student coaches.
Tucson Media Partners advertising and promotion.
One-year free partnership/membership with Visit Tucson. Membership includes a business listing on VisitTucson.org, referrals from Visit Tucson staff, networking and training events, access to industry data and research, a complimentary seat in our Certified Tourism Ambassador training program, and more.
Exclusive access to key Visit Tucson staff and program partners.
Complimentary admission to all 2025 Visit Tucson events.

Application and Selection Process

Applications will be accepted from Friday, November 8 to Monday, November 25, 2024. A diverse panel that may include sponsors, stakeholders, and Visit Tucson staff will review applications and select participants.
Awards will be based on a variety of factors including alignment with the tourism and hospitality industry and dedication to community service, with a focus on supporting BIPOC, LGBTQ+, women, and veteran-owned businesses.
Businesses that apply but are not selected are eligible for a 50% discount on their first year of partnership/membership with Visit Tucson. ($200 value) You can learn more about Visit Tucson partnership/membership here.

Key Program Dates

The following are important program dates. Participants are required to attend the orientation, all trainings, three follow-up coaching sessions, and to comply with all survey deadlines.

Application deadline: Monday, November 25
Applicants notified: Friday, December 20
Pre-program participant survey sent: Monday, January 6
Pre-program participant survey deadline: Friday, January 10
Member Orientation: Thursday, January 23
Business growth training #1 Operations: Wednesday, February 5
Business growth training #2 Traditional Finance: Wednesday, March 5
Business growth training #3 Non-traditional Finance: Wednesday, March 26
Business growth training #4 Marketing: Wednesday, April 2
Business growth training #5 Leadership: Wednesday, April 30
One-on-one leadership coaching sessions – three sessions scheduled at the participant’s convenience, May-August 2025.
Program wrap-up survey sent: Monday, May 5
Program wrap-up survey deadline: Friday, May 9

Subject Matter Experts

The following community partners are graciously volunteering their time and expertise.

Operations Training
Moises Gomez, Business Outreach and Resource Manager, Local First Arizona
Odette Moreno, Owner, Sunshine Accounting
Melissa San Angelo, Attorney at Gust & Rosenfeld
Traditional Finance Training
Ricardo Bolivar, Branch Manager, National Bank of Arizona
Non-traditional Finance Training
Danny Knee, Executive Director, Community Investment Corporation
Marketing Training
Jack Petty, Sr. Director of Destination Strategy, Madden Media
Leadership Training
Michael Tucker, M.A., PCC, Executive + Team Coach

If this program sounds right for your business, please apply below. If you have questions, reach out to us at partners@visittucson.org.