Tim Vimmerstedt has joined the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau (MTCVB) as Director of Marketing. His responsibilities include managing day-to-day operations of the marketing department and in-house advertising efforts, overseeing seasonal promotional campaigns for various audiences in Tucson’s target markets and assisting in the development and execution of the MTCVB’s marketing and media plans.

“Tim’s knowledge of the Tucson Region, his connections and relationships with key stakeholders and his experience in overseeing operations that include sales, marketing and PR as well as community affairs for several area attractions will be valuable assets to our organization,” said Allison Cooper, Vice President of Marketing for the MTCVB.

Vimmerstedt most recently served as the Director of Operations and Community Affairs for Pima Air & Space Museum. His extensive experience in tourism spans more than 20 years and includes roles within the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Old Tucson, Biosphere 2, Rawhide and the Agro Land and Cattle Company. He can be reached via email at tvimmerstedt@visittucson.org

The MTCVB, an accredited Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the Tucson area as a convention, visitor and film production destination. Learn more at visittucson.org.

Share your insights on Tucson’s top tourism attributes, please take a moment to complete a short survey at visitTucson.org/BrandSurvey

The findings from this public online survey will be incorporated into MMGY Global‘s research and will help shape the strongest identity and position statement for Tucson as a premiere destination for vacation and meetings.

More than 100 college baseball and softball teams, along with parents & fans, will begin to arrive in the Old Pueblo this week for the Tucson Invitational Games.

Games will be played mainly at Kino Sports Complex (baseball) and Lincoln Park (softball.)

Baseball:

Begins February 28 at 7:00PM and continues daily through March 30

Kino Sports Complex South Quad Baseball Fields & Kino Memorial Stadium

For a full schedule and more information, visit TIGsports.com/baseball

Softball:

Begins March 1 at 9:00AM and continues daily through March 18

Abraham Lincoln Park 8100 East Escalante Rd.

For a full schedule and more information, visit TIGsports.com/softball

Admission $6 per day for persons 12 years of age and older (under 12 free)

$25 for 7-day, weekly pass. (Good for unlimited access to both baseball & softball games.)

Available for purchase at the gate.

Connect with TIG on Facebook & Twitter

Quick Facts:

• 3,000 athlete participants
• Around 7,000 spectators
• Approximately 9,000 hotel room nights generated
• Average stay in Tucson 6.2 nights*
• $7.9 million Estimated Economic Impact*

*Provided by Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tucson Sports

After a fun and snowy evening on the third night of the Desert Diamond Cup, the end of FC Tucson SoccerFest is just around the corner and FC Tucson wants all of Tucson to send the month-long soccer extravaganza off in style.

Saturday’s FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup final between Seattle Sounders FC and Real Salt Lake will be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network in front of a national television audience in prime time. Not only will the match be the final one held in Tucson but it’ll act as the bookend of MLS’s preseason and the final push toward the start of the 2013 season.

NBC Sports Network reaches nearly 80 million homes and all those eyes will be on the Old Pueblo to catch the first national glimpse of MLS soccer in 2013. For those who live in Tucson, it’s the best chance to show America why Tucson is such a soccer-mad city.

Not only will fans have the chance to be a part of nationally televised sporting event, they’ll also experience some other great perks by attending the final:

• A Champion Will be Crowned: Who doesn’t love watching a team lift a trophy following a game? Last season the LA Galaxy won the 2012 FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup after an exciting series of penalty kicks and then went on to win MLS Cup 2012. Will Real Salt Lake or Seattle make this a trend? You can watch for yourself!
• One Ticket, Two Matches: The final isn’t the only great part about Saturday. Fans who purchase a ticket for Saturday also get to watch the third-place match between the New York Red Bulls and the New England Revolution.
• Look to the Sky: Red Bull will be delivering the match ball for the final from the sky! That’s not a typo. The Red Bull Air Force will drop a man from a plane to deliver the match ball.
• Get $5 off Your Ticket: Fans can use the promo code “Soccerfest” to get $5 off any seat in the stadium. The code is only good until midnight Friday, so order your tickets online at www.fctucson.ticketsocket.com now!
• Get Your 2013 FC Tucson Tickets: Want to buy your 2013 FC Tucson season tickets? You can! Head over to the FC Tucson/Kino Sports Complex information table on the concourse to get the 2013 FC Tucson schedule and see the renderings of FC Tucson’s new stadium for 2014. Buy 2013 season tickets now and you automatically get in line for 2014 season tickets!
• The VIP Experience: Want to get closer to the MLS action than anyone else? Then buy some VIP seats for the final. Not only will you be sitting closer to the field than anyone but you’ll also have access to unlimited world-class catering and a free drink ticket. Plus there is an on-site bar in case your one free drink ticket isn’t enough.
• Can’t Beat the Weather: Wednesday’s snowpacolypse was fun for those who attended. But if good weather is your thing, then it won’t get much better than Saturday. The expected forecast is 65 degrees and clear skies.
• Start Your Engines: Audi of Tucson will be displaying their finest vehicles in the parking lot during tailgating hours and on the field in the VIP section. If you like cars and soccer, then Saturday will be a great night for you.
• Safety First: Tucson Medical Center will be handing out complimentary youth bike helmets to all the young fans in the crowd in an effort to promote health and safety in the community.
• Grab Your Gear: The Shop Tucson will be selling plenty of team gear in the concourse during the event. Whether you’re looking for MLS gear, Desert Diamond Cup event shirts or FC Tucson jerseys (you can even get the Audi of Tucson logo on them in time for the 2013 season) you can get it all in the concourse.
• Become a Cactus Prick: Nothing makes soccer more fun than the supporters’ culture and no supporters group is more fun than the Cactus Pricks, the supporters group for FC Tucson. If you love singing, dancing and showing your soccer passion for an entire match, then sit with the best supporters group in the Premier Development League.

There are plenty of reasons to come out to Saturday’s Desert Diamond Cup finals. But simply put: this will be a soccer party. So FC Tucson invites the community to come out and have fun on a Saturday night. It’ll be a night to remember.

An estimated 50,000 people will visit Tucson for the opportunity to explore 43 shows at 41 locations during the upcoming Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase, February 2-17. To coordinate all aspects of this multifaceted annual event, the MTCVB continuously collaborates and communicates with all participating City of Tucson departments as well as Pima County and the State of Arizona. The MTCVB is the only entity that touches every aspect of the Gem Show and serves as the repository for all information.

Here are some show highlights and resources:

• The “Gem Show” is much more than a single event at one location. Rather, there are thousands of participants and attendees atmore than 40 sites around town. Dozens of shows take place at the same time – in giant white tents, at hotels and resorts and at exhibit halls.

• Most of the gem and mineral shows around Tucson are free and open to the public, hours vary. There are several “wholesale only” shows that require a badge and tax-exempt number for admission.

• Details, including show listings, hours of operation, parking locations and transportation options (accurate shuttle schedules and maps) can be found on tucsongemshow.org
• Download the Gem Show shuttle map
• Download the Turquoise Route shuttle map (includes Doubletree Reid Park, Windmill Inn, Gem Mall, Holidome, TCC, Simpson Street Shuttle Hub)

• Bookmark the mobile friendly site (tucsongemshow.org) for up to date listing, parking and transportation information and shuttle routes. Simply open the link on any smartphone and “save to your homescreen” for one-touch access to the Gem Show online.

• Follow the Gem Show on Twitter @TucsonGems or use hashtag #TucsonGemShow

• Got a question? Call the Gem Show Hotline at 520-622-GEMS (4367)
• Scan and share this QR code for quick access to the official Gem Show website

Parking

• Limited parking is available at most shows (please check with individual shows for details) and parking will continue to be available at Congress St. and I-10 frontage road (West side), open daily 8am-8pm.
• Daily fee for most lots (public and private) is $5.
• Additional downtown parking is available in numerous locations. For more parking information, call ParkWise at 520-791-5071 during business hours, Monday-Friday.

Downtown Construction

• There will be construction during the show as Tucson prepares for its SunLink Modern Streetcar, and delays and inconvenience should be minimal.
• Please see the Tucson Modern Streetcar website for more information, and download this PDF map for best routes to navigate downtown.

Gem Show Guides

• When visiting gem shows, look for our newly branded information racks containing the following free information from the Tucson CVB and partners: Official Gem Guide, the Visit Tucson Official Travel Guide, the new Uniquely Tucson Destination Downtown guide, and gem show shuttle maps.
• For guests’ convenience, scan the QR code on the rack for quick access to the official Gem Show website.
• The Tucson CVB distributes the only “Official” guide to the Tucson Gem Mineral & Fossil Showcase. Information is all-inclusive, accurate and continuously updated online at tucsongemshow.org
• A PDF of the Official Gem Guide is available for download on tucsongemshow.org
• The printed gem show guide is available at all show locations, the Tucson Visitor Center, Tucson International Airport, Tucson Convention Center, select City offices such as Parkwise, and from the concierge at area hotels.

Gem Show Hotline

• The Tucson CVB will again help host the “gem-show hotline”, 520-622-GEMS
• Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday – Friday, February 2-17
• Outside of these hours, the line will roll over to the City of Tucson’s non-emergency 911 number. This means visitors will be able to reach a representative for assistance any time of day.
• Visitors may also obtain personal assistance at the Tucson Visitor Center, in La Placita Village, seven days a week.

Welcome Program

• The MTCVB Welcome Program spans nearly 300 businesses across the metro area with colorful window clings, information tables and special offers by select merchants and CVB partners.

Economic Impact and Factoids

• The Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase attracts tens of thousands of buyers, collectors, dealers, curators and guests forthe premier event of its kind in the world.
• Dozens ofshows at varied locations and venues throughout metropolitan Tucson make up the Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase.
• Centerpieces of the showcase include the American Gem Trade Association‘s (AGTA) wholesale-only AGTA GemFair Tucson, at Tucson Convention Center, and the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society‘s (TGMS) public show (the show that started it all in 1955), also at Tucson Convention Center.
• Other shows take place in hotels, conference centers, and temporary tents, from one end of town to another.
• Future Dates: February 1-16, 2014, January 31-February 15, 2015
• Estimated attendance: 55,000
• Estimated economic impact: $100 million* (*Read the 2007 Economic Impact Report)

Misc

• Gem Show Frequently Asked Questions
• History of the Gem Show
• Gems & Minerals year-round

January 20 – A free Bicycle Party in downtown Tucson hosted by (Grey’s Anatomy star) Patrick Dempsey, pro cyclist Tom Danielson, and Bicycling Magazine editor-in-chief Peter Flax in the Armory Park neighborhood.

The route will be closed to vehicle traffic so people of all ages and abilities can ride around one of Tucson’s oldest neighborhoods. Armory Park will host music, including Jovert, Tucson High Magnet School’s steel drum band, and other festivities throughout the afternoon. Ride the 2.2 mile route as many times as you want, meet some new bicycling friends, and maybe an autograph or two.

The Casino Del Sol College All-Star Game festivities kick off on Monday, January 7 with Main Gate Fan Fest from 5:00-8:00 pm. The Fan Fest is a free block party featuring face painting, inflatables, an obstacle course, video games and a rock climbing wall, all while fans watch the BCS National Championship game on TVs throughout Main Gate Square.

All Casino Del Sol College All-Star Game players and coaches will be greeting fans and signing autographs at the Main Gate Fan Fest. The first 1,000 fans will receive a free Casino Del Sol College All-Star Game poster. Also, former University of Arizona football coaches Dick Tomey and Ron McBride will hold a Q & A session with fans.

Main Gate Square is on East University Blvd. in Tucson. The Fan Fest is part of the Tucson welcome initiative through the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Tucson Padres front office staff is assisting the 2013 Casino Del Sol College All-Star Game operations. The game will be televised on the ESPN family of networks, including ESPN3 and WatchESPN.com. The game will be carried on radio locally on ESPN Tucson 1490 AM and 104.9 FM. Partners for the game include the Tucson Conquistadores, a charitable organization that supports youth in athletic programs throughout southern Arizona. Tickets for the 2013 Casino Del Sol College All-Star Game are available now by clicking here.

Photo: MOCA Tucson

Peter Young: Capitalist Masterpieces, an exhibition of large-scale paintings by noted painter Peter Young opened last month at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in downtown Tucson.

Young, who emerged in New York in the 1960s and quickly rose to prominence on the global art scene, has lived in Bisbee since 1972. His paintings, which examine a range of experiments in abstract painting from the 1960s to today, can be seen in the permanent collections of the MoMA The Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Hirshhorn Museum, and many others.

MOCA Tucson will re-open from holiday hiatus on January 9. Normal hours are Wednesday-Sunday 12-5pm; admission is free on the first Sunday of every month. For more information, visit moca-tucson.org.

The “Book of Fun” gets you more than $400 in savings, for only $18!

Travel the region with your Tucson Attractions Passport – an exclusive pocket savings guide to the best there is to see and do in Southern Arizona. Enjoy money-saving 2-for-1 offers plus other great discounts. Purchase here for only $18 or pick one up at the Tucson Visitor Center or one of several other distribution locations.

New this year – The ”Book of Fun” mobile app

Now you can purchase and download the Tucson Attractions Passport right to your Android or iPhone! Just go to your smartphone’s specific App Store/Marketplace and search for “Tucson Attractions Passport.” Or click here for quick links.

Download the Book of Fun for FREE and purchase the offers in-app, safely, via Paypal. Each Passport purchase includes all 52 fantastic offers and discounts which can be redeemed by visiting the attractions with app in-hand.

The Attractions Passport is made possible through a collaboration between the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Southern Arizona Attractions Alliance, a nonprofit organization of regional attractions dedicated to cooperatively promote tourism and visitation in southern Arizona.

The makers of Honeywell’s AirGenius Air Cleaner, judged 100 U.S. cities on airborne pollen levels, particulate air pollution and smoking regulations.

Breathe easy…Tucson is ranked 5th.

The full list can be accessed through the Honeywell AirGenius Facebook application.

Or scroll through the Top 10 on CNN.com.