“I appreciate the forethought of making sure tourism is done well…Prescott is still everybody’s hometown.”
Puzzle Rides is proud to share that owner and founder Katie Dufort has been appointed to the City of Prescott’s Tourism Advisory Committee (TAC). This is an important recognition of her long-standing commitment to downtown Prescott and to thoughtful, community-focused tourism.
The Tourism Advisory Committee was established by the City of Prescott to guide the future of local tourism. The 11-member committee includes representatives from the hospitality and tourism industry, local business owners, and the general public. Its responsibilities include preparing and recommending a five-year Tourism Strategic Plan, advising on the allocation of the City’s transient occupancy tax, supporting tourism staff on matters of local concern, and administering annual grant allocations related to tourism. The committee meets a minimum of six times per year and operates under Arizona Open Meetings Law. You can learn more about the committee on the official Tourism Advisory Committee page.
Katie has long admired the thoughtful approach the City has taken with the TAC. She first learned about the committee more than a decade ago while working at the Phippen Museum. Even then, she appreciated how the City brought together stakeholders — hoteliers, museum and nonprofit leaders, downtown merchants, and business owners — to guide tourism in a way that respects both visitors and the community.
“Ever since I learned about TAC over a decade ago, I’ve really admired the City for its thoughtfulness in gathering stakeholders to advise on tourism,” Katie shared. “I appreciate the forethought of making sure tourism is done well — that we’re respecting our community and the history of Downtown Prescott, while being thoughtful about how we draw visitors to the area and how the industry impacts everyone. Prescott is still everybody’s hometown.”
Katie first came to Prescott in 1987 and visited regularly over the years because her grandparents lived here. She made the city her permanent home in 2011 and has owned and operated Puzzle Rides downtown for the past 10 years. That long connection to the community is a big part of why she wanted to serve.
“I really wanted to be a part of that,” she said. “Having come to Prescott first in 1987, visiting throughout the years, and eventually making it my home in 2011, I want to see those tourism dollars spent not only effectively, but wisely. It’s been on my radar for more than 10 years.”
Katie joins a strong group of community members already serving on the TAC, including:
- Matt Brassard – Chair
- Dennis Gallagher – Vice Chair
- Natasha Baydakova
- Tamara Burks
- Margo Christensen
- Jim Dawson
- Kevin Keleher
- Edd Kellerman
- Autumn Kline
- Pierre Tibi
The committee reflects a wide range of local perspectives — from hospitality leaders and downtown business owners to museum and heritage organization representatives. Katie noted that this mix of voices has always been one of the strengths of the TAC, ensuring that tourism decisions consider both economic opportunity and the character of Prescott.
For Katie, serving on the committee is a natural extension of the work she already does through Puzzle Rides and The Puzzle Shop. Her business introduces thousands of visitors each year to the history, landmarks, and unique personality of downtown Prescott through guided puzzle adventures on golf carts, while The Puzzle Shop offers hands-on experiences and unique puzzles right in the heart of the community. She sees her role on the TAC as another way to support a healthy balance between welcoming visitors and protecting the quality of life that makes Prescott special.
“There’s a lot of forethought by the City in doing this,” Katie said. “I just wanted to be part of helping guide it.”
Puzzle Rides congratulates Katie on this appointment and looks forward to the positive contributions she will make as a member of the Tourism Advisory Committee. Her commitment to both visitors and the local community continues to shape everything we do.
