Phoenix
- A $600 million expansion of the Phoenix Convention Center (602.262.6225; www.phoenixconventioncenter.com) is under way. Phase one was finished in July 2006 and included the opening of the center’s new West Building, complete with a 90-foot atrium, a 45,000-square-foot ballroom, a 21,000-square-foot conference center, and a 63,000-square-foot exhibition hall. Phase two, scheduled to be finished in December 2008, includes the construction of the center’s new North Building and an $18 million renovation of its existing South Building. When finished, the center will offer nearly 900,000 square feet of meeting space.
- The 1,000-room Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel (602.262.2500; www.starwoodho tels.com) is slated to open Oct. 1, 2008. The hotel will be situated one block north of the Phoenix Convention Center and contain 80,000 square feet of function space.
- The JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa (480.293.5000; www.jwdesertridgeresort.com/desert-ridge) is undergoing a meeting space expansion, scheduled for completion in spring 2008. The project will include a 25,000-square-foot ballroom, a 14,000-square-foot foyer and a 15,000-square-foot outdoor lawn for group gatherings. The 316-acre hotel offers 950 guest rooms and currently houses 200,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.
- The Phoenix Art Museum (602.257.1880; www.phxart.org) completed a $50 million expansion last November. The project included the addition of a four-level entry wing, garden and lobby. The 203,000-square-foot museum offers a variety of space for groups to hold events.
- Construction is under way on a Phoenix-area mass transportation system named METRO (602.254.7245; www.metrolightrail.org). The project is slated to include 20 miles of street-level transportation linking Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. The project is scheduled to debut in December 2008.
- Construction is under way on the InterContinental Montelucia Resort and Spa (602.956.9400; www.montelucia.com). The resort, formerly the Doubletree La Posada Resort, is slated to open next spring with 293 guest rooms and 27,000 square feet of meeting space.
- The W Scottsdale Hotel and Residences (480.970.2100; www.whotels.com) is slated to open next February with 224 guest rooms, 18 residential units and 6,500 square feet of meeting space.
- The 453-room Camelback Inn, A JW Marriott Resort and Spa (480.948.1700; www.camelbackinn.com) plans to finish a $45 million renovation in March. The project will include new restaurants and a ballroom redesign, bringing the hotel’s total square footage of meeting space to 44,000.
- Carefree Resort and Villas (480.488.5300; www.carefree-resort.com) plans to finish a renovation of its 150 main lodge guest rooms by fall 2008. The property houses 465 guest units and 60,000 square feet of meeting space.
- The Buttes, A Marriott Resort (602.225.9000; www.marriott.com) plans to finish a renovation of its hallways and guest bathrooms in late August. The 353-room resort contains 40,000 square feet of meeting space.
- Le Meridien–Tempe Town Lake (512.836.5024; www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien) is scheduled to open in September 2009. The hotel will feature 183 guest rooms as well as meeting facilities.
- Plans are on the drawing board for the new Tempe Westin (800.937.8461; www.star woodhotels.com/westin), slated to open in 2010 with 300 guest rooms, 120 residential units, 15,000 square feet of meeting space, and two restaurants.
- The Tempe Center for the Arts (480.350.5287; www.tempe.gov.tca) is expected to debut in early September. The 88,000-square-foot facility will feature meeting space, a 17-acre park, a 200-seat studio theater, and a 600-seat theater, which will be available for group events.
- The Hilton Phoenix East/Mesa (480.833.5555; www.hiltonphoenixeast.com) recently completed a renovation of its guest rooms, lobby, atrium, and bar. The 260-room hotel houses 20,000 square feet of meeting space.
- Next year, the Arizona Golf Resort Hotel and Conference Center (480.832.3202; www.azgolfresort.com) plans to renovate its public areas, golf shop, restaurant, and bar area, as well as expand its lobby and add a day spa, an additional restaurant and patios for dining. The hotel offers 187 guest rooms, 12,000 square feet of meeting space and an 18-hole golf course.
- The Radisson Poco Diablo Resort (928.282.7333; www.radissonsedona.com) finished a guest room renovation in February and plans to complete a public space and meeting space upgrade by the end of August. The 138-room hotel houses 8,000 square feet of function space.