It is hard not to have your breath taken away when stepping off the plane at Palm Springs International Airport. One look out of its open-air terminal reveals a soaring mountain range that seems so close, you could touch it. This national park-like sight may be surprising for a Palm Springs first-timer who expects basically three things when visiting the Coachella Valley: dry, hot desert, endless golf courses and lots and lots of retired folks.
The reality is surprisingly different. Instead of long stretches of barren desert, the
Palm Springs region, comprising the eight distinct communities of Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and Cathedral City, is lush and tropical, sporting palm tree-lined streets, ample vegetation, quaint shopping districts, small and large resorts for a wide range of budgets, and even a hopping nightlife scene.
Once a playground for the celebrities of the past and a perfect getaway for retirees, the past few years have seen the region go through a major conversion, with modern-day stars and a younger crowd gracing the destination.
“I think more than anything, we are trying to get the message out about the transformation taking place,” says Robert Enriquez, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities Convention and Visitors Authority. “The demographic has become younger over a period of time, no question. This used to be the place where Dean Martin played and now it is Sean Penn, Penelope Cruz—the younger Hollywood. It’s very hip.”
These days, the over-70 set still finds their fair share of fun and relaxation, but so do younger visitors, partly because of a dramatic infusion of new and renovated resorts, fresh shops and restaurants, and enhanced nightlife offerings.
“We bring people here for FAMs that haven’t been here in three or four years and they can’t believe what has changed. There are a lot of planners out there who know the destination, but a lot of people have misperceptions,” Enriquez says, citing a recent CNN article about the destination claiming, ‘this isn’t your grandpa’s Palm Springs anymore.’
A Time for Change
Over the course of 2007 and 2008 alone, more than $1 billion will have been invested into the restoration and new construction of properties aimed at attracting the masses with luxury offerings, deluxe amenities and impeccable service.
“This valley has such a consistent product all in a tight little community,” Enriquez says. “[The development is really] turning up the volume of the product.”
For starters, Desert Springs, A JW Marriott Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, recently opened a new spa and renovated its public space to make way for a lobby that is so open and unique it offers gondolas waiting to take guests on a ride around the property’s scenic indoor/outdoor lake.
Just down the road, Indian Wells, a huge meetings destination with several group-friendly venues, has also seen a wealth of recent development. The Miramonte Resort & Spa added a 6,000-square-foot ballroom to its inventory last spring, the Hyatt Grand Champions added new villas to its inventory in November, and the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa recently completed a restaurant, lobby and meeting space renovation. The destination is also home to Indian Wells Golf Resort, another popular option for groups.
In Indio, a well-liked spot for attendees who love to win big between sessions, Fantasy Springs Casino Resort added a new golf course last April, and in nearby Coachella, the Spotlight 29 Casino plans to open a $100 million hotel and spa later this year.
About seven miles down the road is La Quinta, home to the famous La Quinta Resort & Club, a member of the Waldorf=Astoria Collection. The sprawling, Spanish-style resort has been a favorite of Coachella Valley visitors since it opened in 1926 and has served as a retreat for several stars over the years, including Greta Garbo, Katherine Hepburn, Clark Gable, and Bette Davis, and today it welcomes many more. The property features 800 continuously renovated guest rooms; 45,000 square feet of meeting space; 41 swimming pools; seven restaurants; five recently renovated golf courses; and 23 tennis courts.
Beyond its namesake resort, La Quinta has also experienced growth with the recent opening of the Embassy Suites La Quinta Hotel & Spa and the new Homewood Suites by Hilton La Quinta.
Just a 13-mile drive east, groups will find a variety of new and improved properties in Rancho Mirage. The Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, which offers a fun chili cook-off team-building option on its scenic back patio, was updated from top to bottom last year and now sports everything from an enhanced lobby and guest rooms to a new lounge and family dining restaurant.
In addition, the 360-acre Westin Mission Hills, home to 65,000 square feet of meeting space, is scheduled to begin upgrading its 512 guest rooms this summer and finish the project by September.
Rancho Mirage is also about to significantly grow its accommodations offerings this year with the opening of the $200 million Agua Caliente Casino & Hotel, slated for a March debut, and The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage, a highly anticipated, $500 million resort expected to open in August.
Palm Springs itself hasn’t been left by the wayside in the development department. Its airport is expected to add a new terminal this winter and plans for two new resorts are in the works: the Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs and the Mondrian Hotel & Condos, both slated to open in 2010.
In addition, the Palm Springs Riviera Resort and Racquet Club, which is closed for renovations, will reopen in October as the Riviera Resort & Spa, with 406 guest rooms, 28,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, 9,000 square feet of outdoor meeting space, and an 11,000-square-foot spa.
Even with all of the development, Palm Springs-area communities have long had many top-tier group venue options.
Leading the pack is the Palm Springs Convention Center, which went through a $33 million renovation a few years ago and now offers 150,000 square feet of meeting space conveniently connected to the 410-room Wyndham Palm Springs.
Culture Club
To look at Palm Springs and only see its resorts is to miss half of its charm. Coachella Valley is also a hotbed of cultural and entertainment venues, perfect for planners looking for an off-site option.
One area favorite is the Palm Springs Art Museum and Annenberg Theater, which features a wide variety of pieces—from paintings to abstract sculptures—and regularly entertains groups. The museum accommodates up to 500 people for receptions and 250 for sit-down meals, and the venue’s 433-seat theater is also available for group functions.
Showcasing the area’s aviation history, the Palm Springs Air Museum is another cultural option, offering more than 50,000 square feet of group function space.
Just like its counterparts in New York and Park City, Utah, Coda Gallery in Palm Desert is popular among groups seeking cultural flair. The gallery houses contemporary works of art from all over the world and often entertains groups of up to 200 people for strolling receptions.
If groups are in the mood for some wild and crazy excitement, they can head over to The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies. A cultural experience unique to Palm Springs, the Follies combines music, comedy and dance in a routine highlighting the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s with performers no longer classified as spring chickens. Think Moulin Rouge with a “senior” twist.
Another off-site option in the region is The Living Desert. Located in the community of Palm Desert, the attraction showcases desert wildlife in its zoo and gardens. Groups are welcome to host events in its variety of indoor and outdoor gathering spaces.
Get Out There
Even with its well-appointed resorts, lively entertainment and multitude of cultural venues that draw groups to the area, it doesn’t hurt that the Coachella Valley has some of the best weather around. In fact, the region boasts 350 days of sunshine a year and only 5.5 inches of rainfall. For this reason alone, the destination is primed for outdoor activities.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is a great way to get a bird’s-eye view of the region, stopping at the top of San Jacinto Peak. Once there, groups can enjoy a meal with awe-inspiring views at The Pines Cafe, The Lookout Lounge or Peaks Restaurant. The weather on the top is often significantly chillier than down below, and during winter, snowball fights are not unheard of.
If riding to the top of a mountain isn’t high enough, groups can employ Balloon Above the Desert for the ultimate view of the Coachella Valley. The company will pick up participants for a sunrise or sunset lift, and all trips come with a mid-air champagne celebration.
A visit to Joshua Tree National Park is another popular group excursion. The park, located only about 55 miles from the Coachella Valley, offers miles of trails and guided nature hikes, serving as a nice departure from the boardroom.
Meanwhile, tennis and golf have long been favorite outdoor activities in the Palm Springs area, and with 115 golf courses and more than 600 tennis courses, there are plenty of options available. A few examples include the Cathedral Canyon Golf & Tennis Club, Desert Dunes Golf Club and Cimarron Golf Resort. If groups are lucky enough to visit in mid-January, they can take a peek at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic celebrity tournament at the Classic Club.
For More Info
City of Indian Wells 760.346.2489
www.cityofindianwells.org
Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism 760.778.8415
www.palm-springs.org
Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities CVA 760.770.9000
www.palmspringsusa.com
