Desert Botanical Garden
- A must-see Phoenix-area attraction, the Desert Botanical Garden offers miles of spectacular cacti and other desert plants along with a variety of unique special event options, including open-air pavilions, scenic courtyards and historic settings. Primed for the meetings market, groups can gather in one of the facility’s unique conference rooms, auditorium or hall, and also partake in team-building activities or lunch, sit-down dinners and cocktail parties. www.dbg.org
- A world-class art museum, the Heard can handle a group of up to 1,000 that buys out the facility. Venues include the Steele Auditorium (max. 300 seated); the Phelps Dodge Plaza (max. 400 seated; 1,000 standing) the Central Courtyard (max. 250 seated; 500 standing); the Encanto Room (max. 50 seated; 30 standing); the Monte Vista Room (max. 100 seated; 200 standing; 50 conference style); and the South Courtyard (max. 40 seated; 80 standing). www.heard.org
- Originally opened in 1929, the Orpheum is an Art Deco masterpiece listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Owned and operated by the city of Phoenix, the theater is available for private events, with a maximum capacity of 1,364. www.friendsoftheorpheumtheatre.org
- Located about a 10-minute walk from the convention center, The Summit at Copper Square, which is part of a residential complex, offers a 23rd-floor venue for large corporate bookings. The facility is also across from Bank One Ballpark and America West Arena.
www.jimmessenger.com/summit-copper-square.php
- Located about 30 minutes from downtown Phoenix at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, Kai is the only Mobile Five-Star Award-winner in Arizona (and also a AAA Five Diamond winner). A maximum of 100 can buy out the restaurant, which specializes in Native American-influenced cuisine. Also on-site at the sprawling resort is the Aji Spa, a full-service spa and salon that offers a new menu of Pima and Maricopa treatments, among more-traditional options. www.wildhorsepassresort.com