Arizona
- Enchantment Resort unveiled the third and final phase of its $25 million renovation, including new restaurants, an expanded pool, $11 million in guest room upgrades and a $4 million expansion of the 13,000-square-foot Meeting Village. The 70-acre Sedona property offers 218 guest rooms and includes the luxury Mii Amo spa and 20,000 square feet of outdoor event space. For more information, call 928.282.2900 or visit www.enchantmentresort.com.
California
- Napa’s Meritage Resort & Spa reopened following a $40 million expansion. The wine-centric property now offers 320 guest rooms in addition to a spa, bocce ball court, tasting room and wine cave. Meeting space totals 22,000 square feet, including the 7,300-square-foot Carneros ballroom and a new outdoor vineyard terrace accommodating 340 guests. For more information, call 707.251.1900 or visit www.themeritageresort.com.
- The $28 million high-tech and eco-friendly Pomona Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center opened in March and has begun booking events. The 85,000-square-foot conference complex is IACC certified and includes meeting niceties such as SMART boards and video-conferencing capabilities. The ballroom has a dining capacity of 1,000 and catering options include farm-to-table meals. For more information, call 909.622.2220 or visit www.sheratonfairplex.com.
- Located just outside the western border of Yosemite National Park, Evergreen Lodge offers 90 cedar cabins for guests and updated group space for up to 250, including the new Cedar Room & Terrace. Built in 1921, the wilderness retreat includes a comprehensive recreation and guide program and a 25-seat theater. For more information, call 209.379.2606 or visit www.evergreenlodge.com.
- Burbank’s Hotel Amarano completed an $8 million renovation, adding a 2,300-square-foot Chariman’s Penthouse Suite and 32 new guest rooms to the Old Hollywood-style property. The hotel’s 2,232 square feet of event space can accommodate small corporate events and group gatherings. For more information, call 818.842.8887 or visit www.hotelamarano.com.
- Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa will open in July with over 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, including a 5,900-square-foot ballroom. The oceanfront resort will offer 215 guest rooms and is two miles from the 450-room Hilton Garden Inn. The properties can be booked together for a combined 40,000 square feet of meeting space. For more information, call 760.602.0800 or visit www.hiltoncarlsbad.com.
Colorado
- The former Silvertree Hotel & Conference in Aspen is gearing up to take the Westin flag this winter. The 245-room Westin Snowmass will showcase a new spa, fitness center, hot tubs and a ski-in, ski-out restaurant. The updated resort will feature 254 guest rooms and a new outdoor event space. A 1,500-person conference center will open in June 2012, while the rest of the resort is expected to open in November. For more information, visit www.westinsnowmass.com.
Nevada
- The former Fitzgerald Hotel has been renamed The D Las Vegas, and is undergoing a renovation scheduled for completion in fall 2012. The downtown property offers a two-level casino and two bars, and will unveil 638 remodeled guest rooms. The D’s meeting space totals 8,000 square feet, including a ballroom and four breakout rooms. Banquet space can accommodate up to 300. Wireless Internet will be upgraded during the renovation. For more information, call 702.388.2400 or visit www.thed.com.
Washington
- Southridge Sports & Events Complex opened in Kennewick, within Washington’s Tri-Cities region. The 52-acre complex offers sports fields, event space and an indoor sports pavilion, combined with easy access to the region’s rivers, golf courses and 160 wineries. The space also houses a 3,000-pound steel column recovered from one of the Twin Towers that has been converted into a 9-11 Memorial;. For more information, visit www.playsouthridge.com.