If a meeting planner were to consider the Greater Phoenix, Scottsdale and Sedona areas for a gathering, their first thought might be, “My attendees better like the great outdoors!” After all, that’s what the destination is known for, right?
There is, in fact, much to see and do outdoors—like golfing, desert excursions, hiking, rock climbing or just taking in fantastic sunsets. But the region offers a variety of interesting indoor venues and activities as well, including entertainment complexes, art galleries, aquariums and new and upgraded hotels—no sunscreen required.
Greater Phoenix
The downtown renaissance that started three years ago with the expansion of the Phoenix Convention Center, which boosted the facility to 900,000 square feet, is in full swing. Meeting attendees can step off their flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and onto the PHX Sky Train, a light rail system that gets riders from the airport to downtown in just 20 minutes for $1.75, or $3.50 for an all-day pass.
From there, visitors may want to visit CityScape Phoenix, a downtown entertainment, dining and nightlife complex. In June, the meetings-ready, 242-room Hotel Palomar Phoenix opened at CityScape. The Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group property is a new build, which is a departure from the company’s favoring of historic building conversions.
“The Palomar brings a creative, boutique hotel to the downtown mix,” says Douglas MacKenzie, director of communications for the Greater Phoenix CVB.
Other group hotels in town include the largest property in Arizona, the 1,000-room Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel; Westin Phoenix Downtown; Hyatt Regency Phoenix; Renaissance Phoenix Downtown (reflagged from a Wyndham), and Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, which recently renovated its meeting space.
Other key properties in the Phoenix area are the Arizona Biltmore, part of the Waldorf Astoria Collection; Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa; JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa; and Arizona Grand Resort.
“In addition to Hyatt, there’s Marriott, Starwood and now Kimpton and Renaissance,” MacKenzie says. “There are so many choices, depending on what brands someone likes.”
Culturally rich off-site venues are a highlight of Phoenix, including the historic Orpheum Theater, the Phoenix Art Museum and the Heard Museum, focusing on Native American heritage.PageBreak
Scottsdale
Downtown Scottsdale comprises different areas, but there had been a disconnect between them, admits Laura McMurchie, vice president of communications for the Scottsdale CVB.
The fashion area was getting millions of visitors, but then the Arizona waterfront wasn’t as popular. A bridge constructed between the two areas has brought the entire community to life, McMurchie says.
“The waterfront has an outdoor space that works for groups, and restaurants surround it so they can do dine-arounds,” she says. “There’s a free trolley in town that can be rented for groups to get around, and they can even have their own guides or a speaker.”
Scottsdale also includes more than 100 art galleries—mostly downtown—where groups can participate in hands-on programs, host wine receptions or meet local artists.
South of the bridge, a retail complex (appropriately named Southbridge) has several unique shops, with no chain stores allowed. Shopping tours and dine-arounds can be arranged for groups—some have even done scavenger hunts modeled after the The Amazing Race television show.
Scottsdale features more than 70 hotels, ranging from boutiques to expansive resorts.
The destination’s newest retreats are The Saguaro, a boutique property by Joie de Vivre Hotels that opened in the former Hotel Theodore following a $10 million facelift, and Talking Stick Resort, with 496 guest units and more than 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.
“Talking Stick Resort is a one-stop destination for business and entertainment,” says Steven Horowitz, the property’s director of sales, pointing to gaming, restaurants, lounges, a showroom and a spa. “Further, as an enterprise that is solely owned and operated by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, we offer a unique glimpse into Native American culture that other properties can’t. The fact that those attending meetings have little need to leave, thanks to our numerous amenities, makes for an efficient meeting.”
Another meetings hot spot is Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, which boasts 735 guest units and 183,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. The property just opened Kierland FlowRider, a part surfing, part snowboarding, part wakeboarding experience.
An array of other meetings-ready favorites are also enhancing their offerings, including The Phoenician, which recently unveiled the $40 million, 45,000-square-foot Camelback Ballroom Complex and completed a $4 million-plus renovation of its guest suites as part of an $80 million transformation; Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, which added a $20 million conference center; Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North, which renovated its 36,000 square feet of meeting space; Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch, which will complete a $3.7 million renovation of its water playground this fall; and Hotel Valley Ho, which is adding a meeting room and adjoining hospitality suite this summer.
Other top meetings options are JW Marriott Camelback Inn, Montelucia Resort and Spa, Chaparral Suites Scottsdale and Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain.
Tempe
There are several unique group venues available in this East Valley community.
Hayden Flour Mill, which had been boarded up for the last 15 years, is now open to the public and will open for events in the fall.
Visitors can walk the grounds and peer into the mill building, where they’ll see a coal-hued steel safe that dates to the 1800s, the mill’s grinding machines and even charring on the walls from a fire at the site.
A field north of the building that was once dirt and rock is now landscaped with trees and a grass field for picnics, and a concrete area can be used for seating or to host performances.
Arizona Mills, an indoor shopping mecca of more than 175 stores, is home to two venues, Sea Life Arizona aquarium and GameWorks.
Sea Life features more than 5,000 creatures in more than 30 display tanks, including sharks, stingrays and the newest addition, a rescued sea turtle. Groups of 15 or more can receive a discounted rate on tickets, and the theater and classroom can be used for corporate meetings of up to 50 people. Sea Life can also be bought out for large groups.
GameWorks has a meeting room with audiovisual equipment, and after the meeting, attendees can try their skills on interactive games and old favorites like pinball and air hockey. GameWorks can cater any group event.
Major meetings properties include the Embassy Suites Phoenix-Tempe, Fiesta Resort Conference Center, Four Points by Sheraton Tempe, Phoenix Marriott Tempe at The Buttes, Tempe Mission Palms and Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel.
A Residence Inn by Marriott will open in late 2013 or early 2014 with 173 guest rooms, 3,500 square feet of meeting space and a rooftop pool and fire pit.PageBreak
Mesa
Construction has started to extend the METRO Light Rail system through the heart of Mesa. The 3.1-mile, $200 million addition will bring the rail through downtown. It is slated for completion in late 2015.
Meanwhile, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport will expand its terminal this October to accommodate eight gates, and by the end of 2013, two more gates will be added.
But the big story is the new president and CEO of Visit Mesa, Marc Garcia, who completed his first month of service in July.
“Mesa today is vibrant and growing,” Garcia says. “The movements that have been part of strategic city planning over the last 12 months are now under way and priming the destination to appeal to a more youthful and diverse visitor seeking a new travel product in our region.”
A veteran of the state—having worked at the Greater Phoenix CVB for 15 years, Garcia sees growth ahead for Mesa.
“In five years, the visitor will see a vastly different destination, as the light rail moves east downtown, five national colleges add campuses throughout our city, and the Gateway region starts to take shape as the next core travel hub in the Southwest,” he says.
He also plans to grow the destination by bringing neighboring communities into the fold.
“My primary objective in the first year is to rebrand our organization as we focus on the Mesa visitor experience,” he says. “The Mesa CVB will strengthen our regional partnerships with the towns of Gilbert and Queen Creek, Ariz., and help elevate their attractions and offerings for the Mesa visitor.”
The town’s largest hotel, the Phoenix Marriott Mesa, sits adjacent to the Mesa Convention Center and is undergoing a major renovation. A ballroom and 142 guest rooms have been updated, and remaining upgrades will be completed this summer.
Other Communities
Carefree, Litchfield Park and Fountain Hills, smaller “Valley of the Sun” towns, are home to notable meetings properties. Wigwam Resort is in Litchfield Park, and Boulders, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, and Carefree Resort and Conference Center are in Carefree.
Fountain Hills offers the meetings-friendly CopperWynd Resort and Club, Inn at Eagle Mountain and Radisson Fort McDowell Resort and Casino.
Sedona
Roughly 120 miles north of Phoenix, Sedona offers amazing views of red rock formations as well as numerous indoor pursuits. The area is home to a wealth of art galleries and shops, many specializing in Native American arts and crafts.
Meeting attendees can enjoy one of Sedona’s many art districts, including Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village and Hillside.
They can also spend one-on-one time with artists and tour one of over 100 galleries, according to Jennifer Wesselhoff, president and CEO of the Sedona COC.
“The art scene is thriving in Sedona, and including aspects of our arts and culture in a meeting is easy and inspiring,” Wesselhoff says.
Sedona has nearly 3,500 hotel rooms and welcomes groups of up to 500 attendees.
Sedona’s Enchantment Resort put the finishing touches on a two-year, $25 million renovation that included enhancements to its guest rooms, Meeting Village and clubhouse.
Meanwhile, Amara Resort & Spa completed the outdoor phase of a major renovation, which included a negative edge infinity saltwater pool and spa, three new fire pits and a new outdoor event site.
Another top meetings hotel, Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa, became the first location in the Western U.S. to offer the brand’s signature global spa concept, eforea: spa at Hilton. Featuring 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, the spa focuses on healing experiences with an emphasis on energy.
Other popular group properties include Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa, L’Auberge de Sedona, Poco Diablo Resort and Best Western Arroyo Roble Hotel & Creekside Villas.
