PHOENIX
The Camby Hotel opened in Phoenix and is the first hotel in Arizona to be a part of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection Hotels brand.
Designed by Stonehill & Taylor, the hotel’s theme of refined revelry was inspired by the idea of updating the hotel’s bones with fun, modern, and unexpected twists. Additional design elements draw on Arizona’s Five C’s—cotton, cattle, citrus, climate and copper—and incorporate the contemporary design elements and pops of color from the state’s vivid landscape.
Meeting rooms play off this whimsical theme with names such as Grove (citrus), Pima (cotton) and Rustler (cattle). Public spaces feature distinctive landscaping and art like a two-headed camel at valet and giant topiary hummingbird at the rooftop pool.
Lobby features include a looping necklace chandelier that highlights the original coffered ceilings and Southwest inspired area rug that ties in the region’s history. Angular copper metal chairs and turquoise sofas surround lit side tables made from timber and tall sculptural lamps evocative of the desert. Wall murals reveal the Phoenix landscape, and stained glass within windows add warmth and color. Hidden doors within doors and seats within seats carry the “look and look again” theme throughout the space.
Owned by Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., The Camby Hotel offers 277 guest rooms, a new restaurant, Artizen, Crafted American Kitchen & Bar, two new bars, a rooftop pool, Zest, a boutique spa with four treatment rooms and three outdoor treatment areas and fitness center. Meeting planners have access to more than 23,000 square feet of vibrant indoor/outdoor meeting space complemented by smart technology expertly woven into 12 meeting rooms.
“The Camby Hotel takes a different approach than most hotels by blending luxury accommodations and service with a more light-hearted approach to hospitality,” says Greg Miller, chief inspiration officer of The Camby Hotel. “We consider ourselves playful professionals and target a similar kind of guest seeking a high-end service experience without all the formality that usually goes along with it. Our brand promise is to deliver refined revelry, which guests discover from the moment they walk through our doors.”
Instead of a traditional check-in desk at hotel, concierge colleagues walk about the lobby checking guests in and out with smart tablets on their way to and from valet and the elevator. Room keys are produced directly from the tablet, and advanced technology sends a digital room key to a guest’s smart phone before they even arrive. Smart and interactive tables are located in the lobby for guests to personalize their experience and follow social media conversations.
Director of Culinary Experiences Dushyant Singh oversees the hotel’s culinary concepts including:
- Artizen, Crafted American Kitchen & Bar is the newest Biltmore neighborhood gathering place serving crafted American cuisine sourced from the area’s finest local growers and purveyors for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Choosing between an array of snack size, small and medium size plates allows diners to enjoy multiple tastes of the emerging seasonal regionally inspired menu. Signature dinner dishes include the Spotted Rooster, Oxtail Rillettes and Roasted Wild Boar Loin.
- The Bees Knees is a modern cocktail bar that reaches back to the true classic cocktails and provides an innovative interpretation, including infusing spirits with honey from the bar’s own honeycomb displayed in a glass case. Lead Mixologist Libby Longlott concocts signature drinks like the namesake Bees Knees and The Camby martini. Hidden behind a door within a door, The Back Office is a private venue for exclusive gatherings and groups to connect for meetings and team building sessions. The boardroom table quickly transitions to a pool table while the buffet table suddenly becomes a shuffleboard game. When not in use by groups, the intimate space opens up as another place for guests to enjoy handcrafted cocktails.
- Revelry Rooftop Bar is home of bragging rights for spontaneous ping-‐pong games while enjoying a locally brewed beer or refreshing margarita poolside. This urban oasis boasts sculptural lounge seating and a wall to project a video art piece and classic films. Guests and locals savor bites like inventive street tacos, flatbreads and hand-‐wrapped ice cream sandwiches. Live entertainment is featured on the weekends.
The Camby Hotel guests can take full advantage of the proximity to scenic hiking trails on the city’s iconic Camelback Mountain, the inspiration for the hotel’s name. For the urban explorer, the hotel is just steps away from the best local dining, shopping and cultural attractions, including Biltmore Fashion Park, one of the city’s most exclusive retail and culinary destinations. Business travelers appreciate The Camby Hotel’s proximity to the Valley’s Financial District while leisure travelers can enjoy the downtown scenes in Scottsdale and Phoenix for both day and night exploration.
