It’s no secret that the Greater Phoenix area is growing rapidly. The options are almost overwhelming for planners scouting the area for their next Sonoran Desert program. If luxurious accommodations are what your group seeks, you might want to zero in your search on Scottsdale.
Just 15 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, this desert oasis is often touted for its high-end properties, wellness offerings and plentiful golf courses, and the destination continues to build on this reputation. This fall, the highly anticipated The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie opens—a 215-room, 20-acre new-build complete with views of Camelback Mountain, modern and sleek interiors and a 16,000-square-foot spa.
Caesars Entertainment just made waves in Scottsdale, too, this past March, announcing Caesars Republic Scottsdale, its first non-gaming hotel in the U.S.. The 11-story glass structure will have 265 rooms, two pools, two signature restaurants from celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis and SEVEN—a seventh-floor rooftop pool deck, restaurant and bar—that will feature views of Camelback Mountain.
These exciting new entrants join more than 70 other meetings-friendly properties in Scottsdale, a few of which are debuting some major renovations. Most notably, The Scottsdale Resort & Spa, formerly The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, is now part of the Curio Collection by Hilton and is scheduled to complete a massive $40-million, property-wide renovation this spring; and a $110 million renovation at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch is well underway, and when completed, will be unveiled as Arizona's first Grand Hyatt.
Beyond the meeting rooms, Scottsdale is also known for its spas, as it’s home to more than 50 resort and day spas for desert rejuvenation.
One of my favorite spots in Scottsdale, though, and which should be noted for your next program, is Old Town Scottsdale. Experience Scottsdale calls it a blend of “urban chic and Old West Charm,” which is a fitting description. In the nine walkable neighborhoods that make up this part of town, you’ll find shops, restaurants, art galleries and nightclubs, contemporary public art installations, world-class museums and historic sites from the late 1880s. It has something for every attendee after meetings hours.
Oh, and did I mention the 330 days of sunshine each year? That’s not bad either.
[Read this next: 9 Meetings-Friendly Properties in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson]
Where to Stay in Scottsdale
The AAA Five-Diamond Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is a staple in the area for groups, with 750 rooms and 316,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Its Spanish Colonial-style architecture and palm trees are quintessential Scottsdale, as are its amenities, from the luxury Well & Being Spa to adjacent championship golf course, TPC Scottsdale.
Where to Eat in Scottsdale
Scottsdale is home to more than 800 restaurants, about 100 of which can be found in Old Town. Here, stop by Old Town Tortilla Factory, housed in a historic 75-year-old Scottsdale adobe home with a 1,400-square-foot patio surrounded by 100-year-old pecan trees. Southwestern fare with a Mexican twist is on the menu, and events of up to 300 can be hosted onsite.
Fun Activities in Scottsdale
It’s difficult to ignore the more than 200 golf courses in the Scottsdale area—it’s one of the top destinations for golf-centric trips in the U.S. and offers a range of luxury resort courses to more-affordable courses. If golf isn’t your group’s speed, there are plenty of other ways to get outdoors, with hundreds of miles of Sonoran Desert trail hiking a short shuttle ride away and multiple desert excursion outfitters.
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Taking Off is a column from the desk of Senior Content Director and resident destinations expert, Danielle LeBreck, which uncovers the destinations you haven't thought of for meetings or events, from under-the-radar locales to new neighborhoods you should know about. Read more Taking Off columns here.
