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Arizona: Cactus
Country
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Arizona Meetings Come with a Beautiful Desert
Backdrop
By Kevin Woo
The Sonora Desert of Arizona has one of the
harshest and most brutal climates in the world. The hottest of
all the North American deserts, the Sonora’s indigenous plants
and animals have learned to exist here only through years of
adaptation. Although the area may seem inhospitable at first,
a visit to Arizona will quickly disprove that notion. Rising
from this once barren landscape are fast growing cities,
state-of-the-art convention centers, elegant hotels and
resorts, and new sports stadiums.
Recent growth
in the Phoenix metro area has resulted in a population of 1.3
million people, making it the sixth largest city in the U.S.
In keeping with the burgeoning population, there has been an
increase in demand for meeting facilities, hotels,
recreational activities, and dining establishments. Like
Baltimore and Denver, much of the area’s redevelopment has
taken place around the new sports stadiums that attract
thousands of visitors. The Valley of the Sun, as it is
commonly known, is home to four major professional sports
teams – the Arizona Diamondbacks (baseball), Phoenix Suns
(basketball), Phoenix Coyotes (hockey), and Arizona Cardinals
(football).
The Bank One Ballpark (http://www.bankoneballpark.com/) is more
than just a conventional baseball stadium. Known locally as
The Bob, it is home to the Diamondbacks and features a
swimming pool and picnic areas for up to 400 people. Groups of
30 or more qualify for ticket discounts and in-stadium
recognition.
The Greater Phoenix area has numerous hotels that
provide first-rate meeting facilities. Embassy Suites (http://www.embassysuites.com/) has six
properties in the region, including the Embassy Suites
Biltmore, with 10,000 square feet of meeting space, and two
full-service meetings hotels near the airport. Pointe Hilton
Resorts (http://www.pointehilton.com/) offers two
luxurious properties in Phoenix. The Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak
Resort features 48,000 square feet of meeting and function
space, while the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort offers
65,000 square feet of event space. Both facilities are
all-suite, full-service resorts, with swimming pools,
championship golf courses, spas, and leading-edge fitness
centers. The Arizona Biltmore (http://www.arizonabiltmore.com/), long a
favorite haunt of celebrities and politicos, contains 100,000
square feet of function space within its oasis-like grounds.
Meanwhile, the Hyatt Regency Phoenix (http://www.phoenix.hyatt.com/) offers 42,000
square feet of meeting space, and the JW Marriott Desert Ridge
(http://www.jwdesertridgeresort.com/) weighs
in with 200,000 square feet of combined indoor and outdoor
space to complement its 950 guestrooms.
For pure function space, the Wells Fargo
Conference Center (http://www.wfconference.com/) is tough to
beat. It is located downtown and convenient to parking and
public transportation. It is within an easy walk of the Civic
Center, The Bob, and America West Arena. The Conference Center
offers 4,000 square feet of function space that can be
configured to accommodate groups of 10 to 200. Everything from
meetings supplies to catering is offered on premises.
The city of Phoenix has been catering to tourists
since the railroad arrived in 1929. Home to more than 55,000
hotel rooms, the area also boasts over three dozen resort
properties. “Greater Phoenix offers a unique range of venues
for meetings and entertainment,” says Doug MacKenzie, Director
of Communications for the Phoenix Convention and Visitors
Bureau. “Groups with a desire to meet in up-to-date facilities
in a natural desert oasis will also enjoy the superior
amenities our resorts offer, from championship golf to
rejuvenating spas to culinary adventures. Our air service
offers frequency and value year round. The destination is the
perfect location for any group to plan their meeting.”
Phoenix’s Civic Plaza Convention Center (http://www.ci.phoenix.az.us/) is undergoing
a major expansion that will triple the available meeting space
for conventions and trade shows. The $600 million expansion,
scheduled to be completed in 2008-09, will increase the total
space to nearly a million square feet. The Hyatt Regency and
Wyndham Phoenix (http://www.wyndham.com/) are two of the
largest hotels near the convention center. Along with its
above-mentioned meetings space, the Hyatt has 712 guestrooms.
The Wyndham has 532 guestrooms and 57,000 square feet of
meeting space.
The Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa remains as
popular as it was during its glory years of the 1940s. The
Frank Lloyd Wright-designed hotel has hosted Hollywood
celebrities, foreign dignitaries, and was inspirational to
Irving Berlin when he wrote “White Christmas” while sitting
poolside in 1941. The Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa has
four on-site restaurants, 730 guestrooms, 22 meeting rooms and
60,000 square feet of meeting space, as well as a variety of
on-site activities including spa treatments, massages, and two
championship golf courses. The JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort
& Spa is situated on 316 acres of Sonora Desert landscape.
With 950 guestrooms, 200,000 square feet of flexible meeting
space, 10 on-site restaurants, two 18-hole golf courses, spas,
shops and boutiques, the JW Marriott is one of the largest
resorts in the Valley.
At the Royal Palms Resort & Spa (http://www.royalpalmshotel.com/) you’ll find
a resort-style atmosphere for meeting with intimate
boardrooms, private lounges, a library, and more than 9,300
square feet of interior meeting space as well as gorgeously
landscaped patios and gardens. Not far from the airport is the
highly functional Black Canyon Conference Center (http://www.blackcanyonconferencecenter.com/),
which offers 21 meeting rooms, including the Black Canyon
Ballroom accommodating 500, and high-end cuisine prepared for
catered events.
Glendale, located 10 miles northwest of Phoenix,
recently announced plans to build a new 73,000-seat stadium
for the Cardinals and was selected to host the 2008 Super
Bowl. The stadium, scheduled to open in 2006, will have
flexible meeting space for consumer shows, conventions, and
meetings. Nearly 6.5 million square feet of retail, hotel, and
entertainment space will be built within a short walk of the
stadium. The NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes recently moved into the new
Glendale Arena (http://www.glendalearenaaz.com/). Many of
the arena’s luxury suites can be rented on a per night basis
for groups up to 20. “Glendale will truly become an
international city known for its arenas,” says Julie Frisoni,
Communications Manager for the Glendale Conference and
Visitors Bureau. “But the goal is for the community to develop
first class retail, housing, and entertainment facilities for
residents and tourists. Glendale will continue to develop its
downtown area and provide a quality experience for those who
choose to visit.”
Southeast of Phoenix is Chandler, a thriving
community with some outstanding meeting destinations. The
Sheraton Wildhorse Pass Resort & Spa (http://www.wildhorsepassresort.com/) offers
luxurious accommodations and ample meeting space along with
two 18-hole championship golf courses. Conventions and events
can be fully staffed and catered by the resort. Also in
Chandler is the Sheraton San Marcos Golf Resort &
Conference Center (http://www.sanmarcosresort.com/), with 19
meeting rooms and 295 guestrooms.
Scottsdale, located
15 miles northeast of Phoenix, is one of the Valley’s most
popular meeting destinations. With 63 resorts, 25 spas, 600
restaurants, and 41 golf courses, visitors always have plenty
to do. One of the area’s most luxurious resorts is the
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (www.fairmont.com/scottsdale) with 650
guestrooms and 61,000 square feet of meeting space. The
Fairmont has two championship golf courses and each January
hosts the PGA’s FBR Open. The Scottsdale Resort &
Conference Center (http://www.scottsdaleconferenceresort.com/)
is consistently rated among the nation’s top conference
resorts.
Located in the heart of Scottsdale, and surrounded
by two golf courses, the conference center has 50 meeting
rooms, 326 guestrooms, and award-winning chefs who tailor
their menus to the specific needs of visiting groups. In
total, Scottsdale offers more than 12,000 guestrooms and over
680,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space.
Options for full-service meetings hotels in
Scottsdale are seemingly endless. The selection includes the
Chaparral Suites Resort (http://www.chaparralsuites.com/) which has
311 luxurious suites, along with 21 meeting rooms and can
accommodate 1400. The Resort is well located near many points
of interest and is one of the best values for service in the
region. With 318 guestrooms and 30,000 square feet of function
space, the Radisson Resort & Spa Scottsdale (http://www.radissonscottsdale.com/) provides
meeting attendees a chance to unwind in its world-class spa.
The resort also features 21 tennis courts. The Doubletree
Paradise Valley (http://www.paradisevalley.doubletree.com/)
is an oasis-like resort with 383 guestrooms and more than
20,000 square feet of meeting space. The Westin Kierland
Resort & Spa (www.westin.com/kierlandresort) features 735
guestrooms and a fully appointed business center all crafted
to reflect the regional history. The resort features a full
service spa, a fitness center and championship golf on three
courses. The Phoenician (http://www.thephoenician.com/) provides
64,000 square feet of total meeting space and 654 guestrooms
and one of the most famed destinations in the Southwest. The
Wigwam Resort & Golf Club (http://www.wigwamresort.com/) offers 20,000
square feet of meeting space and 331 guestrooms.
The
Carefree Resort and Villas (http://www.carefree-resort.com/) offers a
full-service conference center with 30,000 square feet of
function space and 340 guestrooms each with patios or
balconies providing sweeping Valley views. Also in Carefree is
the Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa (http://www.wyndham.com/), a luxurious
property set dramatically among 12-million-year-old boulders
in the scenic desert foothills. The Boulders is one of
America’s most prestigious resort destinations and a popular
spot for meetings of an unconventional variety.
Further outside Phoenix is the Francisco Grand
Hotel & Golf Resort (http://www.franciscogrande.com/), a property
originally built as a getaway for movies stars and
professional athletes. Today it hosts individual guests and
groups alike, with nearly 10,000 square feet of flexible
meeting space, and a professional conference service staff to
assist in event planning.
Meanwhile, in the foothills above the Valley is
Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain (http://www.sanctuaryaz.com/). The
boutique-style property is situated on 53 acres and provides a
Zen-like setting for corporate gatherings. The resort offers
98 mountainside spa casitas and 9,000 square feet of meeting
space.
The
academic, cultural, and social center of Greater Phoenix can
be found in Tempe. Originally called “Hayden’s Ferry,” the
city was renamed Tempe by Lord Darrell Duppa, an eccentric
English traveler, who compared the area to the Vale of Tempe,
a valley in Greece adjacent to Mount Olympus. Tempe is the
state’s seventh largest city with more than 160,000 residents,
57,000 of whom are students at Arizona State University (ASU).
The University has the largest student population in the
southwest, and is comprised of students from all 50 states
plus 120 countries, making ASU the most diverse community in
Arizona. The most popular meeting and event venues in the area
are ASU’s facilities, which include lecture halls, an
arboretum, the Gammage Auditorium (Frank Lloyd Wright’s last
public structure design), galleries, and performance centers.
All are available for rent when school is not in session.
The Wyndham Buttes Resort (http://www.wyndhambuttes.com/) is Tempe’s
largest hotel meeting facility with 40,000 square feet of
meeting space and 353 guestrooms. The Tempe Mission Palms
Hotel (http:///) is an upscale
mission-style inn located in the heart of downtown. It is
within walking distance of more than 170 shops, restaurants
and entertainment. The hotel has more than 30,000 square feet
of meeting space and 303 guestrooms. In total, Tempe has more
than 30 hotels and 5,500 guestrooms. For an after-hours treat,
check out Casey Moore’s Oyster House (480-968-9935). Locals
believe that five ghosts reside at the restaurant and have
been seen dancing on the tables after the restaurant
closes.
The city
of Mesa is a winter paradise with mild temperatures, over 40
golf courses, museums, theaters, and art exhibits. Located 20
miles east of Phoenix, the Mesa Centennial Conference Center
(http://www.mesacentennialcenter.com/) is a
multi-purpose meeting facility that offers 40,000 square feet
of meeting and exhibit space. The Center’s 100-seat theater
provides state-of-the-art multi-media capabilities,
executive-style desktops and tiered seating. It is an ideal
venue for executive planning sessions and conferences. “Mesa
is unique among cities in the Phoenix metropolitan area,” says
Rick Elder, Communications Manager of the Mesa Convention and
Visitors Bureau (http://www.mesacvb.com/). “Even though it is
thriving, dynamic, and the third largest city in Arizona,
visitors can take advantage of being next to a recreation
Mecca. With near-perfect weather, you can enjoy the outdoors
year-round.” Meeting-friendly properties in Mesa include the
Hilton Phoenix East (http://www.phoenixeastmesa.hilton.com/),
with 263 guestrooms, and the Sheraton Phoenix East (http://www.sheratonphoenixeast.com/), a
hotel and convention center that offers more than 52,000
square feet of function space, including a 15,000-square-foot
exhibit hall.
Mesa’s Arizona Golf Resort and Conference Center
(http://www.azgolfresort.com/) is an
excellent choice for an all-inclusive incentive meeting with
an emphasis on recreation. It’s located just
25 minutes
from the airport, and offers 187 guestrooms and 12,000 square
feet of conference space. Of course, the resort features
championship golf along with a year-round outdoor pool and
fitness center.
And speaking of the airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor
International Airport (PHX) is located in Mesa, and is served
by 21 airlines, which provide nonstop flights to more than 100
destinations worldwide. PHX is the major U.S. hub for
Southwest Airlines and America West Airlines making for easy
connections to any city in the country. DASH (Downtown Area
Shuttle) is a free shuttle service that provides
transportation service to sports stadiums, museums
and
other downtown facilities all day and throughout much of the
evening.
Tucson
is Arizona’s second largest city with a population of nearly a
half-million people. The city’s history dates back to
approximately 10,000 B.C. when Paleoindian and Archiac hunters
inhabited the area. Tucson was part of Mexico from 1821-1854,
but after the Gadsden Purchase of 1854, the city reverted to
the jurisdiction of the U.S.
The Tucson Convention Center (www.visittucson.org/conventioncenter) is the
city’s primary meeting and event facility. With more than
200,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and seven
meeting rooms, the TCC is the perfect venue for conventions,
trade shows and exhibits. Located within walking distance of
the TCC are five hotels with over 1,000 rooms.
“Tucson is
one of the most diverse and affordable meeting destinations in
the world,” says Richard A. Vaughan, Vice President of Sales
& Marketing of the Tucson Convention
and Visitors
Bureau (http://www.tucsoncvb.com/). “It offers a
wide array of meeting hotels from world class resorts and spas
to mid-priced downtown, midtown and airport properties, to
unique ranches and B&B offerings. Com-bine that with the
rich heritage and culture ranging from the Span-ish, Mexican,
Native American, and Western Pioneer ancestors, you have a
meeting destination that provides memorable experiences for
all.”
The Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf &
Tennis Resort (http://www.hiltonelconquistador.com/) is
located on 500 acres of desert land and is a popular venue for
executive retreats, planning sessions, and sales meetings. The
resort has 428 newly remodeled guest-rooms, 45 holes of
championship golf, 100,000 square feet of meeting space, a
wellness center, hiking and horseback trails, and five
restaurants. The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa (http://www.westinlapalomaresort.com/) is
another popular Tucson resort. Located near the Santa Catalina
Mountains, the Westin La Paloma is surrounded by desert
gardens, waterfalls, and
natural rock formations. The
resort has 487 guestrooms, seven award-winning restaurants,
60,000 square feet of meeting space, and 27 holes of Jack
Nicklaus-designed championship golf.
Near the city’s main transportation hub is the
Embassy Suites Tucson International Airport (http://www.embassysuites.com/), which has
five ballrooms, three executive boardrooms, two
conference
suites, and 2,680-square-foot state-of-the-art amphitheatre
that can accommodate 120 guests. The property provides daily
made-to-order complimentary breakfasts to get you up and
running.
Among the myriad other meetings properties in the
ever-growing Tucson is the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort
& Spa (http://www.omnitucsonnational.com/), which
has 15,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. The
Westward Look Resort (http://www.westwardlook.com/) is a recently
renovated conference facility that combines historic charm
with state-of-the-art technology. The Doubletree Hotel at Reid
Park (http://www.doubletree.com/) is also newly
remodeled and has 22,000 square feet of meeting space,
including 10,000-square-foot ballroom. And at the secluded
Tanque Verde Guest Ranch (www.tvgr.com), meetings are
backdropped by views of the desert and mountains.
Meeting and event planners are often asked to
do the impossible. Being asked to organize a meeting along the
shoreline in Arizona might seem like one of those impossible
requests but it’s not. Lake Havasu, located 200 miles
northwest of Phoenix and 150 miles south of Las Vegas, has
more than 400 miles of shoreline and is the uncharacteristic
home of the famous London Bridge. Robert McCulloch purchased
the bridge in 1968 and moved it here to connect Lake Havasu
City with an island that was formed when the channel to
Thompson Bay was dredged. Adjacent to the bridge is the
five-star London Bridge Resort (http://www.londonbridgeresort.com/), which
offers 10,000 square feet of meeting space, 160
guestrooms, golf, tennis and spa amenities. Havasu
Corporate Adventures specializes in
managing team building
meetings, which include parasailing, golf, tennis, off-road
adventures and power runs. Groups can hold kick-off meetings
and evening receptions on the lake in houseboats. In total,
the area has six event venues, a combined 38,000 square feet
of meeting space and 1,600 guestrooms. A great jumping off
point for swimming among these venues is the Lake Havasu City
Convention and Visitors Bureau (www.go lakehavasu.com).
The Bureau provides full resources for meeting and
planning in the area.
Located at the base of
the majestic San Francisco Peaks, 140 miles north of Phoenix,
is Flagstaff. Recently named the second best city in the U.S.
by Men’s Journal magazine, Flagstaff is a college town with
57,000 residents, 19,000 of whom attend Northern Arizona
University (http://www.nau.edu/). At 7,000 feet above
sea level, Flagstaff offers visitors a four-season climate and
a variety of outdoor activities including skiing, hiking, and
golf. Snowbowl is Arizona’s most popular ski resort. With its
2300-foot vertical drop and 32 trails, Snowbowl will present a
challenge to skiers of any level. If cross-country skiing is
more to your liking, the Flagstaff Nordic Center offers more
than 25 miles of trails through the Coconino National Forest.
And if you’d rather stay indoors, there is plenty to keep you
occupied as well. The Flagstaff Symphony, which has been part
of the city’s cultural scene for more than 50 years, is sure
to please. From September through April, group events are
welcomed at the Ardrey Auditorium, to enjoy classical and pops
music performed by the 75-member orchestra.
Flagstaff’s primary hotel meeting facility is the
Little America Hotel (http://www.flagstaff.littleamerica.com/),
which offers 10,000 square feet of meeting space and 248
guestrooms. The Radisson Woodlands Hotel (www.radisson.com/flagstaffaz) is located
along historic Route 66. The Radisson has 183 guestrooms,
6,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, and a
2,000-square-foot wooded gazebo area that can be used for
outdoor dinners and receptions. In 2005, the Flagstaff
Convention Center will be completed and will provide visitors
with 20,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space.
For
thousands of years, people have visited the northern Arizona
area now known as Sedona. Early Native Americans considered
the Red Rocks sacred and traveled thousands of miles to
experience the spiritual energy of the area. Today, millions
of people visit Sedona for that same energy, as well as for
the thriving arts community, its world-class hiking, and for
unforgettable golf. excursions. The city got its name when
founder T. Carl Schnebly applied for a postal permit and
discovered that his original choice for the city’s name,
Schnebly Station, was too long for the cancellation stamp. On
his second application, Schnebly used his wife’s name, Sedona,
and was granted the city’s first postal permit.
The Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa (http://www.hiltonsedona.com/) is nestled in
the heart of the Coconino National Forest. The resort complex
combines a championship golf course, a full
service health
spa, and breathtaking views of the Red Rock formations. The
Resort offers 16,000 square feet of conference facilities. The
L’Auberge de Sedona (http://www.lauberge.com/) is one of the most
luxurious resorts in Sedona. The Country French inn combines
European-style décor and classic French fare with
state-of-the-art multipurpose meeting facilities. The
L’Auberge has 15,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting
space, five conference rooms and 52 guestrooms. At the 70-acre
Enchantment Resort (http://www.enchantmentresort.com/), the
towering red walls of Boynton Canyon offer a beguiling setting
for meetings held in 12,000 square feet of flexible indoor and
8,000 square feet of outdoor meeting space. The Radisson Poco
Diablo (http://www.pocodiablo.com/) also affords
guests inspiring views of the red terrain, and can accommodate
groups to 300 in a variety of flexible meeting space. For
outdoor fun in Sedona, consider a jeep tour of the Red Rocks
to view some of the oldest exposed rock formations on earth.
The Adventure Company (http://www.sedonajeeptours.com/) offers team
building events,
scavenger hunts and picnics designed to
meet individual group needs.
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