Smart Meetings

Are they clinking glasses at sunset in Sedona, with jagged, rust-colored cliffs framing the background? Or maybe they are walking the expo floor at the brand-new, state-of-the-art convention center in Phoenix, now triple its former size. Or perhaps they’re playing golf in Tucson, an ocean of towering saguaro cacti just beyond the 14th hole.

There is a theme here—whatever standout scenarios you can imagine for your next meeting, Arizona has got you covered.

The state, with the Grand Canyon as its icon, has always been a place of hyperbolic proportions—no matter where you tread, Arizona almost seems to be boasting its grandeur. Although known for its deserts, more than half the state features mountains and plateaus, plus beautiful craggy cliffs that carve up the horizon in every direction, providing countless photo ops and limitless inspiration.

Phoenix, the capital, is just as impressive, as one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. Together with its surrounding communities—like Mesa, Tempe and Scottsdale—it provides a remarkable collection of top-tier hotels, resorts, restaurants and shopping. Now the fifth-largest city in the U.S., Phoenix competes with destinations like Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco, yet is, in many ways, a comparative bargain. And, with its brand-new convention center unveiling in less than a year, it will only continue to grow as a major meetings destination.

Arizona is a young state—the last in the contiguous U.S. to be admitted into the union—though it has an ancient and rich Native American heritage that is well-integrated into its contemporary culture, art and identity. While central Phoenix is the state’s bastion of modernity, Tucson, at the southern end of the state, more closely clings to its roots, and is home to such uniquely Arizonan institutions as the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, O.K. Corral (site of Wyatt Earp’s infamous shootout) and the Sonoran Desert.

While the temperature can get quite hot in the summer, Arizona is not a state where planners have to fret about the weather—aside from the rare monsoon, it is beautiful and sunny most of the time.

Quite simply, if you are looking for a destination that will really wow your attendees, but could do without the crowds and costs of a big city, Arizona will have more than a few answers.

PHOENIX
Along with other recent Southwest boom cities like Las Vegas, Phoenix has experienced a staggering growth rate over the last decade. While the downtown core itself has become more and more cosmopolitan, it is the surrounding communities that have really taken off, and the combined cities form a greater Phoenix area that is 1.5-million people strong.
For planners, this means a wealth of meeting and accommodation options, from world-class resorts tucked into the outlying hills to major hotels near the convention center to a series of budget-friendly hotels and meeting venues.

In terms of larger events, Phoenix is about to become an entirely new option for planners when phase II of the Phoenix Convention Center is completed in early 2009. Previously housing 300,000 sq, ft. of meeting space, the $600-million overhaul will leave it with a whopping 900,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, and a total size of 2-million square feet.
“This is going to really change the kind of meeting we can have here,” explains Kevin Kamenzind, senior vice president, sales and marketing for the Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau (visitphoenix.com).

The new center will feature more than 300,000 sq. ft. of contiguous expo space in its connected North and West Buildings, as well as a 45,000-square-foot multipurpose ballroom with retractable telescopic riser seating for up to 1,200 guests. In addition, the West Building was built with the goal of earning LEED certification. Another exciting event that will help support the new convention center is the opening of a 1,000-room Sheraton around the same time.

It’s not just the convention center that is getting a major overhaul, however. The rapid increase in population has created a market for high-end dining and shopping in downtown Phoenix, and today you can find a level of quality and service that did not exist a decade ago. “We have always had a strong resort product here,” Kamenzind says. “But now there is quite a renaissance downtown; there is a sense of energy.”

Kamenzkind would know—he was with the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau for the last 13 years and experienced the expansion and revitalization of its historic Gaslamp Quarter. “What we have here in downtown Phoenix is very similar to the renaissance of downtown San Diego.”

Debbie Kaylor is one of the many planners anxious to experience the new convention center and the downtown. As executive director of conventions and meetings for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, she brought about 6,000 attendees to Phoenix in 2004 and is bringing them again in 2009. “We are really looking forward to using the new convention center,” she says. “And we are very excited about all the changes that have been taking place downtown. We call it ‘The New Phoenix.’”

Kaylor explains that the cattle ranchers who come to the conference are not typical attendees, as they cannot afford to spend any extra time away from the farm, and they also don’t like to golf—one of the major draws in the Phoenix area. However, she says they just like the city for what it is, they love the weather and, if they get any time at all, they are thrilled to head up to the Grand Canyon.

MESA
Just a half-hour drive from downtown Phoenix, the city of Mesa splits the difference between urban sophistication and the rural splendor of Arizona’s outdoors. Perhaps a surprising feature of Arizona—just beyond the city’s border—is the Tonto National Forest, as well as several lakes and rivers, providing Mesa groups with east access to outdoor recreation. If the size of Phoenix’s convention center isn’t required, attendees might prefer the more intimate Mesa Convention Center. It features a total of almost 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including 19,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and 15 meeting rooms.

But Mesa is no small city—with almost a half-million residents, it is actually larger than such metropolitan cities as Miami, Cleveland and Saint Louis. Because of this, attendees can expect excellent dining and accommodations options. For more information on all the Mesa has to offer groups, contact the Mesa Convention and Visitors Bureau (mesacvb.com).

SCOTTSDALE
Just west of Phoenix, Scottsdale has evolved from its Old West roots into an affluent suburban community known for its upscale restaurants, shopping, golf courses and arts scene. If your attendees have an affinity for the finer things in life, it would be difficult for them to stumble upon anything else in Scottsdale. In fact, the city boasts the highest number of resort spas per capita of any U.S. city and has more than 70 resorts and hotels. AAA-Five-Diamond options include The Phoenician, Scottsdale Camelback Inn, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North and The Fairmont Princess Resort and Spa.

The Four-Diamond Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino has more than 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, 250 guest rooms and a spa and casino. At Resort Suites Scottsdale (resortsuites.com), you can find 7,500 sq. ft. and 483 guest rooms, as well as four swimming pools and a golf department.

There are also several new properties that have recently become part of Scottsdale’s hotel stable, such as the W Scottsdale Hotel and the Mondrian Hotel. Contact the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau for more information.

TEMPE
Home to Arizona State University as well as the man-made Tempe Town Lake, the adjacent suburb of Tempe holds some exciting surprises just minutes from downtown Phoenix. As well as hosting several top-tier resorts, Tempe also offers a few choices for unique meeting venues, including outdoor venues like Papago Park and the lake. As far as attractions go, Tempe is a shopper’s dream come true at Arizona Mills (arizonamills.com), which has outlets of major high-end retailers, like Last Call from Neiman Marcus and OFF 5TH Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet. There is also an IMAX Theatre (imax.com.tempe), which can be rented out for functions and seats 430.

For more traditional meetings, head to The Buttes, A Marriott Resort, offering 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 353 guest rooms. In total, there are more than 5,500 guest rooms in the Tempe area. For a guide to all of them, check out the website of the Tempe Convention and Visitors Bureau.
 
TUCSON
Southeast of Phoenix by 110 miles, Tucson presents an entirely different feel and set of choices than the modern capital. Here it is much more about the traditional Southwest desert experience, from authentic guest ranches to a thriving Native American and Spanish heritage to plenty of good Southwest cuisine.

While the city of Tucson stretches out over a flat valley floor surrounded by five separate mountain ranges, the majority of accommodations take the form of large resorts tucked into the foothills and overlooking the town. For many meetings, these resorts provide enough in the way of meeting space, restaurants, golf courses and other activities that groups are comfortably self-contained, and often never even enter the city itself.

Yet, should you require more space, the 205,000-square-foot Tucson Convention Center is right downtown and easily accessible. Currently, the only major hotel near the center is the 309-room Hotel Arizona. However, plans are in the works to build a brand-new 707-room Sheraton Hotel on the same block, as well as a new 12,338-seat arena, both of which will greatly increase the options for meeting downtown.

If you want to see what the new downtown Tucson will look like, take advantage of an extremely successful program of the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau called “You Fly, We Buy.” Basically, the CVB buys your airfare, three nights’ accommodations and sets up site inspections. The real bonus, however, is that this program includes a guest, making the allure of bringing your spouse along a tempting offer.

There is plenty of activity at the resorts as well. Up in the hills, the 167-room Omni Tucson National Resort has just emerged from major renovation and offers 22,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Westward Look Resort has undergone a complete renovation of its 244 guest rooms. And a brand-new Ritz-Carlton is slated to open this year in nearby Dove Mountain. For gaming options, the brand-new Desert Diamond Casino & Hotel provides a full-size casino and nightclub, as well as 148 guest rooms and a 10,000-square-foot conference center.

If you are interested in a meeting that’s even more rural, consider the city of Tubac, just south of Tucson and less than an hour from the Mexico border. Established in 1752 as a Spanish fort, the area has a rich history, and today it serves as an artist mecca and quaint getaway. For premium accommodations, golf, a spa and 7,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, the 98-room Tubac Golf Resort & Spa has you covered and is only a half-hour drive from Tucson International Airport.

LAKE HAVASU CITY
If you never had a chance to make it to London before 1968, you can have the very surreal experience of crossing the London Bridge in the Phoenix community of Lake Havasu City. Bought from the City of London, when the bridge was replaced, it was actually disassembled, shipped over and reassembled over a canal that flows from the Colorado River.

But the city has much more to offer than its primary visitor draw. Obviously, water-based activities take precedence here, with Lake Havasu—a large reservoir on the Colorado River between Arizona and California—right in the backyard. With recreation as a base, Lake Havasu City has evolved to become a significant small to midsize meetings destination. In addition to the lake, there are many excellent championship-level golf courses, and riverboats provide numerous options for a unique meeting on the lake. For all that Lake Havasu City has to offer, contact the Lake Havasu City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

FLAGSTAFF
Almost strategically located in the middle of Northern Arizona, just 30 minutes north of Sedona, the small city of Flagstaff presents a side of Arizona not nearly as well known as its southern desert counterpart.

At 7,000 feet in elevation, summers in Flagstaff are considerably milder than in Phoenix, just two hours to the south. And, in winter, skiers flock to the 770-acre Arizona Snowbowl, just outside of town. With outdoor recreation a primary draw in the area, the city is also the jumping-off point for visiting the Grand Canyon, only 80 miles to the north.

As for meetings, Flagstaff will get a major boost when the High Country Conference Center opens in April at Northern Arizona University, with space for up to 1,000 attendees in its grand ballroom. Smaller meetings can also be held at Little America Hotel, Flagstaff with 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 247 guest rooms.

SEDONA
Think of your favorite Arizona photograph and most likely it was taken in Sedona. Best known for its stunning red sandstone formations, Sedona is only a few hours away from the Grand Canyon, and has just as much to absorb visually. While the area is home to fewer than 15,000 residents, it is a major visitor destination, and many of the resorts provide space for small to midsize meetings. Enchantment Resort offers 12,000 sq. ft. of indoor space, with an additional 8,000 sq. ft. outdoors. Of its 230 guest rooms, there are oversized suites that include such amenities as fireplaces, private covered garages and dining rooms. Another option is the Radisson Poco Diablo Resort, with 138 guest rooms and 8,500 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Aside from its natural beauty, Sedona has become a spiritual mecca, and it enjoys a particularly strong arts scene. Also, at an elevation of 4,500 sq. ft., Sedona experiences cooler temperatures than the Phoenix area and might be the perfect alternative if you are considering a meeting in the summertime. Just be sure you are prepared to coax them back to the airport when it’s time to leave.

Getting There

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a major international airport, providing service from more than 100 U.S. cities.
• Tucson International Airport hosts 12 different airlines offering nonstop service to 26 destinations and connections to more than 125 cities.