Desert escapes and wellness retreats
By David Lytle
Meetings in Arizona pair big-city infrastructure with jaw-dropping natural settings. Planners can stage conferences in modern convention centers, luxury desert resorts, mountain retreats and red-rock hideaways—each supported by strong airlift, experienced hospitality teams and a wealth of incentive activities that boost attendance and attendee satisfaction.
Resources
Visit Pheonix
Lorne Edwards, chief sales officer
[email protected] · visitphoenix.com
Experience Scottsdale
Kelli Blubaum, vice president of convention sales & services
[email protected] · experiencescottsdale.com
Visit Tucson
Graeme Hughes, executive vice president
[email protected] · visittucson.org
REASONS WHY MEETING PLANNERS LOVE ARIZONA
at Monument Valley, photo by Sergii Figurnyi / Shutterstock.com
- Climate and season options. With 325 days of sunshine and mild winters, Arizona offers ideal meeting windows; higher-elevation destinations such as Flagstaff and Sedona offer cool-weather alternatives for summer programs and wellness retreats.
- Indigenous culture and experiences. Outdoor opportunities abound with guided hikes and educational activities offered by the Hualapai tribal community and the Navajo Nation. Or, take your offsites inside at gaming centers such as Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort.
- Compelling incentives and activities. Golf, off-road Jeep excursions, hot-air ballooning, stargazing, winery and culinary tours and easy access to Grand Canyon National Park make incentive programs and FAMs memorable and diverse.
- Sustainability and wellness focus. Arizona properties feature water-wise landscaping, energy-efficient systems, farm-to-table F&B and wellness programming to support green and health initiatives.
Places to Meet & Stay
Phoenix Convention Center
The sunny facility offers flexible exhibit halls, ballrooms and breakout rooms located within walking distance of hotels, restaurants and cultural districts-with a strong sustainability program.
900,000 sq. ft. of meeting space
Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort
The property recently underwent a $115 million renovation, making everything feel shiny and new, with the McDowell Mountains providing just the right touch of drama for your event’s poolside reception.
90,000+ sq. ft. of meeting space; 496 guestrooms
Rancho de los Caballeros
This 18,000-acre horse ranch is the choice for planners seeking a distinctive, activity-rich venue that combines resort amenities with flexible event spaces. Recommended for retreats, experiential meetings and team building.
9,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; 79 guestrooms
El Conquistador Tucson
Settle into the high desert at this Hilton property, which offers an array of wellness activities—sound baths, group yoga, guided meditation and more—that planners can seamlessly weave into programming.
76,543 sq. ft. of meeting space; 428 guestrooms
This article appears in the March/April 2026 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
