Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1507211
B M & T ••• September/October 2023 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 52 AREA GUIDES A R I Z 0 N A WHETHER YOU WANT TO PLAN AN EVENT IN THE CITY OR ONE OF THE STATE'S AMAZING WELLNESS RETREATS IN THE SONORAN DESSERT, ARIZONA HAS YOU COVERED B Y C L E T U S R A M S E Y Arizona means business. Planning your next professional meeting? Choose from the highest concentra- tion of luxury four- and five-star resorts in the U.S., as well as a vari- ety of conference centers, event spaces and venues perfect for host- ing both large and small groups, and enjoy a setting unlike any other. Round out your agenda with inspired dinners, wellness-themed activities, and group outings amongst the state's iconic landscapes. Need more? How about 325 days of sun- shine and breathtaking mountain, desert, or forest views? Come see why Arizona is a great place to host your next meeting. • • PHOENIX • • Reimagine your next event in Greater Phoenix. Harness the creativi- ty, collaboration and innovation beam- ing from the Sonoran Desert and throughout every square foot of flexible meeting space. The Greater Phoenix area is home to over 69,000 guest rooms at more than 500 hotels and resorts, including a wide variety of accommodation styles. There are also new accommodations and ven- ues to explore — 17 new properties with more than 1,900 rooms opened in 2020 alone — further embracing the indoor/outdoor lifestyle Phoenix has always celebrated. And many of the same venues where locals have been walking down the aisle for years, if not decades, marry the best of the region's modern amenities with its natural, won- drous scenery. In Phoenix planners can explore out- side-the-box meeting spaces, sustain- able and diverse initiatives, trends and best practices your attendees will appreciate, and more. With $5 billion in recent downtown investments, an ultramodern conven- tion center, walkable downtown corri- dor and immersive experiences situat- ed in a lush desert landscape, the nation's fifth-largest city brings your event into the bright light of center stage. Phoenix's perpetual sunshine might tempt you to find a secluded resort and spend all your days sipping margaritas next to the swimming pool. Don't give in. Exploring the city and finding things to do in Phoenix's desert horizons will broaden yours. Serene desert gardens, one-of-a- kind museums, award-winning dining and more: Make sure these can't-miss spots are on your Phoenix to-do list. • • TUCSON • • It's a simple question with a long answer. You've got a ton of people, or maybe a tad fewer, to bring togeth- er. You need a place where it's easy to get them in and out. A place with first-rate, well-maintained properties with plenty of space for your events. Great food is a must, some cool attractions would help, and if the weather is good, that's icing on the cake. Welcome to Tucson. Hopefully you like a lot of icing with your cake. This city has top-rated destination resorts and full-service meeting prop- erties and a wide range of other event venues to choose from (including new and renovated properties). How do you get off the beaten path without breaking the bank or los- ing a full day in transit? Take the quick drive from Metro Phoenix to Tucson for an entirely different perspective, free-spirited and authentic. If you haven't visited lately, you're in for a surprise. Downtown Tucson is having a renaissance as new restaurants and hotels, music, art, and events fill the streets and tune in to the casual Southwestern vibe. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Tucson – (800) 638-8350 www.visittucson.org • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Sheraton Phoenix Downtown 1.003 Westin Phoenix Downtown Hilton Garde Inn Phoenix Downtown 170 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Phoenix Convention Center Total Space 502,500 sq. ft. Largest Hall 143,400 sq. ft. Largest Ballroom 28,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 99 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Phoenix – (877) CALL-PHX www.visitphoenix.com A distant view of Downtown Phoenix photo credit: Phoenix CC