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B M & T ••• September/October 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 48 ARIZONA AREA GUIDES ARIZONA: WHERE THE LAND GOES BIG BY DARLENE DONLOE Arizona is a state of epic scale – Grand Canyon sunsets that stop con- versations, saguaro forests saluting the sky, and red-rock canyons carved like cathedrals. Phoenix hums with desert-modern swagger and James Beard chefs. Tucson simmers with UNESCO flavors and star-strewn skies. Scottsdale polishes the desert with galleries, golf, and pool days that turn into late nights. Route 66 still kicks up dust. Native nations anchor the map with living culture, not history plaques. In Arizona, the light is sharp- er, the stories older, and every horizon dares you to drive toward it. PHOENIX Phoenix doesn't apologize for its thermostat. It uses it. America's sunni- est big city has outgrown the "golf- and-retirement" postcard and built something sharper: desert modernism laced with murals, James Beard kitchens tucked into old bungalows, and saguaros standing guard over rooftop bars. Phoenix has a deep Black history that often gets missed in the desert postcards. Check out the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, known as "The Carver," and the Afri-Soul Education Center/The Swindall House listed in the Green Book as a safe inn for Black travelers during Jim Crow. Today, it's a hub for 15-20 Black- owned businesses. Eastlake Park is the heart of Phoenix's his- toric Black communi- ty. The park anchors a neighborhood where Black and Brown resi- dents were restricted to living south of Van Buren during segre- gation. This is a place where Native and Mexican heritage isn't a museum label – it's lunch. Where hiking Camelback at dawn is civic ritual, and where the sky at dusk turns the kind of violet that makes you pull over. The Convention Center's million square feet of meeting and exhibit space connects directly to 3,000+ walkable hotel rooms. Visitors fly into the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which has nonstop routes from over 100 cities. TUSCON Tucson wears its age like a patina. This is a city that predates Arizona, a place where adobe walls hold Spanish, Mexican, and O'odham sto- ries at once. The saguaros (tall tree- like cactus) aren't props – they're neighbors. Visit the Dunbar Pavilion, a historic cultural and community center that stands as a living monument to Black history and education in Southern Arizona. It's great for receptions and workshops. Need more room? The JW Marriott Starr Pass pairs high-end service with sweeping ballrooms and Sono-ran vis- tas, ideal for reward programs and wellness-focu-sed events. When the agenda ends, groups can hit desert trails, book top-tier spa treatments, explore Four-th Avenue's galleries, or sample Tucson's flavors on a guided food tour. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Tucson – (800) 638-8350 visittucson.org SCOTTSDALE Scottsdale blends outdoor access with upscale comfort. You can hike Camelback Mountain in the morning and visit an Old Town gallery by afternoon. The city is known for resorts, spas, and golf courses set against the Son-oran Desert and Mc- Dowell Mountains. Old Town has shops, restaurants, and a strong arts scene. Nearby, you'll find Native American crafts and contemporary architecture. Dining ranges from casual Southwestern to high-end restau- rants. Scottsdale has everything a top meeting destination needs: quality hotels, modern venues, and easy air and ground travel. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is 7-14 miles west. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Experience Scottsdale (800) 782-1117 www.experiencescottsdale.com One of Phoenix outstanding golf course • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Sheraton Phoenix Downtown 1,003 JW Marriott Phoenix Desert 950 Arizona Grand Resort & Spa 744 Hyatt Regency Phoenix 693 The Westin Phoenix Downtown 242 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Phoenix Convention Center Total Meeting Space 1 million sq. ft. Total Exhibition Space 584,500 sq. ft. Largest Hall 312,500 sq. ft. LargestBallroom 45,600 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 99 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Phoenix (877) CALL-PHX / (877) 225-5749 www.visitphoenix.com