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•Pg_56-70__BMT_pg86-162 9/25/13 5:27 AM Page 60 AREA GUIDES ARIZONA THE GRAND CANYON STATE OFFERS PLANNERS MUCH MORE THAN STUNNING BEAUTY AND BREATHTAKING VISTAS BY SOLOMON J. HERBERT II According to the latest research data released by Arizona Office of Tourism, more than 38 million domestic and international overnight visitors experienced Arizona as a travel destination in 2012. Direct travel spending generated $19.3 billion, which is approximately $53 million contributed to Arizona's economy each and every single day. It's easy to understand why so many business and leisure travelers flock to Arizona. The state's scene-stealing natural beauty — including the Grand Canyon, Sedona and Monument Valley — often overshadows the many other features Arizona offers visitors, including a lively art and cultural scene, great outdoor recreational opportunities, and some of the finest accommodations and meeting facilities found anywhere in the nation. ••PHOENIX•• America's sixth-largest city still has real cowboys and rugged mountains and the kind of cactus most people see only in cartoons. Phoenix is the gateway to the Grand Canyon, and its history is a testament to the spirit of puebloans, ranchers, miners and visionaries. Projected against this rich backdrop is a panorama of urban sophistication: Resorts and spas that drop jaws and soothe souls. Stadiums and arenas worthy of the world's biggest sports spectacles. Restaurants with inspired cuisine and inspiring patio views give leisure travelers and the conference attendee excellent dining options while in this city. Golf courses that beckon players the year round give travelers much to do on their leisure time. Shopping centers as stylish and eclectic as the fashions they house offer some of the finest retail selections in the nation. This is Greater Phoenix — Arizona's urban heart and America's sunniest 60 Phoenix Convention Center interior metropolis. A $600 million expansion transformed the Phoenix Convention Center into one of the largest meeting facilities of its kind in the U.S. All told, the convention center boasts nearly 900,000 sq. ft. of meeting and exhibit space as well as 90 meeting rooms total. This venue is an excellent option for holding meetings and conferences of all sizes in a professional yet relaxed environment. New and renovated hotels have opened within steps of the convention center for the convenience of conference attendees. Downtown Phoenix now offers eight hotels with more than 3,000 hotels rooms – all within walking distance of the Phoenix Convention Center and surrounded by a range of dining and entertainment options in Phoenix's urban core. The 1,000-room Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel rises out of the golden sands of the Sonoran Desert, standing as a cultural oasis and redefining the concept of an urban hotel. 31 stories of style, with unexpected touches and special amenities, graciously await you. With over 80,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, including two ballrooms of 28,256 sq. ft. and 14,667 sq. ft. and 21 breakout rooms, this Phoenix jewel is sure to fulfill B M & T ••• July/August 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com Photo Credit: Phoenix CC each and every need of the conference attendee. Meeting Planners wont have a problem finding things for their clients to delve into on their leisure time. Phoenix museums and attractions are not to be missed. For a uniquely Southwestern experience, stroll through the Desert Botanical Garden to see desert plants, or visit the Heard Museum for Native American art and culture. If it's contemporary art attendees seek, the Phoenix Art Museum and SMOCA are great choices of activities to get into. If you have kids, the Children's Museum of Phoenix, the Arizona Science Center and the Phoenix Zoo are mustdos. For a special experience, hop in a hot air balloon to see the city and the saguaros from up high, or check out the desert with a Jeep or Hummer tour, lasting a few hours or a few days. If you prefer a non-motorized version, horseback riding tours in Phoenix are available and take you through different mountain ranges JAMES JESSE across the area.