New hotels and renovated beauties in the South and Southwest U.S. are as different as their climates. Tee off amid ancient black lava fields or relax under a tropical sun. For gatherings and meetings, the great outdoors are available year-round in some spots while superior indoor venues feature the latest in event technology.
Take a look at what’s new and waiting for your group:
Black Desert Resort, Utah
Situated on miles of ancient black lava fields and rugged, vermillion sandstone cliffs, the $2B, highly anticipated Black Desert Resort is poised to be the largest resort in the state of Utah, spanning over 600 acres. The Black Desert Resort will feature a Resort Center, Golf Village and Family Village, all of which will be fully completed in Q1 2025. The resort center is set to open in the fall and is in close proximity to Snow Canyon, Angel’s Landing and other nearby state parks in the Greater Zion region.
The resort will include 791 hotel rooms, more than 600 luxury residences, five dining options, a 15,000-square-foot spa and wellness center, a 1,000-plus-seat amphitheater arena and more. The resort will also be home to one of Utah’s largest golf courses, a 19-hole, 7,400-yard course carved through the lava beds that will be used for a PGA Tour championship event in the fall.
Black Desert Resort will also offer 45,000 sf of indoor-outdoor meeting space spread across 18 meeting and event venues. The largest space can accommodate up to 1,200 attendees, with amenities such as wellness offerings, advanced technical support, a diverse selection of catering menus and expert event planning services.
Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort
Following a full-property renovation to the tune of $115M, the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch will make its debut as the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort in early October 2024, the first Grand Hyatt hotel in Arizona. Residential-style luxury casitas and king/queen rooms will be joined by new F&B concepts including the La Zozzona modern Italian chophouse, as well as a new 10-acre pool complex boasting expanded cabanas. Groups will find pampering refershment at the new Spa Avania and get together for outdoor recreation via bicycle trails and 27 holes of championship golf. Tennis and pickleball are served as well.
Also in October, Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort will unveil its fully renovated existing meeting space that includes a revitalization of the 14,000-sf Vaquero Ballroom, as well as the remaining 52,000 square feet of existing indoor/outdoor function space. Finalizing the elevated meetings and events capabilities, and set to debut in January 2025, is the resort’s grand Arizona Ballroom. Upon completion, the Arizona Ballroom will have nearly tripled in size to 24,000 sf for a total 90,000 sf of indoor/outdoor function space.
The Cooper, Charleston
Adjacent to the Joe Riley Waterfront Park on the Charleston peninsula, The Cooper will be downtown Charleston’s first 5-star hotel on the waterfront, and will feature a private marina with a fleet of luxury boats and a large passenger yacht, and four brand new waterfront dining experiences. Overlooking the Cooper River, the 209-room hotel is drawing its design inspiration from its French Quarter surroundings. Opening in July 2025, it promises to be an exciting place to walk, shop, dine, and more for both local Charlestonians and visitors. The property will be accepting group bookings beginning Nov. 1, 2025 in its 20,000-sf of meeting and event space.
Faro Blanco, Florida Keys
A landmark property in the the Florida Keys, known for decades by its iconic lighthouse, is flying a new flag. After joining the Curio Collection by Hilton portfolio, the newly rebranded Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club Marathon, Curio Collection by Hilton is showing off a transformation following a $14M renovation of accommodations, amenities, meeting space and restaurant offerings. Located in the Middle Keys city of Marathon, the Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club joins its sister hotel, Courtyard Faro Blanco Resort, on the same property for a total 250 guest rooms at 1996 Overseas Highway.
The 125-room property four outdoor pools, including an infinity pool along with activities including guided snorkeling and fishing charters through the resort’s exclusive partner Faro Blanco Marina, A Suntex Experience. Later in 2024, a new full-service spa will invite guests to indulge in serene treatment rooms and a curated selection of island-inspired therapies crafted from fresh botanicals and marine extracts. Additionally, with over 40,000 square feet of reimagined meeting space, Faro Blanco Resort’s versatile venues include an expansive event lawn and a marina-view pool deck.
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