A recent press trip to Scottsdale took me to a bevy of new or refreshed spots trending in this ever-growing Arizonan city.
Here are five of the latest happenings for meeting planners to incorporate into their next venture to the desert.
The Scott Resort & Spa
Formerly Kimpton’s Firesky Resort, the 204-room Scott Resort & Spa debuted the initial phase of a complete redesign to its public spaces last fall, and the guest rooms will follow suit later this year. The Cuban décor throughout the space transports attendees to Havana with vintage artwork and wicker furniture matched by vibrant plants throughout.
Mountain Shadows
A remake of the luxury Mountain Shadows resort (built in 1959) officially opened its 183 guest rooms last year, while its 42-unit condominiums complex debuted in March. The mid-century modern décor pays homage to the property’s glory days, and an on-property art curator makes the about 8,000 sf of indoor meeting space feel as if you’re visiting a trendy museum.
JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa
The 453-room JW Marriott Camelback Inn is set to debut a conference center in the coming weeks, adding the 15,000-sf Paradise Ballroom and 20,000 sf of outdoor and pre-function spaces that will bring the property’s total meeting space to 95,000 sf. Up next: A guest room renovation is scheduled for next summer.
The Phoenician
Groups looking for a little R&R will find a new oasis in the desert at The Phoenician. Its new three-story Phoenician Spa debuted in April, offering 24 treatment rooms, a VIP suite, Drybar, full-service nail salon and rooftop pool, part of a three-year, $120 million renovation scheduled for completion at the end of this year.
The Clayton House
Looking to venture off site? The Clayton House officially opened in December as an indoor-outdoor venue with a full-service kitchen and a variety of rooms named after different parts of a house. Its retractable doors open out onto the “porch,” while the “great room” serves as a blank canvas for planners, with its massive white wall for projections and LED light wall.
