Tucson is known for its natural beauty and its diverse food scene. Photo by Ulises Escobar / Visit Tucson

People’s fascination with Arizona is even bigger than its Grand Canyon — the grandest canyon in the world. Its beauty draws photographers while writers reverently describe its sandstones, waterfalls and landscape. Event planners rave about it to their attendees, including its amazing eats in unassuming places with great fervor.

When Megan Moloney began planning an association meeting for 200 attendees at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale last summer, she knew that the facilities had what she needed.

“We’ve been to the property previously and enjoyed our previous events hosted there,” says Moloney, the director of meeting and exhibits for the National Pest Management Association, based in Fairfax, VA. “We require a lot of breakout space, so the layout of the property provides us with those breakout rooms and keeps our group away from the other meeting spaces in the hotel.”

Many other association planners also find that meeting facilities in Arizona’s major cities offer precisely what they need for their groups, largely because of the great diversity and excellent quality of the properties as well as attractive outdoor options.

Mary H. Becton, CMP, founder and principal consultant of Dogwood Event Strategies in Alexandria, VA, discovered that the meeting facilities at Tempe Mission Palms provided the perfect layout for her client for a gathering of 280 attendees.

“The meeting space really drives the hotel option for this meeting,” she says. “We chose it for the [large] number of breakouts available. All the meeting space was centrally located around the courtyard, so it was easy to ‘change classes’ in the 10 minutes we allow for a stop at the bathrooms or the snack shacks.”

Scottsdale

While Moloney was especially attracted to The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale for its more than 40 breakout rooms, it provides nearly 200,000 sf of indoor and outdoor event space, including three ballrooms and other outstanding features for association meetings.

“The FlowRider out by the pool was a unique experience that hasn’t been at any of the other properties we’ve taken this event to,” she says. “We were able to rent out the FlowRider one morning before the pool opened up for exclusive use for our group. The rental process and staff working the FlowRider were easy to work with, and I think they enjoyed watching members of our group compete against each other when using the machine.”

The National Pest Management Event, titled “Academy,” emphasized networking, team building and leadership. “The attendees were divided into six teams and competed in games throughout the week, in addition to attending sessions focused on those key aspects,” Moloney says. “We hosted all our activities for this event at The Westin Kierland. Our event is a little different than your typical meeting, but I think once the staff understood how our event flowed, they were able to provide more suggestions on timing and placement of reception tables and action tables, among other things.”

Moloney says the banquets team was also easy to work with — and the chef provided some options that weren’t listed in the banquet menus.

“One of our activities takes place in the evening, so we offer grab-and-go options to make it easier for our attendees to be able to eat while also moving around for the games they’re playing,” she says. “The catering menu offered some great options for items that were heavier but still easy to eat on the go. The group also hits the hotel bars after our events wrap up for the night. We had great feedback about the bar staff being quick and friendly.”

Scottsdale offers several other excellent, upscale venues for association meetings. The AAA Five Diamond Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is the largest meetings resort in the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts worldwide portfolio. The 750-room property features more than 316,000 sf of meeting space, including two 23,000 sf ballrooms, 47 meeting rooms and 21 unique outdoor venues.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess recently opened Privado Vidas, a new, boutique “hotel within a hotel.” It consists of 119 luxe, residential suites set apart from the 65-acre main property with a private entrance and reception area.

The 11-story Caesars Republic Scottsdale, situated next to the Scottsdale Fashion Square retail destination, opened in the spring. It has 265 guest rooms, a rooftop pool and lounge overlooking Camelback Mountain, two signature restaurants created by celebrated chef Giada de Laurentis and 20,000 sf of event space. The 7,000 sf ballroom features customizable LED lighting and cutting-edge sound, internet and audiovisual systems. Its sliding glass doors open to Cleopatra’s Pool & Bar.

Phoenix

Cathy Herring, CAE, the president and owner of KCA, Inc. — an association, meeting and event management firm based in Chandler and Phoenix, Arizona — selected Arizona Grand Resort & Spa for a meeting of 300 people last summer.

“We chose Phoenix as our location primarily because of a heavily discounted group rate offered at the revered Arizona Grand, a four-star resort and the region’s only AAA Four Diamond, all-suite resort known for its food and beverage program and top-notch amenities,” she says. “In addition to the discounted sleeping room rate, Arizona Grand offered food and beverage discounts and a low minimum, which is always a big plus for association groups.”

Herring lauds the property’s meeting facilities, consisting of 120,000 sf of both indoor and outdoor areas, including 16 distinct outdoor venues.

“Arizona Grand’s meeting facilities exceeded our expectations,” she says. “Being that this event was in July and summer heat was a factor, we needed large enough meeting space to keep registration, the exhibit hall of 25 vendors, all meals, general sessions and breakout rooms indoors. The Arizona Grand’s flexible meeting space checked all of our boxes, with plenty of additional space for those needing one-off meetings.”

Herring notes that the resort has large hospitality suites close to the meeting space, which was very helpful during the event.

“Additionally, transportation pick-up was seamless and very close to our meeting space, which allowed attendees to spend minimal time outside,” she says.

Herring says the seven-acre Oasis Water Park and 18-hole golf course were great options for attendees who ventured outside, and the variety of food options was exceptional.

“We’ve all had our share of banquet chicken — if you’ve had one, you’ve had them all — and suffice it to say, our attendees were incredibly appreciative of the options the Arizona Grand provided: The ice cream bars for the afternoon break were a huge hit! In terms of a real ‘wow’ factor, the banquet and convention staff at Arizona Grand are a step above the rest. As planners, we know the hospitality industry has struggled to keep up with demand, but the staff at this resort was truly incredible.”

Jamie Parreco, director of meetings for the Society for Cardiovascular Angiograph and Interventions, planned a meeting for about 2,000 attendees last year. The group stayed at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Phoenix (693 guest rooms, 48,000 sf of meeting space) and Renaissance Downtown (521 guest rooms, 51,085 sf). Meetings were held at the Hyatt and on three levels of the Phoenix Convention Center.

Many association planners who bring groups to the Phoenix area opt to use the convention center — with 635,000 sf of meeting and exhibit space, including three ballrooms and 99 meeting and breakout rooms.

“We were able to use the convention center space in a way that kept everyone close together, which they love,” she says. “We used the 100 level for all meals, so everyone knew where to go from the start. It’s a very easy layout for signage, so people were able to navigate easily.”

Parreco says that staff members at both the convention center and Hyatt Regency Downtown Phoenix were among the best she has worked with. “At both Hyatt and the center, staff members were extremely responsive, helpful and beyond pleasant,” she says. “We had regular calls, and I always felt like the only client they had because of all the personal attention they provided.”

One of Phoenix’s newest luxury properties for small meetings, The Global Ambassador, opened last winter with 141 guest rooms and five restaurants, including Le Ame, a Parisian steakhouse, and Pink Dolphin, featuring Mexican and Peruvian-inspired dishes in a poolside setting. The 10,000 sf of meeting space is spread among pavilions, terraces, secret gardens, rooftop eateries and indoor rooms. The largest area, The Pavilion, offers 4,600 sf divided among four separate areas and an outdoor terrace.

“A hotel with culinary expertise at its heart, The Global Ambassador is overflowing with vibrant flavors and eloquent diversity on every level,” says Stuart Evans, vice president of sales for Visit Phoenix.

Tempe

Becton began focusing on Tempe for the Global Cold Chain Alliance’s gathering this year because of its suitability for conferences.

“We were looking for a West Coast option that had the conference center ‘feel,’” she says, “It’s really driven by ease of access to the city through the (Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, or PHX) hub, lower cost of Tempe and the Tempe Mission Palms layout.”

The 303-room property provides 30,000 sf of meeting space, including a 9,400 sf ballroom, 3,600 sf junior ballroom, individual breakout rooms and a 4,000 sf open-air courtyard.

Becton said that the food and beverage team at the property was very detail oriented and cared about making sure attendees were happy. She raved about the break stations, better known as Snack Shacks, which are help-yourself spots with a wide array of options, including fruit, healthy snacks, cookies, candy, salty treats and ice cream.

“Those snack shacks can’t be beat!” she says.

Melanie Volkers, CHSE, CHDM director of sales, marketing and events for Tempe Mission Palms, adds, “They are a huge hit with our groups. These free-standing buildings on either side of the courtyard are strategically positioned for quick access from the majority of our meeting rooms. They’re fully stocked with healthy and indulgent snacks and beverages. Groups can choose from the morning only, afternoon only and all-day options. Imagine having your coffee break all day long instead of in a few 15-minute intervals.”

The American Optometric Association recently worked with the profession’s Presidents Council – an independent meeting of optometry leaders from across the country – to plan their conference at Tempe Mission Palms, a gathering of 200 attendees this winter.

“We are a dynamic group whose mission is to provide leadership training, share best practices and offer networking opportunities, utilizing a mix of large group sessions, smaller breakouts, and group food functions, so we need central spaces that are easily accessible with multiple breakout rooms. Tempe Mission Palms provided an ideal property,” says Dr. Christopher Wroten, O.D., Presidents Council moderator. “For efficiencies and weather, we ended up repurposing the general session room for other activities, including the evening dinner, which worked very well.”

Dr. Wroten says that attendees appreciated the property and had a productive and engaging meeting. “The long-tenured staff was knowledgeable and provided the type of teamwork we appreciate from our on-the-ground support,” he says. “From the food to audio-visual needs to unanticipated, last-minute asks, the team and property were exceptional. It was also ideal to have a headquarters event hotel that is centrally located with easily accessible amenities and entertainment.”

Dr. Wroten says the outside plaza area was unique in that it created a connectiveness for the meeting and guests. “The centrality and openness of the courtyard to the hotel and meeting rooms lent an additional engagement opportunity for our guests,” he says. “Everything was cohesive and flowed well.”

Omni Hotel at Arizona State University, another leading hotel for association meetings in Tempe, is also the city’s newest major property. Situated in the revitalized downtown area, it offers 330 guest rooms, four dining options, a rooftop pool deck and nearly 36,000 sf of meeting space, including the 15,000-sf Salt River Ballroom, 2,048-sf Sun Devil Ballroom and 1,764-sf Sun Devil Lawn.

Mesa

The Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West, one of Mesa’s leading properties for association meetings, is nestled between the Chicago Cubs’ spring training stadium and Mesa Riverview Park. It features 180 guest rooms, two restaurants and 20,888 sf of meeting space.

Melyssa Reeves, president and CEO of One West Tourism Alliance — formerly known as Destination Marketing Association — organized its 2024 Tech Summit and Vendor Showcase for 175 attendees at the property this spring.

“Mesa has been a great host to us for a few events over the years, and we felt it was a great fit for our tech summit due to the location, beautiful weather and our strong partnership with Visit Mesa,” Reeves says.

All meetings took place at the property, which includes the 12,480-sf Canyon Ballroom, a lush courtyard, a pool deck, and an upper deck with views of the city and mountains that can be transformed into a festive setting with bistro lights. Reeves says one of the highlights of the trip was the opening reception held on the upper deck.

Another popular property for association meetings, the 274-room Delta Hotels by Marriott Phoenix Mesa, offers two dining venues as well as more than 45,000 sf of meeting space, including the 9,072-sf Arizona Ballroom. It is adjacent to the Mesa Convention and Amphitheatre, which has 19,000 sf of meeting space and 19,000 sf of exhibit space.

Tucson

Omni Tucson National Resort, situated in the picturesque foothills of Arizona’s Catalina Mountains, completed a multimillion-dollar transformation at the end of 2022. It included renovating its 130 guest rooms, refreshing restaurant and lounge concepts and adding Mokara Spa, the Omni brand’s signature wellness offering. The project also transformed the 25,000 sf of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space by designing them with palettes and elements that mirror the surrounding desert landscape. The property’s 13 meeting areas include the 2,870-sf Papago Ballroom and 6,000-sf Norville Lawn, the largest outdoor space.

Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa finished a multimillion-dollar renovation and total redesign of its guest rooms last year to reflect the natural setting surrounding the property, partly by framing the textures and colors of the landscape and wildlife. The property is also one of Tucson’s premier locations for association meetings, providing 92,355 sf of meeting and event space, including an 18,000-sf ballroom.

A 10-year, $100 million renovation project at Tucson Convention Center is complete, including digital touch points with more that 70 additional display screens, way finders and augmented reality installation — the first of its kind. The project provided 233,000 sf of new and remodeled meeting space, public walkways, gathering places, water features, sculptures and eco-friendly landscaping. The improvements also include new seating and upgrades to the 2,289-seat Linda Ronstadt Music Hall. The convention center has a 20,164-sf grand ballroom which can be divided into three ballrooms: Copper Ballroom with 10,082 sf, Turquoise Ballroom with 5,041 sf and Crystal Ballroom with 5,041 sf.

“Arizona is truly a fantastic choice for hosting any professional meeting or conference, especially for associations,” says Evans. “With its abundance of luxury hotels, resorts and unique event spaces, Arizona offers a wide range of options to suit any meeting or conference. Our legendary landscapes and abundance of sunshine provide an inspiring backdrop for both work and leisure activities.”

Crystal Boisvert, vice president of sales and event management for Marc and Rose Hospitality based in Scottsdale adds, “In Arizona, associations can find a wide range of venues that seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor spaces, offering flexibility and creativity in event planning. Whether it’s a garden conference or a sunlit seminar in a hybrid setting, associations can create a memorable experience that fosters connection and innovation.” | AC&F |