Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, AZ has two Tom Fazio-designed golf courses and 83,000 sf of meeting space. Courtesy of Visit Tucson

Fresh air, sunny skies, show-stopping experiences. As if the Grand Canyon and its wildlife population wasn’t spectacular enough, Arizona’s meetings industry is finding more oohs and aahs to add to their events memories.

Arizona is known as that surprising, natural wonder, perfect climate, warm sun type of destination with unlimited areas to highlight. From Arizona’s northern to southern, eastern to western coast, planners and attendees are feasting their eyes on urban attractions, coastal to Old West towns and — anything in between. For the meetings industry, that’s great news.

“Even better news is that future bookings in Arizona and industry forecasts indicate the meetings industry will continue to grow, eventually surpassing the high-water mark of 2019,” says Josh Coddington, director of communication and public information officer for the Arizona Office of Tourism.

Coddington notes that this not only indicates that The Grand Canyon State is a top-tier destination, but also that people and companies still place high value on face-to-face meetings. Valley cities such as Phoenix and Scottsdale and statewide destinations including Tucson and Sedona all rank high on insurance and financial meeting planners’ preferred destination lists. “These places offer the rooms, facilities and flexible venue options that planners covet,” he says. “And it’s no secret that successful vibes are enhanced with help from local experts. When the work is done and it’s time to switch off, it’s easy to add vacation vibes to the schedule, creating the memorable experiences that insurance and financial meeting attendees want,” he says.

Top-notch resorts are available in Arizona’s major cities, with each having unique attractions nearby. “Magnificent deserts and mountain regions are spread across the state, each gushing with distinct cultures, amenities and experiences,” Coddington says.

Tempe

“Tempe is very accessible for financial and insurance meetings,” says Michael Martin, president and CEO of the Tempe Tourism Office. “The city is less than 10 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor National Airport (PHX) and has a direct connection on Valley Metro Light Rail. We also have several hotels with up to 30,000 sf of meeting space.”

Credit Union National Association (CUNA), based in Madison, WI, has held several meetings at Tempe Mission Palms, a destination by Hyatt Hotel, last year. It offers 303 guest rooms and more than 30,000 sf of meeting space.

“The staff and attendees love it because of the great service that we are always provided from start to finish,” says Nicole Ellickson, CMP, the director of conference and meeting experience for the company. “The hotel is always flexible with our needs, the meeting space is a great fit and everyone loves the snack shack — healthy, unhealthy, beverages and more, it’s a wonderful option and we wish more hotels had one.”

Ellickson and her staff hosted a reception at the hotel one night, and on the other nights, attendees were on their own to get off the property and explore restaurants and attractions.

“Tempe offers many restaurants in the area and lots to do,” she says. “Many people hike up the mountain/mound behind the resorts and share their stories and great photos the next day.”

Katie Elsberry, president and owner of KE management, who works as an independent consultant assisting companies that need conference and event planning services, brought a group of 400 to Tempe Mission Palms for its F&I Reinsurance and Product Conference last fall.

“Our headquarters is in Phoenix, and we want a location close to the airport with lots of restaurant options within walking distance,” she says. “Our attendees typically utilize the evenings following our formal receptions for private dinners with partners, clients or potential clients.”

The resort upgraded its internet service before the conference and there were no connectivity issues. “F&I conference attendees respond in real-time on their mobile device to our emcee with questions for presenters and answer survey questions, so internet connectivity is very important to us,” she says.

Tempe’s other hotels for large meetings include Omni Temple Hotel at ASU, with 330 guest rooms and 36,000 sf of meeting space, and Marriott Phoenix at the Buttes Tempe Resort, with 353 guest rooms and more than 40,000 sf of meeting space.

Scottsdale

Boasting 300 days of sunshine annually, Scottsdale features top-tier resorts for insurance and financial groups of all sizes and budgets, state-of-the-art meeting facilities and hassle-free transportation in the air and on the ground.

“Scottsdale offers what few other destinations can match — fresh air, sunny skies and the luxury of space, says Kelli Blubaum, vice president of convention sales and services for Experience Scottsdale. “These conveniences are coupled with world-class golf, acclaimed resort and day spas, and award-dining and nightlife to keep attendees engaged and entertained.”

Joanna Puchalski, senior meeting planner for the Opal Group, headquartered in New York City, has been coordinating an annual event in the winter for this financial consulting group in Scottdale for the past several years.

“We find that it is a great way to start off the new year in a beautiful location,” she says. “Our attendees come from across the country and most of them like to escape the winter weather for a few days. Also, the airport has great airlift, and Scottsdale is just minutes away from the airport.”

Puchalski brought 150 attendees to The Scott Resort & Spa. A vibrant, Mission-style boutique resort in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, The Scott Resort & Spa has 204 guest rooms, 14,500 sf of indoor meeting space, and 8,500 sf of outdoor space, including patios, a private beach and fire pits.

“The Scott has a great location,” she says. “It’s near downtown, which made it easy for or attendees to enjoy the nightlife. And the space worked well for our program.”

The resort offers “fantastic” catering, which was appreciated by attendees, who mentioned how accommodating the staff was with all their dietary restrictions.

“Our group also enjoyed a golf outing at McCormick Ranch Golf Club, which accommodated all my last-minute changes and made it look flawless,” Puchalski says.

She recommends that planners contact Experience Scottsdale if they are interested in holding a meeting in the city. “Scottsdale is an ever-changing city and the CVB will always know what’s new and can tailor your experience to your group, whether it is golf of a cultural experience,” she says. “Also, Scottsdale is lucky to have a vibrant Native American community and I am glad that I was able to experience it.”

Other great venues in Scottsdale include the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, which is nestled at the back of Camelback Mountain. It embarked on a renovation that included all 293 guest rooms and 102,000 sf meeting space.

Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale, Curio Collection by Hilton, finished upgrades to two of its championship golf courses designed by Jay Morrish. The resort offers 219 guest rooms, 50,000 sf of meeting space, several dining options, a 33,000-sf spa and a learning center. Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Villas, which offers 404 guest rooms and 50,000 sf of meeting space is planning to redevelop part of its 40-acre property to include 64 additional guest rooms, three new restaurants, and a new spa and cafe building.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, situated on 65 acres, is a luxury resort that offers 750 oversized guest rooms and 316,000 sf of indoor and outdoor meeting space, including the 22,394-sf Palmino Ballroom and 22,500-sf Princess Ballroom.

Talking Stick Resort & Casino provides 496 guest rooms and 113,000 sf of meeting space, including the 25,000-sf Salt River Grand Ballroom and 25,000-sf Conference Center. The casino is a popular attraction among meeting groups.

Phoenix

The fifth-most populous city in the United States, with more than 1.6 million residents, Phoenix also has the sixth-largest cluster of financial and insurance firms in the country.

“Greater Phoenix also offers a number of thought leaders within these industries,” says Stuart Evans, vice president of sales for Visit Phoenix. “These thought leaders will not only educate attendees on the topic at hand, but also offer them a destination experience.”

Phoenix has an abundance of meeting properties and recently has seen unprecedented growth in the luxury sector. Through the pandemic, the Valley of the Sun reinvented itself by renovating and opening meeting properties as well as adding new restaurants and attractions.

“The Arizona Biltmore, a Waldorf-Astoria Resort’s renovation enhanced the property’s iconic beauty from its lobby and guest rooms to its new spa and Spire Bar,” Evans says. “With 740 guest rooms and over 100,000 sf of meeting space, it offers an elevated experience to groups of all sizes.”

Two of the city’s largest meeting properties — JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa (950 guest rooms, 255,000 sf of meeting space) and Sheraton Phoenix Downtown (1,003 guest rooms, more than 110,000 sf) — have recently undergone complete transformations that include guest rooms, dining experiences and meeting areas.

Arizona Grand Resort & Spa already the fourth-largest resort in the valley with 744 guest rooms and 120,000 sf of meeting space, announced plans last summer to add up to 460 rooms as part of a major renovation and expansion.

Located across the street from Phoenix Convention Center, which has nearly 1 million sf of meeting and exhibit space, Hyatt Regency Phoenix offers 693 guest rooms and has added four meeting rooms to its 50,000 sf of meeting space.

Vai Resort, scheduled to open later this year in Glendale, AZ, will introduce a new concept to the valley. It will include 1,100 guest rooms within four towers that surround a pool oasis with 12 restaurants, 10 bars, Mattel Amusement Park and Konos Island, the largest manmade party island in the world.

Mesa

Mesa provides more than 5,000 guest rooms, and 40,000 sf of meeting space at Mesa Convention Center & Amphitheatre, including the 19,000 sf in the Main Hall. It is adjacent to Delta Hotels by Marriott Phoenix Mesa, with 274 guest rooms, two dining venues and 45,212 sf of meeting space. Combined, the convention center and hotel offer 27 breakout rooms.

Near Mesa Riverview Park, Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West offers 180 guest rooms, three restaurants, a pool and 12,480 sf of meeting space. Located 12 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) and Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA), DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix offers 266 guest rooms and more than 20,000 sf of meeting space.

David Kolozar, managing director of national sales for Visit Mesa, says that insurance and financial groups have plenty of opportunities to experience the city’s agritourism scene by dining on locally sourced menus in charming settings.

“The Fresh Foodie Trail is a self-guided trail where people can visit agri-businesses, including Queen Creek Olive Mill, Arizona’s only operating olive farm, and Schnepf Farms, the state’s largest organic peach farm,” he says.

Outdoor enthusiasts can participate in a host of experiences — including kayaking, paddleboarding and tubing — along the Salt River, situated in the Sonoran Desert, which borders Mesa.

Mesa will soon be home to the 37-acre, mixed-use Cannon Breach Revel State Park, centered around Revel Surf, a surfing lagoon created by Swell MFG Technology. It will include two hotels, 28,000 sf of meeting space, spas, salons and restaurants. Developers hope to open the park this spring.

Tucson

The second-largest city in Arizona, Tucson features a lively, walkable downtown that has more than 600 new hotel rooms in its downtown and university districts.

“These two areas connect with a modern streetcar, making downtown Tucson a favorite for those groups who prefer to have dining options right outside their door,” says Mary Meade, vice president of sales for Visit Tucson. “These new hotel options are a perfect complement to the Tucson Convention Center, which has over 233,000 sf of meeting space and three performance venues.”

The new hotels include DoubleTree by Hilton Tucson Downtown Convention Center, which is directly connected to the convention center.

JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa was chosen by Allison Beers, owner of Events North, for a financial meeting with 350 attendees last spring.

“After the first inspection, we fell in love with the size of the city — large enough, but manageable and easy to get to hotels from the airport,” she says. “But we also fell in love with nature and the resort.”

According to Beers, the resort was an amazing partner and made her feel like she was their only client during planning. “They were open to our fun ideas to make this program unique. I have been planning meetings for over 25 years and it was the best hotel food I’ve ever had, too,” says Beers.

Attendees participated in a CSR project during the program. The hotel flipped the ballroom set-up during breakouts and created work stations, led by the executive chef. Everyone donned chef hats and branded aprons.

“For one hour, we made tamales and learned about the history of the area, as well as the community center, where the tamales would feed guests for over a week. It was an amazing experience,” says Beers, who was pleased to hear that the attendees loved Tucson and many were looking forward to coming back for a vacation.

Sedona

Known worldwide for its striking, colorful landscape and abundance of spiritual-based activities, Sedona has become a favorite spot for a variety of meetings.

“Sedona is host to hundreds of meetings and tours annually, with more than 4,000 rooms, flexible meeting space up to 35,000 sf and over 50 restaurants,” says Michelle Kostecki, CEO and president of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau. “Newly renovated hotels and resorts provide sophisticated meeting facilities with conference services as impressive as the surrounding red rocks.”

Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock provides 221 guest rooms and more than 25,000 sf of indoor and outdoor meeting space. The indoor space is pillarless and features three ballrooms, 12 meeting rooms and seven executive meeting spaces. More than 10,000 sf of outdoor space is available amid the majestic red rocks and Coconino National Forest.

The 70-acre Enchantment Resort boasts 218 casita-style guest rooms, 13,000 sf of indoor meeting space and more than 30,000 sf of outdoor meeting sites.

“We also have many unique meeting spaces, such as Tlaquepaque Art and Shopping Village, which is a re-created Mexican Village that transports you back in time,” Kostecki says. “Vine-covered stucco walls, cobblestone walkways and arched entryways lead into garden nooks and courtyards that can hold 100 attendees.”

According to Kostecki, Sedona inspires creativity, rejuvenation and relaxation. Attendees can explore vortex sites, which are said to be centers of spiritual energy — walk a labyrinth, meditate or even participate in a yoga session.” I&FMM.