CENTRAL ARIZONA
ExperienceScottsdale.com; @ScottsdaleAriz; @ExpScottsdale—From the Sonoran Desert to Old Town, Scottsdale offers advantages for meetings that few other destinations can match, says Kelli Blubaum, vice president of sales and services for Experience Scottsdale. “With 300-plus days of sunshine, fresh air, clear skies, and a wide variety of indoor and outdoor event spaces, Scottsdale is a year-round destination where planners can feel confident hosting outdoor events or planning for offsite recreation, like horseback riding, hiking, hot air balloon trips, and more.”
The city has venues and lodging for groups of all sizes and budgets. “Combine that with top-tier facilities, hassle-free ground and air transportation, some of the world’s finest golf courses, luxurious spas, Old West and Native American culture, and award-winning dining and nightlife, and that makes Scottsdale an unbeatable destination,” Blubaum says.
According to Experience Scottsdale, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess plans an expansion of its existing conference center, adding 35,000 square feet of new meeting and event space, underground parking, and additional lodging. Currently, the resort has 750 guest rooms and 316,000 square feet of event space, with two ballrooms, 47 meeting rooms, and 21 outdoor venues. At The Phoenician, which currently has 585 guest rooms and more than 160,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space, the planned Canyon Suites will create a resort-within-a resort, with eight free-standing one- to four-bedroom buildings with private pools, cabanas, and access to all The Phoenician amenities.
The REMI Scottsdale, Autograph Collection is expected to open in summer 2025 in Scottsdale’s entertainment district, with 161 guest rooms. The Kimsey mixed-use development in Old Town is expected to open in 2026 with a 168-room AC Hotel by Marriott.
Several hotels and resorts have recently completed upgrades. The 496-room Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort (formerly Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch) debuted a larger ballroom and completed a rebranding and $115 million property-wide renovation in October 2024. The resort has 75,000 square feet of indoor event space with 90,000 square feet of outdoor space. The 735-room Westin Kierland Resort & Spa opened a new restaurant and bar and unveiled new spa experiences. The resort has 82,882 square feet of indoor event space and 115,084 square feet of outdoor venues. The Scottsdale Resort & Spa, Curio Collection by Hilton has introduced The Stillman Villas, a secluded enclave of 12 two-story villas. The resort has 278 guest rooms and 90,045 square feet of event space. In February 2025, the mid-century modern Hotel Valley Ho completed an $18 million room renovation. The hotel has a variety of event spaces, including two ballrooms, several meeting rooms, and a rooftop venue with a capacity of 350 guests for receptions.
Opened in 2024, the 265-room Caesar’s Republic Scottsdale, a Hilton Hotel has a 20,000-square-foot conference center and a 7,000-square-foot ballroom. Slated to open in 2025, The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie will have 215 guest rooms with 90,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.
JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa has 453 guest rooms and more than 132,099 total square feet of indoor and outdoor event spaces, including a 2,100-person-capacity ballroom. The 378-room Doubletree by Hilton Paradise Valley/Scottsdale offers 40,000 square feet of indoor space and 15,000 square feet of outdoor venues. The 293-room Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia has 102,000 square feet of event space. Currently, there are more than 14,000 guest rooms in Scottsdale.
Unique offsite venues include WestWorld, with 300,000 square feet of climate-controlled space, including a 16,000-square-foot banquet room; Los Cedros USA, with indoor and outdoor spaces to accommodate 1,000 guests; and Corona Ranch and Rodeo Grounds, which seats 5,400 theater style. Taliesin West—a Frank Lloyd Wright creation, National Historic Landmark, and UNESCO World Heritage Site—offers stunning indoor and outdoor event spaces for 350 guests.
A unique group experience involves custom-made cowboy hats, Blubaum says. “At Rancher Hat Bar in Old Town Scottsdale, guests can create their own one-of-a-kind hat. Choose a style and color, pick out accessories, and the Rancher Hat Bar experts will create a custom hat visitors can take home the same day. They also offer a traveling setup for corporate groups and can accommodate up to 600 guests.”
