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New & Coming Soon to Phoenix
• The AC Hotel by Marriott Phoenix Biltmore debuted last fall in the Biltmore neighborhood. With 5,000 square feet of meeting space, the 160-room hotel can host groups of up to 150.
• The DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix North opened in 2018 with 284 guest rooms and 14,000 square feet of meeting space in a part of the city close to major health-care and insurance industry employers including UnitedHealthcare and Liberty Mutual.
• The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, has unveiled a new restaurant — the Phoenician Tavern — which offers "upscale pub grub" and craft beers in a laid-back bar setting. With a total of 249 seats, the eatery's options for groups include a 78-seat private dining room and 34-seat outdoor patio. The tavern's opening caps a three-phase, propertywide series of renovations that began nearly three years ago and saw a refresh of the resort's 645 guest rooms, golf, fitness and spa facilities.
• The 119-room Royal Palms Resort and Spa added nearly 3,600 square feet of new meeting and event space last year, bringing total indoor and outdoor event space at the property to more than 20,000 square feet.
More Event Venues, Additions & Renovations
• Just one block from the Phoenix Convention Center, restaurateur Ivan Jacobo opened a contemporary American bistro called Anhelo. The Heritage Square eatery is located in the space that formerly housed Rose & Crown, a popular British-style pub that relocated to a new site across the street from the convention center at the beginning of the year. Previously, Chef Jacobo earned a following for the inventive fare he served at a pop-up supper club, and the same ethos of reinventing traditional dishes with modern tweaks and locally sourced ingredients prevails at Anhelo.
• A new Element by Westin opens at SkySong complex. Marriott International’s Westin brand built its image around health and wellness, and its newest property, the Element (by Westin) Scottsdale at SkySong, takes that commitment further than ever before. Making its debut this month, the 157-room Element is an extended-stay property that offers guests a sustainable and health-focused atmosphere, with an emphasis on smart design, efficient use of space and a “nature-focused environment.” The Element occupies the southwestern corner of the SkySong complex, also known as the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center. The hotel offers 2,170 square feet of meeting space and a 7,572-square-foot, open-air courtyard.
• Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. has already taken the local craft-beer circuit by storm with its inventive brews and bold flavors, but its newest offering might be its biggest yet: A 650-seat beer garden-tasting bar hybrid, complete with an expansive outdoor seating area featuring fire pits and picnic-style seating, along with an indoor bar and restaurant space that serves up hearty fare like burgers and tacos. Anchoring the corner of East Roosevelt and Second Streets, this downtown Phoenix oasis for beer lovers is the kind of neighborhood gathering space that attracts locals and visitors alike.
• The Sheraton Phoenix Downtown is set to undergo a sweeping renovation. The 1,000-room property — the city's largest — will be transformed into a prototype for Marriott's portfolio-wide rebranding of Sheraton. When the renovation is completed, the Sheraton's guest rooms, lobby and 77,000 square feet of meeting space will reflect the new brand identity.
• Arts and entertainment collective Meow Wolf and development collaborative True North Studio have announced plans for a hybrid interactive art installation and hotel in the Phoenix Roosevelt Row Arts District. The 400-room property will include a 75,000-square-foot exhibition area and a 10,000-square-foot performance space.
• Construction is underway on the new Great Wolf Lodge Arizona resort in the Talking Stick Entertainment District in Scottsdale (part of the Greater Phoenix area). The 350-room property is set to open in October with an 85,000-square-foot water park and a 27,000-square-foot entertainment center.
• Local development and management firm Oxygen Hospitality Group announced its purchase of the Wyndham Garden Phoenix Midtown in February, along with plans for a multimillion-dollar renovation. The 160-room hotel, which has 5,000 square feet of meeting space, will remain open throughout the renovation.
• Near the Phoenix Convention Center, a $77 million downtown "innovation center" is being developed in partnership with Arizona State University. The new research facility, part of the Phoenix Biomedical Campus, is scheduled to open late next year.
• The Phoenix Convention Center has plans to renovate its food court this summer. The facility has close to a million square feet of meeting and exhibit space, including a 312,500-square-foot main exhibit hall and a 46,000-square-foot ballroom. Two spots to check out within walking distance of the convention center: the Arizona Science Center and The Bungalow in Heritage Square. This building, also known as the Stevens House, dates to 1901 and sells locally made toys, handmade pottery and natural beauty products
• Papago Golf Course in Phoenix recently opened Evie's Pavilion, a 2,900-square-foot indoor/outdoor event venue overlooking the Papago Buttes and the city's skyline. The pavilion can accommodate up to 150 guests.