Arizona Meetings and Events 2007

arizona M E E T I N G S

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E V E N T S

Two Thousand & Seven

Valley of the Sun — An Award-Winning Destination Arizona - The Grand Canyon State 6 The CVBs

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Arizona State Map

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Encounter Arizona

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The Golf Capital of the World

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Statewide Resources

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Mileage Map

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Convention Services

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Transportation and Tours

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Advertiser Index

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Phoenix and The West Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Scottsdale and the Northeast Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tempe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mesa and Chandler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dining and Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Activities and Attractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Meeting and Event Venues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tucson and Southern Arizona — The Real West

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TUCSON & SOUTHERN ARIZONA

Protected Places

VALLEY OF THE SUN

Contents

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Tucson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Southern Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

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Yuma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Lake Havasu City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

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Sedona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Flagstaff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Grand Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Prescott & Central Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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ARIZONA MEETINGS AND EVENTS

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NORTHERN ARIZONA

Northern Arizona — Awe-Inspiring, Jaw-Dropping Beauty

ARIZONA’S WEST COAST

Arizona’s West Coast — River Country

Arizona – the Grand Canyon State k

A Vibrant Variety of Experiences and Adventures

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k THE NATURAL BEAUTY of Arizona is incomparable, with a greater variety of terrain within the boundaries of the state than perhaps any other region on earth. Stunning scenery varies from the vast, cactus-studded Sonoran Desert in central and southern Arizona, to the majestic mountains, canyons, pinnacles and red cliffs in northern Arizona, to the rivers and lakes in the central and western parts of the State.

Geographically, Arizona is roughly the size of Italy, but the state contains more parks and national monuments than any other state in the contiguous U.S. The state has more mountains than Switzerland and more golf courses than Scotland. Of the state’s 118,000 square miles of land, only about 15 percent is privately owned, as the majority is devoted to forests, parks, wilderness, wildlife preserves, recreation areas, and Native American reservations.

The diversity of the landscape produces a wide variation of climate within the state. The desert zone sweeps across much of the southern half of the state and lower elevations. Winter brings the most beautiful weather of the year to this area, with warm, mild days ranging from 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures dropping to the 40s. During the summer, daytime temperatures average in the triple digits, while overnight lows rarely fall below the mid 70s and 80s in the urban areas. The higher elevations receive

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Golf at Pointe South Mountain Resort

more precipitation, including enough winter snow for Arizona to boast three ski resorts – two in Northern Arizona and one just outside of Tucson.

The combination of climate and diverse environment makes Arizona a place for nearly every kind of activity imaginable. World class golf courses dot the landscape, every conceivable kind of sporting event is here – professional team sports, motor sports, water sports,

amateur competitions of all kinds, equine events, hiking, historical tours, the ultimate in relaxation at award-winning spas, shopping and fine dining. Arizona, quite simply, has it all.

The Sonoran Desert spans some 120,000 square miles or twice the size of England.

The Sonoran Desert is alive with an abundance of vegetation, some of which is exclusive to this ecosystem. Even more interesting is the amazing life expectancy of certain plant life found within this seemingly harsh and hostile environment.

For example, the ironwood tree, which provides nurturing protective cover for many plants and animals, may live as long as 800 years. (An ironwood tree alive in the desert today may have been passed by a roaming band of Conquistadors hundreds of years ago.)

Often over 25 feet tall, the multi-armed saguaro (suh-WAR-oh) is unique to the Sonoran Desert and is the largest American cactus. This massive cactus can live well over 100 years and experts determine

Saguaro Cactus, Sonoran Desert - MTCVB

Grand Canyon National Park - AOT

the age of the cactus by its height. The largest ever recorded was 59 feet tall and estimated to be 250 years old. The blossom of the saguaro is the official state flower.

Due to being in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, southern Arizona enjoys considerably more sunshine than either Florida or Hawaii with sunny skies around 85% of the time. The abundance of sunshine explains why Arizona – with the exception of the Navajo Nation in the northeastern corner of the state – observes Mountain Standard Time year round.

Water is the most critical requirement for surviving and thriving in the desert and Arizona leads the nation in managing water resources. The state enjoys a vast collection of reservoirs, some of which are shared with neighboring states. Those along the Colorado River are engineering marvels and some of the largest manmade lakes in the nation. While constructed for water storage, these lakes offer an escape from the desert heat with a wide variety of water recreation. Several of the major reservoirs have large, wellequipped marinas where such amenities as houseboat rentals and dinner boat cruises are available.

The state is easily accessible from nearly any part of the nation or the world.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is served by 23 airlines providing nonstop

service to 89 cities in the U.S. and 17 cities in Canada, Mexico and Europe. Tucson International Airport currently hosts 11 carriers providing over 71 daily nonstop departures to 17 cities and direct service to an additional 24 destinations.

Arizona became the 48th state on February 14, 1912. Prior to statehood, the Castilian and Burgundian flags of Spain, the Mexican flag and the Confederate flag all flew over the state. Missions and presidios established by Franciscan monks in the early 1700s are evidence of the Spanish cultural influence. Hispanic names abound for shopping centers, residential developments, streets, schools and parks.

Bits of language, food, and music lace the culture and traditions here.

Arizona is home to 22 different Native American tribes giving the state the most reservation land in the nation. Various cultural centers and museums display beautiful handcrafted pottery, baskets, jewelry, crafts and blankets produced by tribal artisans. From ancient cliff dwellings and ruins to thriving casinos, Native American culture plays a leading role in Arizona. Restaurants offering authentic Native American and Mexican foods are plentiful throughout the region.

The magnificent scenery and history of Arizona provide artistic inspiration for painters, sculptors and writers. Nearly

Red Rock Crossing, Sedona - HPMG

all cities and towns feature galleries and museums or local historical societies.

Scottsdale is world-renowned for galleries specializing in nearly every conceivable art form. Metalwork, pottery, paintings, jewelry and more fill the shops and boutiques of the charming downtown areas of numerous cities around the state.

Arizona’s territorial days and western heritage entwine the state’s culture. Arizona boasts the only official U.S. Postal Service pony express run still carrying mail – one annual delivery to open the Scottsdale Parada del Sol Rodeo festivities. The Hashknife Pony Express, composed of over two dozen authentically garbed horseback riders, relay first class mailbags over a 200mile ride in tribute to the original express mail service.

The grandeur of Arizona is beyond description in words. From magnificent sunrise to breathtaking sunset and into star-studded night skies, first-hand experience is inimitable. Come see for yourself. We know you will return with a host of your clients, friends and family, as there is no place like Arizona for Meetings and Events. l

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The CVBs

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k THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAUS of Arizona are recognized as the most professional, creative and detail-oriented

in the business. Incentives for meeting planners abound and vary by city. Call one of the pros below to get started.

Flagstaff Convention & Visitors Bureau Flagstaff is a spectacular location for meetings, events and incentive groups. With a wide variety of dining and nightlife and conveniently located near attractions like Grand Canyon National Park, Flagstaff is the perfect home base from which to explore Northern Arizona. The city has an array of conventional and unique meeting facilities.

The Radisson Woodlands and Little America hotels have more than 9,000 SF of meeting space each. A new 41,000-SF conference center will open in 2008, and a wide variety of unique alternative meeting space is also available throughout the community. Let the Flagstaff CVB assist in planning your next meeting or event. For more information call Gail Jackson at 800.217.2367, ext. 7612 or 928.779.7612, gjackson@ci.flagstaff.az.us Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau Book your next meeting in Greater Phoenix.

Whether it’s booking a national convention with thousands of participants or making arrangements for small corporate meetings, the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau’s convention sales team is one of the best at handling meeting planners’ needs. To book your next meeting in the Phoenix area, contact the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau toll free at 1.877.MEETPHX or go online at www.meetingsinphoenix.com.

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Lake Havasu City Convention & Visitors Bureau Spectacular surroundings and exciting activities make Lake Havasu an inspirational destination for all kinds of meetings and events. Choose from a variety of venues and facilities to make your next gathering a memorable one.

Lake Havasu – home of the world famous London Bridge. 314 London Bridge Road, Lake Havasu City, 86403, 800.2HAVASU, 800.242.8278, www.golakehavasu.com Mesa Convention & Visitors Bureau Mesa is unique among cities in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Even though it is thriving, dynamic, and the thirdlargest city in Arizona, it’s located next to the Tonto National Forest and offers area visitors great outdoor attractions.

Guests can enjoy activities such as a lake paddle-wheeler boat rides, wilderness Jeep adventures, helicopter tours, and more than 40 golf courses within a half-hour drive from downtown.

Our Bureau offers complimentary services and will assist you with your meeting planning process. There is an abundance of hotels and resorts varying in amenities and price to meet your every meeting need. 120 N. Center St., Mesa, 480.827.4700, 800.283.6372, www.visitmesa.com, info@visitmesa.com

Tucson Skyline - MTCVB

Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau Tucson’s a meeting planner’s dream. With our mild climate, spectacular natural beauty, challenging golf, unparalleled dining and world-famous attractions, Tucson is always a favorite destination.

Call and our experts will work with you to book affordable just-right space, reserve rooms at any price level, and help make your perfect meeting run smoothly.

100 S. Church Ave., Tucson, 520.624.1817, 800.638.8350, www.MeetInTucson.com, visitorinfo@visitTucson.org Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau Scottsdale Meetings Made Easy. Successful meetings and events take hard work and careful planning – that’s where we come in! The Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau provides a full range of services to meeting planners, including site selection, on-line requests for proposals, promotional materials and much more.

Our staff can connect you with resident DMCs, event experts, golf tournament

Phoenix Skyline - GPCVB

companies and more. And, when you visit www.MeetInScottsdale.com, you can input requests for customized bids from Scottsdale properties, review a listing of the meeting space and amenities offered at area hotels and resorts, view client testimonials and read about the CVB’s meetings-related awards. The Scottsdale CVB is your one-stop shop for destination information, on-line planning tools and the personal touch that will help you ensure your program’s success. Contact us today at 800.782.1117, 480.421.1004, or www.MeetInScottsdale.com and find out how easy planning the perfect Scottsdale meeting can be!

Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau Plan your next meeting at one of the many premier Tempe Arizona resorts and hotels!

From mountaintop views to a dynamic downtown, Tempe Arizona resorts offer a unique meeting venue for every taste and budget. One call is all you need. The

Macy’s Coffee House, Flagstaff - FCVB

Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau’s complimentary services include requests for proposals, Tempe Arizona resort and hotel site inspection assistance, collateral materials and convention service referrals.

To learn more about Tempe Arizona resorts and hotels, contact our convention sales staff at 800.283.6734 or e-mail your meeting specifications to conventionsales@tempecvb. com or simply complete our on-line RFP. www.tempecvb.com

Yuma Visitors Bureau Nestled in the Yuma and Gila Valleys of southern Arizona, Yuma’s climate blends pleasant desert sunshine with the cool waters of the Colorado River. The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, the first National Heritage Area in the West, is a tribute to our colorful history. Our historic district offers year-round recreation, especially during our 70-degree winters. 202 S. First Ave., Suite 202, Yuma, 928.376.0100, 800.293.0071, www.visityuma.com Williams Grand Canyon Chamber Of Commerce You’re wanted in Williams! Experience Main Street Historic walking tours, Nostalgic rides on the Grand Canyon Railway, Arts and Cultural events, and four season outdoor recreation. The “Gateway to the Grand Canyon” is a Northern Arizona destination to “Cruise the Loop” Route 66 or challenge yourself to a round of 18 hole golf, 928.635.1418, 800.863.0546, www.williamschamber.com

ARIZONA MEETINGS & EVENTS www.azmeetings.com Published by • Hennen Publishing & Marketing Group 2198 East Camelback Road, Suite 350, Phoenix, Arizona 85016 Phone 602.906.3085 • Fax 602.906.3785 • www.hennenpmg.com • info@hennenpmg.com Publisher/Editor Kathleen Hennen Lockhart • Art Director Tad Smith Copy Writer Sue Adams • Account Executives Erin Edelstein, Laura Hennen Cover Photo - Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa Photography - Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT), Chandler Office of Tourism (COT), Glendale Office of Tourism (GOT), Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau (GPCVB), Lake Havasu Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (LHCVB), Mesa Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCVB), Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau (MTCVB), Prescott Area Coalition for Tourism (PACT), Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB), Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB), Yuma Visitors Bureau (YVB).

Arizona Meetings & Events is published annually by Hennen Publishing & Marketing Group. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means without consent of the publisher. All information regarding editorial content or advertising is from sources deemed reliable. No representation is made as to the accuracy hereof and this publication is printed subject to errors and omissions.

ARIZONA MEETINGS AND EVENTS

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Protected Places

q Havasu Falls, Grand Canyon National Park - AOT

k MUCH OF ARIZONA’S most magnificent landscape is protected by national, state and local park systems, monuments and wilderness

areas. Some 11.2 million acres lie within National Forest lands, and, in spite of the general impression of Arizona being a desert, one fourth of

the state is forested. From the Grand Canyon carved over thousands of years by the Colorado River, to technologically advanced telescopes pointing to stars thousands of light years away, Arizona’s protected places offer something for every interest.

STATE PARKS Kartchner Caverns State Park® Experience an underground delight as you tour a living limestone cave with many unique and world-class formations. Voted one of the top ten caves in the world, the park also offers hiking trails, a hummingbird garden, a campground, as well as a large, interactive discovery center that houses a replica of the cave, a documentary video and gift shop. Tour reservations are strongly recommended. Picnic areas are available.

2980 Route S. 90, Benson, 520.586.2283, www.azstateparks.com

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Red Rock State Park Surrounded by the incredible natural beauty of Sedona’s red rocks, Oak Creek meanders through the park and provides visitors the opportunity to experience a lush riparian habitat and many forms of wildlife along a five-mile network of trails. The park also offers fascinating educational information about the scenic northern Arizona landscape.

Group-use areas are available. 4050 Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona, 928.282.6907, www.azstateparks.com

Riordan Mansion State Historic Park Visitors can go back in time at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in Flagstaff and tour the unique arts & crafts mansion filled with original furnishings. Built in 1904 for the Riordan brothers, the Mansion is an impressive reminder of gracious living in a small logging town. Tour reservations are strongly recommended. Picnic area is available. Groups up to 125 people. 409 Riordan Road, Flagstaff, 928.779.4395, www.azstateparks.com Tonto Natural Bridge State Park Head toward Payson and view the magnificent beauty of Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, where water and rock have combined to create the world’s largest natural travertine bridge. Tour the historic lodge located in the grassy meadow above the bridge, picnic among the pines in the tiny valley, or hike one of the many trails.

Ten miles north of Payson, Highway 87, 928.476.4202, www.azstateparks.com

Kartchner Caverns State Park - MTCVB

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park - HPMG

Red Rock State Park - AOT

NATIONAL PARKS, MONUMENTS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS

Saguaro National Park The pristine living desert is preserved in 80,000 acres of this park, home to a remarkable variety of plants and animals.

The largest concentration of the majestic saguaro cactus flourishes here, along with palo verde trees, rare cacti, and wildflowers that bloom vividly in spring and summer.

Scenic loop drives and over 150 miles of hiking trails, ranging from flat and easy strolls in the Sonoran Desert to steep and rugged hikes into the Rincon Mountains attract visitors year-round. Entrance Fees: $25 sedan, 1 to 6 people; $40 van, 7 to 25 people; $100 motor coach 26+ people.

520.733.5100, www.nps.gov/sagu

encompassing scenic vistas, geologic wonders, and a panorama of human history.

The park offers opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, backcountry hiking and four-wheel drive trips. Commercial Entrance Fees: Sedan, 1-6 people, $25 + $5 pp; Van or Minibus, 7-25 passengers, $40 per day; Motor Coach, 26+ passengers, $100 per day. 928.608.6200, www.nps.gov/glca

Grand Canyon National Park One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and located entirely in northwestern Arizona, the Grand Canyon, incised by the Colorado River, is immense, averaging 4,000 feet deep for its entire 277 miles. Nestled within are numerous side canyons abundant with greenery, wildlife, waterfalls, raging rapids and calm, glassy pools.

The historic South Rim is open yearround and the more remote North Rim is closed in winter. Entrance Fees: $25 per private vehicle, $12 per pedestrian, motorcycle rider, or cyclist. Admission is for seven days and includes both the North Rim and South Rim. Commercial Vehicles: 1-25 passengers - $8 per person.

Motor Coach, 26+ passengers, $300 flat fee. 928.638.7888, www.nps.gov/grca

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Offering unparalleled opportunities for water-based and backcountry recreation, this recreation area stretches for hundreds of miles from Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah,

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Lake Mead’s huge lakes cater to boaters, swimmers, sunbathers, and fishermen while its desert rewards hikers, wildlife photographers, and roadside sightseers. Three of America’s four desert ecosystems – the Mojave, the Great Basin, and the Sonoran Desert – meet in Lake Mead NRA. As a result, this seemingly barren area contains a surprising variety of plants and animals, some of which may be found nowhere else in the world. Entrance Fees (valid for 5 days): $3 per individual, $5 per vehicle. 702.293.8990, www.nps.gov/lame

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Sabino Canyon Recreation Area - MTCVB

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Canyon de Chelly National Monument - HPMG

The Grand Canyon is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and located entirely in northwestern Arizona.

Montezuma Castle National Monument - AOT

Coronado National Forest & Sabino Canyon Recreation Area The Coronado National Forest covers 1,780,000 acres of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Elevations range from 3,000 feet to 10,720 feet in 12 widely scattered mountain ranges or “sky islands” that rise dramatically from the desert floor, supporting plant communities as biologically diverse as those encountered on a trip from Mexico to Canada. Visitors may experience all four seasons during a single day’s journey, wandering through the desert among giant saguaro cactus and colorful wildflowers in the morning, enjoying lunch beside a mountain stream, and playing in the snow later in the afternoon. 520.749.8700, www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/ Canyon de Chelly National Monument Reflecting one of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes of North America, the cultural resources of Canyon de Chelly – including distinctive architecture, artifacts, and rock imagery – exhibit remarkable preservational integrity. Canyon de Chelly also sustains a living community of Navajo people, who are connected to a landscape of great historical and spiritual

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significance. Entrance Fees: Free into NM. However, to drive on the canyon bottom, a 4-wheel drive vehicle, a Park Service permit and an authorized Navajo guide are required. The fee is $15 per hour for 1 vehicle, $5 per hour for each additional vehicle with a 5-vehicle limit per guide. Hiking within the canyon requires a Park Service permit and an authorized Navajo guide, except along the 2.5-mile (4-km) White House Ruins Trail. One guide may take up to 15 people for $15/Hour. 928.674.5500, www.nps.gov/cach Montezuma Castle National Monument It’s not a castle and Montezuma was never here. Nestled into a limestone recess high above the flood plain of Beaver Creek in the Verde Valley, stands one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America. The five-story, 20-room cliff dwelling served as a “high-rise apartment building” for prehistoric Sinagua Indians over 600 years ago. Early settlers to the area assumed that the imposing structure was associated with the Aztec emperor Montezuma, but the castle was abandoned almost a century before Montezuma was born. Entrance Fees: $5 per person (valid for 7 days). 928.567.3322, www.nps.gov/moca/

Petrified Forest National Park A surprising land of scenic wonders and fascinating science, the park features one of the world’s largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, the multi-hued badlands of the Chinle Formation known as the Painted Desert, historic structures, archeological sites, and displays fossils more than 225 million years old. Commercial Entrance Fees: Sedan, 1-6 people, $25; Van, 7-15 people, $50; Minibus, 16-25 people, $60 per day; Motor Coach, 26+ passengers, $100 per day. 928.524.6228, www.nps.gov/pefo/ Kitt Peak National Observatory The world’s largest collection of optical telescopes – 22 optical and two radio telescopes representing eight astronomical research institutions – can be found at this Observatory on Arizona’s Tohono O’odham Reservation. Self-guided tours of the 4-meter, 2.1-meter and solar telescopes and free guided tours three times a day are available. The night program starts shortly before sunset, with a brief tour of a research telescope and a stop to watch the sunset. Advance arrangements are recommended for groups. 520.318.8726, www.noao.edu/kpno/ l

Arizona State Map

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Encounter Arizona

q Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort - AOT

k FEW STATES CAN MATCH ARIZONA in variety of activities available. Where else is it actually possible to ski on snow and water in

the same day or have a snowmobile ride followed by a round of golf?

Here is a synopsis to assist you in planning grand Arizona Action.

Bicycling – The state’s climate allows year-round bicycling enjoyment and a wide variety of scenic locations for the recreational cyclist or avid competitor. Numerous bike events are scheduled around the state annually.

Many municipalities have bike paths incorporated in street design and numerous park trails are designated for biking. The Arizona Department of Transportation’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program website, www.azbikeped.org, provides a wide variety of resources and information about biking, including places to bike, important laws and policies, safety issues, maps and organizations.

Water Recreation – Although Arizona is known for the Sonoran Desert, the reservoirs along the Colorado River are

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some of the largest in the country and along with the reservoirs surrounding Phoenix, provide outstanding water recreation. Camping, picnicking and other recreational facilities are often available at adjacent state parks. Some of the larger lakes have well-developed facilities for boating and offer dinner boat cruises, or houseboat and other water craft rentals. In addition, Arizona’s rivers offer everything from thrilling white water rafting to leisurely group floating trips.

Cowboy Up – For those who love the Old West, adventure abounds in all corners of the state. The southeastern corner of the state boasts the OK Corral in Tombstone and old silver mines in Bisbee. From there, head straight west to the old territorial prison in Yuma and then northeast to

Wickenburg’s Desert Caballeros Western Museum and a tour of the Vulture Mine.

A bit further north is Prescott’s fabled “Whiskey Row” with turn-of-the-century bars and a courthouse square. The quaint old mining town of Jerome is just a short drive away. Follow old Route 66 across the northern part of the state where bits of history are preserved in old buildings and historical markers, and the horizon looks just like that of western movies. A host of guest ranches around the state, including some who combine their working operation with the guest experience, offer a sample of the cowboy experience.

Native American Culture – Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized Native American tribes, along with renowned museums of Native American Culture.

The internationally acclaimed Heard Museum now has three locations in the Greater Phoenix area. Other notable points of interest include The Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, Hopi Cultural Center on the Hopi Reservation at Kykotsmovi and the Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site on the Navajo Indian Reservation near Ganado.

Hawley Lake - AOT

Colorado River at the Hoover Dam - AOT

Desert Living – The many wonders of life in the desert are presented and preserved in sanctuaries and botanical gardens around the state. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson is worldrenowned for its presentation of native plants and animals in habitats replicating natural environments. In Phoenix, the Desert Botanical Garden is one of only 44 botanical gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums and hosts one of the world’s finest collections of desert plants. The Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior is dedicated to creating appreciation of the beauty and importance of desert ecosystems through education and research.

Active Adventures – A mind boggling array of choices for enjoying Arizona’s beautiful scenery range from arm-chair comfort to arm-clutching adventure.

Knowledgeable and entertaining driver guides weave tales of history and folklore through their descriptive scenic drives.

These tours are available for key visitor destinations around the state and can include panning for gold or a dinner in the desert. Those who thrive on hands-

on adventure might prefer to motorcycle, ATV or Jet ski their sightseeing outings.

Motor Sports – Phoenix is home to Phoenix International Raceway, which is home to the NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series Racing. Firebird Raceway hosts NHRA events and nearby the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving teaches aspiring racers how to drive like the pros. Other facilities around the state offer a variety of motor sports action from dirt-bike racing to high performance go-cart action. The annual Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction brings thousands of car collectors from around the world to the Valley of the Sun and is the focal point for numerous automobile events and festivities.

Spectator Sports – The Greater Phoenix area is one of eight metropolitan areas in the U.S. to have at least one team in each of the four major professional sports. The University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, home of the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL is the newest addition and will host the 2008 Super Bowl and be home to the Fiesta Bowl. The 17,000-seat Jobing.com Arena, located nearby, serves as home to the NHL

Sunset Horseback Ride - SCVB

Coyotes. Chase Field in Downtown Phoenix is home to MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks team. The NBA Phoenix Suns play only a block away at US Airways Center. Other Phoenix-Tucson area professional sporting events include Cactus League Spring Training and numerous professional rodeos and bull riding events.

Sky High Adventure – Arizona has options that offer blue sky sightseeing along with spectacular views of scenery on the ground below. Hot air balloon rides over the beautiful Sonoran Desert provide breathtaking vistas and unforgettable

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Hot Air Balloon, Sonoran Desert - SCVB

Arabian Horse Show, Scottsdale - SCVB

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African Dance, ASU Gammage Auditorium, Tempe - TCVB

The arts are prized in Arizona, especially in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson where the gallery communities open their doors for traditional ArtWalk events.

Tucson Rodeo - MTCVB

memories. The dry desert winter climate is also the ideal environment for soaring which promises a corporate party outing at an entirely new level.

Equine Sports – Much as horses helped settle the West, the horse community continues to make significant contributions to Arizona with a wide variety of equine events including the internationally acclaimed Arabian Horse Show in Scottsdale which annually draws Arabian horse lovers from around the world. Turf Paradise hosts thoroughbred racing with one of the longest racing seasons in the country making the “Sport of Kings” the third-largest sports

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attraction in the state. Westworld in Scottsdale also hosts several major quarter horse show competitions as well as the annual Parada del Sol Rodeo, a celebration which features a horsedrawn parade. In Tucson, La Fiesta de los Vaqueros celebrates its 81st anniversary February 2007 and is one of the top 15 professional rodeos in North America and the largest in Arizona.

The Arts – The arts are prized in Arizona, especially in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson where the gallery communities open their doors for traditional ArtWalk events. Sedona’s resident artists fill over 40 in-town galleries. The artist communities in Bisbee, Tubac and Jerome have all received national recognition.

The Phoenix Art Museum annually hosts the Western Artist Exhibition which

attracts collectors and celebrities from around the world.

Performing Arts – The performing arts in Arizona take full advantage of the magnificent weather with a host of outdoor entertainment venues for concerts and special events. Sedona’s Jazzon-the-Rocks draws thousands of fans to the red rock theater. Bisbee’s Copper Queen Hotel hosts a murder mystery in which both actors and spectators participate. Payson holds bluegrass festivals and fiddler’s contests among the green pines. Major cities throughout the state have their own symphony, ballet, opera and theater groups. In addition, Broadway road companies and other traveling entertainment companies are regularly scheduled at local municipal venues. l

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The Golf Capital of the World

q

The Boulders - AOT

k TO SAY THAT GOLF IS A LEADING recreational interest in the Grand Canyon State would be quite an understatement. In the words of the National Golf Foundation, Greater Phoenix is “The Golf Capital of the World.” With over 200 courses in the Valley of the Sun and more than 100 more spread throughout Arizona – these courses range from sculptured desert terrain with magnificent saguaro cacti dotting the fringes of the fairways to lush mountain courses with fairways positioned amidst massive pine trees. Few, if any, areas in the world can boast the variety of golf course environments that Arizona enjoys.

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Sedona Golf Resort

Kierland Golf Club

The Wigwam Golf Club

The December 2006 issue of Golf Digest magazine features the 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America. Nine Arizona resorts made the list, including The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa at No. 16, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North at No. 23, The Phoenician at No. 37, The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess at No. 49, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort at No. 50, The Lodge at Ventana Canyon at No. 53, The Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa at No. 66, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa at No. 67, and the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa at No. 71. Golf Digest, a monthly magazine with a circulation of 1.46 million readers, is written for all golf enthusiasts, whether a recreational, amateur or professional player.

The metropolitan Phoenix area is home to 215 courses, including about 165 public courses.

In the west part of the Valley of the Sun, the 76-year-old Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa recently completed a $5 million renovation on two of its three golf courses. This part of the Valley has other top rated courses, including Raven at Verrado and the Trilogy at Vistancia, which Zagat gave 25 out of 30 points in its survey of America’s top courses.

The Troon North Golf Club in North Scottsdale includes the Monument Course, ranked by TravelGolf.com as Arizona’s number one golf course. With lush green fairways and high-lipped bunkers, Monument is the epitome of the premier desert golfing experience. Golflink.com records 12 awards for this course which was designed by Tom Weiskopf.

Raven Golf Club at Verrado

Tucson has 20 public, private and resort courses offering choices from traditional courses to desert target layouts. These desert and traditional links courses include designs by Robert Trent Jones Jr., Tom Fazio, Tom Weiskopf and Jack Nicklaus.

Temperatures in Tucson make golfing enjoyable almost any time of the year.

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o

The Golf Club at Eagle Mountain

When your meeting plans include golf outings or tournaments, finding a better meeting location than Arizona might prove just as challenging as any of these award-winning courses.

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Most courses are accessible to visitors and several are part of resort hotels. Conde Nast Traveler Magazine and Golf Digest have both recognized Tucson courses among the best in the world. One of the city’s premier courses is Tom Weiskopf’s design, The Golf Club at Vistoso, nestled between the Santa Catalina and Tortolita Mountain Ranges.

Golf is part of nearly every community in the state and award-winning courses reach beyond the metropolitan areas of Phoenix and Tucson. Four Sedona area golf courses are available to the public, two nine-hole executive and two 18-hole championship courses. The Sedona Golf Resort, located on the site of many classic western movies, is widely considered among the world’s most unforgettable golf experiences. The Resort combines magnificent scenery with exceptional challenge. With its spectacular 17,000square-foot clubhouse, the facility offers an ideal setting for gatherings following a round of golf.

Arizona has an entire industry dedicated to catering to golf enthusiasts and the meeting planners who include golf outings in their programs. From the host of awardwinning municipal courses to golf-inspired heated golf ball massages, to world-class instruction and year-round tournaments, Arizona is the place to incorporate golf into your meeting program.

Chief among golf attractions is the annual FBR Open played at TPC of Scottsdale, with the tournament now in its 72nd year. This is one of the five oldest events on the PGA Tour. Famed golf course architects Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish designed the TPC, where the Stadium Course features deep roughs and more than 70 bunkers. Known for generating the largest crowds and after-hours parties on the Tour, this tournament has near legendary status as the most unique atmosphere in golf.

When your meeting plans include golf outings or tournaments, finding a better meeting location than Arizona might prove just as challenging as any of these award-winning courses. Tee up the best meeting ever with Arizona golf to complement your event. l

Cochise Golf Course - SCVB

A spectacular representation of man’s creation in harmony with nature as it winds through natural box canyons, rolling hills, and lush desert valleys, Eagle Mountain beckons those who desire an outstanding golf experience. This immaculately maintained, 6,800-yard layout is challenging yet fair, with dramatic elevation changes, contoured fairways and undulating greens throughout. 14915 E. Eagle Mountain Parkway, Fountain Hills, 480.816.1234, www.eaglemtn.com

Golf is good business. Discover why so many of the nation’s top companies choose Golf Digest Schools for their business golf outings. We can custom tailor a program to meet your needs. From rewarding a few outstanding associates to entertaining a top client to teambuilding exercises, we’ll carefully plan and flawlessly execute every step of the event – including travel, luxury accommodations, meals, entertainment and, of course, the finest golf instruction.

800.243.6121, www.golfdigestschool.com

Hillcrest Golf Club is surrounded

by Arizona’s largest inland lake, creating a relaxed atmosphere that’s sure to help your game.

The Greg Nash-designed course provides challenging yet accessible play for all golfers. Discover what the Senior PGA Tour, the LPGA and the Johnny Miller ProAm already know – Hillcrest Golf Club is your ideal destination for group or tournament play and expert instruction. 20002 N. Star Ridge Drive, Sun City West, 623.584.1500, www.hillcrestgolfclub.com

Improve your golf game.

Guaranteed! That’s the John Jacobs’ Golf School’s promise.

Time-tested curriculum and professional instructors have a proven track record of helping people immediately improve their game at every level – beginner to advanced. Whether you need group or individual instruction, we can customize a package for you at some of the nation’s finest resort destinations. 800.472.5007, www.jacobsgolf.com

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Raven Golf Club at Verrado

Legend Trail offers the finest in Southwest Sonoran-style golf complete with blazing desert sunsets and panoramic mountain views. Before taking on the Rees Jones’ designed 18hole course with bent grass greens, work on perfecting your game in Golf Digest Schools’ state-of-the-art learning center or schedule one-on-one instruction with a seasoned pro. 9462 E. Legendary Lane, Scottsdale, 480.488.7434, www.legendtrailgc.com

Rancho Manana Golf Club, located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert in historic Cave Creek, Arizona, just minutes from Scottsdale and Phoenix, features an 18-hole, par 70, championship course with dramatic elevation changes, unspoiled desert terrain, and spectacular views. Rooms and meeting space are available on-site – excellent for executive retreats or intimate sales meetings. Tee times are available at 480.488.0398 or www.ranchomanana.com

The Raven Golf Club at South Mountain has been rated by Golf Digest as the “#1 Ranked Golf Course in Phoenix,” and this commitment to excellence is evident throughout the facility.

Ideally located only minutes from the airport, the Raven is a mustplay in the Scottsdale/Phoenix region. 3636 E. Baseline Road, Phoenix, 602.243.3636, www.theravensouthmountain.com

Crafted by John Fought and 2006 Ryder Cup Captain, Tom Lehman, the Raven Golf Club at Verrado is a must-play for those seeking the very best golf the Sonoran Desert has to offer. From jaw-dropping views and rugged natural beauty, to exceptional conditioning and the finest guest service in the business, the Raven Golf Club at Verrado has it all. 4242 N. Golf Drive, Buckeye, 623.388.3003, www.ravenatverrado.com

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Scottsdale Golf Group consistently delivers the ultimate in golf events for both corporate clients and individuals who only expect the best – and get it. For tournaments, corporate golf outings, entertaining clinics or golf school programs – for clients or staff – plan your next golf event today. 480.991.8587, www.scottsdalegolfgroup.com

Perhaps no other golf course on earth provides a better combination of jawdropping beauty and exceptional challenge than the acclaimed Sedona Golf Resort.

Located in the heart of one of the most dramatically beautiful regions on earth, the thrilling 6,646-yard, par71 course is widely considered among the world’s most unforgettable golf experiences. With its spectacular 17,000-SF clubhouse, the facility offers everything you’d expect from a world-class golf resort – the ideal choice for groups or intimate gatherings. 35 Ridge Trail Drive, Sedona, 928.284.9355, www.sedonagolfresort.com

Nestled in the middle of Northern Arizona, among the rolling hills and thousands of pinion and juniper pines, sits the beautiful StoneRidge Golf Course. Scenic views, dramatic shifts in elevation and the cool, fresh air of Prescott Valley’s 5,200-foot elevation, combine to make StoneRidge a must-play. Located just 45 minutes from Sedona and a little more than an hour from Phoenix, the course makes for a quick retreat to the cooler temperatures of Northern Arizona’s high country. 1601 N. Bluff Top Road, Prescott Valley, 928.772.6500, www.stoneridgegolf.com

Nestled between the Santa Catalina and Tortolita Mountain Ranges rests Tucson’s premier golf course, The Golf Club at Vistoso. Voted “Best Course in Tucson” by Golf Digest, this Tom Weiskopf design is a must-play. Vistoso is known for its perfect playing conditions and professional staff. Group golf outings are Vistoso’s specialty. With our exceptional attention to detail, you can rest assured your outing will be a complete success. Let us do the work while you play. For a day your entire group will remember, play The Golf Club at Vistoso.

955 W. Vistoso Highlands Drive, Tucson, 520.797.9900, 877.548.1110, www.vistosogolf.com

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k

VALLEY OF THE SUN

Valley of the Sun A Truly Award-Winning Destination

LON’s at the Hermosa Inn

q

Camelback Mountain Views - HPMG

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

k MEETING PLANNERS dream of meeting locations offering non-stop arrivals, accommodations including

the latest in technology and communications, superior services, a wide range of entertainment options and desirable weather – the Valley of the Sun proudly makes such dreams come true.

Ballet Arizona - Tim Fuller

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ASU Sun Devils Football, Tempe - TCVB

o CopperWynd Resort & Spa

The region is rapidly growing with several cities within the Valley listed as in the top growth communities in the country The Phoenix metropolitan area, locally known as The Valley of the Sun, encompasses 23 contiguous cities with Phoenix in the center, and includes Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Glendale, Paradise Valley, Carefree, Fountain Hills and other smaller communities.

The region is rapidly growing with several cities within the Valley listed in the top growth communities in the country. The population of the Phoenix metropolitan area increased by 45 percent from 1990 through 2000, compared to the average U.S. rate of 15 percent. This growth ranked Arizona the second-fastest-growing state in the nation in the 1990s, with Nevada first.

The 2000 Census reported the metro area population at over 3,000,000, which by the beginning of 2006 increased to an estimate close to 4,000,000.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the fifth busiest airport in the nation with a daily average of 1,498 airplanes serving over 100 cities around the world. The airport’s three terminals provide service to 19 million passengers annually. USA Today reports that Phoenix has more low-fare service and more destinations (currently 84,) than any other facility in the U.S., adding to the desirability as a meeting destination. Sky Harbor is ranked second in the country for excellence by J.D. Power & Associates.

The Valley is a consistent award winner in numerous categories, but one ranking

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is of notable importance for meeting planning professionals. In 2005 Maritz Travel gave the number one ranking in the top ten travel destinations for business-meeting and incentive travel to Phoenix/Scottsdale. Meeting planners appreciate the variety and abundance of world class resorts and hotels in the Valley, from the restored historical properties developed in the 1920s to the latest in fine hotel concepts just now being introduced. The area offers convention accommodations to meet the needs of nearly every size meeting group with additional conference facilities continually added.

Other awards of significance for the Valley include being consistently ranked at the top for the number of Four and Five Diamond/Four Star resorts in this area. Greater Phoenix, according to Condé Nast Traveler magazine, boasts more top resorts than any other metro area in North America. More than 27 million people visit Arizona each year, with 13 million of those visiting the Phoenix metropolitan area.

This dynamic area is young by historical standards, Phoenix itself having been incorporated in the 1880s and other Valley cities following during the first half of the 1900s. The area has evolved from its agricultural foundations to a vibrant urban area offering meeting planners just about every form of entertainment in sports, recreation, arts, culture, dining, and lodging. The beautiful sunny

Kai at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort

weather of the Valley offers year-round enjoyment of outdoor activities and is an ideal climate for outdoor events.

Golf is one of the Valley’s most popular outdoor activities and Greater Phoenix offers more than 300 pristine courses. The late January FBR Open annually televises desert beauty from the TPC of Scottsdale’s course to a worldwide audience. Several of the clubs here enjoy the highest course ratings awarded in golf.

Spa programs are increasingly popular additions to meeting programs and the Valley offers a collection of the world’s most renowned resort spas as well as outstanding day spas. A variety of specialty treatment programs inspired by Native American traditions are widely available. The Valley is currently home to 17 resort spas and six full service day spas.

A special demonstration of the Valley’s determination to take exceptional care of all visitors is a 2006 award from the American Automobile Association. The group named Greater Phoenix as one of the five best destinations in the nation to travel with your dog. Two-legged or four-legged – Phoenix is committed to providing the very finest visitor services. l

Valley of the Sun Arts Scene

o

k FROM

Mesa Arts Center - MCVB

ANCIENT

museums. A myriad of local galleries draw art

petroglyphs to the outstanding achievements of

lovers from around the world with an endless

today’s visual and performing arts community, the

variety of art experiences.

THE

ARTISTRY

OF

Valley of the Sun is a cultural gem.

The visual and performing arts community

The Valley is a melting pot of world cultures

flourishes with 14 performing art companies and

tied to its origins of Native American and

theaters. Six cultural attractions showcase the

Hispanic heritage and laced with a rich mix of

history, arts and fascinating accomplishments

European, African and Asian influences. The arts

of ancient Native American cultures. Several

are celebrated in the preservation of ancient

attractions are dedicated to the legacy of the

petroglyphs in land preserves and the wealth

Arizona cowboy and the territorial beginnings of

of artifacts found on display in the region’s 27

the state.

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VISUAL ARTS – Museums, Galleries and ArtWalks Variety and quality are the hallmarks of the downtown Phoenix art scene. Art Walks, held the first and third Fridays of every month, provide a casual introduction to dozens of galleries and shops. No art lover should miss the Bentley Gallery, which bills itself as the largest art gallery in the West. Located in an historic Downtown warehouse that features soaring ceilings, clerestory windows and distinctive architectural details, the Bentley changes exhibitions frequently, providing visitors with a new experience every time.

The Phoenix Art Museum and the Heard Museum, two world-class art venues, are located near each other, just north of Downtown Phoenix. With a showcase of 20th-century Western, Latin and European masterpieces, the Phoenix Art Museum celebrated its $41.2 million expansion in November 2006, securing its place among the nation’s leading art museums. The Museum’s new four-level Ellen & Howard C. Katz Wing for Modern Art features a glassenclosed lobby, canopied entry plaza, oneacre sculpture garden and expanded store.

At just over 160,000 square feet, it’s one of the largest visual arts institutions in the Southwest, and presents a multitude of themed event possibilities.

One of the world’s most significant repositories of Native American art, the Heard Museum excels not only in the beauty and meaning of its exhibits, but in the vitality of the Indian events it continuously presents. The Heard recently opened a new location in the West Valley community of Surprise, and its North Scottsdale location is convenient to many Scottsdale resorts.

Scottsdale’s art district features more than 125 galleries and museums. Collectors

Native Trails Performer, Scottsdale - SCVB

Visitors to Tempe will enjoy more than 20 free museums and galleries on the campus of Arizona State University. The eclectic Vision Gallery in Chandler’s Historic City Center managed by the Chandler Cultural Foundation, features paintings, glass, mixed media and sculpture.

The Arizona Science Center in Downtown Phoenix has more than 300 hands-on exhibits in five themed galleries.

It shares space in Heritage & Science Park with the historic Rosson House and the Phoenix Museum of History.

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, where you can experience a 1,500-year-old Hohokam village with prehistoric ruins and replicated ancient dwellings, is a stark contrast to the surroundings of modernday Phoenix. A further view of ancient Arizonans can be found at Deer Valley

Rock Art Center in North Phoenix, where there are more than 1,500 petroglyphs situated in a desert preserve. When you visit Papago Park for great hiking and biking trails, you’ll find the Phoenix Zoo, Hall of Flame, Arizona Historical Society and Desert Botanical Garden.

Take the ultimate step into space at the Challenger Space Center of Arizona where the kids can intercept Halley’s Comet or rove around the Red Planet.

PERFORMING ARTS – Music, Dance and Theatre After a $16 million renovation, Phoenix Symphony Hall recently reopened its doors in the heart of Downtown Phoenix’s cultural epicenter. Symphony Hall has three resident companies: The Arizona Opera, Ballet Arizona and the Phoenix Symphony.

The nearby historic, ornate Orpheum Theatre has also been restored and stages Broadway spectaculars. ASU Gammage, on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, features musical theater classics.

Downtown Phoenix’s Herberger Theater Center is home to four resident companies: Actors Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Center Dance Ensemble and Childsplay.

The new Mesa Arts Center is the largest arts center in Arizona and the only one offering comprehensive professional arts, visual arts and art education. The Center hosted more than 400 performances during its inaugural season.

The area’s Native American cultures come to life every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at Native Trails presented

by Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

These free noontime festivals celebrate indigenous cultures from Arizona and North Africa through dance, storytelling, art and native foods. l

Orpheum Theater, Phoenix

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VALLEY OF THE SUN

Bentley Art Gallery - SCVB

and strollers alike enjoy Scottsdale ArtWalk, a Thursday night tradition.

Galleries stay open late and welcome the public to special exhibit openings and artist receptions. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art features a gallery devoted to the work of children. In nearby Fountain Hills, the River of Time Museum tells the story of the Verde River Valley from prehistoric times to the present.

For architecture buffs, Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece at Taliesin West is a must-see. For baseball fans, the opulent 1929 Wrigley Mansion – built by former Cub’s owner William Wrigley, Jr. – is a historical treasure in central Phoenix. A glimpse into the area’s rich Western architectural heritage can be found at historic Sahuaro Ranch in Glendale with 13 original buildings and a breathtaking rose garden.

Phoenix

and the West Valley

l

The Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa

k PHOENIX IS A BLEND of two worlds offering visitors a mix

of urban delights and immediate access to nature. Luxurious resorts and spas, world-class golf courses, outstanding dining

and shopping, a sophisticated arts and cultural scene, all are within steps of the rugged, thrill-a-minute adventures that await in the lush Sonoran Desert. Add in a near-perfect climate, a variety of activities and attractions, and easy access via a bustling international airport and you have a destination sure to please even the most discerning travelers.

Phoenix is the capital city of Arizona and the financial and business hub of the Southwest. The city is now the fifth largest in the nation. Ideal yearround weather conditions continue to entice corporate relocations and business expansions, as well as millions of visitors annually.

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A shopping spree is an essential part of any great getaway. Downtown Phoenix’s Arizona Center combines nine restaurants with varying cuisine, specialty shops, a 24-screen movie theater and acres of gardens, fountains and pools. For a change of pace, Phoenix’s Public Market features

Rancho de los Caballeros, Wickenburg

Arizona-grown foods, breads, pastries, flowers, Southwest arts and crafts, and more every Saturday morning at the corner of Central and McKinley.

A luxury retail center is being planned for North Phoenix, but for now, the Biltmore Fashion Park at 24th Street and Camelback Road has upscale shops and wonderful restaurants. The outdoor mall is a popular weekend windowshopping destination.

Downtown Phoenix is home to two of the four professional sports teams in

Turf Paradise

Fort McDowell Adventures

p

Arizona Cardinals

In downtown Phoenix numerous theaters, museums, sports venues, restaurants and shops are all located within walking distance of each other.

Phoenix Skyline - AOT

the Valley, the Arizona Diamondbacks playing at Chase Field and the Phoenix Suns playing at US Airways Center. The nearby Copper Square area houses world-class business-oriented hotels, including the new soon-to-open 1,000room Sheraton in 2008 and the W Hotel in 2009. Numerous theaters, museums, sports venues, restaurants and shops are all located within walking distance of each other.

Just west of Phoenix, Glendale is quickly gaining recognition for the very latest designs in multi-use professional sports complexes. The Arizona Cardinals opened the NFL season in the University of Phoenix Stadium, the first stadium in North

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America to feature a retractable roof and a roll-out grass field. The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl now calls the stadium home and the National College Football Championship game in 2007 plays here. Super Bowl XLII also returns to Phoenix and this facility in 2008. Nearby Jobing.com Arena is home for the National Hockey League Phoenix Coyotes and new hotels and numerous restaurants are springing up surrounding these sports venues.

Live thoroughbred racing is available from the end of September to the end of May at Turf Paradise, the third-largest sports attraction in the state. Turf Paradise rates as having one of longest racing seasons in the country. Restaurant, private rooms and fun group activities are available.

Just an hour northwest of Phoenix and presenting perhaps the most complete

Western experience in Arizona, Wickenburg is an excellent place for city slickers to saddle up for horseback rides and cattle drives, strap in for four-wheel tours, hold on for motorcycle or fourwheeler touring, or float away on hot air balloon rides. The Western experience is backed up by a variety of guest ranches, Western art galleries, unique Western shops, historical attractions, Old West experiences, cultural activities and natural attractions.

The range of activities in Phoenix is endless, as is the catalog of accommodations. From the opulence of luxury resorts and spas, to the authentic western experiences, far more than our famous endless sunshine awaits those coming to Phoenix for Arizona Meetings and Events. l

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Phoenix Convention Center

k

Phoenix Convention Center - GPCVB

k EXCITING NEW POSSIBILITIES for professional meeting planners came on-line with the first phase of the massive expansion program for the former Phoenix Civic Plaza. The new

Phoenix Convention Center delivers 156,000 square feet of conference center-style meeting space.

The new West Conference Center provides planners the latest and best in flexibility and amenities in a facility which expands over 62,400 gross square feet of exhibit space and 48,000 square feet of meeting space, and includes a 45,300square-foot, multi-purpose ballroom. An impressive, 140-foot glass atrium welcomes delegates into a gathering place reminiscent of the Grand Canyon. Other highlights include: a 21,000-square-foot conferencestyle meeting space level inclusive of a 192-seat amphitheatre, built-in sound and recording capabilities in all meeting rooms, and a 45,000-square-foot ballroom that includes telescoping risers with 1,200 integral folded seats to enhance site lines.

Gasketed loading dock spaces allow the exhibition space and docks to be climate controlled during move-in and move-out and exhibit hall floors are scored on a 10x10 grid; coordinated with

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a 30x30 utility grid to reduce the amount of time and labor for event setup.

Unique outdoor spaces add beautiful Phoenix weather to events. Meeting planners also have available to them the newly renovated Symphony Hall, which offers an additional 2,400-seat theater with full theatrical capabilities. With its high ratio of diverse meeting space (150,000 square feet), to exhibition space (500,000 square feet), complimentary wireless communication in all public areas, as well as a $3 million commitment to public art – it’s sure to please even the most discriminating clients.

Located less than 10 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and surrounded by cultural and sports venues, restaurants, nightlife and shopping, this facility makes Phoenix competitive with the finest convention centers in the country. It serves as an ideal venue for

Phoenix Overlook - GPCVB

conventions of any size with spacious, hightech accommodations and client-friendly services. The facility is projected to meet the needs of nearly 85 percent of all convention requirements and is able to simultaneously host multiple conventions, shows and meetings offering greater scheduling flexibility and capacity for shows to grow and prosper. Two large conventions can be hosted concurrently, minimizing downtime between events, and optimizing use of hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions.

Completion of the Phoenix Convention Center expansion triples the size of the original facility, moving it from the 67th-largest convention center in the U.S. into the top 20, and positions Phoenix as a premier destination for nearly all conventions. l

Accommodations | PHOENIX & WEST VALLEY All-suite hotel centrally located to business districts, museums, theatres, and sports venues. Two and a half miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Offering complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast, cocktails nightly, parking and airport and area transportation. Amenities include: restaurant on property with room service available, outdoor heated pool with oversized whirlpool, on-site exercise facility and barbecue grills throughout the grounds. 2333 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, 602.957.1910, 800.EMBASSY, www.phoenix24thstreet.embsuites.com

A true southwestern experience nestled in the city’s prestigious Biltmore area, a vibrant center of business, sophisticated shops, outstanding restaurants and exciting entertainment. Cascading waterfalls and pools of iridescent Koi add to the enjoyment of our daily complimentary cooked-toorder breakfast and evening beverage reception. Adjacent to the Arizona Biltmore Country Club offering world-class golf on two championship courses. 2630 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602.955.3992, 800.EMBASSY, www.phoenixbiltmore.embassysuites.com

Located just minutes from downtown, the Phoenix Embassy Suites is truly a southwest oasis. With its spacious suites surrounding gardens of indigenous cactus varieties, the hotel pays special homage to the saguaro cactus – a cactus unique to the region and the largest in the U.S. As far back as the mid-1800s, the saguaro cactus enchanted westward pioneers traveling to the state of Arizona. We celebrate the essence of the cactus at the Agave Grill where guests can enjoy nightly tequila tastings and specialty drinks. The mighty saguaro is an integral part of the desert and provides food and a safe haven for many desert species. Like this unique cactus, the Embassy Suites Phoenix welcomes all southwest visitors who wish to find their own oasis. 1515 N. 44th St., Phoenix, 602.244.8800, www.phoenixairport44thstreet.embassysuites.com

The Best Western Grace Inn and Conference Center is a 160-room full service hotel and offers 10,000 SF of meeting space. A variety of room and suite types feature hair dryer, iron and board, refrigerator and patio, upon request. Amenities: Matthew’s Restaurant, Cloud Nine Salon & Spa, BG’s Lounge, gift shop, heated pool, whirlpool, tennis courts and nearby fitness center. Conveniently located near restaurants, shopping, downtown Phoenix, US Airways Center, Chase Field and ASU. Complimentary airport shuttle! 10831 S. 51st St., Phoenix, 480.893.300, 800.843.6010, www.BWPhoenix.com

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The Hampton Inn-Phoenix/Midtown offers that great central location.

Located in the heart of Phoenix’s Central Corridor of financial and government offices. Spacious guestrooms are equipped with all the comforts for an enjoyable stay. Free wireless high-speed Internet throughout the hotel. Meeting space to accommodate up to 50 classroom-style. Free breakfast buffet with hot items included in room rates. 160 W. Catalina Drive, Phoenix, 602.200.0990, 800.HAMPTON, www.hamptoninn.com/hi/phoenix-midtown

Great central location. In the heart of Phoenix’s Central Corridor, the hotel is only three miles from downtown Phoenix and five miles from Sky Harbor International Airport. The hotel boasts 7,600 SF of flexible meeting space and can accommodate up to 300. 4000 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602.279.9811, 800.HILTONS, www.phoenixmidtown.gardeninn.com

Breathtaking views, luxurious suites, tropical atrium and an optimal location, the Hilton Suites is located in the heart of the central business district and near Phoenix’s most popular cultural, entertainment and sports venues. Let our professional and knowledgeable meetings and catering staff be your link to ensuring a successful meeting or event. 10 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, 602.222.1111, 800.HILTONS, www.phoenixsuites.hilton.com

The brand new Holiday Inn Phoenix Midtown/City Center is located in the heart of the medical, financial, business, and art district of Phoenix and only a few minutes from the Sky Harbor International Airport.

The hotel showcases 3,000 SF of meeting space and a 250-seat garden amphitheater. 3600 E. 2nd Ave., Phoenix, 602.604.4900, www.holidayinnphoenixmidtown.com

The Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort offers 48,000 SF of flexible function space, including three spacious ballrooms and 46 choices of conference rooms. Meeting professionals enjoy a myriad of options.

Our complete business center meets the varied needs of meeting planners and event staff, along with state-of-the-art audio-visual teleconferencing equipment. Why not take your group outdoors under the Western skies for playful themed events at Tombstone, our cowboy town, followed by a festive dinner celebration on the Squaw Peak Patio. Our sports pool is ideal for water games. 7677 N. 16th St., Phoenix, 602.997.2626, 800.685.0550, www.pointehilton.com

Opening in October 2008, the 1,000-room Sheraton is located in the center of the bustling Copper Square District adjacent to the Phoenix Convention Center. On-site amenities include guestrooms featuring the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed, a 3,000-SF fitness center, and a spacious pool and sundeck. Utilize more than 80,000 SF of flexible, state-of-the-art meeting space including the 28,665-SF Phoenix Ballroom and the 15,000-SF Valley of the Sun Ballroom. Pre-opening sales office: P.O. Box 80282, Phoenix, 602.262.2500, www.sheraton.com/phoenixdowntown.com

Rancho de los Caballeros is a historic guest ranch and golf club with 20,000 acres and 100 horses for exploring rugged trails. Golf Magazine ranked its championship layout as one of America’s Top 75 Resort Courses.

Enjoy the brand new spa and 79 private casitas around a charming main lodge ‌ with new-fangled WiFi and fine dining nightly. Celebrate 59 years of Western hospitality in Wickenburg, Arizona, just a short ride northwest of Phoenix. 800.684.5030, www.SunC.com

All-suite hotel featuring 127 suites with private bedroom, wet bar, microwave, refrigerator, sofa bed, two televisions and three telephones. Enjoy Windmill Inn Good MorningTM, featuring hot beverage, juice, muffin and newspaper delivered to your suite each morning or choose to join us for free continental breakfast. The Arizona Room accommodates up to 180 in theatre-style seating and is approximately 2,100 SF. It can be divided into two separate rooms for smaller meetings. 12545 W. Bell Road, Surprise, 623.583.0133, 800.547.4747, www.windmillinns.com/sun.htm

The business class services you require with the resort amenities you deserve. European elegance and casual southwestern ambiance combine in a surprisingly tropical setting. Enjoy 342 guestrooms, five dining options, 16 indoor meeting spaces along with lush garden, fountain courtyard and patio for memorable outdoor events. All with a central Phoenix location. 2620 W. Dunlap Ave., Phoenix, 602.943.8200, 800.423.4126, www.sheratoncrescent.com

For nearly 80 years, The Wigwam has been an Authentic Arizona resort. And now, discover an entirely new experience with multi-million dollar golf renovations, the pampering Red Door Spa, the acclaimed Jim McLean Golf School, and the addition of an upscale, contemporary steakhouse.

Picture yourself taking an enriching escape. 300 E. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park, 623.935.3811, 800.327.0396, www.wigwamresort.com

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VALLEY OF THE SUN

The tremendous versatility and scope of our meeting facilities set the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort apart from other resorts. The opportunities for successful meetings here are endless. The 65,000 SF of total meeting and outdoor garden function space have been designed specifically for conventions and events. Whether your meetings are for 20 or 1,500, our nationally recognized teams of meeting professionals devote themselves to making your event a triumph. 11111 N. 7th St., Phoenix, 602.866.7500, 800.685.0550, www.pointehilton.com

Scottsdale

and the Northeast Valley

s

LON’s at the Hermosa

k THE NEW YORK TIMES described Scottsdale as the

“Beverly Hills of the Desert.” Major travel publications continually bestow top awards on the city’s resorts and

hotels. Scottsdale is truly nirvana for meeting planners with every conceivable style accommodation accompanied by fine dining options galore, nightlife, award-winning golf Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

courses and spas, and activities from rock walls to race cars to horseback rides and Jeep tours.

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VALLEY OF THE SUN

Geographically, Scottsdale covers about 185 square miles with a population 222,000, but its power as a travel destination is belied by its size. When compared to New York City, with a population of eight million, Scottsdale trails by only one for the most AAA Five Diamond hotels and resorts, with New York at six awards and Scottsdale holding five. The abundance of awardwinning properties sets the stage for extraordinary meetings and events.

The McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a planned 36,000-acre land reserve equivalent to one-third of Scottsdale’s total land area, lies within city boundaries.

Hiking Pinnacle Peak, North Scottsdale

The Preserve area currently exceeds 11,500 acres, which are left in as natural a state as possible for habitat and passive

recreation, while protecting magnificent desert vistas.

Scottsdale Airport is the second busiest single-runway airport in the U.S. During 2004 the airport recorded a total of 200,000 takeoffs and landings making it the busiest corporate jet facility in Arizona.

The unique character of Scottsdale, coupled with a multi award-winning Convention and Visitors Bureau, offer corporate, incentive, association and special market groups an unmatched level of service, accommodations and entertainment. Scottsdale boasts 70 hotels, 12,500 rooms, and 680,000-plus square feet of meeting space. The city

Main Street in Downtown Scottsdale - SCVB

j Labyrinth at The Boulders Resort

Kierland Commons - AOT

Scottsdale offers professional meeting and travel planners a wealth of possibilities for entertainment and memorable experiences along with unparalleled accommodations and services.

Taliesin West - SCVB

enjoys the reputation as the “Resort Capital of the Southwest,” with some of the most opulent resorts, spas and awardwinning golf courses in the country.

The resort and hotel industry of Scottsdale continues expansions and major renovations to support the needs of professional meeting planners. The Hotel Valley Ho reopened last year after renovation by Westroc Hospitality, and was added to the Historic Hotels of America Directory, published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Mondrian Scottsdale launched a 200-room urban resort concept in late 2006 at the site of a former downtown hotel. Kimpton

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Hotels & Restaurants recently acquired and renovated the Caleo Resort & Spa. New brands and new properties have selected Scottsdale for major hotel investments. The W Scottsdale Hotel and Residences opens in early 2008 at Camelback and Scottsdale Road.

Hyatt Place – Old Town, a new brand of Select Service Hotels, opened its second location, while another new brand, Hotel Indigo, launched as the newest member of the InterContinental Hotels Group family. This group is also adding a luxury resort to their Scottsdale portfolio with the scheduled 2008 opening of the InterContinental Montelucia Resort, Spa & Residences in Paradise Valley.

Marriott International Inc. plans to build a 225-room Ritz-Carlton property on the Paradise Valley-Scottsdale border.

Scottsdale is seamlessly surrounded by communities with their own unique character. To the east lies Fountain Hills, a charming community wreathed

by scenic mountains and desert terrain.

The town landmark and namesake is the world’s tallest year-round operating fountain, shooting its 560-foot-high stream of water 12 times a day and visible for miles.

Carefree is situated on Scottsdale’s northern border and proudly offers a relaxed lifestyle reflecting its name.

The community includes a luxury resort spa, outstanding shopping and dining and has some sixteen of Arizona’s most challenging championship golf courses nearby.

Just west of Scottsdale, the affluent community of Paradise Valley is home to the area’s original acclaimed resort hotels. These properties have undergone major restoration programs in recent years or are in the process of massive redevelopment programs. The desert character of the community is protected by large lot sizes and dedicated open space on the back

Dining at Pinnacle Peak Patio - SCVB

of Camelback Mountain and around the landmark mountain formation, “Praying Monk.”

Meeting planners enjoy the popularity of fine cuisine in Scottsdale, evidenced by a wide variety of themes in approximately 600 restaurants, which includes AAA Five and Four Diamond award-winners and Mobil Travel Guide Five and Four Star awardwinners. Renowned chefs are drawn to this area where influences of Native American, Latin and Westernstyle cooking and Asian-fusion all meld together. Entertainment options downtown include more than 30 nightspots, from haute spots in sleek and showy clubs to hip hangouts and hidden bôites, most within walking distance of each other.

Scottsdale takes pride in offering a wealth of shopping experiences from the luxurious to the unique. Fountains and skylights greet shoppers at Scottsdale Fashion Square, the largest mall in the state. A newly renovated Borgata, modeled after a 14th-century Italian town, and a host of other plazas offer an array of choices certain to please the serious or leisure shopper.

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j Sonoran Jeep Tour - SCVB

Sunrise Hike Blessing - SCVB

Scottsdale’s art scene is always an attraction for meeting planners with the Arts District near Fifth Avenue, Marshall Way and Stetson Drive a premier art buying destination featuring more than 125 art galleries and museums. Galleries open for Thursday Night ArtWalks and visitors enjoy galleries filled a with wide range of mediums and creative genius. Taliesin West, one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s crowning architectural achievements, is an attraction for visitors as well as architecture students from around the world. Meeting planners can schedule special dinners on the terrace for spectacular sunset views. The Heard Museum North offers an unparalleled collection of Native American art and cultural materials and the Scottsdale Center for the Arts presents musical, dance and theater performances.

Scottsdale is a golfer’s paradise, boasting award-winning courses designed by the biggest names in golf. Group golf events of any size find numerous options for spectacular golf courses. Competitive tournaments, high-spirited night golf using neon balls, and group lessons with resident golf professionals offer meeting planners possibilities well beyond the usual golf outing.

Luxury resorts and golf courses not withstanding, the history of the “Old West” is still a prominent draw for meeting planners. Embraced by many as “The West’s Most Western Town,” groups can taste the Old West experience by saddling up for sunrise horseback rides or taking a Jeep tour of the Sonoran Desert. Cowboy guides tell tall tales of the Old West and talk about the desert’s unique history while breathtaking scenery stimulates the vision.

Scottsdale offers professional meeting and travel planners a wealth of possibilities for entertainment and memorable experiences along with unparalleled accommodations and services. l

MacDonald’s Ranch - HPMG

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Accommodations | SCOTTSDALE AND NORTHEAST VALLEY The 360-room Carefree Resort & Villas features 30,000 SF of meeting space including a territorial Santa Fe style Opera House, an outdoor western town, botanical gardens and sunset terraces. In addition, the resort offers two restaurants, an Internet café, one- and two-bedroom villas and five tennis courts.

37220 Mule Train Road, Carefree, 480.488.5300, 888.488.9034, www.carefree-resort.com

Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort is an enclave of towering palms, lush foliage and sparkling fountains just north of historic downtown Scottsdale. In addition to 40,000 SF of flexible meeting space, the resort features two refreshing pools, lighted tennis courts, a health club, practice putting greens and all 387 rooms provide generous work areas and many amenities. 5401 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480.947.5400, 800.222.TREE, www.paradisevalley.doubletree.com

Located adjacent to the renowned Weiskopf & Morrish-designed courses of Troon North, and set on 40 acres of vibrant desert blooms, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale features 210 guestrooms, including 22 suites; most appointed with private plunge pools, kiva fireplaces, outdoor garden showers and telescopes. The Five Diamond property features unparalleled views of the high Sonoran Desert and city below, an award-winning Spa and Fitness Center, priority privileges on two of Arizona’s finest golf courses, championship tennis, distinctive cuisine, and much more.

The resort’s 36,000 SF of indoor/outdoor function space provides an ideal venue for any occasion. 10600 E. Crescent Moon Drive, Scottsdale, 480.515.5700, www.fourseasons.com/Scottsdale

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Four Peaks - Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation

Built in the 1930s by cowboy-artist Lon Megargee, rich history melds with elegant accommodations, artful American cuisine and spectacular views to create a one-of-a-kind meeting experience.

Thirty-five unique guestrooms sit in an exclusive neighborhood, all in the shadow of Camelback Mountain. 5532 N. Palo Cristi Road, Paradise Valley, 602.955.8614, 800.241.1210, www.hermosainn.com

Inn at Eagle Mountain’s boutique hotel is perched on the 18th fairway of The Golf Club at Eagle Mountain. This Sonoran Desert hideaway is located on the border of Scottsdale in Fountain Hills. Our 42 southwest décor’ mini-suites feature a whirlpool tub for two, kiva gas fireplace, patio with breathtaking views, high-speed Internet access, coffee maker and refrigerator. Amenities: pool, whirlpool, meeting space, ‘On the Edge’ restaurant, nearby shopping, spas, outdoor adventures and golf packages available for most courses! 9800 N. Summer Hill Blvd., Fountain Hills, 480.816.3000, 800.992.8083, www.innateaglemountain.com

Add some adventure to your next meeting at Scottsdale’s only AAA Four Diamond resort and casino. Set amid beautiful mountain views, we offer a unique desert resort experience. Groups appreciate our complimentary high-speed Internet access and 246 spacious guestrooms and suites, most with Sleep Number® beds.

The Conference Center includes 25,000 SF of adaptable meeting space, including outstanding banquet services. Fort McDowell Adventures provides team building activities and authentic Wild West adventures. The We-Ko-Pa Golf Club and Fort McDowell Casino are right next door. 10438 N. Fort McDowell Road, Scottsdale, 800.715.0328, www.radisson.com/ftmcdowellaz

Scottsdale and Phoenix – Arizona hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, golf lodging, and accommodations. Corporate housing in furnished apartments, condominiums, and homes. Business and group travel, relocation, and real estate services. 480.419.6975, 888.990.1326, www.luxurysuites.com, info@luxurysuites.com

Located in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, just steps away from world-renowned art galleries, shopping and the hottest nightlife in Scottsdale, the Scottsdale Marriott Suites will have our experienced staff create a memorable experience for you and your guests. 7325 E. 3rd Ave., Scottsdale, 480.945.1550, 800.627.7468, www.marriottsuitesscottsdale.com

We offer 735 guestrooms, 63 suites, and 32 casitas – all featuring the Westin Heavenly Bed. Utilize more than 175,000 SF of function space, including two ballrooms, and our award-winning culinary staff.

Enjoy 27 holes of championship golf and an array of golf options, full-service spa, eight food and beverage options and a waterpark.

Adjacent to upscale retail shopping and dining. 6902 E. Greenway Parkway, Scottsdale, 480.624.1000, www.kierlandresort.com

W Scottsdale offers a modern approach to the more traditional escape that Arizona is famous for. In signature W style, natural elements like flowing water are infused throughout the interior creating a balance between design and comfort. While you’re with us, delight in world-class destination restaurants and bars that attract locals who mix and mingle amongst the fashionable. And if you’re looking to get away from the everyday, an exclusive Bliss® Spa, Wet® pool, and Sweat fitness facility are the perfect respite for those who want to unwind. Located near the luxury Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, this 224-room hotel promises to be the place. Plan an event they will never forget, plan a W Sensory Meeting. At the intersection of Camelback Road and Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480.423.2407, www.whotelstheworld.com

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VALLEY OF THE SUN

Located in the heart of North Scottsdale, Resort Suites is just minutes from the area’s best golf courses, restaurants, shopping and attractions. Our spacious one-, two- and four-bed/bath suites have enough room for up to eight guests, and are perfect for business travelers, conference groups, golfers and families.

Six meeting rooms with enough space for up to 200 guests, onsite meeting planner suite, fully equipped business center and property-wide wireless Internet access. 7677 E. Princess Blvd., Scottsdale, 866.842.9844, www.resortsuites.com

Tempe

q

Papago Park - TCVB

k ONCE REGARDED as primarily a university town, Tempe has evolved into a “total package” city, with a wide range of lifestyles from student housing to luxury living, an array of championship golf courses, acclaimed resorts, an eclectic mix of shopping options and an impressive array of dining choices. As the home of Arizona State University, Tempe has a vibrant, diverse cultural climate bustling with innovation and progressive thinking.

The city borders Phoenix on the west, Scottsdale on the north, and Mesa to the east with ten-minute access to Sky Harbor International Airport. Tempe is the seventh largest city in Arizona with a population over 160,800. ASU is a dominate force in the city employing some 13,000 people to serve a student population of 50,000 which ranks the University as the fifth-largest in the U.S. Rated as an All-American City, Tempe offers over 10,000 guest rooms and 85,000 square feet of meeting space. A mix of performing arts, sports

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and recreation venues and numerous restaurants provides options certain to complement any meeting agenda.

Energy flows from tree-lined Mill Avenue in the center of downtown where some 120 businesses, from charming coffee shops to quaint stores and nightclubs, offering both locals and visitors entertainment galore.

Sidewalk artists and entertainers frequent the area giving the scene a lively and spontaneous sense of fun and excitement. Also in this area is a state-of-the-art, 1,000-seat (theater-

Tempe Town Lake - TCVB

style), concert hall which presents classic, country and jazz performances.

The origins of Tempe trace back to the end of the Civil War in 1865 when the Army established a post at Ft. McDowell.

Settlers followed shortly and town founder Charles Trumbull Hayden, built a flour mill and established a Salt River ferry service. First known as Hayden’s Ferry, the town was re-named Tempe (pronounced as Tem-PEE) when an English traveler compared the area to the Vale of Tempe in Greece. In 1886, the forerunner of ASU opened as the Arizona Territorial

DOWNTOWN TEMPE COMMUNITY Situated adjacent to the main campus of Arizona State University and Sun Devil Stadium in downtown Tempe, the Mill Avenue District is the vibrant heart of the city.

Mill Avenue is the only true, walkable urban environment in metropolitan Phoenix. Downtown Tempe bustles with boutiques, shops, restaurants, nightclubs, theatres, and hotels – all concentrated in the renowned Mill Avenue District. Visitors find more than 100 shops, restaurants, and bars in an eclectic oasis of culture, lifestyle, and commerce. Central to a thriving university’s nightlife, The District teems with collegiate athletics, live music, movies, plays, street festivals, fun runs, and dozens of community events. The Mill Avenue District is also the perfect gathering place for fans before and after baseball games. www.downtowntempe.com

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Tempe Art Festival - TCVB

Normal School and the farming community quietly expanded as a college town. The post-World War II era created a spurt of growth which pushed Tempe’s city limits in every direction and today the community blends seamlessly with neighboring cities.

The expansive campus of ASU is a focal point for the city, and Gammage auditorium, designed by legendary Frank Lloyd Wright, is one of the university’s most notable landmarks. Gammage annually hosts numerous touring Broadway productions and is considered one of the most acoustically perfect facilities in the world. Likewise, the Karsten Golf Course at ASU is widely acclaimed in the golf world and supports the University’s highly successful golf program.

Situated at the north end of Mill Avenue, Tempe Town Lake is a two-mile-long river bed offering an urban oasis for boating, kayaking, rowing and special events. Rental canoes, kayaks and electric boats are available, and groups of up to 35 can charter tours on excursion boats or smaller groups can arrange for catered cruises. Also under development around the lake’s shores are a resort hotel complex and office buildings which will provide significant additional meeting facilities during the next few years.

Those who enjoy comedy club entertainment will find a venue of noteworthy importance in Tempe. The Improv nightclub opened in 1988 with none other than Jerry Seinfeld. During the ensuing years, this venue has continued to bring the nation’s most popular comedians to the club, including such highly recognized names as Scottsdale’s David Spade and television host Dennis Miller. Several touring comics rate the Improv as one of the best comedy clubs in the country. Group arrangements are available at the club.

Tempe offers professional meeting planners an excellent destination – with options from mountaintop views to a dynamic downtown – there’s a unique meeting venue for every taste and budget. From the younger crowd to the young at heart, Tempe has just what you seek for an interesting, fun and highly successful meeting location. l

Accommodations | TEMPE

The ONLY all-suite full-service property in Tempe. Resort-style courtyards. Complimentary cookedto-order breakfast and management hosted reception daily. Complimentary airport transportation.

13,000 SF of meeting, exhibit and banquet space. The 4,000-SF Grand Ballroom will host up to 450 people. Two miles to ASU and downtown Tempe. Six championship golf courses within five miles.

Special group rates or custom packages including off-site events may be available. Suite rates vary seasonally from $89 to $229.

Call 480.897.7444, Sales Office extension 7703 (mention Arizona Meetings & Events Magazine, and Marla Battini will give you 10,000 Hilton HHonors bonus points for each qualified booking!). 4400 S. Rural Road, Tempe, www.embassysuitestempe.com

Centerpoint on Mill in Downtown Tempe - TCVB

All rooms and suites completely renovated in summer of 2006. 42� Plasma TVs, complimentary high-speed Internet, complimentary breakfast. Conveniently located at Baseline Road and Interstate 10 at the Tempe Arizona Mills Mall. 1520 W. Baseline Road, Tempe, 480.831.9860

The Tempe Mission Palms Hotel, located in the heart of Downtown Tempe offers 303 newly appointed deluxe guestrooms and suites and a warm inviting courtyard and rooftop pool. Just steps from our front door is Mill Avenue – featuring over 170 distinctive stores, galleries, restaurants and entertainment venues. 60 E. Fifth St., Tempe, 480.894.1400, 800.547.8705, www.missionpalms.com

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VALLEY OF THE SUN

After an eventful day of meetings, your guests will appreciate the comfort of our 353 handsomely furnished guestrooms and Narande Spa. With 40,000 SF of meeting space, including a 9,000 SF ballroom, The Buttes, A Marriott Resort is your premier meetings destination. 2000 Westcourt Way, Tempe, 602.225.9000, www.marriott.com/phxtm

Mesa & Chandler

Superstition Mountains - AOT

q k MESA AND CHANDLER are located in the southeastern quadrant of the Valley of the Sun,

for corporations such as Motorola and Intel. Easy

just 15 miles east of Phoenix. Both cities evolved

International Airport ensures a constant stream of

from rural agricultural communities to become

business visitors flowing in and out of the cities.

big players in the high-tech industry. The overall

As a result, professional meeting planners benefit

desirable weather of the Valley and availability of

from an abundance of affordable accommodations,

large tracts of land for development made this

dining and shopping options, and easy access to a

part of the metroplex a very desirable location

variety of entertainment in the area.

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access to international travel at Phoenix Sky Harbor

VALLEY OF THE SUN Downtown Chandler - CoT

Las Sendas Golf Club

The Mesa Convention Center is a full service meeting and event facility located in downtown Mesa. It features 15,000 square feet of exhibit area and an additional 25,000 square feet of meeting space, comprised of 15 rooms of varying sizes. Onsite catering and a state-of-the-art theaterstyle conference center are also available.

The Mesa Amphitheatre offers festival seating for 4,200 on curved grass terraces and is part of the Convention Center complex. No seat is further than 175 feet from the stage in this lovely setting. The Amphitheatre consistently ranks at the top of the best outdoor concert venues in the Valley with national touring acts,

community programs, arts and cultural events, and theatrical performances.

Mesa takes great pride in its heritage as it dates back two thousand years to the Hohokam Indians. The city itself was founded in 1883 and five museums are dedicated to preserving the history of the city and culture of the area. The Mesa Historical Museum’s 30,000 square feet of exhibit rooms showcase artifacts from Mesa’s pioneer days. The Mesa Southwest Museum presents history back to the dinosaurs, including a 10,000-year-old mammoth, Indian petroglyphs, Spanish conquistadors and frontier history. The new Mesa Arts Center is a downtown

Chandler Fashion Center - CoT

landmark and destination with a sevenacre campus that includes four theaters, five exhibition galleries and 14 visual and performing arts studios and classrooms.

Those planning spring meetings in the Valley will want to consider taking the group to one of the Cactus League Spring Training games. Mesa is home of the ever popular Chicago Cubs at Hohokam Stadium. The stadium, which holds 12,500

ARIZONA MEETINGS AND EVENTS

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Mesa Arts Center - MCVB

Both Mesa and Chandler are activity-oriented cities offering a wide range of recreational and entertainment options.

Chicago Cubs Spring Training, Hohokam Park, Mesa - MCVB

people, also hosts concerts, Arizona Fall League, Golden Baseball League and other sports events.

Both Mesa and Chandler offer a variety of hotel accommodations, including Arizona’s original golf resort, the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort that first opened in 1912. With its Spanish colonnades, old-world charm and probably the shadiest 18 holes of championship golf west of the Mississippi, it’s been a favorite for over 90 years. In Mesa, the Arizona Golf Resort also offers one of the Valley’s original golf courses right on property set in an atmosphere of lush vegetation and mature trees.

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For true golf addicts, the Nicklausdesigned Bear Creek and Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler provide distinctly different challenges. Mesa’s Las Sendas Golf Club has been named “One of the Top 10 You Can Play in the Nation” (Golf Magazine), and Superstition Springs Golf Club is rated among “America’s Best Golf Courses” (Golf Week Magazine). Nearby Longbow Golf Club is built in the shadow of beautiful Red Mountain.

Both Mesa and Chandler are activityoriented cities offering a wide range of recreational and entertainment options.

In addition to the numerous golf courses, an abundance of recreational choices are nearby in the Superstition Mountains, Apache Trail and the lakes of the Salt River. Choices range from horseback riding to river rafting to desert Jeep tours to steamboat rides or even moonlit hayrides.

Tortilla Flat is an old stagecoach stop on the Apache Trail which boasts all of six residents and a movie backdrop ambiance. Goldfield Ghost Town offers an authentic 1890’s mining town where visitors can pan for gold, ride a train, take the underground mine tour, enjoy a horseback ride or discover desert dwellers in the reptile exhibit.

The Superstition Mountains are home of the legendary Lost Dutchman Gold Mine and its hidden fortune still sought by treasure seekers. For those preferring to seek scenic beauty and exercise, the wilderness of the Superstitions offers a vast network of hiking and equestrian trails. The spring wildflower display on the western end attracts photographers from all over the world each year. Jeep tour excursions on the Apache Trail or off-road desert Jeep tours are available.

If you are looking for unusual meeting venues or outdoor adventures, consider

Chandler Fashion Center - CoT

v

Dolly Steamboat, Canyon Lake - MCVB

98 South Restaurant, Downtown Chandler - CoT

From usual to unusual, Mesa and Chandler offer an eclectic mix of community, history, indoor and outdoor recreation and relaxation, and a variety of accommodations to meet nearly every need.

di Sciacca Boutique, Chandler - CoT

the Dolly Steamboat, a 100-foot-long replica of an early American riverboat sternwheeler, which is at home on Canyon Lake. Groups of up to 135 can take a lunch or dinner cruise on this 10mile-long lake, the first of three desert lakes along the Apache Trail. Speedboats, Jet-skis and fishing boats take over the waters of Apache and Roosevelt Lakes, as well as Canyon Lake, for the majority of the year.

For those to whom activity means shopping, Mesa has a factory outlet mall and two major malls, including the new Village at Dana Park. Dana Park’s charming main street setting

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features marble columns, date palmlined sidewalks and soothing courtyard fountains. Antique aficionados can spend hours in downtown Mesa where 15 antique shops display everything to tempt the collector. Historic Downtown Chandler offers many local boutique shops, eclectic art galleries, museums and a world class Center for the Arts that draws entertainers from all over the globe. The new Chandler Fashion Center and Casa Paloma both feature high-end retail experiences.

Special events and festivals are plentiful with the annual Ostrich Festival (Chandler was home to ostrich farms back in the day and now they race them at the event), and Cinco de Mayo Celebration featuring, you guessed it, racing Chihuahuas! Free outdoor concerts are held nearly year-round.

The past year saw the relocation of Rawhide Wild West Town from its original location in North Scottsdale to a larger venue next to the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort in Chandler. Celebrating over 30 years as a favorite visitor destination for 1880’s style family entertainment, Rawhide added a replica of a Native American village with the move. The unique appeal of gunfights, stuntmen, main street and theater-style entertainment, stagecoach rides, a petting zoo, bull riding (mechanical and the real thing), gold panning, games, rides, attractions and shopping remains an entertainment staple for Arizona visitors.

From usual to unusual, Mesa and Chandler offer an eclectic mix of community, history, indoor and outdoor recreation and relaxation, and a variety of accommodations to meet nearly every need. l

Accommodations |

MESA AND CHANDLER

An eight-story atrium-style hotel in Phoenix’s East Valley with easy freeway access featuring a resort-style pool, fitness center, business center, restaurant and lounge. 260 newly renovated guestrooms and suites with wireless high-speed Internet access. Book a meeting with 25 or more rooms and receive a complimentary reception. Call for details; restrictions apply. 1011 W. Holmes Ave., Mesa, 800.544.5866, 480.833.5555, www.hiltonphoenixeast.com Holiday Inn Mesa-Phoenix/Chandler just completed a four-million-dollar renovation. Offering 11,000 SF of versatile meeting space. 246 rooms including 83 king suites with plasma TVs. Oasis pool with waterfall, restaurant and lounge, guest laundry and exercise facilities. Close to shopping, fine dining and entertainment.

1600 S. Country Club Drive, Mesa, 866.799.2789, 480.964.7000, www.mesahi.com

The Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort, since its opening in 1912, has become known for its championship golf, awardwinning dining and legendary hospitality. The resort features 295 luxurious guestrooms including 12 suites and two Presidential Suites. Also featured is over 30,000 SF of flexible meeting space, AJ’s Café, 1912 Lounge, and a spectacular new Swim Complex.

One San Marcos Place, Chandler, 480.812.0900, 800.528.8071, www.SanMarcosResort.com.

The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, Arizona’s only Native American-owned luxury resort, boasts 500 culturally-themed rooms, 36 holes of Troon Golf, the Aji Spa, and Koli – an on-site equestrian center. Located on the Gila River Indian Community, the resort offers a recreational, educational and inspirational experience never before available in a resort setting. 5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Phoenix, 602.225.0100, www.wildhorsepassresort.com All-suite hotel featuring 127 suites with private bedroom, wet bar, microwave, refrigerator, sofa bed, two televisions and three telephones. Enjoy Windmill Inn Good MorningTM, featuring hot beverage, juice, muffin and newspaper delivered to your suite each morning or join us for free continental breakfast. The Arizona Room accommodates up to 210 in theatre-style seating and is approximately 3,160 SF. It can be divided into three separate rooms for smaller events.

Boardroom available. 3535 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, 480.812.9600, 800.547.4747, www.windmillinns.com/cha.htm

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VALLEY OF THE SUN

Located 11 miles east of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Complimentary full American breakfast buffet, large guestrooms with ample amenities, complimentary daily newspaper, consistent affordability and 8,000 SF of indoor and outdoor flexible meeting space make Dobson Ranch Inn an ideal hotel for small and medium-sized groups. 1666 S. Dobson Road, Mesa, 480.831.7000, 800.528.1356, www.dobsonranchinn.com

Valley of the Sun Dining & Entertainment

j

Rustler’s Rooste

k OPTIONS FOR DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT in the Valley of the Sun are nearly limitless, as the Valley boasts an impressive array of the nation’s finest dining establishments and numerous group settings that mix the culture of the area with the cuisine.

The list of resorts that boast Four and Five Star restaurants rivals any location in the country for dining experience. AAA’s Four Diamond Awards for 2006 went to 18 Valley restaurants with The Chaparral at JW Marriott Camelback Inn in Paradise Valley being named to the list for 17 years.

Three restaurants were added for the first time in this year’s awards, Latitude 30 at Pointe South Mountain Resort, Lon’s at the Hermosa and the Phoenician’s Windows on the Green. Also in this year’s awards, Kai at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort was honored with the prestigious Five Diamond status.

The Valley also enjoys a number of excellent independently owned restaurants that add the signature touches of their owners to the variety of dining choices. Vincent Guerithault showcases his skills at Phoenix’s Vincent on Camelback with his version of New

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The Bistro at Kokopelli Winery

Southwest cuisine – a style achieved when a creative, classically trained chef mixes fresh local ingredients with Native American, Hispanic and Old West traditions.

As the sun fades and night falls, the desert quickly cools, but the nightlife is just heating up. Hotspots range from trendy nightclubs to more relaxed sports bars.

Adjacent to ASU, the Mill Avenue District in Tempe is the center of a thriving university nightlife and home to over 100 restaurants, nightclubs, taverns and shops. With four microbreweries in Tempe – including Four Peaks Brewery which is tucked away in a historic creamery building – guests are sure to find something unique and previously untried.

In Scottsdale, hip clubs serving progressive dance and salsa mix it up with other venues offering upscale downtime in cozy wine bars and bistros.

Downtown Scottsdale alone boasts more than 30 nightspots.

From planning intimate fine dining for a small executive group to a cowboy cookout for thousands of conventioneers, the Valley’s dining and nightlife will meet your needs and exceed your expectations. l

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DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

Take a step into the Old West at any of our six Valley locations.

Family owned and operated since 1956, Bill Johnson’s knows Bill Johnson’s Restaurants, Inc how to rustle up an authentic cowboy meal. Starting with real country-style breakfasts to mouth-watering barbeque, satisfying USDA Choice steaks and our award-winning deep dish apple pie.

We don’t fool ya, we feed ya! Visit our 1800 saloon and banquet room at 19th Avenue and Bell Road. If you’re looking to have a shindig at your place, our catering department can rustle up the best feed for miles. Contact Diana Johnson at 602.370.2476 to customize a menu just for you. www.billjohnsons.com

Arizona’s largest and most decorated winery, with 58 medals to date. Lunch seven days a week. Dinner with live Jazz, Friday and Saturday evenings. Also available for private parties, bridal luncheons/ showers, rehearsal dinners, corporate events/team building, winery tours, grape-crushing events, and personalized and handpainted bottles. Located in Historic Downtown Chandler, 35 W. Boston St., 480.792.6927, www.kokopelliwinery.com

Sitting on the inside corner of the popular Kierland Commons, Bobby’s is “a Mancuso Restaurant.” Open the front door and enter Arizona’s Hollywood, full of lots of glitz and shimmer. From beautiful modern, sparkle lighting to silver beading between booths to give you privacy, Bobby’s is sure to give you an elegant feeling. The menu consists of American continental cuisine with some of Mancuso’s specialties: Osso Buco, Lamb Chops Dijonnaise and Veal Chops. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Lounge is open until 1am. Kierland Commons Shopping Center, 7122 E. Greenway Parkway, Suite 140, Scottsdale, 480.556.0770, www.mancusosrestaurant.com

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Avanti - Celebrating over 30 years as an Arizona tradition. Offering the finest of Italian cuisine favorites including Osso buco, fresh pasta, fresh seafood and homemade desserts. Avanti holds numerous awards and is the winner of the America’s Top Table Award from Gourmet Magazine and rates outstanding in Mobil Travel Guide, Southwest Zagat Survey, and The James Beard Foundation. Entertainment is offered featuring a piano bar and dancing. Private meeting rooms and banquet facilities are available. Centrally located at 2728 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, 602.956.0900, www.avanti-az.com

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DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre presents full-length Broadway musical productions featuring professional actors and musicians. The buffet dinner presentation features a full salad bar, five entrée items and a lavish dessert selection. The Broadway Palm also offers cocktail service, an art gallery, a specialty gift shop, and banquet room. 5247 E. Brown Road, Mesa, 480.325.6700, www.broadwaypalmwest.com

Since 1992 John Henry’s offers exceptional service, excellent fare and fine wine in a romantic atmosphere. Our upscale lounge features great entertainment and premium liquors. Relax on our great smoking-optional patio or dance the night away in our lounge, you’ll enjoy the personal experience that only John Henry’s can provide. 909 E. Elliot Road, Tempe, 480.730.9009, www.JohnHenrysRestaurant.com

Casino Arizona currently showcases an extraordinary cultural exhibit of arts and crafts. Located on the Salt River PimaMaricopa Indian community, it also offers gaming, a cabaret-style showroom, a relaxing piano lounge, a sports bar and five restaurants, including Cholla, a fine dining experience. 101 & McKellips, 480.850.7777, www.casinoaz.com

The Matador Restaurant is a downtown Phoenix landmark, in the heart of downtown for 30 years.

Located one block from the Phoenix Convention Center, major hotels, US Airways Center, and Chase Field. Serving authentic Sonoran Mexican food, American food, and a touch of Greek food. Lounge and banquet facilities available. 125 E. Adams St., Phoenix, 602.254.7563, www.matadormexicanfoodrestaurant.usdirectory.com

The “Taste of the New West” – Locally owned and operated since 1992, offering “pecan smoked” prime rib, baby-back ribs, pork tenderloin, steaks, BBQ salmon and award-winning barbeque. Named “Best BBQ” by the Arizona Republic and Phoenix Magazine. Enjoy lunch or dinner in this stylish “Southwestern City Slicker” atmosphere featuring original contemporary western art. All locations feature full-service bars and outdoor patios with fireplaces and are conveniently located near major highways. Full-service catering, event planning and on-site grilling available. Open daily 11am-10pm. Catering-480.921.1722, Glendale623.931.2438, Scottsdale-480.998.2626, Ahwatukee-480.705.5050, Mesa-480.507.7400, Goodyear-623.209.0144, Surprise-623.209.8001, www.elpasobbq.com

Built from a historic 75-year-old adobe home and located in the charming art district of Scottsdale, Old Town Tortilla Factory captures timeless charm and a distinct atmosphere that exemplifies the essence of the Southwest. A firewater patio – along with a world-renowned tequila bar, which offers 100 premium tequilas – lends itself to being the perfect place to accommodate your large party needs.

Old Town Tortilla Factory offers Southwest cuisine with Sonoran influences starring house-made tortillas, seductive salsas and sauces, and specialties such as a red chilé pork chop, Shawnee seabass and stuffed filet mignon. During the winter months, patio heaters keep the patio at spring-like temperatures. 6910 E. Main St., Scottsdale, 480.945.4567, www.oldtowntortillafactory.com

For the perfect venue to host your next event, look no further than FOX Sports Grill.

We offer private or semi-private dining and reception space for groups of 10 to 1,000 in our upscale, beautifully appointed venue. Whether it is a private dinner, business meeting, happy hour or team-building activity, FOX Sports Grill will make your next event spectacular. 16203 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480.368.0455. Please visit us on the web for more details www.foxsportsgrill.com/scottsdale.

Patsy Grimaldi’s Coal Fired Brick Oven Pizza is the only authentic Brooklyn-style pizza in the Valley.

The pizzas are baked in a coal fired brick oven at over 1200 degrees which gives a unique and crispy taste with the freshest and most flavorful toppings. Come visit us for the best pizza in America! Old Town Scottsdale, 480.949.1100, Chandler at Ocotillo, 480.812.2100, Market Street at DC Ranch, 480.515.5588, www.patsygrimaldis.com

An Arizona Roadhouse and A Great Place to Celebrate – Iguana Mack’s recreates the Arizona roadhouse dining experience where great food is served with personality. Roadhouse favorites include steaks, fresh seafood, BBQ ribs and pulled pork, burgers, sandwiches and salads. Enjoy happy hour on the spacious patio or family dining in the restaurant. Private banquet room and seating for groups of 10 to 100. Custom menus are available. No room charge. 1371 N. Alma School Road, Chandler, 480.899.6735, www.iguanamacks.com

Serving groups since 1957. Old West atmosphere is the perfect venue for off-property nights. Choose from outdoor cookouts with desert views, private patios or private indoor dining rooms (seating 30-3,000). Menus feature award-winning mesquite broiled steaks, chicken and ribs with all the cowboy fixin’s.

Entertainment from bands to casinos available. 10426 E. Jomax Road, Scottsdale, 480.585.1599, 800.635.9466, www.pppatio.com

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DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

Serious About our Food. Crazy About our Beer. Our obsession with beer is legendary, yet our passion for great food runs just as deep.

From our commitment to fresh ingredients to the bread that we bake ourselves to our homemade desserts, every inspired recipe reflects the artistry and love that makes the Rock Bottom experience like no other. Banquet and private party space available. 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, 480.513.9125 and 14205 S. 50th St., Phoenix, 480.598.1300, www.rockbottom.com

Voted #1 place to bring out-of-town guests! The world-famous Rockin’ R Ranch Chuckwagon Dinner Theater features an allyou-can-eat barbecue dinner and western stage show with songs and humor of the Old West. Great family entertainment, free gold panning and gunfights. Town opens at 5:30pm with shops and saloon. Call 480.832.1539 for days and reservations.

Also, wedding and private groups to 1,500. 6136 E. Baseline Road, Mesa, www.rockinr.net

If you want an authentic Arizona location for your next roundup, look no further than Rustler’s Rooste. Only the Rooste can accommodate 30 to 1,500 guests in a spectacular mountaintop setting. Whether you choose a scenic outdoor patio, the spacious Crystal Barn (complete with a stage and dance floor), or the novel Branding Iron Room, you’ll find the Rooste offers a big helping of western hospitality and an eye for detail. Call today 602.431.6407, 602.431.6473 or online at www.rustlersrooste.com Whatever the occasion, Ruth’s Chris Steak House is the perfect spot to gather. Unparalleled cuisine, sumptuous surroundings and service that are accomplished yet never fussy – these are the elements of memorable special events. We provide private dining space, from grand to intimate. We provide a special menu in impeccable Ruth’s Chris style, but tailored to your tastes. You bring the associates, friends or family. And let the celebrations begin. In Phoenix at 2201 E. Camelback Road, 602.957.9600 and in Scottsdale at 7001 N. Scottsdale Road, 480.991.5988, www.ruthschris.com. Ruth’s Chris Steak House - because life’s too short to eat anywhere else.

Arizona’s Original Steakhouse, The Stockyards Restaurant and 1889 Saloon is known for its premium hand-cut aged steaks, prime ribs, fresh pork, poultry and seafood.

For over 50 years, this independently owned and operated landmark restaurant has celebrated the colorful history and characters of Arizona’s cattle industry. You will still find consistently excellent dining and a genuinely friendly atmosphere in this authentic piece of Arizona’s past. Private dining rooms available, excellent choice for groups. 5009 E. Washington St., Phoenix, 602.273.7378, www.stockyardsrestaurant.com At Upper Deck, we’re not just a Sports Grill. Our versatile venue is ideal for small to large corporate or leisure gatherings. Delicious food with casually elegant and fun décor.

Full-service food, catering, bar, and entertainment. Full A/V capabilities for entertainment, corporate videos or presentations, and interactive online with Wi-Fi. You visualize…

We customize! Private Suite available upstairs. 4224 N. Craftsman Court, Scottsdale, 480.941.9333, www.upperdecksportsgrill.com Internationally acclaimed for extraordinary food and fine wines, Vincent on Camelback can accommodate groups and gatherings in one of our distinct private dining rooms – all in an atmosphere of warmth and comfort.

For over 20 years, Vincent has been combining his expertise in classic French cooking with Southwestern ingredients to create a unique blend of flavors that has become his signature. We have received continuously high marks from food critics across the county. Come find out why! 3930 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602.224.0225, www.vincentsoncamelback.com

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k THE SONORAN DESERT is widely considered the world’s most

Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving - SCVB

stunning desert in the world – and it’s certainly the most diverse – offering visitors endless up-close and personal experiences.

Horseback Riding in the Sonoran Desert - SCVB

Southwest Adventures Jeep Tour

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With a wide range of thriving plant and animal life, the Sonoran Desert is replete with ironwood trees, a multitude of cacti including towering saguaros, and sprays of desert flowers. Uniquely desert critters include Javelina (wild pigs), Gila Monsters (lizards), rattlesnakes, roadrunners and coyotes – though it’s rare to run into any of these as they prefer to avoid humans.

Greater Phoenix has a variety of multi-use trails. Nestled in the lower Verde River Basin is McDowell Mountain Regional Park, a 21,099-acre desert jewel.

Elevations in the park rise to 3,000 feet and visitors along its 50 miles of trails enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding mountain ranges. Dozens of breezy trails seep through valleys and over hills, while challenging terrain puts even the heartiest to the test.

On Phoenix’s southern frontier is the incomparable South Mountain Park & Preserve, which at 16,500 acres, is the

nation’s largest municipal park. This landmark is popular among hikers, bikers, and those who enjoy horseback riding.

Hiking is a way of life in Greater Phoenix. Take an early-morning trek up the steep, 1,000-foot rise to the top of Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, or undertake a gentler hike up Piestewa Peak (formerly Squaw Peak). Both rises will reward walkers with expansive views of the entire region.

In Tempe, Papago Park is the perfect place to hike, bike, or picnic while surrounded by beautiful desert vistas.

Papago Park’s paved and unpaved trails are a joy for riders of all ages.

For many visitors, there’s no better way to connect with the land, soul and heritage of the Southwest than on horseback. You can choose to daytrip with one of many local outfitters or spend your vacation in the rustic environs of a dude ranch.

Wickenburg is home to multiple dude

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Fishcreek Hill - Apache Trail Jeep Tours

ranches and lets you explore the desert on horseback and experience the West in a special way.

If you prefer to soar above it all, tour the desert in a hot air balloon, ultra light or glider. Or, stay on the desert floor in a Hummer/Jeep in search of abandoned gold mines and other treasures. Driving enthusiasts get their thrill at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving that offers lessons, racing and zipping around the track with a professional driver.

When you’re ready to cool down, there are seven large lakes within a leisurely drive of Phoenix. Roosevelt Lake is popular for water skiing and boating. Closer to the city, Tempe Town Lake attracts boaters, kayakers, canoeists and other water-sport enthusiasts, and the Salt River provides an escape for spending an entire day drifting with the current on an inflatable tube.

The adventures don’t stop when the sun goes down either. Arizona is one of the best places for stargazing, and Phoenix has numerous opportunities to look to the stars. The far reaches of the galaxy are explored at the state’s numerous observatories, planetariums and through telescopes on the patios and balconies of the resorts.

And finally, for those who wish to just relax and be pampered – visit an award-winning spa and enjoy both native and innovative treatments. The gamut runs from warm-stone therapies, invigorating massages, aloe vera body wraps, to aromatherapy and Sonoran Desert exfoliations. l

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ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS

Across Arizona Tours offers unique custom van and coach tours throughout Arizona, including Grand Canyon, Sedona, Apache Trail, Tucson, Monument Valley, and local city tours. Our certified, professional, and enthusiastic guides are the best in the Southwest.

Our knowledgeable staff designs itineraries for any size group, from half-day to multi-day tours. Across Arizona provides prompt, unparalleled customer service. Please call our 24-hour reservation and information line with any questions or to request our informative brochure. 3213 E. Rosemonte Drive, Phoenix, 888.533.1813, 602.233.1813, www.acrossarizona.com

Come with us to visit the West the way it was before concrete and electricity. Our cowboy guides will take you off the main roads onto Arizona’s Sonoran Desert trails, through a land teeming with plants and animals that live nowhere else. We pick you up at your hotel or residence and return you, a changed person, after the ride of a lifetime. Flexible scheduling; tours leave in the morning, afternoon, and evening. 480.786.9198, www.azclassicjeeptours.com

Arizona Capitol Museum — We are Arizona’s Museum. Historic 1901 Capitol Building in the center of Arizona Government. Exhibit highlights: USS Arizona and its extraordinary silver service. Arizona House Chamber restored to 1910 Constitutional Convention-era. Tours available. Free admission. Museum Store. Hours: Monday through Friday 8am-5pm, Saturday 11am-4pm. 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, 602.542.4675, www.lib.az.us/museum

We offer exciting and educational halfday and full-day guided adventures throughout the Sonoran Desert including: hiking, mountain biking, road biking, kayaking and teambuilding events. We also offer bicycle rentals with free delivery and have 300+ bikes in our fleet ranging from comfort hybrid bikes to high performance road and mountain bikes. Multi-day trips throughout the Southwest including our private Basecamp in the Grand Canyon are available as well.

Individuals and groups are welcome. 480.945.2881 or toll free: 866.455.1601, www.aoa-adventures.com

If you’re in the Phoenix area and looking for a desert sightseeing tour that’s a departure from the ordinary, we have an adventure in store for you! Let Arizona Hummer Tours offer you the thrill of a lifetime!

602.692.7124, www.azhummertours.com

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The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving offers a myriad of unique programs from action-packed, half-day driving functions to multiple-day racing courses for groups of six to 100. The half-day driving program, known as “The FUNdamentals Course,” was specifically designed for groups and is taught by highly-skilled Bondurant instructors.

Call today, 480.961.0143, 800.842.7223, www.bondurant.com

A Truly Unique experience. Motorcycle touring in the Desert Southwest. Let us custom design a tour for you or your group of up to 40 (one day to ten) you choose. We provide complete camp outfitting, motorcycle and four wheeler rentals, and gourmet camp meal preparation. 893D W. Wickenburg Way, Wickenburg, 928.684.3718, www.chromecaballeros.com

DETOURS OF ARIZONA offers guided tours of the entire Southwest, with departures from Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Flagstaff. DETOURS’ custom vans carry only 10 guests in leather captain’s chairs for the most comfortable ride and a personalized tour experience. Unique itineraries and exclusive tours have made us a favored tour partner with the area’s top resort properties. Half- or full-day to 14-day itineraries are available. 866.438.6877, 480.633.9013, www.detoursaz.com

Hello Dolly! Experience a “Mark Twain” voyage aboard the Dolly Steamboat, a replica of a sternwheeler paddleboat. Canyon Lake is the home port of the Dolly Steamboat.

All aboard for an adventure down the secluded inner waterways of the “Junior Grand Canyon.” Whether you take a daily Nature Cruise or a Twilight Dinner Cruise, you can sit back and relax while you admire the breathtaking flora and fauna of the lower Sonoran Desert.

Listen to our captain recount some of the legends and lore about the Superstition Mountains. At Christmas-time, the Dolly offers a caroling cruise and then leads a festive parade of lights dinner cruise.

Apache Junction, 480.827.9144, www.dollysteamboat.com

4-WHEELER, DESERT BUGGY and HUMMER tours.

Experience the timeless beauty of the Arizona desert.

We tour through a variety of scenery such as classic saguaro cacti, sandy river bottoms and cool running creeks.

View these sights navigating the terrain yourself, led by an outfitter with a 4-wheeler, or take an effortless ride in a guide-driven Hummer. Whichever you choose, our goal is to provide a unique and memorable adventure with vehicle performance unrivaled in 4-wheel-drive territory. 480.987.8335, www.theoutbacksafari.com

We would be honored to host your next corporate party, reunion or wedding at Arizona’s finest outdoor venues far enough away to escape the urban landscape, but only minutes from the finest resorts and hotels in the Valley of the Sun. We feature desert sites, trail rides, cattle drives, camping and awesome Western entertainment and are located on the 25,000-acre Fort McDowell Yavapai Indian Reservation. The Wild West Experience awaits you.

Fountain Hills, 480.816.6465, www.fortmcdowelladventures.com

Located in north Phoenix within the pristine Sonoran Desert, Pioneer Ranch offers the true western hospitality ideal for horseback rides, cattle drives, teambuilding workshops, cowboy cookouts, off-road adventures, and western weddings. Adjacent to the Pioneer History Living Museum, take a step back in time to the early 1800s to experience the Old West. Open year-round with indoor and outdoor covered facilities. 602.565.3199, www.westerndestinations.com

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It’s your party – Have a Ball!! Customize your event with our party specialist. Glenfair offers a variety of Party Packages to suit your group’s needs, food, beverages, and BOWLING. Our facility creates a fun atmosphere for people of all ages. Just tell us what strikes you. We’ll do the rest, 6110 N. 59th ENFAI Ave., LGlendale, 623.937.9225, www.glenfairbowl.com

L I N G L A Desert is one of the foremost TheWSonoran hot air ballooning areas in the entire world.

Be sure to let your group experience why!

Flights are daily at sunrise year-round.

Included are roundtrip hotel transfers, onehour flight, post-flight champagne ceremony, catered breakfast and a commemorative flight certificate. Fully insured, FAA certified and uniformed. Rated #1 hot air ballooning company in Arizona by Fodor’s Travel for the past ten years! Groups are our specialty since 1990. We look forward to seeing you in the air! 2243 E. Rose Garden Loop, Suite 1, Phoenix, 800.831.7610, www.HotAirExpeditions.com

NO GROUP TOO LARGE! The largest privately owned day spa in Arizona featuring 1000 SF of meeting space and facilities for over 25 spa services at one time. It is the ideal setting for teambuilding, corporate rewards, or spouse activities.

Packages start at just $100 per person, including lunch, a massage, facial, mani/pedi and use of the steam room, sauna, whirlpool, swimming pool, robes, lockers and sandals. Called “The Valley’s best spa deal” by Phoenix Magazine. Loved by locals for its friendly island ambiance, world class therapists and unmatched value.

Conveniently located just north of the Scottsdale Fashion Square at 5115 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480.945.7066, www.thelamar.com

Clay Target Shooting is an alternative and exciting form of corporate entertainment.

Red Mountain Trap & Skeet provides the opportunity to mix business with pleasure.

No experience is necessary to enjoy the recreational shooting sports of Trap, Skeet, 5-Stand and/or Sporting Clays. Red Mountain Trap & Skeet provides instruction and proper equipment for all participants in the outing. Shooting clay targets is fun! Call 480.990.9994 to make your Corporate Shoot reservations. 15001 E. Beeline Highway, Scottsdale, www.redmtntrap.com

Experience the rugged beauty of Arizona with Southwest Adventures.

Enjoy 4x4 desert trips, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking and more with fun and friendly guides. Daily tours for families and specialty trips for groups/conventions including scavenger hunts, photo rallies, teambuilding, etc. Arizona’s favorite adventure team at your service!

480.962.6620, 800.962.6640, www.southwestadventures.com

Join us, during our 51st season for the heart-pounding excitement of Live Thoroughbred Racing at its finest! Bring your team to enjoy an exciting and fun-filled day at the races. Group luncheons with the entertainment of our incredible four-legged athletes. Turf Paradise is the 3rd-most attended sports attraction in the state and holds court to one of the longest racing seasons in the country. Gorgeous VIP Private Suites, breathtaking views, great food, fun teambuilding activities and special event days. Live racing October-May, 12:30pm5pm, Friday-Tuesday. 1501 W. Bell Road, Phoenix, 602.375.6478, www.turfparadise.com ARIZONA MEETINGS AND EVENTS

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Experience THE ULTIMATE ADRENLINE RUSH at America’s Largest Indoor Kart Racing & Entertainment Venue! Our venue features 45+ MPH karts, the Trackside Bar & Grill, billiards, rock wall, and an arcade. F1 Race Factory hosts everything from formal company meetings to super-charged teambuilding events.

F1 has five event rooms and can accommodate events from 10 to 1,000.

F1 Race Factory is centrally located, next to Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix, 602.302.7223, www.f1racefactory.com.

Valley of the Sun Meeting & Event Venues

Phoenix Zoo - TCVB

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k IN ADDITION to traditional conference centers with state-of-the-art technology; museums with stunning art and cultural settings; and restaurants with breathtaking views and fabulous food; you’ll also find western towns where meeting-goers can shed their ties, put bandanas around their necks and learn the two-step at a cowboy cookout.

The Advanced Strategy Center is a unique meeting location for business planning and training events. Located in north Scottsdale, it provides an ideal setting for groups of 15-25 people. In addition to our facilities, the Center can also provide laptop-based planning tools and expert meeting facilitation and planning. Adjacent to the Four Seasons Resort, Pinnacle Peak Patio and the Sassi and Mosaic restaurants. 26546 N. Alma School Parkway, Suite 140, Scottsdale, 480.513.7785, www.advancedstrategycenter.com

Breakaway from the bland! The Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park is centrally located near downtown Tempe. In natural desert surroundings, the museum’s spaces are well suited for corporate retreats, small conferences, multimedia events, and evening receptions. The site offers a state-of-the-art 272-seat auditorium, large boardroom, smaller breakout rooms, an elegant sandstone lobby, and an inviting brick courtyard, all set against the colorful backdrop of Arizona history. 1300 N. College Ave., Tempe, 480.929.0292, www.azhs.gov

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We host conferences, training sessions and meetings, and we do them exceptionally well – because that’s all we do. We are easy to do business with and both of our locations are easy to find. As a day meeting facility, we check availability in minutes, offer one high-value per person rate, and have the team and expertise to deliver a great meeting. Black Canyon Conference Center – 9440 N. 25th Ave., Phoenix, 602.944.0569, www.blackcanyonconferenc ecenter.com. Desert Willow Conference Center (Opening Spring 2007) – 4340 E. Cotton Center Blvd., Phoenix 602.944.0569, www.desertwillowconferencecenter.com.

Our authentic desert setting, just 20 minutes from downtown Scottsdale, provides an unforgettable experience for groups from 30 to 3,000, sunset to sundown. Celebrate in our 10,000-SF authentic western, covered barn, or at outdoor tables lit in the glowing light of old camp lanterns. Great food, western games, selection of entertainment, fun for all ages. Custom designed arrangements to meet your specifications. Become mesmerized by the desert and relive the Old West. 480.502.1215, www.desertfoothills.com

We would be honored to host your next corporate party, reunion or wedding at Arizona’s finest outdoor venues far enough away to escape the urban landscape, but only minutes from the finest resorts and hotels in the Valley of the Sun. We feature desert sites, trail rides, cattle drives, camping and awesome Western entertainment and are located on the 25,000-acre Fort McDowell Yavapai Indian Reservation. The Wild West Experience awaits you.

Fountain Hills, 480.816.6465, www.fortmcdowelladventures.com

Taliesin West was built by Frank Lloyd Wright and his apprentices in the 1930s and was constantly expanded and modified by the architect until his death in 1959. Wright and his apprentices literally created Taliesin West out of the desert by gathering rocks from the desert floor and sand from the washes to keep the design in balance with the surrounding environment. The site, considered one of the Wright’s greatest masterpieces, was designed to serve as Wright’s personal home, studio and architectural laboratory.

Taliesin West is particularly suited for hosting exclusive evening receptions and dinners and for holding small daytime meetings.

Daily guided public tours may be custom-designed for groups. Visit www.franklloydwright.com for gifts, books and a listing of events.

12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale, 480.860.2700

Our dedicated staff’s attention to detail, plus our superb catering are guaranteed to make your conference memorable at the Glendale Civic Center, in Glendale’s quaint, historic downtown shopping district. The largest facility of its kind in the West Valley, the center’s 13,000-SF ballroom, exhibit halls and covered patio areas can accommodate 90+ trade show booths. Our executive boardroom and the ballroom, divisible into six meeting rooms, can also serve groups as small as 15 or as large as 1,400 theater-style or 1,000 at banquet rounds. For your next trade show, conference or banquet, call us or visit our website, www.glendaleciviccenter.com.

5750 W. Glenn Drive, Glendale, 623.930.4300

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Estrella Vista Reception Center is an ideal spacious event facility in the West Valley.

This beautiful new center in Avondale offers the perfect setting for any conference or business meeting. This private facility has abundant parking and also includes a professional kitchen. Our professional event staff can plan any meeting sure to fit any budget. We are proud to have more than 25 years of meeting and event planning experience. Avondale, 623.932.4455, www.evrc.net

Since its founding in 1929, the Heard Museum has grown in size and stature to become an internationally recognized destination. Today, the Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art is a must-see Arizona landmark – a place of learning, discovery and an opportunity to share Native traditions that will touch your heart. You’ll find a variety of beautiful rooms and courtyards to make your event unique. The Spanish Colonial-style architecture and its arched walkways, spacious galleries, outdoor-bricked patios, fountains and lush desert landscapes add to the rich Southwestern experience that awaits you. 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602.251.0230, www.heard.org

The Herberger Theater Center offers a variety of spaces for your next meeting, party or event. In our unique theater setting, we can create a distinctive experience which includes catering, beverage service, entertainment, décor and parking. Imagine your company party on stage! 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix, 602.254.7399, www.herbergertheater.org

What can we do for you? At Mesa Convention Center, our goal is your satisfaction. Full service meeting and event facility offering 15 meeting rooms and excellent flexibility. On-site catering, audio-visual, and more. Find out why we’re called “the East Valley’s best kept secret!” 201 N. Center St., Mesa, 480.644.2178, www.mesaconventioncenter.com

Destination: Wild! A morning stretch next to the giraffes to a starlit evening in the Plaza... host your event in Phoenix’s most unique, full service venue – The Phoenix Zoo! We offer one-of-a-kind indoor and outdoor venues and customized themed packages. We’re centrally located in beautiful Papago Park, accommodating 10-10,000 guests. 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, 602.273.1341, www.phoenixzoo.org

Arizona’s largest western-themed attraction located at Wild Horse Pass on the Gila River Indian Community. Our 1880s frontier town and award-winning Steakhouse are known world-wide as a “must-see Arizona destination that entertains over 600,000 people a year.” We welcome groups of 50–50,000 to enjoy eight distinct event venues and experiences including cookouts under the stars, private rodeos, a 52,000-SF pavilion with adjoining 50,000-SF lawn area, indoor and outdoor banquet/meeting space and more. The West comes alive nightly with live Country Western entertainment and dancing. Located on 125 acres of the Gila River Indian Community just off I-10 and minutes from Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort, Gila River Casino, and Whirlwind Golf Club.

Chandler, 480.502.5600, www.rawhide.com

Hit a homerun with your next event! Scottsdale Stadium, located in the heart of historic Downtown Scottsdale, is home to some of Scottsdale’s most celebrated occasions including Giants Spring Training, the Arizona Fall League, and a series of year-round special events. The stadium offers a diverse mix of indoor and outdoor function space ideal for your next meeting, corporate party, fundraiser or reception. Learn more about hosting your next event at Scottsdale Stadium by calling 480.312.2586 or visit us on the web at www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/stadium.

Join us, during our 51st season for the heartpounding excitement of Live Thoroughbred Racing at its finest! Bring your team to enjoy an exciting and fun-filled day at the races. Group luncheons with the entertainment of our incredible four-legged athletes. Turf Paradise is the 3rd-most attended sports attraction in the state and holds court to one of the longest racing seasons in the country. Gorgeous VIP Private Suites, breathtaking views, great food, fun teambuilding activities and special event days.

Live racing October-May, 12:30pm-5pm, Friday-Tuesday. 1501 W. Bell Road, Phoenix, 602.375.6478, www.turfparadise.com

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Tucson & Southern Arizona k

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the Real West

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r

Tucson Barrio Door - MTCVB

Horseback Riding - AOT

k THIS IS THE PLACE to experience the real Arizona – the real West!

Stunning scenic beauty, challenging high-desert golf, scrumptious dining, colorful cultural influences and an ideal climate all combine

Esplendor Resort

to offer meeting planners a rich variety of experiences in Tucson and Southern Arizona.

The geography is a postcard image of cactus forests, rolling hills, and craggy mountains.

Visitors enjoy hiking and horseback riding among towering saguaro cactuses – Saguaro National Park has the world’s largest concentration of them – or teeing off on one of the area’s many fine golf courses designed by some of the world’s top golfers. Aficionados of the feathered find themselves in bird-watching heaven and everyone is astounded by the Sonoran Desert blooms.

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TUCSON & SOUTHERN ARIZONA

The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa

Tucson

The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa

k SITUATED IN THE MIDST of the Sonoran Desert, Tucson (TOO-sahn) is Arizona’s second-largest city with 1,000,000 residents, making it the business hub of Southern Arizona. A two-hour drive south of Phoenix on Interstate 10, the city is just over an hour from the Sonora, Mexico border and is the gateway to the legendary territorial southwest. Tucson is an amazing meld of cowboy culture, Spanish, Mexican and Native American heritage, luxury resorts, award-winning dining, golf, outdoor recreation, world famous spas, visual arts, science, and research as well as home to the University of Arizona.

Meeting planners appreciate the ease of making travel arrangements for events in Tucson. Tucson International Airport is served by 11 different airlines with connections to more than 121 destinations. Nonstop service is available from the airport to 18 cities in the U.S. and Mexico. The airport is conveniently located to the foothill resorts and the downtown convention area. Ground shuttle services connect Tucson’s airport with Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix.

Tucson boasts some 350 days of sunshine annually, more than any other city in the U.S. The area is famous for mild temperatures during spring, fall, and winter. The low humidity moderates even the warmest summer temperatures making the area comfortable year-round.

A summer monsoon season and light winter rains annually revitalize the area’s lush desert environment.

The Tucson Convention Center in downtown Tucson has easy freeway access and offers 205,000 square feet of meeting space, with arena seating available for 9,278 people. Three

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White Stallion Guest Ranch

exhibition halls share a total space of 89,760 square feet. Four flexibly designed ballrooms, the largest of which seats 2,000, and meeting rooms which reconfigure to accommodate up to 950 people, can support nearly any size event. A courtyard adds space for outdoor activities and leads to the adjacent Leo Rich Theatre and the Music Hall, both of which have large stages and support facilities.

The Center annually hosts meetings, conventions and trade shows for over 500,000 attendees.

Tucson has a host of numerous shopping opportunities scattered in and around town. Five major malls complement a number of smaller centers. Visitors will find an array of all things Southwestern, from museum-quality Native American textiles and jewelry to Mexican folk crafts and cowboy memorabilia.

Sightseeing in Tucson includes the historic buildings and museums which are prominent throughout the area. The most visited is the “White Dove of the Desert,” the Mission San Xavier del Bac, acclaimed by many to be the finest example of mission architecture in the U.S. The chapel is still used for Mass.

Downtown are the old houses of the Presidio District as well as colorful Barrio adobes, some of which have been converted into office buildings. The Historic Fox Theater, an art deco movie house, has recently been renovated to its original splendor, and is now available for group events.

At the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, groups can observe native flora and fauna of the desert in natural-looking enclosures.

Mountain lions, bighorn sheep, bears

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - MTCVB

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Pima Air & Space Museum - MTCVB

Relaxing Poolside - MTCVB

Tucson offers meeting planners more – more convention and meeting facility options, more options for unusual and interesting activities, more variety in scenic beauty and more reasons to return again and again.

Tucson Electric Park - MTCVB

and prairie dogs are some of the desert denizens found here. Tucson Botanical Gardens, recently named the nation’s best “secret garden,” is another excellent display of desert habitat. Tohono Chul Park is a 49-acre oasis located on the eastern edge of Tucson featuring a combination of desert nature, arts, and culture.

Take the group to the Pima Air & Space Museum, with its abundant meeting space and huge collection of aircraft both indoors and out, or the popular aircraft ‘bone yard’ at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The Titan Missile Museum south of town preserves the only Titan II missile left intact, still in its silo and relegated to history.

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From outdoor cowboy cookout venues to white tablecloth gourmet dining – Tucson offers something for everyone.

The hotels and resorts offer a full range of menu items from classic American fare to innovative Southwestern dishes.

Throughout this entire region, the Mexican cuisine is quite simply superb.

With more than 150 Mexican restaurants in Tucson alone, the most difficult decision is choosing where to dine.

Many of the 3,000-some restaurants in Tucson are local establishments where owners and chefs have created signature blends of Southwestern cuisine. The menus often trace back to the owner’s origins, perhaps to the interior or the coastal regions of Mexico, to Latin America or Spain, or to Native American roots. As a university city, there are restaurants representing nearly

every corner of the globe which adds further interest to the dining scene.

Tucson is home to multiple spectator sports and the only city in the U.S. that hosts three Major League Baseball Spring Training teams – the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Chicago White Sox and the Colorado Rockies. An afternoon of spring baseball is the perfect group activity.

For the cowboy sporting experience, the Tucson Rodeo Grounds host the historic Fiesta de los Vaqueros event in February which is full of pageantry and tradition, as well as Desert Thunder Pro Rodeo.

Tucson offers meeting planners more – more convention and meeting facility options, more options for unusual and interesting activities, more variety in scenic beauty and more reasons to return again and again. l

Arts

in Tucson & Southern Arizona

b Mural in Historic Downtown Tucson - MTCVB

k MEETING PLANNERS SEEKING the addition of arts and cultural programs into their meetings packages find Southern

Arizona a hotbed of interesting activities and experiences. Tucson

is known for its colorful and creative culture which is supported by a thriving arts community. Tubac has a particularly successful arts community and is gaining in reputation as the next Santa Fe. The artistic community in Bisbee is also recognized. In nearly

Gallery District - MTCVB

every community in Southern Arizona, interest in and support of the arts is part of the social fabric.

The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block blend the traditional with the inventive to create compelling and beautiful exhibitions. There is always something new and interesting showing at the museum. Located in historic downtown, the museum features five distinctive houses built between 1850 and 1907 that provide visitors a unique look into Tucson’s past.

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Even further back in time, before the Spanish explorers, prehistoric residents left their art on rock canvases. The petroglyphs they chiseled can be seen today in places like Signal Hill at Saguaro National Park.

Today’s Tucson carries on these artistic traditions. Hundreds of outdoor murals grace buildings throughout the city, one of them on the entrance wall at the Tucson Museum of Art.

Venues for the performing arts also abound. A number of dance and theater groups offer performances year-round, both indoors and out. Some of the more notable are the Tucson Pops and Symphony Orchestras, Arizona Opera Company, Ballet Folklorico Arizona and Arizona Theater Company.

From exquisite Native American and Western art, to the works of Mexico and Tubac artisans, the culture of Southern Arizona encourages the artistic spirit in us all. l

History & Heritage

k THE HISTORY of the Tucson area traces back some 3,000 years to a time when Indian villages flourished along desert streams and rivers.

In 1540 the conquistadors marched through the area searching in vain for fabled rivers of gold. Ten missions were established by the Spanish, including the remarkably beautiful and enduring Mission San Xavier del Bac. Tucson was founded in 1775 about a year before the Declaration of Independence was signed.

During the ensuing years Mexico fought and won independence from Spain in 1821 and gained ownership of Arizona, only to then be forced to battle the Native American tribes who also laid claim to land. This struggle continued for thirtysome years until the U.S. defeated the worn-down Mexican army in 1848. Border

disputes continued in the territory until 1853 when the Gadsden Purchase placed Southern Arizona under U.S. jurisdiction and created the final boundary adjustment between the two countries.

Southern Arizona embraces this rich history, reflected in historic downtown neighborhoods, traditional taquerias, the historic Mission San Xavier del Bac, and throughout Southern Arizona where territorial history is interwoven in the culture. l

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TUCSON & SOUTHERN ARIZONA

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Mission San Xavier del Bac - MTCVB

Southern Arizona

Dragoon Mountains - MTCVB

k SOUTHERN ARIZONA covers the northern part of the Sonoran Desert and the northwestern tip of the Chihuahuan Desert. This area extends from Picacho Peak, south to the Mexican border, west to Ajo, and east to the New Mexico state border. Interstates 10 and 19 both lead through this area and converge in Tucson.

Located among the scenic sky-island mountains and desert riparian preserves of southeastern Arizona, Cochise County is a land of Old West legends. Chief among the legendary names of the Old West is Tombstone – “the town too tough to die.” Once larger than Tucson, the town embraces its notorious past with reenactments of the “Gunfight at the OK Corral” followed by a short walk to the Boot Hill cemetery.

Cochise’s Stronghold, the fabled hideout of the Chiricahua Apache Indians, is a hiking and rock-climbing mecca in the Dragoon Mountains near Benson, also the former railroad hub of Southern Arizona and current home of Kartchner Caverns State Park.

The Amerind Museum, housed in beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival style buildings, contains one of the finest private collections of Native American art and artifacts in the country. The museum is located near Interstate 10 in Texas Canyon between Benson and Willcox.

In the mile-high artist colony of Bisbee, history is preserved among the Victorianera homes and mining boomtown attractions. The Queen Mine which once supported the wealthy booming

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community now offers underground mine tours. Many original buildings in the town have been preserved and resurrected as galleries and shops for the eclectic arts community.

Sierra Vista, about 25 miles from Bisbee, is home of the historic Fort Huachuca, the site of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center.

Built in 1877, the original Victorian-style officer’s quarters are still in use. The Buffalo Soldier Memorial, a tribute to African-American soldiers who fought on the frontier, is located in Sierra Vista.

Birding is extremely popular in the 36-mile San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area where the San Pedro River supports more than 400 species.

The Nature Conservancy’s Ramsey Canyon Nature Preserve near Sierra Vista is a peaceful oasis where a rainbow of hummingbirds migrates seasonally, along with more than 150 other bird species.

Every winter, huge populations of sandhill cranes visit the produce-farming town of Willcox. Along the international border, Douglas is distinguished for its many National Register of Historic Places buildings and proximity to Mexico.

Santa Cruz County is located in the southernmost central part of Arizona,

bordering Mexico and serving as the gateway to North America’s most important port of entry, Nogales, Mexico. Nogales spans the U.S. and Mexico border and its busy bazaars serve as favorite stops for those who love to bargain for purchases. Visitors can park on the U.S. side and walk over.

Santa Cruz County offers an eclectic blend of history, culture, art, and natural beauty. Tubac is a thriving artists’ community of over 100 shops, studios and galleries and the Tubac Center of the Arts. The town moniker is “Where Art and History Meet,” with Presidio State Historic Park preserving the remnants of an old Spanish fort and offering exhibits displaying early frontier life. Tumacacori National Historic Park preserves a mission established by the early Franciscans.

Here also is the mountain and birding town of Patagonia, and Arizona’s wine communities of Sonoita and Elgin. The limestone terrain in this area is ideal for growing grapes, and many compare it to regions in France.

Rio Rico, “Rich River,” located along the Santa Cruz River is a small community resulting from a land grant from the Spanish Government. Here, visitors can find historic military forts, ghost towns, a luxury resort and the Calabassas Mission Ruins National Park.

Southern Arizona welcomes meeting planners to experience the amazing allure of this part of the country. The variety of terrain in the area provides a stunning backdrop for entertainment programs flush with unique history and culture and certain to be remembered fondly in a world filled with ordinary meetings. l

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Accommodations Tucson & Southern Arizona

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Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Resort

Tucson Sunset - MTCVB

k TUCSON OFFERS a very desirable budget range in resorts and hotels, world renowned spas, guest ranches and luxury meeting spaces. The area has over 14,000 hotel rooms and several resort hotels offer over 20,000 square feet of meeting space. Luxury resorts abound in Tucson, featuring Mobil Four Star dining, luxurious spas and internationally acclaimed golf courses; it’s an impressive list of choices.

Spa Service at Westward Look Resort

Tubac Golf Resort

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The resort hotels in the Tucson area offer an unparalleled selection of accommodations for a market of this size. Choices range from the historic properties to the newer resorts, most set in the foothills overlooking Tucson. All the resort properties are well equipped to support meeting and convention services with highly trained staff and state-of-the-art amenities.

Some of Arizona’s finest guest ranches are found in the Tucson area, their secluded settings of mountains and

desert flora and fauna personify images of the Arizona Territory. Thoroughly modern – many complete with the latest in audio-visual capabilities – these guest ranches accommodate a variety of group sizes with large lodges for bigger meetings, cozy cabins for breakout sessions and comfortable accommodations. Most ranches operate like all-inclusive cruise ships, including all lodging, food, and activities in the price. And, they are well known for delicious and generous meals, cookouts and barbecues. l

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Accommodations | TUCSON & SOUTHERN ARIZONA Stroll through our gardens and experience desert wildlife on our 17 acres of riparian habitat framed by the Santa Rita Mountains, visit our artist galleries, taste delicious cuisine at our resident restaurants. We specialize in group events, meetings, and conferences. Our grounds accommodate intimate gatherings as well as large events. Wireless Internet access and ample parking. Indoor facilities accommodate up to 200 people with a selection of meeting rooms. On-site catering. 3001 E. Frontage Road, Amado, 888.398.8684 or 520.398.8684, www.amado-territory-inn.com

Plan your next meeting at a resort that redefines understated elegance set amongst rolling mountains, beneath starry skies, and amidst centuries of history. With over 56,000 SF of outdoor and indoor event space, Esplendor Resort offers a multitude of options to fit your meeting needs. Esplendor features wireless high-speed Internet access and state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment. With approximately 300 days of sunshine each year, groups can take advantage of 45,250 SF of outdoor event space year-round. A member of Sterling Hotels, a Preferred Hotel Group Partner. Just 45 minutes south of Tucson, but worlds apart.

Call today, 800.288.4746 or visit www.esplendor-resort.com.

Hacienda del Sol celebrates 75 years as a Tucson landmark. Individually designed casitas, plush gardens, historic architecture and nationally awarded restaurant make this ranch resort a magical setting for meetings and events. Charming meeting and banquet rooms plus Internet access. “One of the West’s Best Small Inns” – Sunset Magazine.

“Top 10 Romantic Inns” – American Historic Inns. “50 Favorite Inns in the U.S.” – Travel & Leisure. “54 Great Inns in the U.S.” – National Geographic Traveler. 5601 N. Hacienda del Sol Road, Tucson, 800.728.6514, www.haciendadelsol.com

Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Resort is a true destination resort in sunny Tucson, Arizona. Offering horseback riding, 45 holes of championship golf, customized spa services, 100,000 SF of meeting space, seamless Hilton customer service, and so much more. Reap the rewards of reaching your destination at the El Conquistador. 10000 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, 520.544.5000, Online RFP at www.HiltonElConquistador.com/rfp

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Spring Wildflowers in the Catalinas - MTCVB

JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in the beautiful Tucson Mountains offers more than 88,000 SF of meeting space including two pillar-free ballrooms at 20,000 SF and 15,000 SF, three outdoor terraces including the 10,000-SF Ania Terrace, wireless access, a full service business center steps from convention space, oversized foyers and the latest in technology. The largest and newest resort in Southern Arizona, JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort features 575 guestrooms, Hashani Spa, 27 holes of Arnold Palmer Signature Golf, on-property hiking and horseback riding, three pools and seven dining options. For information, call 520.792.3500 or visit www.jwmarriottstarrpass.com.

This historic Four Star quality guest ranch/resort offers horseback riding, team penning, terrific children’s program, tennis, hiking, mountain biking, nature walks and programs, indoor/outdoor pools, spa and saunas. Private group events are easily arranged as well. Our 74 spacious rooms, most with fireplaces and patios, offer sweeping desert and mountain views. Distinctive meeting and banquet facilities make this the perfect venue for memorable and successful meetings, retreats and incentive programs. Our on-site full service meeting and event planner will handle every detail of your spectacular experience at the Last Luxurious Outpost. Tucson, 520.296.6275, 866.406.3833, www.tanqueverderanch.com

Tubac Golf Resort, Southern Arizona’s Historical Landmark Resort has been on a remarkable $30-million path of restoration and expansion. Nestled along the banks of the Santa Cruz River, and surrounded by the majestic Santa Rita and Tumacacori mountain ranges, this extraordinary 27-hole golf resort is located on 900 acres of the original Otero Ranch. The Resort offers a boutique style setting for meetings as small as 15 and as large as 150. Relaxation is easy in this careful blend of modern day luxuries and conveniences, but richly enhanced by the carefully restored and newly added property appointments such as new guest accommodations, an 18th century replicated chapel for weddings and meetings, a full service spa and more. 520.398.3522, www.tubacgolfresort.com

Everything you need for a memorable meeting – 487 guestrooms and suites, plus flexible interior function space and diverse outdoor theme areas expressly designed for groups from 10 to 1,000. And only at La Paloma can you experience the challenge of Jack Nicklaus signature golf, be pampered at an Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa, play in three pools featuring a 177-foot waterslide and swim-up bar, dine on wonderfully innovative cuisine at Janos, then drift away in Westin’s exclusive Heavenly Bed. Call 800.677.6338 or visit www.westinlapalomaresort.com.

TUCSON & SOUTHERN ARIZONA

Located in the Santa Catalina foothills, the historic Westward Look Resort offers guests a true southwest experience with AAA Four Diamond, flavor-forward cuisine in the Gold Room, themed nights and live entertainment in the Lookout Bar & Grille, specialty treatments in the Sonoran Spa, destination services, horseback riding, hiking, tennis and swimming, plus golf, rock climbing, Jeep tours and other adventures nearby. Meeting planners choose from 20,000 SF of distinctive conference space with stunning views and adjoining terraces, including the Sonoran Ballroom and rooftop terrace with city and mountain views. The resort features 244 suite-sized accommodations, including two executive suites, one with a fire pit on the patio. 245 E. Ina Road, Tucson, 800.722.2500, www.westwardlook.com

The White Stallion Ranch is located on 3,000 acres in the pristine Sonoran Desert. The riding program is geared to all skill levels and includes all-day rides, breakfast rides, team penning and a variety of trail rides. All 45 rooms offer a Southwestern motif, some with fireplaces, whirlpool baths, and all with private patios. American Plan rate includes lodging, all meals, horseback riding, airport transfers and ranch activities. The ranch is perfect for productive corporate functions with its brand new 2,600 SF of meeting space. The only meeting room with that ole time western feeling and enough modern technology to make a successful meeting. Come experience the ambiance of a genuine western welcome. 9251 W. Twin Peaks Road, Tucson, 520.297.0252, 888.WSRANCH, www.wsranch.com

All-suite hotel featuring 122 suites with private bedroom, wet bar, microwave, refrigerator, sofa bed, two televisions and three telephones. Enjoy Windmill Inn Good MorningTM, featuring hot beverage, juice, muffin and newspaper delivered to your suite each morning or join us for free continental breakfast. The St. Philip’s Room accommodates up to 230 in theatre-style seating and is approximately 3,300 SF. It can be divided into three separate rooms for smaller events. Boardroom available. 4250 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, 520.577.0007, 800.547.4747, www.windmillinns.com/tuc.htm

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Activities & Attractions Tucson & Southern Arizona

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Downtown Tucson - MTCVB

k MEETING PLANNERS CHALLENGED by long-term clients to create new and interesting meetings and to introduce new activities to their meeting programs find Southern Arizona more than up to such challenges. There is a wealth of activity here,

El Tour de Tucson - MTCVB

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - MTCVB

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some unique to this destination.

Consider a drive up Sky Island Parkway on the northeast side of Tucson. This road takes travelers through five “life zones,” beginning in the desert and ending in a conifer forest at the top of Mount Lemmon, with an elevation of 9,000 feet.

This single, 27-mile drive passes through as many life zones as a drive from the Mexican to the Canadian border. Or you might combine a tour and a hike, with a Sabino Canyon tram ride up the 4.5-mile trail and a hike back down.

Spread out over a 500-square-mile valley surrounded by five mountain ranges, Tucson is a fresh-air fan’s dream.

National and State Parks and Forests

ring the city of Tucson and increase the popularity of hiking. With hundreds of trails, it provides a year-round haven for both hikers and cyclists. The mild winters allow hiking in the lower elevations, and in summer, the trails of the high mountains are perfect getaways.

Saguaro National Park offers numerous trails for pedestrians and pedalers that wind between large saguaros. Hiking is possible even in the summer in the early mornings and late afternoons and Mt. Lemmon offers cool summer hiking through pine-tree forests. Most of the bike shops in town rent mountain bikes, even for groups.

Amerind Foundation Museum Established in 1937, the Amerind Foundation and Art Gallery is a non-profit research institution devoted to the study, preservation, and interpretation of prehistoric and historic Native American cultures.

Housed in beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival style buildings, the Amerind Museum contains one of the finest collections of Indian artifacts in the country. Located near Interstate 10 in Texas Canyon between Benson and Willcox. Dragoon, 520.586.3666, www.amerind.org

Some of the silver screen’s biggest stars have walked the rugged streets of Old Tucson Studios, Arizona’s Hollywood in the Desert. In this setting, group events are not only unique, they’re legendary! Whether you’re planning for 50 or 3,000, our special event staff can customize a package that features delicious banquet menus from Chef Patrick Fahey, plus spacious on-site facilities, top-level entertainment and other Western options ranging from private rodeos to public ‘hangings.’ 520.883.0100, www.oldtucson.com

Old Tucson Studios - MTCVB

If you are orchestrating teambuilding events, theme parties, and desert rallies, local Jeep companies offer any number of innovative programs. Dining under the stars is always popular whether it’s a formal dinner or a western barbecue. The four-wheel drive excursion comes complete with folklore and information on the desert and is always a memorable and interesting experience.

Another favorite group activity is hot air balloon rides of 60 to 90 minutes. The low-level views of the beautiful desert landscape typically include wildlife sightings of javelina, deer, and red-tailed hawks.

When the balloons reach slightly higher elevations, spectacular panoramas loom on the horizon. If members of your group prefer to stay on the ground, horseback rides through the desert and foothills are another option. l

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This desert refuge has sheltered people for over a thousand years. It has been home, shrine, hideout, challenging workplace, exciting playground, tranquil retreat. On the National Historic Register, the 2,400-acre Park showcases crystal-filled Colossal Cave and historic La Posta Quemada Ranch. Cave tours, museums, Western trail rides, picnicking. Open daily. 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail, Vail, 520.647.PARK (7275), www.colossalcave.com

Arizona’s West Coast k

River Country

Julieanna’s Patio Cafe - YVB

Hot Air Balloons - YVB

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k MEETING PLANNERS find Arizona’s West Coast a delightful and interesting contrast to metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson. The affordability and amenities of the area provide

on the Colorado River’s banks, lures meeting

planners to choose this destination. Defining the Arizona and California border, the river has produced a thriving West Coast

planners a surprising variety of options ranging

economic engine. The resulting rapid growth

from waterfront views, beaches and water

has transformed the once quiet river towns

sports, to casino-quality entertainment.

into progressive communities filled with all

A tour of the natural beauty of the wildlife refuges and water sport paradises supported

the desired components for staging meetings and events.

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ARIZONA’S WEST COAST

q Wave Runner on the Lower Colorado River - AOT

Yuma

k

Sand Dunes near Yuma - YVB

k YUMA IS THE THIRD-FASTEST growing area in the U.S., located mid-way between Phoenix and San Diego. The wonderful climate blends desert sunshine with the cool waters of the Colorado River and low humidity.

The city is located at the point where the Gila and Colorado Rivers converge, and its history is tied to the rivers. Yuma originated as a major transportation hub, as goods came from the west coast and were shipped up-river. For centuries, Yuma has been the best site for crossing the Colorado; Spanish conquistadors traveled this route in the 1500s.

In addition to the city’s accessibility via road travel, two commuter airlines serve the community. America West Express via Phoenix and United Express via Los Angeles both service the Yuma International Airport. The Yuma Visitors Bureau offers meeting planners assistance in arranging ground transportation.

The Yuma Civic and Convention Center offers more than 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibit space, complete professional services and event support equipment. The Center is the area’s major regional site for conventions, trade shows, entertainment and public events and hosts over 1,400 meetings and events annually.

The City of Yuma recently created six additional community parks, including a river-front park bordering the Colorado River and the Yuma West Wetlands Park.

The East Wetlands restoration project is currently under construction. Also, recently completed is the Yuma Art Center and restoration of the Historic Yuma Theatre. The city’s 250-acre recreational complex and greenbelt park includes a PGA championship golf course, a 6,000-seat stadium, tennis courts and open recreational space.

Historical attractions in the area include the Yuma Crossing State Historic

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Park, designated a National Heritage Area by Congress. This park, which commemorates the area’s longtime standing as a major hub of cross-country travel, is one of only two such areas west of the Mississippi River. Another attraction, and one the most-visited state parks in Arizona, is the Yuma Territorial Prison State Park. This famous remnant of Yuma’s Western heritage, housed some of the Territory’s most dangerous criminals.

Meeting planners will appreciate the group recreation and team retreats available on the river and lakes north of Yuma. Fishing options include tube floats or casting from the shore, and canoe and kayak trips, both guided and unguided, are favorites during the spring and fall.

Bird watching is also popular in this area.

Golf opportunities abound in Yuma and Golf Digest magazine has rated Yuma as the seventh-best city in the U.S. for golf. The area has 13 diverse and challenging golf courses, including the Desert Hills Municipal Golf Course, rated

by Golf Digest as Arizona’s top municipal golf course. The Mesa del Sol Public Golf Club is situated at the base of the Gila Mountains and challenges even skilled golfers on every hole. l

Let us plan your next meeting, seminar, reception or any large function. We accommodate small to conference-style meetings and a choice of catering services from our extensive banquet menu.

Relax and enjoy yourself in any of our 121 comfortable rooms. Enjoy a cool drink or a delicious meal in our full service café after taking a refreshing dip in the second largest pool in Yuma. 300 E. 32nd St., Yuma, 928.344.1050, 800.2.RAMADA, www. ramadainnchiltonyuma.com When your plans take you to the breathtaking Yuma desert, the Shilo Inn Hotel & Suites is the place to stay. Enjoy our complimentary amenities, including high-speed Internet access, breakfast buffet and USA Today newspaper. With its gracious Southwestern furnishings and friendly staff, your stay is sure to be memorable. 1550 S. Castle Dome Ave., Yuma, 800.222.2244, 928.782.9511, www.shiloinns.com Yuma Civic and Convention Center Major regional destination site for conventions, trade shows, entertainment and public events located halfway between Tucson and San Diego and just minutes from Mexico. Offers over 25,000 SF of flexible meeting and exhibit space, complete professional services and event support equipment. The Center is part of a 250-acre recreational complex and greenbelt park which includes the 18-hole PGA championship Desert Hills Golf Course, 6,000-seat Desert Sun Stadium, nine tennis courts and open recreational space. 1440 Desert Hills Drive, Yuma, 928.344.3800, www.visityuma.com

Yuma Visitors Bureau 377 South Main Street • Yuma, AZ 85364 For group sales information please call 928.376.0100 or 800.293.0071, ask for Melissa Wagner The West’s Only National Heritage Area

Lake Havasu City

s London Bridge, Lake Havasu City - HPMG

k LAKE HAVASU CITY, on “Arizona’s West Coast,” is easily accessible from Las Vegas, Phoenix and Los Angeles. Internationally recognized as home of the London Bridge, this landmark is one of Arizona’s most-visited attractions. In the 1960s, the founder of Lake Havasu City purchased the London Bridge from the city of London.

Affordable and diverse meeting options in a warm, dry climate have made this community a popular year-round meeting and event destination. Lake Havasu City offers several venues with meeting space to accommodate groups up to 1,000 people. Some 25 hotels and resort properties provide a full range of resort accommodations, with over 2,500 rooms, offering everything from economy to full service amenities.

The Holiday Inn recently completed a renovation project and the Nautical Inn Resort and Conference Center, Arizona’s

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only all-beachfront resort is currently undergoing renovation. The London Bridge Resort also offers additional meeting space.

Visitors enjoy a multitude of activities such as houseboating, water skiing, kayaking, camping, mountain biking, hiking, tennis, golf and desert Jeep tours.

Boutiques and restaurants are nearby in the English Village, as well as two other shopping centers.

The water creates 47 miles of sandy shoreline within the city limits. Tour boats include the Dixie Belle, a replica

paddlewheel steamboat, which docks along the English Village to await passengers.

Other options for meeting planners include year-round golf at any of five courses. The Arnold Palmer-designed Refuge now offers limited public play on their championship course with stunning, panoramic lake views. Jeep tours in the desert and backcountry hiking are other group activity options. A favorite amongst hikers is “Crack-in-theMountain,” a Colorado River slot canyon south of Lake Mead with soaring red walls no more than 15 feet apart.

j English Village, Lake Havasu - AOT

The West Coast has capitalized on the beauty of the river and transformed this region into a highly desirable destination conveniently located between the major metropolises of the Southwest.

The Havasu National Wildlife Refuge to the north offers tour boats, and guided canoe and kayak trips over the 13-mile section of the Colorado known as Topock Gorge. Here desert bighorn sheep, wild burros, bald eagles and peregrine falcons thrive. Prehistoric

Indians chiseled petroglyphs – estimated to be between 1,500 and 2,000 years old – on the sheer canyon walls. Bill Williams NWR to the south, preserves a beautiful six-mile stretch of the Bill Williams River and boasts more bird species than anywhere else in the state.

Lighthouse on Lake Havasu - AOT

Lake Mohave, another houseboat destination and fishing haven, starts just north of Lake Havasu City. It’s also the start of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, a vast water playground established around the Colorado River and Hoover Dam. Arizona’s Colorado River allotment is vital to the state’s prosperity. The West Coast has capitalized on the beauty of the river and transformed this region into a highly desirable destination conveniently located between the major metropolises of the Southwest. l

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Northern Arizona k

Awe-Inspiring, Jaw-Dropping Beauty

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Field of Wildflowers - AOT

k “WHAT NEW can possibly be said about a place as old as time?

After all, Arizona’s Grand Canyon has been the object of hundreds of books, thousands of photos and millions of awe-inspired gasps. Historical accounts report visitors dropping to their knees

Grand Canyon National Park - AOT

in wonder upon eyeing the monolithic chasm. It is at once an icon, a metaphor and a cliché, capable of warping perspective and sharpening imagination.” – USA Today Few experiences in meeting planning can rival that of bringing a group to Northern Arizona. The opportunity to introduce your clients to the Grand Canyon is indeed a special privilege for any

Sedona’s Red Rocks - AOT

professional. But those planning meetings in this part of Arizona have a multitude of scenes and sites which change during the distinct four seasons enjoyed in this area. From magnificent snow-capped peaks to red rock formations of indescribable beauty and the relaxed charm of welcoming small towns, this region is a meeting planner’s utopia. Best of all, these destinations are an easy driving distance apart, allowing day trip components from a hub location.

Tour Boat on Lake Powell - AOT

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Sedona

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Tennis amidst Red Rocks, Sedona- AOT

k SEDONA sits on the high desert under the southwestern rim of the Colorado Plateau which forms the towering vistas surrounding this unique community 110 miles north of Phoenix.

Protected by the Plateau, the area enjoys four mild, sunshinefilled seasons and clean air, with average high temperatures in the mid-70s and lows in the mid-40s.

Sedona Red Rock Jeep Tour

The city grew at the mouth of spectacular Oak Creek Canyon, a magical tree-lined channel carved through massive red rock formations which opens with riparian areas along the Creek bank. The natural beauty of the drive from Sedona to Flagstaff includes several roadside lookout points, and is simply a breathtaking and never to be forgotten experience.

The city of Sedona spans some 19 square miles with only half of that under private ownership by its 10,000 residents. The remainder is part of the 1.8-million-acre Coconino National Forest. While the town’s elevation is considered 4,500 feet, the surrounding red rock formations shoot skyward for over a mile. The airport is situated on a mesa at 4,800 feet and a flight from here is an amazing visual experience.

Sedona was incorporated in 1988, and although today it reigns as a

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premier tourist destination and artistic community, its roots trace to an isolated rural ranching community. Discovered by the motion picture industry, the natural beauty of the area gained worldwide acclaim and is visited by some four million tourists annually. Undeveloped areas near the city are still favorite locations for film, television and commercial photography.

Meeting planners have more than 40,000 square feet of meeting space, and some 3,000 hotel rooms available to choose from. Sedona offers a range of choices, from moderately priced national brand hotels to luxurious world-renowned spa resorts, some of which rest on the scenic banks of Oak Creek and others located nearby in secluded canyons.

Sedona and the area’s hotels and resorts are frequent award-winners.

Recently honored by USA WEEKEND’s Annual Travel Report, Sedona was named,

“One of The 10 Most Beautiful Places in America.” Amara Creekside Resort was recently designated a “Connoisseur’s Choice” by the world-renowned travel publication, Resorts & Great Hotels.

Leisure time here can be spent hiking, golfing, taking a Jeep tour or horseback ride, and even floating in a hot air balloon’s basket. When the sun goes down, set out for a gallery tour, fine dining or a luxury spa treatment.

The red rock scenery and Oak Creek take center stage and the most popular way to see Sedona is an open air Jeep tour, courtesy of Pink Jeep Tours or Sedona Red Rock Jeep Tours. Each day armadas of colorful Jeeps fan out from the center of town, carrying passengers into the outback. Entertaining and informative guides captain tours for all levels of adventure including rugged terrain, stone pinnacles, sandstone arches, famous movie locations and the archaeological

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ruins. Both companies offer customized special events to meet the needs of your group.

Meeting planners can select from other popular off-site activities including horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, and hot air balloon rides. Oak Creek meanders through Red Rock State Park which provides visitors the opportunity to experience a lush riparian habitat and many forms of wildlife along a five-mile network of trails.

Sedona has a thriving arts and cultural community with over 40 galleries, many of which represent local artists, and several special events of national prominence. The city annually hosts the nationally acclaimed Jazz on the Rocks Festival. The three-day Sedona

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Meeting planners can select from other popular off-site activities including horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, and hot air balloon rides.

International Film Festival screens foreign and domestic films before their commercial release, and includes dramatic, documentary and animation features. The Sedona Chamber Music Society and Sedona Arts Center entertain visitors with musical and theater productions.

Tlaquepaque, with its 40 stores, galleries and restaurants, is named after and designed to resemble a Mexican village just outside of Guadalajara, Mexico. Its maze of alleys and courtyards enchant first-timers for hours.

A trip to Sedona wouldn’t be complete without a vortex tour. Sedona’s New Age population claims that a vortex is an invisible source of electromagnetic energy which psychics and spiritual healers can tap into.

Meeting planners may want to consider group outings on historical Verde Canyon Railroad located just outside Sedona. This diesel-powered excursion train snakes 38 miles through remote regions inaccessible by car in the Sycamore Canyon and Verde Canyon wilderness areas.

Passengers enjoy ancient Sinaguan Indian ruins, historic mining structures and an abundance of local wildlife, including bald eagles and mule deer.

Another interesting outing is a visit to the protected ruins at Palatki and Honanki where prehistoric Sinaguan Native Americans left many signs of their passage. The Sinaguans built homes out of the red rock, using cliffs as walls, making the dwellings one with the land.

A more modern day interpretation of Sinaguan design is reflected in Chapel of the Holy Cross. Finished in 1956, this non-denominational chapel sprouts from sandstone outcroppings with vistas overlooking Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock and the Village of Oak Creek. A visit to this very special chapel is as close to perfect as Sedona is to an unforgettable meeting experience. l

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Accommodations & Activities | SEDONA Amara Creekside Resort is a 100-room, AAA Four Diamond, luxury resort set against the beautiful red rocks in the heart of Uptown Sedona, with a backdrop adjacent to Oak Creek designed to awaken your senses. Amara Creekside Resort is a popular setting for those unconventional meeting needs offering over 13,500 SF of indoor/outdoor meeting space and full service catering facilities. This upscale resort is located at 310 N. Highway 89A, just two hours from Phoenix.

Reservations can be made by calling toll-free 866.455.6610 or visiting www.amararesort.com.

Discover the high-country escape to Sedona’s only golf and spa resort. Against a skyline of towering red cliffs, the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa offers luxurious two-room suites and deluxe guestrooms. The resort features new state-of-theart conference rooms along with two spacious ballrooms, boasting more than 20,500 SF of flexible indoor and outdoor function space.

Here you can journey to The Hilton Spa, a full service spa, salon and fitness center. Tee off to spectacular on-site championship golf.

Relax in one of three heated pools. And savor the fresh regional Southwestern fare at the Grille at ShadowRock. 90 Ridge Trail Drive, Sedona, 928.284.4040, 800.HILTONS, www.hiltonsedona.com

Surround yourself with the majestic beauty of Sedona’s Red Rocks at L’Auberge, a 56room intimate creekside retreat perfect for meetings. Recognized as one of the top 100 hotels in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler, L’Auberge de Sedona features Four Diamond accommodations, an award-winning restaurant, an elegant new spa and nearly 15,000 SF of indoor/ outdoor event space. Call Suzanne Taylor-Sandoval at 800.905.5776 or e-mail suzannet@lauberge.com. 301 L’Auberge Lane, Sedona, 928.282.1661, www.lauberge.com

It’s all here – 82 beautiful rooms, casual dining in The Gathering restaurant, meeting rooms, banquet facilities, a grand ballroom and just about everything else you’d expect from a meeting location. However, we also deliver the totally unexpected. We’re just minutes from Sedona and other Northern Arizona attractions, including tours by the Yavapai-Apache Nation tourism office. What’s more, we’re just steps away from Cliff Castle Casino. After your meetings, unwind with gaming, restaurants, bars and live entertainment. Find all that and more at The Lodge at Cliff Castle Casino. 333 Middle Verde Road, Camp Verde, 928.567.6611, 800.524.6343, www.cliffcastle.com

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Since 1958, Pink Jeep Tours has been providing the most talked-about off-road adventures in the Southwest. Have a group that wants to do something unique and fun? Ask about Pink Jeep Tours special events. We offer Western barbecues, picnic lunches, company outings with teambuilding activities and much more. Please call for more information. 204 N. Highway 89A, Sedona, 928.282.5000, 800.873.3662, www.pinkjeep.com, groups@pinkjeep.com

Meet with a different point of view. Nestled on 22 acres against stunning red rock views, the Radisson Poco Diablo Resort offers 8,500 SF of unique space that’s perfect for meetings, weddings and social events. Imagine a reception in our Conference Center Ballroom or a theme party on the golf course. Our generous amenities include spacious, newly remodeled rooms/suites, nine-hole executive golf course, swimming, tennis, fitness center and restaurant/lounge. 1752 S. Highway 179, Sedona, 928.282.7333, www.radisson.com/sedonaaz

Over 20 years of “Old West Hospitality & Style,” Sedona’s original cowboy tour company provides informative group tours into Sedona’s magnificent red rock backcountry.

Knowledgeable cowboy and cowgirl guides entertain guests on a variety of scenic offroad tours, vortex experiences, horseback rides, ranch cookouts, and customized special events. U.S. Forest Service permitted.

928.282.1851, 800.282.1851, www.redrockjeep.com

Sedona’s newest hotel and spa features 77 guestrooms and suites, a destination spa, and Reds bistro restaurant. Its style is one of timeless romance featuring ancient Roman, French and Mediterranean design elements such as carved stone columns, Tunisian ironwork, authentic tapestries and cascading water elements. Guest amenities include wireless high-speed Internet, 32” LCD flat screen televisions, an outdoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi and fireplace topped off by the observation deck perfect for stargazing. 2250 W. Highway 89A, Sedona, 928.340.5311, www.sedonarouge.com

Sedona Sky Treks Let Sedona Sky Treks take you on a journey you will long remember. We are Sedona’s oldest and most experienced airplane tour company.

Tours and packages of Sedona, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and more. One-day Colorado River whitewater rafting or take the Grand Canyon grand adventure airplane helicopter/boat tour package.

Call 928.282.6628 or 928.282.7768 or visit www.skytreks.com.

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Flagstaff

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Mountain Biking , Flagstaff - AOT

k FLAGSTAFF IS NESTLED at the base of the majestic San Francisco Peaks and surrounded by one of the largest ponderosa pine forests on earth. This energetic community is rich with cultural diversity, scenic beauty and history. The city is the home of Northern Arizona University, along with other scientific and research industries.

Interstates 40 and 17 converge at Flagstaff and transportation has long played a role in making Flagstaff the largest city in Northern Arizona.

The community is situated at the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau at an elevation of around 7,000 feet, making it one of the highest elevation cities in the country. One of the Peaks, Mount Humphreys, located about ten miles north of Flagstaff, is the highest point in Arizona at 12,633 feet.

Flagstaff was founded in 1894 and incorporated as a city in 1928. The city now encompasses just over 64 square miles with a 2005 city population of over 55,000, and an expanded area population of some 122,000. A popular year-round tourist destination, the city sees some five million visitors annually and is a pivotal location for visiting the Grand Canyon,

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Horseback Riding near Flagstaff - AOT

the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, numerous Native American communities, and many other incredible natural wonders of the region.

Meeting planners enjoy orchestrating meetings in this picturesque mountain community where the smell of pine

trees lingers in the air. The city is a scenic two-hour drive from Phoenix and is served by US Airways with frequent daily flights to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The historic downtown train station in the heart of Flagstaff is an active Amtrak facility with twice-daily arrivals.

This university town offers meeting planners a full range of options with all the amenities typical of more metropolitan settings. The city’s lodging facilities include approximately 5,000 guest rooms and many of the hotels offer a variety of meeting and conference space. Unique natural environment options include settings at the Museum of Northern Arizona and the Arizona Snowbowl. Additional options include Northern Arizona University and meeting spaces at local attractions and

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Lomaki Ruins Visitors - FCVB

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Nordic Skiing - FCVB

Flagstaff offers a meeting planner a prefect blend of culture, history, and scenic beauty combined with ease, convenience and experienced service.

Beaver Street Bar - FCVB

restaurants. Some 160 area restaurants offer a full range of cuisine choices and there are several microbreweries.

For many years, Northern Arizona has lacked a conference center and has, therefore, been unable to host larger meetings. About to change all that, Flagstaff’s new Conference Center and Hotel Complex at NAU is scheduled for completion in 2008. The center will be 42,000 square feet with a ballroom large enough to accommodate a banquet for 800 people. The conference center will draw mid-size regional, national and international conferences. Drury Hotels will build the 160-room hotel – onethird of the rooms will be suites – and the hotel will feature an indoor/outdoor swimming pool and an exercise facility.

Two hotels in the area are currently meeting planner favorites. Little America Hotel of Flagstaff is nestled in the pines on 500 acres and features 248 guest rooms and 10,000 square feet of well equipped meeting space. Three restaurants are on property as well as full amenities. The Radisson Woodlands Hotel features 183 rooms including 15 two-room suites and more than 6,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and a great location

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for outdoor teambuilding events. Two restaurants including a Japanese restaurant and sushi bar are on property.

Flagstaff is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with nearby lakes offering all kinds of water recreation. Buffalo Park and Mount Elden provide dozens of miles of challenging hiking and mountain biking trails, accessible from within the city limits. Rock climbers can choose from a variety of locations, including worldclass basalt cliffs and limestone sport climbing. In winter, Arizona Snowbowl Ski Lift Lodge is a mere 14 miles from downtown. Originally opened in 1938, it is one of the ten oldest ski areas in the U.S. The facility offers lodging, meeting space and banquet facilities year-round with summer activities including the Scenic Skyride, horseback riding, hayrides and cookouts.

Meeting planners will also enjoy knowing that attendees can enjoy free time in the vibrant historical downtown area which was revitalized as part of the Main Street USA program. The streets in this historic railroad district are lined with coffeehouses, tea rooms, microbreweries, sidewalk cafes, boutiques and antiques shops, outdoor outfitters, galleries, bookstores and more.

Some of Flagstaff’s galleries evolved from trading post origins, and browsers are often surprised by the variety of jewelry, rugs, baskets and pottery

available in Flagstaff. Hopi potters and Navajo weavers, carvers and silversmiths have been trading their fine arts here for many generations.

Planners will appreciate the option of including educational outings in their programs and the world-renowned Museum of Northern Arizona offers a glimpse into the diverse culture of the area and the Colorado Plateau, including the Grand Canyon. The 100-year-old Riordan Mansion State Historic Park displays pioneer life in a lumber baron’s home.

Elden Pueblo, a Sinaguan Indian dwelling, is in town, and guided tours are available.

A visit to Lowell Observatory, where the recently re-classified “dwarf planet” Pluto was discovered, offers astronomical viewing programs to the public.

A myriad of additional outings include, to the north of Flagstaff, Wupatki National Monument, with one of the Southwest’s only excavated Native American ball courts, and Sunset Crater National Monument, the aftermath of a volcanic eruption. To the east, there is an informative museum at Meteor Crater which was formed 50,000 years ago by huge meteorite and Walnut Canyon National Monument, with well-preserved cliff dwellings.

Flagstaff offers a meeting planner a prefect blend of culture, history, and scenic beauty combined with ease, convenience and experienced service. l

The Arizona Snowbowl, located on Arizona’s highest peaks, the San Francisco Peaks, is only 14 miles from downtown Flagstaff. Wintertime offers 2,300 vertical feet of skiing and snowboarding on 32 trails and four lifts. We cater to groups of all sizes, including lodging, meeting space and banquet facilities. Summertime fun includes a Scenic Skyride to 11,500 feet, horseback riding, hayrides and cookouts. With several lodges to choose from, we can accommodate any meeting, event, wedding, party, family reunion, or other special gathering. Flagstaff, 928.779.1951, www.arizonasnowbowl.com Black Barts Steakhouse serves the finest oak-broiled steaks, seafood, chicken and prime rib. In addition, the Black Barts singers perform a nightly musical revue featuring Broadway showtunes, contemporary, and old standards. We are conveniently located across the street from Little America Hotel. Black Barts is more than just a great steak! 2760 E. Butler Ave., Flagstaff, 928.779.3142, 800.574.4718, www.blackbartssteakhouse.com Flagstaff’s premier hotel located on over 500 acres of ponderosa pine forest. Fine dining restaurant, café, 24-hour deli, lounge and large gift shop on-site. Deluxe over-sized rooms. 2515 E. Butler Ave., Flagstaff, 928.779.7920, 800.352.4386, www.littleamerica.com

Flagstaff Peaks & Wildflowers - FCVB

Recently renovated hotel with 183 sleeping rooms including 15 two-room suites. Over 6,000 SF of flexible meeting space. Theme function capabilities in both menu and decoration, great location for outdoor teambuilding events. Two excellent restaurants, room service and lounge are open daily. Fitness center with sauna, steam room, spa and outdoor pool. 1175 W. Route 66, Flagstaff, 928.773.8888, www.radisson.com/flagstaffaz/

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Grand Canyon

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k IN 1903 when President Theodore Roosevelt visited the Grand Canyon he said, “Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it. What you can do is to keep it for your children, your children’s children, and for all who come after you, as one of the great sights which every American should see.”

Over 100 years later, Grand Canyon National Park remains magnificent and mystical, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, a designated World Heritage Site, and one of the “Crown Jewels” of the National Park System. Few can visit Arizona and resist a trip to the Canyon, as attested

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by nearly five million annual park visitors.

Under Federal protection since 1893, Grand Canyon became a National Park in 1919. The Canyon itself is 277 miles long and nearly one mile deep – a gigantic chasm cut by the Colorado River. The 1.2million-acre park is a wildlife haven and

home to over 1,500 species of plants and five of earth’s seven life zones. Over 4,800 archaeological sites dating back thousands of years have been discovered in one of the most complete geologic cross sections visible anywhere on earth.

If planning a summer meeting, mid-May through October, the North Rim – which lies just 10 air miles across the Canyon from the South Rim – is open. The 220-mile drive is closed due to snow in the winter.

Crossing the canyon on foot requires an adventurous 21-mile hike as well as crossing a narrow foot bridge 70 feet above the river. Automobile crossings are limited to one location at Navajo Bridge, a few miles downstream from Lees Ferry.

Havasu Falls - AOT

Grand Canyon Railway

Grand Canyon National Park - AOT

Ferry near Page, although some trips offer the option of hiking in and joining midway at Phantom Ranch. One-day trips travel down Marble Canyon Gorge and back. Motorized trips typically take six to eight days, while oar-powered trips last two to three weeks.

Mules carry riders into the depths of the Canyon to Plateau Point on 12-mile day trips or down to Phantom Ranch – the only non-camping lodging at the bottom of the canyon – for overnight stays. Mule wranglers recount historical and geological tidbits during the descent.

A favorite scenic option for groups to see the Canyon is aboard the Grand Canyon Railway. The group boards the

Lake Powell - AOT

train in Williams for the ride which parallels the 65-mile historic stagecoach trail. After three hours of sightseeing at the South Rim, the train returns to Williams in the afternoon.

For overnight stays, meeting planners may choose from several hotels within the park, or opt to stay in Tusayan, just a few miles south of the Canyon. Tusayan offers a wide variety of guest rooms and meeting venues, including the Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn which also offers meeting space.

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The Canyon can be explored on foot, or mule, by raft or air. Hikes range from flat, easy rim hikes to rigorous multi-day backpack trips. For a narrated airborne journey, helicopter and airplane tours operate out of Grand Canyon Airport.

For white-knuckle fun in the Canyon, book a rafting trip; the rapids are some of the most exhilarating in the country.

Outfitters use rubber inflatable rafts or wooden dories, feed passengers massive amounts of food, and offer hiking trips up beautiful side canyons. Raft trips last from one day to three weeks, depending on whether motors or oars are used. All but the Grand Canyon West trips on the Hualapai Reservation start from Lees

k Lake Powell - AOT

Just north of the Grand Canyon is Lake Powell. Experienced professional meeting planners are occasionally faced with the challenge of creating unusual small corporate retreats or private executive meetings that demand a completely unique setting. In these situations and for other more conventional meetings for smaller groups, Lake Powell is a premier destination.

The second-largest man-made lake in the world, holding 8.5 trillion gallons of water, the lake offers 186 miles of shimmering blue water flowing through 96 magnificent red rock canyons. With a coastline longer than that of the United States’ west coast, opportunities to relax on sandy beaches and explore tranquil coves abound. Houseboats and

Experienced professional meeting planners are occasionally faced with the challenge of creating unusual small corporate retreats or private executive meetings that demand a completely unique setting. a full complement of watercraft can be rented at Wahweap, the lake’s largest marina. Luxury houseboat rentals make ideal private meeting venues.

On the Navajo Reservation east of Lake Powell, spectacular Monument Valley rises up from the high desert floor. Often featured in western movies and commercials, the area is part of the

The Canyon’s only resort hotel and conference center.

Enjoy the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon just moments away from all the conveniences you expect. Let our team help you make your meeting or event not just a success, but a treasured memory. Our amenities include sauna, Jacuzzi, outdoor seasonal pool, tennis, bowling, fun center, lounge & sports bar, restaurants, gift shop, concierge desk and more.

928.638.2681, 800.622.6966, www.grandcanyonsquire.com

Take the historic trip by rail to the Grand Canyon on restored passenger cars behind vintage locomotives. The trip to the canyon covers 65 miles of classic Old West territory, including high desert plains with endless vistas, small arroyos and the world’s largest ponderosa pine forest.

800.THE.TRAIN, www.thetrain.com

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largest reservation in the U.S. and one of the most beautiful. Throughout the area, scenic attractions, national monuments and museums abound. Activities available include horseback riding, Jeep tours and Native American guided hikes. Beautiful hand-crafted jewelry and arts are also available on the reservation. There are hotels in several communities. l

A tour to this awe-inspiring sculpture set in stone is a must for amateur and professional photographers. Come with our Navajo guides to see Mother Nature’s work of art. 22 S. Lake Powell Blvd., Page, 866.645.9102, 928.645.9102, www.antelopecanyon.com At the Courtyard by Marriott, Lake Powell, our meeting services staff offers high levels of service and quality that will exceed your expectations. We can accommodate groups of 10 to 400 and coordinate everything from catering, audio-visual and floral arrangements. Just minutes from fabulous Lake Powell surrounded by Arizona’s most challenging golf course. Featuring breathtaking views, exercise room, refreshing outdoor pool and whirlpool, free wireless Internet access and Peppers Restaurant and Cantina. 600 Clubhouse Drive, Page, 928.645.5000, 877.905.4495, www.marriottcourtyardpage.com

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Prescott

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Bicyclist, Prescott - PACT

k PRESCOTT IS LOCATED in the mountains of north central Arizona and borders the Prescott National Forest. In the charming downtown square, large elm trees line the Courthouse Plaza block which is the focal point for the town’s events. Across the street, a row of historic saloons, bars and hotels claim the title Whiskey Row. The community is nearly equidistant from Phoenix, Flagstaff and Grand Canyon at approximately 90 miles to any. At an elevation of 5,300 feet, the climate is temperate with summer temperatures averaging 85 degrees and winter temperatures around 50 degrees. Prescott has received numerous “Best Place to Retire” accolades from national publications.

Originally a mining town founded in 1864, Arizona’s territorial capital was located here. Incorporated in 1881, Prescott now encompasses some 39 square miles with a population of approximately 45,000. The city boasts 636 buildings and more than 60 objects listed in the National Register of Historic Places, including many beautifully restored Victorian-era homes and bungalows.

Prescott’s wide range of accommodations includes some 50 hotels with over

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Marks House Bed and Breakfast - HPMG

1,300 rooms and over 27,000 square feet of meeting space. Numerous dining options offer off-property variety here, including the historic spots on Whiskey Row such as The Palace, which film buffs will enjoy.

For those seeking outdoor activities, the 1.25-million-acre Prescott National Forest offers some 20 recreational

facilities just a few minutes from the Courthouse Square. The Forest has 450 miles of maintained trails in the tall ponderosa pines for hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers. Area lakes offer fishing and boating with canoe and boat rentals available at Lynx Lake south of town and Granite Basin Lake, to the northwest, offers camping and fishing. Watson Lake and Willow Springs Reservoir, both inside the city limits, are surrounded by beautiful rock formations, referred to as Granite Dells.

Meeting attendees interested in history find a wealth of Arizona’s territorial past preserved in Prescott. The Smoki Museum exhibits Native American artifacts, and the Phippen Museum of Western Art showcases cowboy art.

Meeting planners find that not only does history live in Prescott; it makes for more interesting meetings and events. l

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Woods Canyon Lake - AOT

The Historic Hassayampa Inn proudly serves discerning meeting planners.

Our expanded facilities now boast over 9,500 SF of indoor and outdoor function space. A beautiful, new rooftop terrace combines with state-of-the-art event and meeting spaces to accommodate over 350 people. Hassayampa’s recently renewed guest and public rooms, plus great food, intimate spaces, and a professional team of meeting coordinators all create the perfect formula for meeting and event success. In the business of satisfying the needs of travelers since 1927, our selection as members of The National Trust – Historic Hotels of America, confirms our place in history. 928.778.9434, ext. 354., 800.322.1927, 122 E. Gurley, Prescott, www.hassayampainn.com

Prescott’s newest all-suite Marriott hotel opens in June 2007. Located just off Highway 69 at the Prescott Gateway Mall, the Residence Inn offers upscale studio, one- and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens suitable for long-term stays. An outdoor pool, large outdoor patio area with fireplaces, business center, exercise facility, evening social events and 1700 SF of conference space will make this one of Prescott’s finest corporate and relocation choices. Preopening room and event reservations will be accepted beginning Spring 2007 by calling 928.775.2232.

The Prescott Resort and Conference Center is one of Northern Arizona’s largest conference facilities with 14,000 SF of meeting space and highspeed Internet throughout the resort.

The 160 luxury guestrooms and suites offer spectacular mountaintop patio views and feature queen or king beds, refrigerator, microwave and coffee makers. A gallery of art from local artists is showcased throughout the resort. Amenities: Thumb Butte Restaurant, Eagle’s Nest Lounge, fitness center, casino, salon and day spa. 1500 Highway 69, Prescott, 928.776.1666 or 800.967.4637, www.PrescottResort.com

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Downtown Prescott’s Marriott hotel, offering studio and one-bedroom fireplace suites, complimentary breakfast and free wireless Internet. With 900 SF of meeting space and a comfortable business library for breakfast, this is a perfect downtown location for small meetings and training seminars. Meeting planners can earn Marriott Rewards for their company for booking group rooms and meeting space through our unique program, Marriott’s Rewarding Events. 200 E. Sheldon St., Prescott. Call 928.776.0998 for group, meeting and catering information and get hotel details from www.springhillsuitesprescott.com.

Hon-Dah Resort Casino and Conference Center is located in the unique White Mountains region of Arizona – known for its beautiful pine forests and lakes, cool climate, and outdoor recreational activities. The elevation of the resort is 7,200 feet. The Conference Center can accommodate nearly any type of meeting or event. You’ll enjoy the luxurious hotel rooms, all-season pool, exciting casino games, fine food, and live entertainment in the show lounge. 777 Highway 260, Pinetop, 928.369.0299, 800.929.8744, www.hon-dah.com This 100-room lodge overlooks Sunrise Lake, one of Arizona’s premier trout fishing lakes.

The Sunrise Park Lodge offers standard, deluxe, and spa suites, and features a restaurant, snack bar, lounge, indoor pool and spa.

Located in the heart of the beautiful White Mountains within minutes of winter skiing, sleigh rides, snowshoeing. Summertime includes fishing, horseback rides, scenic lift rides, mountain biking and hiking. Greer, 928.735.7669, 800.772.7669, sunriseskipark.com Apache Gold Casino Resort in San Carlos features 500 slots, blackjack, poker, bingo and keno. Apache Gold’s Best Western Hotel offers 146 rooms with king- and queen-sized beds and cable TV, as well as Jacuzzi suites.

If golf is your game, you’ll enjoy the Apache Stronghold Golf Club. You’re sure to find this unique course both challenging and spectacular. In San Carlos, five minutes east of Globe on Highway 70. 800.APACHE.8

Visitor Information

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ARIZONA’S TEMPERATURES Deserts Low High

JANUARY

˚F / ˚C

˚F / ˚C

37 / 3

66 / 19

FEBRUARY

39 / 4

69 / 21

MARCH

42 / 6

75 / 24

APRIL

49 / 9

83 / 28

MAY

56 / 13

92 / 33

JUNE

65 / 18

100 / 38

JULY

73 / 23

100 / 38

AUGUST

71 / 22

98 / 37

SEPTEMBER

66 / 19

96 / 36

OCTOBER

54 / 12

87 / 31

NOVEMBER

43 / 6

75 / 24

DECEMBER

38 / 3

67 / 19

Mountains Low

High

˚F / ˚C

˚F / ˚C

JANUARY

21 /-6

50 / 10

FEBRUARY

24 /-4

54 / 12 58 / 14

MARCH

27 /-3

APRIL

34 / 1

67 / 19

MAY

40 / 4

76 / 24

JUNE

47 / 8

84 / 29

JULY

57 / 14

89 / 32

AUGUST

55 / 13

85 / 28

SEPTEMBER

48 / 9

82 / 27

OCTOBER

37 / 3

72 / 22

NOVEMBER

27 /-3

59 / 15

DECEMBER

22 /-6

51 / 11

PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (phxskyharbor.com) Arizona’s main airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, saw more than 41 million passengers in 2005 and is served by 23 airlines. These carriers provide nonstop service from more than 100 cities in the U.S. and around the world.

Nonstop international service is provided

by Aeromexico (to/from Mexico), British Airways (to/from London, England), Air Canada (to/from Toronto) WestJet (to/ from Calgary) and US Airways (to/from Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica).

TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (tucsonairport.org) In the southern part of the state, Tucson International Airport accommodated more than 4.1 million air passengers in 2005 and is served by 11 airlines that provide nonstop service from 14 cities and connecting service from more than 121 others in the U.S. and around the world. Nonstop international service from Hermosillo, Mexico, is provided by Aero California and Aerolitoral.

DRIVING ARIZONA’S HIGHWAYS All parts of Arizona are accessible by federal and state highways. The speed

Final Approach - MCVB

limit on most interstate freeways is 75 miles per hour; it drops to 65 or 55 near metropolitan areas. Unposted state highways have a maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour.

Arizona law permits a right-turn-on-red.

Seat belts are required for adults; children under five must be secured in a child passenger restraint system. Motorcyclists under 18 are required to wear helmets.

CLIMATE From the desert floor to the highest mountain peak, Arizona’s renowned sunshine ensures that nearly every day is a perfect one for sightseeing, playing golf, skiing a slope, or simply relaxing by a sparkling swimming pool. Generally, peak season in the desert lasts from January through March, shoulder season is from April to May and September through December, and value season is June through August. Peak and value seasons in mountainous regions are the opposite of the desert areas.

TIME ZONE Arizona is in the Mountain Standard Time zone. Arizona does not switch to Daylight Savings Time in the summer, except for the Navajo Nation in the northeast corner of the state.

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Mileage Map

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Specializing in small to mid-size meetings, our trained staff handles all the details to help you with site selection, meeting rooms, catering, audio-visual needs, teambuilding programs, golf outings, spouse programs and transportation. From the Grand Canyon to the ranches of Southern Arizona, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson and Sedona, we cover all of Arizona. All preferred lodging and meeting facilities are inspected and approved. Fast, professional response; flexible and creative ideas for your meetings. Free service. 480.837.4284, 888.799.4284, www.arizonatrails.com

Hyatt Place combines The Hyatt Touch® with stylish design, purposeful amenities and forwardthinking technology to provide a new kind of Hyatt for today’s relaxed lifestyle. The spacious guestrooms feature a 42” flat panel HD TV, our signature Hyatt Grand Bed™ and free Wi-Fi. Guests can enjoy a daily complimentary continental breakfast, and purchase café quality food 24/7. Hyatt Place provides everything needed to host a successful small meeting or event, from unique food and beverage options to cutting-edge equipment, and a Meeting Host dedicated to manage every last detail. Conveniently located in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe and Tucson. For reservations call 888.HYATTHP (888.492.8847) or visit hyattplace.com

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Convention Services k PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE is as varied as the groups who meet in Phoenix. For everything from transportation to audio visual, and from large conventions to small corporate meetings, our service providers are destined to make your next event as perfect as our destination.

PLANNING & PRODUCTION American Audio Visual Center is a full service audio-visual and staging company specializing in turnkey multimedia and presentation support to hotels and resorts, convention centers, meeting planners, associations, producers and corporations. For Extreme Customer Service, please call American Audio Visual Center and Team Staging. 480.596.9880, www.americanavc.com Create a connection with Audience Response Solutions. Our All-Play interactive game shows build teamwork and add excitement.

Presentations become powerful data collection and assessment tools that dramatically improve productivity with dynamic, interactive idea exchanges. Improve your meetings by stimulating thought, participation and trust. Find out what your audience really thinks. 602.266.0322, www.audience-response-solutions.com

Creative productions services: lighting, sound, video, staging, and digital lighting. Over 12 years specializing in special events, concerts, corporate events and consulting. With a full turnkey production house we will have your event running smooth and in budget. 480.580.2222, for more info, please visit us online at www. creativebackstage.com.

Exclusive special event company, producing teambuilding and special events for local, corporate and resort industries. Our highly trained staff coordinates all types of events from game shows to golf holes and from corporate Olympics to disc jockeys. We meet and exceed our client’s needs. 480.596.8491, 877.609.9867, www.eventcentrale.com

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At Hahn/Foristal Travel Management, Inc., our award-winning service sets the standard for destination management in Arizona. Having planned and operated programs in Arizona for the past 16 years, we have developed a reputation of providing a highquality product. Our philosophy is to provide a very personalized level of service and to offer the little extra that will turn a good program or meeting into a GREAT program or meeting. Scottsdale, 480.922.3226, www.hahnforistal.com Call Kool Party Rentals to enhance your décor with acrylic glow tables and the latest in bars, lighted centerpieces and lounge furniture. Create contemporary lounge vignettes surrounded by fabric columns for a stunning visual experience for your guests! Call 623.434.8822 for our brochure and pricing or visit our website at www.koolpartyrentals.com.

LMG Inc. is a national provider of video, audio, and lighting support located in Phoenix, delivering show technology for meetings, trade shows, and live events.

LMG’s experts will work with you to provide the technical solutions to ensure a successful event. Contact LMG at 800.414.0505 or info@lmg.net, and visit www.lmg.net Full service event management including sponsorship opportunities throughout the Western United States. A full service marketing group with services that include: graphic design, video production, event marketing, writing/ editorial, branding and sampling programs. You’ve got an idea... we’ll make it happen with professionalize and excitement. 623.327.3798, donewwave@msn.com We are a full service special event planning and production company. We have over 30 years experience at creative development of conferences, live entertainment, and corporate strategy meetings. We can provide your organization with a complete line of sound/ stage/lighting and theme prop equipment. So, if you need flawless execution with guaranteed results, let P2 Events take you to the next level. Scottsdale, 480.661.0905, www.p2events.com Party People has everything you’ll need to purchase or rent for your next event. Let our knowledgeable customer service representatives help you create a most memorable occasion. We deliver to the entire Valley. Site checks and theme planning. Call for our free brochure. Two locations to serve you: 10290 N. 9th St., #5A, (south side of Shea, east of the 101) Scottsdale, 480.998.1088; and 5240 N. 7th St., Phoenix, 602.264.0062, www.partypeoplerentals.com

CONVENTION SERVICES

We are very excited about this new concept and hope you will be too. In our mall you will be able to purchase: lightweight trade show displays, order custom embroidered shirts for your trade show staff, order promotional products to give away to your customers. 623.561.5122, tom@phoenixexhibits.com, www.phoenixexhibits.com Point in Time Studios, Voted as Arizona’s 2005 Best Videographer, specializing in Commercial, Corporate and Event production. Our team of experts offers innovative video solutions to generate leads, increase sales and assist you in accomplishing your marketing and company objectives. Our outstanding videography skills combined with creative post-production editing will assure exceptional quality and service to deliver a product that is unmatched in our industry. Call us today at 480.237.1267 or visit us at www.pointintimestudios.com Royal Restrooms offers the highest quality luxury portable restrooms trailers in Arizona for your next meeting or event. The units feature all porcelain flushing toilets, fresh water sinks with large counter tops, vanity mirrors and lighting, AC and an upscale interior décor. We have provided our luxury units for a number of the top hotels and corporations in both Phoenix and Tucson. For more information, call us at 480.361.1738, www.royalrestrooms.com.

Southwest Scenic Group works closely with your organization to provide you with the latest, most innovative and creative methods in transforming your ideas into reality. We partner with our clients to help them find solutions that will maximize their budget without sacrificing their creative vision.

Our in-house services extend from concept to fabrication and finish, as well as transportation and installation nationwide. We understand timelines and budget constraints. We maintain a large inventory of rental sets, which can be quickly modified to meet your needs at a reasonable cost. Our knowledgeable and dedicated staff is committed to excellence in all phases of your project. 480.968.5595, 888.723.6379, www.southwestscenic.com We Are Arizona, Inc. is a full service Destination Management Company that can handle virtually any and all aspects of your meeting and event requirements. We strive to be the best at custom designing extraordinary and imaginative programs that are both cost effective, time efficient and make you the shining star! 480.219.2388 or 888.449.2388, www.weareaz.com

SHOPPING A Tailored Shopping Adventure At Your Event! Remarkably Distinctive Native American Jewelry, classic Arizona memorabilia, custom knives, leather goods, hats, boots, jeans for men and women, candles, cell phone holders and all things frontier. Accommodating a broad range of tastes and pocket books. Specialty and one-of-a-kind custom pieces for the lifestyle of the American West! Or a Private Shopping Experience at Reva’s Western Emporium in Casa Grande, Arizona. We arrange shows and events all over the country tailored to your needs. Contact Abbie for portfolio, list of items and scheduling, 830.570.3522, abbiefrontiers@yahoo. com, www.abbiecaplinsfrontiers.com ARIZONA MEETINGS AND EVENTS

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CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT

Fumar Cigars is a luxury cigar service providing Cuban-themed rolling shows, custom label cigars, and hookah lounge events. The Saharan Smoking Experience is complete with exotic flavored tobaccos enjoyed through traditional Hookah water pipes. Trained in the art of cigar rolling, they spin old cigar tales and mix in a little history as they deftly hand-roll cigars. Fumar Cigars boasts one of the largest collections of Pre-Embargo Cuban cigars dating from 1907-1962. This makes Fumar Cigars one of the leading authorities in the country on the rarest of cigars. 623.594.4020, www.cigarscustom.com

LaughingStock delivers a customized comic look at your audience’s culture. Interactive, intelligent, memorable entertainment for banquets, meetings and special events. Not a club – we tour nationally for sales meetings, customer events, association conferences, awards banquets, trade shows, etc. Clients: AT&T, IBM, American Bankers Association, over 1,000 others. Our comedy show is about your audience and their issues. Versatile experienced comedy company: banquet entertainment, general session, emcees, fake experts, and industrial video. We’ll discover what’s so funny about your group.

References, info, video available. 520.749.3800, 888.HAHAHAS, www.laughing.com Starz Entertainment Your event the way you want it! 20+ years experience. Free consultations and online planning guide. Huge music selection.

480.830.1308, info@starzentertainment.net, www.starzentertainment.net EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY

Mobile event photographer. Specializing in corporate photography, we bring our computers and printers to the event for the immediate printing of photos on location. Green Screen photography with themes relating to Arizona experiences available. Reliable service, professional presentation, extremely competitive and very experienced in the corporate world – your client’s needs will be understood and satisfied. 480.657.9893, reg@TheHappySnapper.com, www.TheHappySnapper.com PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS Wholesale one-stop shopping for convention, corporate and Southwest gifts. Western hats, bandannas, cactus gardens, pottery, bolo ties, badges, Southwest foods & candy, gift baskets, in-room amenities, Southwest frames, books & totes, Native American jewelry, sand paintings, Kachina dolls & dream catchers, Mexican sombreros, serapes & piñatas, mailers, teasers, souvenirs, awards & trophies. Screenprinting and embroidery available. Authorized advertising specialty distributor. Call for our FREE catalogs. 480.946.2222, 800.9RANGER, www.rangerresources.com

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Catalina Limousine & Transportation Services, Inc. Unusually professional, quality transportation services. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Featuring modern vehicles for all occasions. Service to suit individual, group and corporate requirements. Personalized tours for all group sizes. Arrivals, departures, quality tours.

Reservations accepted, catreservations@gainbroadband.com.

3365 S. Country Club Road, Tucson, 520.624.5466, 800.710.8994, www.catalinatransportation.com

The most trusted and reliable ground transportation provider in the nation. Our full range of charter, shuttle, sightseeing, tour, inter-city, transit and contract services focuses on the total rider experience. We have 74 modern motor coaches that range from 24-58 passengers. Amenities include air conditioning, VCRs, reclining seats, restrooms. When it comes to your ground transportation needs, your carrier should be the least of your worries. Have a seat – we’ll go the extra mile for you. 800.777.3484, 602.437.3484, www.coachamerica.com

Corporate Transportation ‘N Tours and Arrow Stage Lines of Tucson; family-owned and in the charter bus business since 1928. Chartering buses for all kinds of groups including VIPs, businesses, travel agencies, sports teams, schools, civic groups, churches, and conventions, just to name a few. 800.678.3867 (Phoenix) or 866.544.0029 (Tucson). Please visit our websites: www.corporatetnt.com & www.arrowstagelines.com. See Ad on Page 118.

s

Monument Valley - AOT

A new standard for service excellence, “always on time.”

Personalized service is our specialty, featuring new stateof-the-art limousines, sedans, 15-passenger vans, 12- and 14passenger excursion limousines, mini buses and buses. We specialize in airport transportation, special occasions, meetings, conventions, and weddings for small and large groups. Desert Rose Limousines is dedicated to making your occasion a memorable and enjoyable experience. Phoenix, Scottsdale, 480.502.0570, 623.780.0159, 602.256.7200, 800.716.8660, www.desertroselimousines.com A recognized leader in transportation services, The Driver Provider offers a modern fleet of vehicles that are wholly owned and immaculately maintained. Through the dedicated group programs department, your client needs will be personally coordinated from manifest creation to departure with extremely competitive rates. In fact, The Driver Provider provides highly professional, personalized service with a fresh approach – every staff member is courteous, trustworthy, and knowledgeable about the area. Call for a customized proposal or to arrange dependable, reliable chauffeured transportation services worldwide. 602.453.0001, 800.700.2687, 800.207.3979 – Group Department, www.driverprovider.com Getting there is part of the fun on board Ollie the Trolley. Professional, courteous drivers and outstanding customer service. An atypical alternative to a mini-coach or limousine, Ollie and his family of eight trackless trolleys provides the most unique professional transportation in town. Trackless trolley cars accommodate up to 32 passengers with beautiful oak and brass interiors. For ATYPICAL transportation, call Ollie at 480.970.8130 or visit us at www.olliethetrolley.net.

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TRANSPORTATION

Transportation and Tours

Apache Trail Tours

Experience Arizona’s wondrous scenery and history with excellent guides on our day- and multi-day trips. Choose from Grand Canyon, Apache Trail, Verde Canyon Railroad, Sedona and other great programs. Our staff members are happy to assist with tours, transportation and meet/greet. With over 18 years of experience and offices in both Phoenix and Flagstaff, we’ll design a program to meet your needs. 800.766.7117, www.openroadtours.com

Scottsdale Trolley, a FREE downtown shuttle, now operates year-round. The trolleys run every 10 minutes, Monday through Saturday, 11am to 6pm and until 9pm on Thursday nights.

View the route map online or at trolley stops.

Call Visitor’s Information at 480.421.1004, or log on to www.scottsdaletrolley.com.

Great Rates. Great Cars. Serving Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and the Phoenix Metropolitan area. Compact through full size, mini- and 15-passenger vans, convertibles, 4x4’s, luxury and specialty vehicles. Customized rates for leisure groups, meetings, conventions and events.

Incentives for travel planners and agents. For information, please call 602.359.3141 or reservations@thriftyaz.com. www.thriftyaz.com

An innovative, customercentric, global chauffeured transportation management company catering to meeting planners, corporate travel managers, travel arrangers, executive assistants, corporate travel agencies and individual leisure travelers. With more than 700 certified and trained affiliates across the country and over 10,000 vehicles, we offer travelers the most comprehensive, diverse ground transportation. When in various cities travelers have a one-stopshop offering consolidated, reliable, trackable, guaranteed service 24/7. We’re in more than 2,500 markets, large and small, across the country with very competitive rates. VIP Ride Guarantee is the best in the industry. In the unlikely event of unsatisfactory experience, we will not only comp that episode as a gesture of good will, we will offer a second ride at a reduced fee. 877.474.4847, www.vipride.com

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Ad Index Abbie Caplin’s Frontiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114, 115 Across Arizona Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Advanced Strategy Center at Pinnacle Peak . . . . . . . . 66 Amado Territory Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Amara Creekside Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 American Audio Visual Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Amerind Foundation Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Antelope Canyon Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Apache Gold Casino Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109, 110 Arizona Capitol Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Arizona Classic Jeep Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Arizona Historical Society Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Arizona Outback Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Arizona Snowbowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Arizona State Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Arizona Trails Travel Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Audience Response Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Avanti Restaurant & Catering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 AZ Hummer Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Best Western Dobson Ranch Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn . . . . . 106, 107 Bill Johnson’s Restaurants, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 60 The Bistro @ Kokopelli Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Black Barts Steakhouse Saloon & Musical Revue . . 103 Black Canyon Conference Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66, 67 Bob Bondurant School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 64 Bobby’s Restaurant at Kierland Commons . . . . . . . . 57 Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 The Buttes, A Marriott Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Carefree Resort & Villas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43, 44 Casino Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC, 58 Catalina Transportation Services, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Chrome Caballeros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Cliff Castle Casino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97, 98 Coach America/Arrow Stage Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Colossal Cave Mountain Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Corporate Transportation ‘N Tours/Arrow Stage Lines of Tucson . . . . . . . . . . . 117, 118 Courtyard by Marriott/Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Creative BackStage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Desert Foothills Cookouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Desert Rose Limousines, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Detours of Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Dolly Steamboat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44, 45 Downtown Tempe Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Driver Provider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117, 119 El Paso Barbecue Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Embassy Suites Airport at 24th Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Embassy Suites Biltmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Embassy Suites Hotel Phoenix Airport at 44th Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Embassy Suites Tempe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Esplendor Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79, 82 Estrella Vista Reception Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Event Centrale, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 F1 Race Factory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Flagstaff CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Fort McDowell Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 65, 67 Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North . . . . 44

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FOX Sports Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Fumar Cigars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Glendale Civic Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67, 69 Glenfair Bowling Lanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Golf Club at Eagle Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21, 22 The Golf Club at Vistoso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Grace Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Grand Canyon Railway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106, 107 Hacienda del Sol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Hahn/Foristal Travel Management, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Hampton Inn-Phoenix/Midtown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 The Happy Snapper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Hassayampa Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109, 110 Heard Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Herberger Theater Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Hermosa Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43, 44 Hilton Garden Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Hilton Phoenix East/Mesa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95, 98 Hilton Suites Phoenix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Hilton Tucson El Conquistador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82, 83 Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Tempe . . . . . . 48, 49 Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Mesa-Phoenix/Chandler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Holiday Inn Phoenix Midtown/City Center . . . . . . . . 36 Hon-Dah Resort Casino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Hot Air Expeditions, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63, 65 Hyatt Place Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Iguana Mack’s Roadhouse Steak & Seafood . . . . . . . . 58 Inn at Eagle Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 John Henry’s Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Kool Party Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Lake Havasu City CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Lamar Everyday Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 L’Auberge de Sedona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97, 98 LaughingStock Comedy Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Little America Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101, 103 LMG, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Marriott Starr Pass Tucson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75, 82 Matador Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Mesa Convention Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68, 69 Mesa CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 New Wave Event Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Old Town Tortilla Factory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58, 61 Old Tucson Studios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Ollie (Atypical Transportation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117, 119 Open Road Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Outback Safari Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 P2 Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114, 116 Party People Rentals & Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114, 115 Patsy Grimaldi’s Pizzeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58, 61 Phoenix CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Phoenix Exhibits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport . . . . . . . . . 27 Phoenix Zoo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Pink Jeep Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 98 Pinnacle Peak Patio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Pioneer Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Point In Time Productions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Pointe Hilton Resorts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33, 36, 37 Prescott Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Radisson Ft. McDowell Resort . . . . . . . . 44, Back Cover Radisson Poco Diablo Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98, 99 Radisson Woodlands Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Ramada Inn Chilton and Conference Center . . . . . . . 88 Rancho de Los Caballeros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Rancho Manana Golf Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Ranger Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Raven Golf Club at South Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Raven Golf Club at Verrado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21, 22, 23 Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 68 Red Mountain Trap & Skeet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Red Rock Western Jeep Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96, 98 Resort Suites of Scottsdale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 45 Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Rockin’ R Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Royal Restrooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Rustler’s Rooste Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Ruth’s Chris Steak House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 60 Scottsdale CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Scottsdale Golf Group, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 21, 22, 23 Scottsdale Luxury Suites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Scottsdale Marriott Suites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Scottsdale Stadium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Scottsdale Trolley, City of Scottsdale . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Sedona Golf Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23, 95 Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98, 99 Sedona Sky Treks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Sheraton Crescent Hotel Phoenix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Sheraton Downtown Phoenix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35, 37 Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa . . . . . . . . 3, 55 Shilo Inn Hotel and Suites – Yuma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Southwest Desert Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Southwest Scenic Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115, 116 SpringHill Suites & Residence Inn – Prescott . . 109, 110 Starz Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Stockyards Restaurant & 1889 Saloon . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Stone Ridge Golf Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23, 95 Sunrise Park Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Tanque Verde Guest Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77, 82 Tempe CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Tempe Mission Palms Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Thrifty Car Rental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Tubac Golf Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79, 82 Tucson CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Turf Paradise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63, 65, 68 Upper Deck Sports Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Vincent on Camelback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59, 60 VIP Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 W Scottsdale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41, 45 We Are Arizona, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Westin Kierland Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45, IBC Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81, 83 Westward Look Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81, 83 White Stallion Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Williams-Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce . . 107 The Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33, 37 Windmill Inns of America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37, 55, 83, 113 Yuma Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88, 89