BizBash Best 2020 - 171

phoenix/scottsdale

fast facts

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photos: Werner segarra (JW Marriott Desert riDge resort & spa), Mark BoisClair photography inC. (zuzu), Courtesy of sonoran sCavengers

Population: Phoenix: 1.66 million, according
to the U.S. Census Bureau. Scottsdale's
population is 255,310.
Airport: Phoenix Sky Harbor International
Airport (3400 East Sky Harbor Blvd.,
skyharbor.com) is a Tier 2, or medium hub,
airport located 3.8 miles from downtown
Phoenix.
Weather: Average temperature is 75.1
degrees. Peak season for tourism is from
November to April.
Convention Center: The Phoenix
Convention Center (100 North 3rd St.,
phoenixconventioncenter.com) has more
than 900,000 square feet of meeting and
exhibit space, including a 312,500-squarefoot main exhibit hall and a 45,600-squarefoot ballroom.
Largest Hotels: Sheraton Grand Phoenix
(340 North 3rd St., sheratonphoenix
downtown.com) has 1,000 rooms and more
than 110,000 square feet of meeting space.
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (7575 East
Princess Drive, scottsdaleprincess.com) has
more than 750 guest rooms and more than
316,000 square feet of event space.

looking good
These hotels upgraded rooms, event space, pools, restaurants, and more.

Gifts

Using natural, desert-sourced ingredients
like mesquite, cactus, and berries, Sonoran
Scavengers (facebook.com/sonoran
scavengers) creates jams, jellies, granola,
and other goodies. In September 2019, the
company added gluten-free baked goods to
its product line. The company sells its wares
at local farmers' markets, and planners can
place special orders for favors, welcome
gifts, and other amenities.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess unveiled a renovation in September 2019 that included updates
to 458 guest rooms, 20 suites, and the Princess
Pool. Rooms now include custom-designed
mattresses, modern furnishings, handmade
Mexican tile, Sonicast-equipped televisions,
and Echo Dot technology. Spanning more than
17,000 square feet, the Princess Pool event area
can now accommodate groups as large as 1,000
for seated meals or 2,000 for receptions. Here,
guests can enjoy exquisite views of the McDowell
Mountains, two new whirlpools inset in the pool,
eight new cabanas, and a waterside restaurant
and bar. (7575 East Princess Drive, Scottsdale,
scottsdaleprincess.com)
1 JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
unveiled an $8 million renovation in January 2019,
which included the addition of six new 500-squarefoot pool suites, a V.I.P. poolside lounge area, and
a dozen 120-square-foot private poolside cabana
cottages, along with a 600-square-foot yoga lawn
and 12 pickleball courts. In total, the 950-room
property features 240,000 square feet of indoor
and outdoor meeting space, six restaurants, two
championship golf courses, five pools, and a
28,000-square-foot spa. (5250 East Marriott Drive,
Phoenix, marriott.com)
The Cocktail lounge Little Rituals opened on
the fourth floor of the Residence Inn/Courtyard
by Marriott Phoenix Downtown in February 2019.
The stylish space features touches like custom
globe chandeliers and an Arizona-theme mural,

as well as upscale culinary elements like handstamped ice, fresh-squeezed juices, and dozens
of house-made syrups, tinctures, and foams.
A dedicated menu of food-and-drink pairings
features innovative dishes like vegan beet carpaccio, carbonara lo mein, and rice pudding infused
with seasonal fruit. The 2,145-square-foot venue
can hold private or semiprivate events for as
many as 80 seated guests. (132 South Central
Ave., Phoenix, littleritualsbar.com)
After a series of renovations, Hotel Valley
Ho in Scottsdale re-introduced its restaurant,
2 ZuZu, in October 2019. The chic, mid-century
modern eatery now features bold lighting, neon
signage, custom terrazzo tabletops, and a color
scheme inspired by the Arizona sunset. Serving
breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the kitchen crafts
a variety of creative dishes like vanilla churro
waffles, green chili burgers, oxtail pappardelle
with foie gras, and house-made gelato. The venue
measures 4,600 square feet spread across several
areas, including the 1,438-square-foot dining
room, which accommodates 90 seated guests or
125 for cocktail-style events; the 1,486-square-foot
lounge, which seats 60 and fits 100 for cocktail
parties; the 349-square-foot private dining room
with seating for 15; and the 1,200-square-foot
patio with space for 100 guests for receptions or
75 for seated meals. Planners can take advantage
of a built-in sound system and two high-definition TV screens. (6850 East Main St., Scottsdale,
hotelvalleyho.com)

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171

http://www.skyharbor.com http://www.phoenixconventioncenter.com http://www.downtown.com http://www.scottsdaleprincess.com http://www.littleritualsbar.com http://www.scottsdaleprincess.com http://www.facebook.com/sonoranscavengers http://www.facebook.com/sonoranscavengers http://www.marriott.com http://www.hotelvalleyho.com http://www.bizbash.com

BizBash Best 2020

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