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GREATER PHOENIX offers meeting planners the perfect mix of business and pleasure. 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, Fountain Hills and other smaller communities. With more than three million citizens, the arrival of the METRO light-rail system, a major expansion of the Convention Center, significant sporting events, top-rated arts, shopping, dining, and outdoor attractions, plus the world-class Sky Harbor International Airport – it’s easy to see why Greater Phoenix is the political, commercial and recreational heart and soul of the Southwest.

Phoenix

It challenges even long-time residents of Arizona to comprehend that Phoenix has risen to be the fifth largest city in the U.S. – probably because a small-town ambiance still pervades. To be sure, there are plenty of “Big City” amenities, such as professional sports teams, innovative restaurants, a superior international airport and a modern public transportation system that will roll out by the start of the new year. Nonetheless, the city’s historic Southwestern and Native American roots and relaxed, Western hospitality remain firmly entrenched. Saddle up for a horseback ride, stroll through a downtown art gallery or just look out at the cactus-studded mountains, drenched in a reddish-purple sunset and the raw, distinct beauty of the place registers instantly.

Downtown Phoenix is home to Copper Square – 90 blocks of urban lifestyle, attractions and business in the heart of Phoenix. From sun-up to sundown and well into the night, Copper Square provides a truly unique urban environment with more than 90 restaurants, bars, and markets. Copper Square is also home to museums, live theater, and music events, as well as professional sports at US Airways Center or Chase Field. If you’re touring the area and have any questions about concert and theater venues, athletic events, art gatherings such as “First Fridays” or just about anything else, flag down an orange- and khaki-clad Copper Square “Ambassador.” They’re there to help.

Copper Square is anchored by the Phoenix Convention Center, expanded in 2008 to more than 900,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space. Located a block away from the Convention Center, the new 1,000-room Sheraton Downtown Phoenix is now the largest hotel in Arizona and accommodates more guests for events and meetings than any other hotel in the downtown area. The hotel boasts more than 80,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, all with high-speed Internet access and videoconferencing capabilities.

Delve into the region’s cultural center with a trip to the Heard Museum, an unmatched representation of Native American art and folklore. Don’t miss a visit to the gift shop. It’s a treasure trove of the finest in locally produced crafts. The perfect complement is a stop-off at the recently expanded Phoenix Art Museum, followed by a walk through the Phoenix Museum of History, which entertains in interactive fashion at Heritage and Science Park. A final stop on the “learning is fun” circuit is the nearby Arizona Science Center, where a planetarium, a five-story, giant-screen theater and a slew of permanent and temporary exhibits will amuse young and old alike. All three of these facilities are available to groups for meetings and events.

To feel the pulse of Downtown Phoenix’s contemporary arts scene, stroll through Roosevelt Row. This pedestrian friendly district is the hub of First Friday Art Walks, a panorama of intimate galleries, performance artists and street vendors that has become one of the largest monthly art walks in the nation.

Downtown Phoenix’s performing arts scene includes the Orpheum Theater, which inspires awe even before the show begins thanks to elaborate Spanish-colonial-revival architecture outside and a circular staircase and star-sky ceiling inside. For a completely different vibe, there’s the sleek Dodge Theatre, which marries the classic rigging of a Broadway stage house with the pulsating excitement of modern arena technologies. Elegant statues of nude dancers decorate the palm-studded grounds of the Herberger Theatre, signaling that this is a venue for free spiritedness and artistic discovery. Here, Arizona’s most widely acclaimed professional theater troupe, the Arizona Theater Company, enchants audiences with contemporary and classic productions. The Herberger is also home to several other companies, including Childsplay, Actors Theatre, Center Dance Ensemble, and Black Theatre Troupe. Chandeliers constructed of hand-blown Venetian glass and hanging tapestries hand-woven by Mexican artisans greet visitors inside Phoenix Symphony Hall.

This magnificent concert hall, which is also known for its Peacock Fountain, is where the Phoenix Symphonyhas captivated audiences for 55 years. Along with the Orpheum Theatre, Symphony Hall is also where you can see performances by Ballet Arizona. After a long day of meetings, you might be craving an empty your- lungs shout-out. Fortunately, a plethora of seasonal sporting venues wait to let you indulge. The NBA’s Phoenix Suns take their aim at the US Airways Center, a home they share with the Phoenix Mercury, who won the WNBA Championship in 2007 and with the Arena  Football League’s Arizona Rattlers. The facility will take center stage internationally then it hosts the 2009 NBA All-Star game in February. Spring, summer and early fall is the time to catch the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The retractable roof means the game might be indoors or outdoors, but the stadium’s biggest splash might be its unique swimming pool, situated just beyond the home run fence in right center field. If spring’s  your thing, in terms of baseball, catch the Oakland A’s and Milwaukee Brewers at home in Phoenix for Cactus League action.

Be that as it may, odds are pretty good that you’ve touched down in Phoenix to experience one of the sunniest, driest climates on earth – and that means outdoor fun – which Phoenix boasts in abundance. Hikers in your group will quickly warm to the trails at Piestewa Peak, where a dazzling view of downtown Phoenix awaits those who ascend to the top. Camelback Mountain, an aptly named local landmark, South Mountain Park, the Phoenix Mountain Preserve and the Papago Buttes are other sterling examples of back-to-nature fun for those looking to hike, bike or walk the desert. Practically next door to the Papago Buttes are the wide paved walkways of the Phoenix Zoo and of the Desert Botanical Garden, both of which will instill everything anyone ever wanted to know about local flora and fauna.

As you might expect, there’s no shortage of outstanding dining experiences in Phoenix, with an emphasis on continental and southwestern fare. Award-winning chefs creating inspired cuisine in stunning surroundings defines the Greater Phoenix culinary scene. Michael Cairns heads a team of chefs who present a variety of dining enjoyment at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa. Biltmore’s premier restaurant, Wright’s, includes a blend of Southwestern, French and Asian flavors in the stunning surroundings of the resort’s Frank Lloyd Wright influenced design. Chef Douglas Rodriguez of Deseoat the Westin Kierland Resort and Spais widely regarded as the inventor of Nuevo Latino cuisine, elevating Latin American food to a cultural art form. Heightening the pleasure of dinner, the striking views of the surrounding mountains and plush golf course seen through Deseo’s floor-toceiling windows are breathtaking.

SCOTTSDALE AND THE NORTHEAST VALLEY

Scottsdale is truly nirvana for meeting planners with every conceivable style accommodation accompanied by fine dining options galore, nightlife, awardwinning golf courses and spas, and activities from rock walls to race cars to horseback rides and Jeep tours. Scottsdale’s more than 70 hotels and resorts range from five-star luxury to nicely appointed accommodations that will maximize your group’s budget.

Scottsdale Airport is the second busiest single-runway airport in the U.S. The airport records approximately 200,000 takeoffs and landings making it the busiest corporate jet facility in Arizona. It wasn’t that many years ago that Scottsdale was better known for rodeos and round-ups than for retail therapy and relaxing at the spa. Today, there’s an easy co- existence between the Old West and the new. Vestiges of the town’s cowboy legacy  lend  seamlessly with its superb collection of top-ranked golf resorts, cutting edge art scene and pleasing excess of clubs and restaurants. What never changed are the compelling mountain panoramas, myriad cultural opportunities and endless grab-bag of appealing outdoor attractions.
           

It’s little wonder why two upscale national magazines recently named Scottsdale as the best city in the U.S. for golf. Serious golfers have long flocked to the 200-plus courses that are sprinkled throughout the Valley of the Sun. Traditional tree-lined  “parkland” courses, nine-hole “beginners” courses and dramatic “target-style” desert courses all beckon, but for those seeking top-rated “trophy” courses, Scottsdale  overflows.
           

Start with the TPC Stadium Course, home to the largest crowds in golf when the PGA Tour’s FBR Open takes place there in late January. The par-3 16th hole, where Tiger Woods scored his famous ace in 1997, is considered the most raucous in golf. The TPC Stadium’s sister course, formerly known as the Desert, underwent a complete makeover in November 2007. Its new name is the Champions and some say it’s now every bit the challenge of its Tour-worthy sibling. Other top tracks to sample are Troon  North’s newly realigned Pinnacle and Monument courses, the Raptor and Talon courses at Grayhawk, Rancho Mañana and the mountainside layout at The Phoenician. To the north are the two stunning courses at The Boulders Resort in Carefree that swerve through massive sandstone and granite outcroppings and to the east, past Fountain Hills in Fort McDowell, are the twin tests at We-Ko-Pa, where no homes or roads intrude on the playing experience.

For the non-golfers, Scottsdale offers a dizzying array of recreational options. Nestled in the lush Sonoran Desert, Scottsdale is bordered by the McDowell Mountains and McDowell Sonoran Preserve, which consists of 16,460 acres of protected land. These areas provide the perfect landscape for mountain biking, hiking and backpacking. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve also offers guided hikes in the area that range from three to more than eight miles in length. Professional climbing guides can help your group experience the thrill of recreational rock climbing and rappelling. You’ll experience some of the desert’s most beautiful scenery from new heights, while building self-confidence and enjoying a great sense of accomplishment. On any given weekend, the granite cliff- faces will be dotted with tiny figures in bright clothing dangling at the ends of long ropes. Off-road Jeep and Hummer tours are a wonderful way to enjoy the desert’s Old West history and experience its beautiful flora and fauna. Interpretive guides provide entertaining stories of the Old West (including a tall tale or two!) as well as interesting facts about the cacti, plants and animals that make up the desert’s delicate ecosystem.  Tour options can include gold panning, pistol shooting, Jeep/horseback and Jeep/river rafting combinations, chuckwagon cookouts, and more. For a truly western experience, book a sunrise horseback ride through the McDowell Mountains followed by a hearty cowboy cookout for breakfast. From high in the saddle, you’ll see exotic cactus, rolling desert foothills and crystalline streams. As you explore the pristine, natural habitats, your guide will entertain you with the stories and legends of Arizona’s first cowboys.
           

The Sonoran Desert is a unique and beautiful place when observed from ground level, but the view from above is astounding in its expansiveness and grandeur. Hot air ballooning is a wonderfully tranquil experience for visitors of all ages. Sunrise and sunset flights provide magnificent vistas of desert terrain and towering mountain ranges. The view from the balloon’s handcrafted wicker basket is virtually unobstructed. Rafting, kayaking and canoeing are popular ways to explore the lakes and rivers in the Scottsdale area. Several Scottsdale based adventure travel companies provide raft and kayak trips on both the Salt and Verde Rivers. These excursions offer the opportunity to view the desert wildlife including eagles, herons, egrets, hawks and occasionally larger species such as coyotes, javelina and deer.
           

Of course, after all of that activity, the body may need some pampering. Where luxury spa treatments are concerned, Scottsdale is virtually unbeatable. Among the elite are Agave, the Arizona Spa at the Westin Kierland, and Joya Spa at InterContinental Montelucia Resort. This free-standing, 31,000-sq.-ft. spa channels the raw splendor of Moorish Andalucía Spain with whitewashed walls contrasting vibrant hues of ochre and multi-colored, custom-made Moroccan tiles. As InterContinental’s first U.S. resort property, the resort features 253 guestrooms and 40 suites, plus 34 privately- owned luxury villas that are managed by the resort.
           

If you’re looking for an exciting way to build attendance, reward your top performers or simply enhance your group’s itinerary, consider incorporating one of Scottsdale’s unique events into your next meeting or incentive program. Every January, the celebrity-laden classic car shows come to town, among them the nationally televised Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. In February, the cars drive away from the WestWorld facility, replaced by horsepower of a different kind – the pageant-filled Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. March brings the San Francisco Giants to town for Spring Training baseball. In April, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival draws more than 40,000 visitors looking to enjoy fabulous food, fun, festivities and fabulous weather. For a complete Scottsdale events calendar, visit scottsdalecvb.com.
           

Scottsdale once featured a tag line, “the West’s most Western town.” You can still find remnants if you know where to look. For fans of the Old West, downtown Scottsdale offers numerous galleries replete with paintings and sculptures, along with a small concentration of western wear stores and a few old-style buildings and hitching posts amid the modern surroundings. North Scottsdale is chock full of tasteful new developments that are nicely integrated into the desert – DC Ranch’s Sol y Sombrais old meets new and Spanish meets Latin – but a few old standbys remain firmly entrenched. Greasewood Flat, Reata Pass and Pinnacle Peak Patio are three restaurants that represent the old guard, that were hewn in the days where paved roads were a rarity. For those who want to plunge into the cowboy way, pay your tuition at Scottsdale’s Arizona Cowboy College, where you’ll learn the tools of the trade at a real-live cattle ranch.
           

For many Scottsdale visitors, however, the mantra remains, “Shop ‘til you drop.” Retail excitement reaches fever pitch in the winter/spring months, when outdoor shopping is a joyous occasion, but whether you’re inside or out, there are countless options to buy ‘til you’re happy. Return visitors likely have fond memories of Old Town, Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Fashion Square, but two new kids on the shopping block, the Scottsdale Waterfront and the Mix at SouthBridge, have created serious buzz. Old Town is a paradise for walkers, with as much to photograph as there is to buy. Don’t miss Bob Parks Horse Fountain and the stores that surround it. Kierland offers an ideal blend of indoors and outdoors, as well as a something-for-everyone experience with hotels, luxury loft living, shopping and dining. Scottsdale Fashion Square dazzles with stores ranging from Gucci to the Gap. Landscaped pathways and pedestrian-only bridges highlight the Scottsdale Waterfront, which overlooks the Arizona Canal and boasts some of the Valley’s hottest dining emporiums, such as P.F. Chang’s, Pink Taco and Olive & Ivy. Nearby, the Mix at SouthBridge caters to the hip and the eclectic, with no chain stores or chain restaurants to be had. New for 2009 is the Metro Brasserie restaurant, along with the congregation of the retail shops on the first level. Favorite holdovers include Jennifer Croll for shopping and the Canal restaurant, which hosts daily fashion shows on its runway.
           

The legendary Fifth Avenue Shopping District in Old Town Scottsdale serves as a gateway to a world-famous concentration of boutiques and art galleries that fan out to Main Street and Marshall Way. Balmy Thursday evenings, when galleries extend their hours for the Scottsdale ArtWalk, are the most enjoyable way to browse and buy. You can stay in the neighborhood to celebrate your purchases because it’s home to the most eclectic grouping of nightspots in the Valley. Party spots range from Vegas-influenced, A-Lister haunts such as Jackrabbit Lounge, Suede and Devils Martini, to rock-meets- Western Saddle Ranch Chop House. More Vegas-style action is available at two Casino Arizona locations in Scottsdale, belonging to the Salt River Pima- Maricopa Indian Community.
           

Culture cravers will seek out Taliesin West, architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s one- time winter retreat and Cosanti, the workshop of futurist Paolo Soleri, whose hand-crafted bronze and ceramic wind chimes have long been one of the state’s most  distinctive keepsakes. Looking to kick back? The charming, artsy town of Carefree just north of Scottsdale has an “Easy Street,” and an intersection of “Ho” and “Hum.” (Carefree Resort & Villasoffers a wide choice of 369 resort rooms, cabanas, and suite-like accommodations in their villas.) Not to be outdone, the rustic town of Cave Creek next door introduced the world to chili beer, consisting of a bottle of tasty brew that also holds a spicy jalapeno pepper. The beauty of Scottsdale and its surrounds is that there’s something for every taste.

FOUNTAIN HILLS
& FORT MCDOWELL
Although the Town of Fountain Hills and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation are only a few miles east of Scottsdale, it feels as if they are a world away. The area is wreathed by scenic mountains, draped in the unique vegetation of the Sonoran Desert and blessed with panoramic views offering a wide range of outdoor activities such as golfing, hiking, biking, bird watching and boating. Lodging options for groups include the luxurious Radisson Fort McDowell Resortand the Inn at Eagle Mountain.
           

The white plume of Fountain Hill’s world famous fountain – the town took its name from the landmark – is visible for miles. At its full height of 560 feet, the fountain is higher than the Washington Monument and three times as high as Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone Park. It may seem surprising to have such a magnificent spout in an arid area, but this fountain is a celebration of water where it is most appreciated – in the middle of the desert.
           

Those with a sense of whimsy might check out the burgeoning arts scene in Fountain Hills; sculptures, water features and other works of art adorn the Community Center, the Avenue of the Fountains and public places. Twice a year, the Great Fair and the Fountain Festival of Arts and Crafts attract hundreds of thousands of art lovers to the downtown area. Galleries and small shops make it easy for shoppers to find their own art year-round. And, the award-winning Fountain Hills Community Theater is one of Arizona’s leading performing arts organizations.
           

Fort McDowell has become widely known for its casino and its live entertainment. In addition, they have 36 holes of golf at the acclaimed We-Ko-Pa Golf Club and Fort McDowell Adventures, an old west style recreation facility offering horseback rides, Jeep rides and other outdoor fun.

TEMPE
Tempe teems with vibrancy – from Mill Avenue to Tempe Beach Park – it is alive with a youthful and eclectic vibe, in part due to being home to a major university. But it’s not all cereal restaurants (Cereality really does serve primarily cereal – albeit with a lot of preferred toppings) and rowdy night spots, there are plenty of grown-up alternatives.
           

Rated as an All-American City, Tempe offers over 5,500 guestrooms and an abundance of meeting space. A mix of performing arts, sports and recreation venues and numerous restaurants provides options certain to complement any grown-up meeting agenda. Admittedly, Tempe’s myriad attractions get dwarfed by its anchor tenant, Arizona State University, one of the nation’s largest institutions of higher learning. This is especially true on football Saturdays, when more than 70,000 maroon- and gold-clad fans pile into Sun Devil Stadium to cheer on their team. The school’s successful baseball and basketball teams have loyal followings as well.
           

In early spring, baseball is in the air, as Tempe is the Cactus League home for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Nevertheless, there’s plenty more to explore in Tempe beyond the sporting scene. Energy flows from tree-lined Mill Avenue in the center of downtown where some 250 businesses – from charming coffee shops to quaint stores and nightclubs – offer entertainment galore. Sidewalk artists and entertainers frequent the area giving the scene a lively and spontaneous sense of fun and excitement.
           

Tempe Mission Palmsis just steps from Mill Avenue and has 303 guestrooms, 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and a rooftop pool. Even better, they arrange numerous unique afternoon activity packages from high adventure excursions to cultural tours.
           

ASU’s Gammage Auditorium, a Frank Lloyd Wright design, welcomes the public with a selection of art shows, plays, musicals, concerts and speakers. Visitors to Tempe will also enjoy the newly opened Tempe Center for the Arts. Funky local bands, awardwinning local theater, blockbuster Broadway productions, comedy shows and contemporary dance companies are all part of Tempe’s arts and cultural scene.
           

Situated at the north end of Mill Avenue, Tempe Town Lake is a two-mile-long riverbed 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. The banks of Tempe Town Lake are encircled by five miles of trails for running, biking, in-line skating and bicycling. More hiking and mountain biking trails are just south of Tempe at South Mountain Park, the largest municipal park in the U.S.
           

The new Tempe Marketplace’s 1.3 million sq. ft. of retail space is uniquely positioned as an open-air, pedestrian-oriented environment, creating an eclectic atmosphere for a memorable experience. For more shopping, dive into Arizona Mills, situated just 10 minutes from the Sky Harbor International Airport. Taking in all 175 stores is quite a challenge, but it’s worth it, as all offer discount prices. IKEA Home Furnishings, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, is also located in Tempe with its 342,000-sq.-ft. store.
           

Tempe’s special events include: the Tempe Spring and Fall Festivals of the Arts, the Insight Fiesta Bowl Block Party (one of the country’s best places to celebrate New Year’s Eve according to USA Today), the spirited Circle K Tempe Music Festival, the exhilarating P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & Half Marathon and the inspiring Ford Ironman Arizona. 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.

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. millavenue.com

MESA
Mesa has nearly overtaken Tucson as the state’s second largest city, yet its claim to fame nationally has long been its status as the spring training baseball home to the Chicago Cubs, whose rabid followers turn every March exhibition game into an event. A must for baseball fans in 2009 is the Mesa Historical Museum’s new interactive exhibit, “Play Ball: The Cactus League Experience.” The exhibit celebrates Arizona’s long and colorful history of baseball in Arizona including items from private collections.
           

Mesa boasts an art and cultural district like no other in the Valley. Mesa Arts Center is the largest arts and entertainment venue of its kind in the Southwest. It houses four theaters, five art galleries, and 14 art studios. Two other museums are within walking distance of downtown Mesa with Arizona Museum of  Natural History serving as the anchor. Here, visitors can see some of the biggest dinosaurs that ever lived and understand the natural and cultural history of the Southwest. The Arizona Museum for Youth, a fine arts museum for children, features ArtVille – an artinspired town for curious and creative toddlers.
           

For meetings in downtown, Mesa Convention Center offers 15,000 sq. ft. of exhibit area and an additional 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, comprised of 15 rooms of varying sizes. On-site catering and a state-of-the-art theater-style conference center are also available. Part of the Convention Center complex, the Mesa Amphitheatre offers festival seating for 4,200 on curved grass terraces and 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.
           

Downtown Mesa’s numerous shops and restaurants are mostly locally-owned with one of- a-kind offerings. Nearby, Dana Park Village Square is a 400,000-sq.-ft. fashion-focused lifestyle center while Superstition Springs Center and Fiesta Mall each offer more than 140 specialty stores and eateries. Mesa’s newest offering is Mesa Riverview featuring a mix of well-known stores alongside independent retailers. Boasting more than 1.3 million sq. ft. of retail space, this entertainment complex is anchored by Arizona’s only Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill – a 600-seat restaurant featuring an 80-foot guitar bar with live concerts and dancing is also here. Another excellent and new dining option in Mesa, EJ’s Steakhouse features the finest Midwestern corn-fed beef. Steaks are cut at their own meat shop next door to the restaurant and served fresh and wet-aged at least 28 days to perfection.
           

Mesa is known as an activity-oriented destination; heading east into the rugged slopes of the Superstition Mountains, one encounters the towns of Apache Junction and Gold Canyon. Until you’ve experienced the Superstitions, you’re missing one of Arizona’s wildest rides. Legend has it that hidden in these parts is a rich vein of gold. For more than 150 years, starry-eyed prospectors have hiked up and down the mountains in search of Lost Dutchman’s Mine. What anybody can find, however, are the dazzling kaleidoscopes of wildflowers that blanket the foothills in springtime following healthy winter rains. Nearby is Tortilla Flat, an old stagecoach stop on the way to three of Arizona’s best boating and fishing spots, Canyon, Apache and Roosevelt Lakes.
           

Although Mesa is just 20 minutes from Downtown Phoenix and Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, Mesa’s own Phoenix- Mesa Gateway Airport offers meeting planners a convenient alternative. Allegiant Air and Vision Airlines currently operate here, and other airlines are in negotiations to begin passenger service to cities outside Arizona.

CHANDLER
Just east of Mesa, the trellis-covered walkways of Historic Downtown Chandler lure people to this unique community with their ever-increasing inventory of unique galleries, charming boutique shops and independent restaurants. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Chandler’s Downtown Square was once a favored haunt of Hollywood luminaries and heads of state, and today is going through an amazing renaissance with the introduction of urban living, additional boutique shops and restaurants, as well as entertainment to create a vibrant, eclectic arts and cultural district. The historic square has also become a favorite with its variety of award-winning, local restaurants, including an Arizona winery and micro-brewery.
           

Chandler offers a variety of hotel accommodations, including Arizona’s original golf resort (located in downtown Chandler), 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. 
           

The first Wednesday of each month features an art walk in downtown. Unique annual events include a Jazz Festival, Classic Car & Hot Rod Show, Tumbleweed Tree  Lighting event, Ostrich Festival, and a Cinco de Mayo celebration including Chihuahua races.
           

Chandler is a premier shopping destination in the East Valley with a wide variety of options from one-of-a-kind boutique shops to internationally recognized retailers. Along with the shopping areas of Casa Paloma, Chandler Pavilions, the Falls at Ocotillo  and Historic Downtown, the enormous Chandler Fashion Center with its mix of 240  different retail shops and restaurants offers a wide variety of choices. Next door to the Chandler Fashion Center is the brand new Hilton Phoenix/Chandler. Opening Spring 2009, the new hotel will offer 197 guestrooms and 7,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. The Chandler Visitors Center at the McCullough-Price House serves the community as a unique visitors center as well as an educational venue for Chandler history and heritage, featuring local art and heritage galleries.
           

Chandler is home to a fistful of family attractions, including Rawhide Western Town and Steakhouseon the Gila River Indian Reservation (bordering Chandler), which dishes out a dose of the Wild West with stunt shows, shootouts, stagecoach rides and sing-alongs.

GLENDALE AND THE WEST VALLEY
It’s hard to imagine that only 30 years ago, the towns west of Phoenix were comprised of cotton fields, citrus groves, cattle ranches and an Air Force base. Today, Luke Air Force Base hasgot plenty of company. Glendale is the big enchilada out west, thanks to its prime attraction, the University of Phoenix Stadium, home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, the NCAA’s Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and special events. Tours are available to see not only the retractable roof, but the retractable, roll-in, roll-out natural grass field as well, an engineering feat unique in the U.S. Look for the 2009 NCAA West Regional in Men’s College Basketball to arrive in March and optimism runs realistically high to host a future Final Four.
           

Adjacent to the big stadium is a smaller sibling, the Jobing.com Arena, which serves as home for the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes, as well as to concerts and ice skating events. Glendale’s newest sports facility, a 13,500-seat baseball spring training site, will house the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox starting in 2009. If, however, it’s shopping, not sports, that gets your blood pumping, Glendale doesn’t disappoint. Its charmingly preserved downtown district is a haven for those in search of antiques and collectibles.
           

Peoria and Surprise have blossomed as spring training homes for a quartet of major league teams, the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners in the former, and the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers in the latter. In Goodyear, are the Cactus League debuts of both Ohio teams, the Cleveland Indians in 2009, with the Cincinnati Reds joining them in 2010.
           

Continue west on the Carefree Highway past Peoria and you’ll find the watery attractions of Lake Pleasant, a top draw for boaters. Avondale’s horizon ripples with the peaks of the Sierra Estrella Mountains, but the real action is at your feet, amid the groundpounding, pulse-raising excitement of Phoenix International Raceway, which plays host to two NASCAR events annually.
           

If you’re yearning for a slice of the Old West, Wickenburg delivers. Located an hour’s drive northwest of Phoenix, Wickenburg is an old mining town with enough modern enticements to snag locals and tourists alike. Check into Wickenburg’s Rancho de los Caballeros Resortand you’re issued your own horse. Of course, his meal plan and yours are very different. The Desert Caballeros Western Museum, with its cowboy art, is one superb attraction. The Nature Conservatory’s Hassayampa River Preserve, where clear streams and migratory birds thrive, is another.
           

If you’re meeting in Phoenix and Central Ariz., there is a lot to discover, so plan some extra time.

PHOENIX RISING
Phoenix, Arizona didn’t climb to be the nation’s fifth largest city by standing still. In 2008, Phoenix took a quantum leap. Three major projects made their debuts by January 1, 2009 – projects that elevate Phoenix to another level when it comes to service and facilities for its citizens and for its visitors. Five years and $600 million in the making, the newly expanded, architecturally stunning Phoenix Convention Center boasts state-of-the-art audio and video  technology in its three-building campus, as well as ecologically-friendly features such as solar paneling and a water-harvesting garden.
           

The day the new Sheraton Downtown Phoenix opened in October 2008, it became Arizona’s largest hotel, with 1,000 guestrooms. Located one block from the new  convention center, the Sheraton provides central Phoenix with the mega-hotel it has long sought to attract the nation’s largest conventions. More than 80,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, 17 meeting rooms, two ballrooms, and two boardrooms are among the offerings. Highspeed Internet access, videoconferencing abilities and an audiovisual staff available on-site are further highlights. When the meetings have wrapped up, folks can refresh in a 2,000-sq.-ft. pool and in a 6,500-sq.-ft. fitness center and spa.
           

To get around to see all of Phoenix’s new attractions, savvy travelers will board the $1.3 million METRO lightrail system that kicked off in late December 2008. The initial 20-mile line links Phoenix to Mesa and Tempe and will include stops at the Heard Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, Chase Field and the US Airways Center. The quiet, air-conditioned trains operate up to 20 hours per day, seven days a week. Eventually, the METRO light-rail system will transport riders to Sky Harbor International Airport. Welcome to the big-time, Phoenix!

LUXE SCOTTSDALE
Scottsdale’s reputation as the “Resort Capital of the Southwest” didn’t happen by the city resting on its laurels.InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spaopened in November, 2008, bringing Andalusian-style luxury to the city’s list of world-class properties. In addition to the 31,000-sq.-ft. Joya Spa, the property also boasts five pools and 27,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space. Guests can enjoy activities such as wine tastings, star gazing and cigar rolling in addition to a myriad of new restaurants.
           

In October, 2008, Marcus Hotels and Resorts re-launched Resort Suites Scottsdale as the new Xona Resort Suites after a comprehensive, multi-million-dollar renovation of the property. The hotel boasts a new lobby and porte cochere, re-designed and updated guest suites, the new Asada Desert Grille restaurant specializing in regional cuisine, the new Orange Iguana indoor/outdoor lounge, and renovated pool areas. The hotel also caters to golfers with on-site golf experts with insider knowledge of the region’s finest fairways and greens.