Phoenix, AZ

Key Highlights

Hotels	597
Total Sleeping Rooms	72,898
Committable Sleeping Rooms*	1,000
Committable Meeting Rooms*	106
Largest Exhibit Space	612,500 Sq. Ft.
Largest Ballroom	48,000 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $108
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $71
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $220
*Maximum for a single hotel

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Phoenix, AZ Meeting Planning Overview

Welcome to Cvent’s Phoenix meeting planning guide – an Phoenix city guide for meeting planners. With sunny skies and a year-round average temperature of 74 degrees, Phoenix event planning is a great choice for planners looking for the right city for their events and meetings. Phoenix is a convention-friendly city that lives up to its reputation. As the second-fastest growing metropolitan area in America, Phoenix offers an exceptional collection of hotels and resorts with nearly 55,000 guestrooms and modern meeting facilities. From luxury world-class resorts to budget-friendly hotels to dude ranches and other unique sites, here you can find the perfect Phoenix event venues for your needs .

In December 2008 the Phoenix Convention Center plans to complete a massive $600 million expansion that triples its size with nearly 900,000 square feet of rentable space and more than two million square feet total space. The expansion is taking place in phases so that the center can remain open for conventions throughout the project. Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, the Phoenix Convention Center is within walking distance of major attractions such as Chase Field, US Airways Center, Symphony Hall and the Phoenix Museum of History, as well as many shops, restaurants and bars making Phoenix meeting planning convenient for planners looking to incorporate some leisure around events.

There is seldom a cloud in the sky in this desert city, which makes it a favorite meetings destination any time of the year, not to mention a great place to swing a golf club. Known as the golf capital of the world, Phoenix has an abundance of championship golf courses. Phoenix's prime Sonoran Desert location also creates unlimited opportunities for uniquely Southwest outdoor adventures such as horseback riding, hiking, hot-air ballooning and off-road desert tours in jeeps and Hummers.

Vibrant and cosmopolitan, Phoenix gives visitors plenty of good reasons to wash off the desert dust and dress up for an evening out. There is a delicious abundance of fine dining restaurants such as perennial favorite Vincent's on Camelback, known for classic French recipes enhanced with Southwestern ingredients. For the more cultured heart, Phoenix provides a wide array of cultural and performance sites and stages. The Heard Museum has one of the world's most significant Native American art collections, while the Phoenix Art Museum features 40,000 international works of art that span centuries of time. Performance locations such as Symphony Hall, the nationally ranked Arizona Theater Company, the critically acclaimed ASU Gammage Theater and the Valley Youth Theatre host award-winning performances nightly.

Visitors find it easy to get around Phoenix with ample transportation services that include buses, taxis and shuttles. Taxi fares are metered at a rate of $5 for the first mile and $2 for each additional mile. One-way taxi fares from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to downtown Phoenix, approximately three miles, average $10 to $15.

Phoenix, AZ Area Destinations

Cave Creek, AZ	Chandler, AZ	Downtown Phoenix, AZ	Fountain Hills, AZ
Glendale, AZ	Mesa, AZ	Sedona, AZ	Tempe, AZ

About Phoenix, AZ / Additional Info

Ringed by three mountain ranges, Phoenix rises out of the starkly beautiful Salt River Valley in Central Arizona. The state capital of Arizona, this impressive city stretches across 500 square miles of the spectacular Sonoran Desert. Since its incorporation in 1881, Phoenix has grown from a town of 3,152 inhabitants to the largest city in the Southwest with 1.5 million residents and an annual growth rate second only to Las Vegas. Phoenix has evolved from its roots as an agricultural and farming community to a thriving economical center that encompasses state government, education, high-tech industries, telecommunications and tourism.

Over the last decade, Phoenix has invested billions of dollars in the revitalization of its downtown core, Copper Square, a broad area covering ninety square blocks. Key projects include the $600 million expansion and renovation of the Phoenix Convention Center and a new Light Rail commuter system. As a city that has been able to grow upward, not just outward, Phoenix's skyline is filled with many low-rise buildings and several mid-rise towers. The 40-story Chase Tower is the tallest building in Arizona. US Bank Center is second in height at 31 floors, and the 25-story Qwest Tower is Phoenix's tallest building outside of downtown.

With its bustling, fast-growing economy, the greater Phoenix metro area is the centerpiece of a $50 billion regional marketplace. Phoenix is home to Fortune 500 companies Freeport McMoRan and Petsmart and Fortune 1000 companies including Avnet and Apollo Group. Other company's headquartered in Phoenix are UHaul International and Best Western hotels, while Motorola, Intel, Honeywell and Boeing have major operations here.

Phoenix's thriving cultural scene includes internationally acclaimed museums such as the Heard Museum of Native America Art, the recently expanded Phoenix Art Museum and the Arizona Science Center. Phoenix is blessed with award-winning performing arts groups such as the Phoenix Symphony Hall, Arizona Opera and Ballet Arizona, in addition to performance facilities that bring Broadway musicals and international headliners to town.

As a top year-round tourist destination, Phoenix offers numerous outdoor recreational options from world-class golf and horseback riding to hot-air ballooning, boating and hiking in the Sonoran Desert. Indoors, visitors enjoy world-class shopping, live theater, art galleries, nightlife and top-rated restaurants with some of the best chefs in America.

Phoenix, AZ Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Mountain Time (MT)
Convention Center(s):

Phoenix Convention Center

Hotel at Convention Center? Yes
Sleeping Rooms 1 Mile from Convention Center: 3,000

Airport(s):

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Destination Type(s):

Golf Destination
Smoke-free Restaurants

Special Event Venues
333
Population
4,579,427
Restaurants
448
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
8.30%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
10-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Phoenix, AZ Area Destinations

	Population	Meeting Hotels	Hotel Rooms	Special Event Venues
Cave Creek, AZ	5,400	4	700	7
Chandler, AZ	255,000	22	3,131	22
Downtown Phoenix, AZ	15,700	10	3,000	46
Fountain Hills, AZ	26,000	5	435	5
Glendale, AZ	250,000	11	1,249	13
Mesa, AZ	460,000	37	4,244	39
Sedona, AZ	11,000	22	1,594	27
Tempe, AZ	175,000	38	4,863	25

Cities Near Phoenix, AZ

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Tucson, AZ	115 mi	1 hr 50 min	43 min	USD $360+
Flagstaff, AZ	145 mi	2 hr 10 min	58 mins	USD $320+
Las Vegas, NV	304 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 8 min	USD $180+
San Diego, CA	355 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 11 min	USD $170+
Albuquerque, NM	468 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 12 min	USD $185+

Phoenix, AZ Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	66	70	75	84	93	103	105	103	99	88	75	66
Avg. Low (°F)	41	44	49	55	64	72	80	79	72	61	48	42
Rec. High (°F)	88	92	100	105	113	122	101	116	118	107	93	88
Rec. Low (°F)	17	22	25	37	40	51	66	61	47	34	27	22
Rainfall (in)	0.8	0.6	0.9	0.3	0.1	0.1	0.8	1.0	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.9

Phoenix's location in Arizona's high Sonoran Desert creates a dry climate with hot summers, temperate winters and an average year-round temperature of 74 degrees. With over 330 days of sunshine, precipitation is sparse and well below one inch during most months. March is the wettest month and June is the driest.

From early July through mid-September, there is an influx of monsoonal moisture which raises humidity levels and can cause localized heavy rains and thunderstorms. However, even during this time, the average monthly rainfall seldom tops one inch. The average annual total rainfall recorded at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is 8.3 inches.

During the summer, temperatures often top 100°F. During winter months, daily high temperatures range from the mid-60s to low 70s; low temperatures rarely drop below 40°F. On average, Phoenix has only five days per year when the temperature drop to or below freezing.

Meeting Planning in Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix Convention Center

Conveniently located in the epicenter of downtown Phoenix's burgeoning Copper Square area, the Phoenix Convention Center has finished the first of two stages of a massive $600 million renovation and expansion to be completed in December 2008. Triple its original size, the new and improved facility will provide nearly 900,000 square feet of rentable space and over two million square feet of total space. The expansion is taking place in phases so that the center remains open for conventions throughout the project.

Phase 1 construction of this Phoenix meeting facility ended in July 2006 with the opening of the center's new West Building. The four-story building, with its signature 90-foot glass and stone atrium, has 157,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space and a 10,000-square-foot kitchen. The West Building was designed and built with environmentally friendly technology and products, with the goal of earning Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The resulting energy- and water-efficient structure provides occupants with a quality experience and serves as a steward for the environment. When the new North Building is completed at the end of Phase 2, the Phoenix Convention Center will be one of the top 20 convention centers in America.

A wide range of amenities are offered at the Phoenix Convention Center. Completely handicapped accessible, the center provides access to all event areas by ramps and elevators. The convention center's state-of-the-art communications systems provide for broadcasting, wire service, teleconferencing, teletype transmission and direct phone lines for each exhibit booth. Whether hosting a corporate meeting, conference, convention or private affair, the Phoenix Convention Center's professional catering staff expertly prepared all meals in the state-of-the-art kitchen. The center is within walking distance of major attractions such as Chase Field, US Airways Center, Symphony Hall and the Phoenix Museum of History as well as hundreds of shops, restaurants and bars.

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Phoenix, AZ Meeting Venue Spotlight

Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau

The experienced Convention Services Team at the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau can help you schedule your next meeting at one of more than 60 luxury hotels and resorts with Phoenix meeting facilities. From award-winning golf courses to dining extravaganzas, the team will help you plan your meeting down to the finest detail. The Convention Services team also serves as a booking agent for the Phoenix Convention Center and will be happy to arrange personalized site inspections of any facilities of interest to your company, as well as a customized bid presentation or proposal for the company decision makers.

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Phoenix, AZ Airport Information

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

Approximate taxi fare: $12 USD

One of the 10 busiest airports in the world, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is located just three miles east of downtown Phoenix. Passengers can fly non-stop to over 100 domestic destinations from Sky Harbor. The airport services over 100,000 passengers, 1,486 aircraft and over 800 tons of air cargo daily, resulting in a $72 million daily economic impact on the area. The airport services 23 domestic and international airlines, the two largest being Southwest and US Airways. A Fortune 500 company, US Airways Group is located in nearby Tempe.

Airline carriers serving Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Aeromexico
Air Canada
AirTran Airways
Alaska Airlines
American
British Airways
Continental

Delta
Frontier
Great Lakes
Hawaiian Airlines
JetBlue Airways
Midwest Airlines
Northwest

Southwest
Sun Country
TED
United Airlines
US Airways
West Jet

Phoenix, AZ Public Transportation

Valley Metro

Valley Metro operates the regional transit system in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Buses

Valley Metro operates bus routes around the Phoenix area through private companies in Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Glendale and other parts of Maricopa County. These include fixed routes on city streets, suburban Express buses, RAPID buses and circulators in the downtown area of Phoenix, Glendale and Tempe. Bus fare is $1.25, with reduced fares for youths ages 6-18, seniors ages 65 or older, people with disabilities and Medicare cardholders.

METRO Light Rail

Opened at the end of 2008, the new METRO light rail system traverses 20 miles and offers a connection among points of interest downtown and the nearby suburbs of Tempe and Mesa. The METRO has 28 stations, including a stop at the Phoenix Convention Center. An additional 30 miles of track are in the works to be built through 2025.

METRO trains run weekdays from 4:40 AM to 11 PM and weekends from 5 AM to 11 PM. Regular one-way fare is $1.25. All-day passes, which can be used from rail to rail or from bus to rail and back, are $2.50.

Downtown Shuttle

Valley Metro provides the free Copper Square Dash, or Downtown Area Shuttle, which operates night and day throughout the designated Copper Square area. The Copper Square Dash offers transportation to popular destinations such as US Airways Center, Chase Field, State Capitol Building, museums and other points of interest downtown.

Airport SuperShuttle

Offering airport-to-door service, SuperShuttle operates 24 hours a day. Vans depart every 15 minutes to all areas of the Valley from 9 AM to 9 PM. After 9 PM, service is less frequent. Contact the company directly for times. Fares are charged on a flat rate depending on geographic area.

Rental Cars

Adjacent to the airport, the Car Rental Center is the central location for all airport rental car companies, which include Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, E-Z, Fox, Hertz, National, Payless and Thrifty. Located at 1805 East Sky Harbor Circle South, the facility is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Upon arrival at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, travelers should walk outside to the airport curb at the baggage claim level to reach the Rental Car Shuttle pick up area, where they can find transportation to the center. All rental car companies now use a common, multi-colored Rental Car Shuttle bus.

Taxis

AAA Cab, Allstate and Discount have contracted with Sky Harbor Airport to provide the following rates: $5 for first mile with $2 for each additional mile; $20 per hour charge for traffic delay; minimum fare of $15; and airport surcharge of $1 per trip. The average trip from the airport to downtown costs $12. These rates apply regardless of number of passengers or luggage.

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Tucson, AZ	115 mi	1 hr 50 min	43 min	USD $360+
Flagstaff, AZ	145 mi	2 hr 10 min	58 mins	USD $320+
Las Vegas, NV	304 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 8 min	USD $180+
San Diego, CA	355 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 11 min	USD $170+
Albuquerque, NM	468 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 12 min	USD $185+

Phoenix, AZ Image Gallery

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Phoenix Skyline

Photo Credit : Greater Phoenix CVB

Phoenix, AZ Area Discounts and Promotions

AT SHERATON, ADD MORE VALUE TO YOUR MEETINGS AND PLAN ON BIG REWARDS.

Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel redefines the concept of an urban convention hotel with its unparalleled energy, distinct product offerings, excellent service, and fresh approach to event planning. The hotel is a part of the Starwood Convention Collection, which is comprised of more than 30 Starwood Hotels & Resorts' finest convention and large meeting properties. Standing as the largest in Arizona, the hotel features 1,000 guestrooms and more than 80,000 square feet of flexible, state-of-the-art meeting space including a 29,000 square-foot ballroom. Adjacent to the Phoenix Convention Center and steps from distinguished restaurants, attractions and sporting venues, the transition from business to entertainment is easily achieved. Book your next meeting at Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel and receive up to 100,000 Starpoints® as a signing bonus and 2% rebate to master-billed rooms. Plus, your choice of one of these added benefits: Accelerated room upgrades, 1/35; Accelerated comp room policy, 1/35; or a complimentary welcome reception. Contract your next meeting by December 31, 2012, for meetings held by December 31, 2013, to take advantage of this great offer.

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