Cvent’s Tempe meeting planning guide is an extensive city guide for Tempe, AZ meeting planners. For planners in search of a meeting site that combines convenient airport access with a wealth of cultural amenities, Tempe may be just the ticket. As home to Arizona State University (ASU), one of the largest universities in the country, Tempe has the wide choice of activities you'd expect of a thriving academic community, and meeting venues in Tempe share this young, energetic vibe.
Tempe is conveniently located just 10 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which offers service to more than 85 domestic cities and 19 international destinations. In addition to being accessible from four major freeways, Tempe also offers convenient access to downtown Phoenix, just 25 minutes away, via the Metro Light Rail system.
At the very heart of Tempe lies the Mill Avenue District, a shaded, brick-lined, pedestrian-friendly street that is filled with shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. Just a short distance away is Tempe Town Lake, one of the top outdoor attractions in the state, where visitors can rent pedal boats or kayaks or simply kick back and enjoy a picnic at Tempe Beach Park.
Hotel venues in Tempe comprise more than 5,000 hotel rooms, two of which are conference centers: the 270-room Fiesta Resort Conference Center and the 303-room Tempe Mission Palms. The Buttes, a Marriott Resort, is set on a hilltop, just as its name implies. It features 345 rooms and 40,000 square feet of meeting space.
Cultural venues like the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Gammage Auditorium at ASU are counted among the unique venues in Tempe, as is the lakefront Tempe Center for the Arts. For outdoor events, the Desert Botanical Gardens and Phoenix Zoo are just a short drive away.
Dining options in Tempe are equally diverse, ranging from the comforts of casual pub grub to international cuisine from destinations as varied as Thailand and Ethiopia. (With such a large student population, pubs are particularly plentiful.)
Meeting attendees with a little free time on their hands will never get bored. Tempe's arts and cultural scene is rich and diverse, and features everything from Broadway productions and literary events to comedy shows and a host of local and national musical acts. The Tempe Center for the Arts, located on the shore of Tempe Town Lake, is home to symphony concerts, dance performances and numerous theater productions. The ASU Art Museum, on the ASU campus, has been named "the single most impressive venue for contemporary art in Arizona" by Art in America magazine.
