Want to experience Arizona like you never have before? A visit to Tempe, Arizona combines sunny skies and desert scenery with the energy of a college town. Here, you’ll find a lively culinary scene, a downtown that’s active day and night, the surprise of Tempe Town Lake and the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. And, Tempe is the perfect fit for meetings for 10-500 attendees.
Why choose Tempe? First, meeting attendees love visiting Arizona and Tempe is right in the center of it all. Our city is conveniently located in the Metropolitan Phoenix/Scottsdale area, just minutes from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Many of Tempe’s hotels offer complimentary airport transportation and some hotels are connected to Downtown Phoenix and the airport via Valley Metro Rail.
Tempe features a wide array of properties to meet every need and budget, from a mountaintop resort to a downtown conference hotel. Off-site events can be held in a variety of unique meeting venues including the lakeside Tempe Center for the Arts, the beautiful Desert Botanical Garden or Rustler’s Rooste, a Western-themed steakhouse with a view.
The professional Tempe Tourism Office team can help you find the perfect location for your meeting. You can count on their extensive local knowledge to assist you with every aspect of event planning, from RFP distribution and site inspections to recommendations for local vendors.
Need a city where your attendees will be entertained after the meeting? At the end of the day, attendees will find endless possibilities for fun. Tempe is host to Broadway shows at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed ASU Gammage where you can see shows such as Lion King, Phantom of the Opera and Wicked. The ASU Art Museum is considered one of the most important contemporary art museums in the Southwest and it has free admission. Surprise! We have a lake in the middle of the City. Attendees can paddle board, kayak, pedal boat or just relax dockside at Tempe Town Lake which is on the north side of Downtown Tempe. Get a laugh or two at the Tempe Improv or see a concert at the spectacular Tempe Center for the Arts. For those who want a bit more outdoor activity, then they should pack their hiking shoes and discover ‘A’ Mountain in Downtown Tempe, the paths along Tempe Town Lake and the hiking spots that can be found in Papago Park just north of Tempe. Papago Park also includes some must-see cultural experiences including the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Heritage Center, Hall of Flame Firefighting Museum and the Pueblo Grande Archeological Museum.
Is shopping on the list? No worries, Tempe has plenty to offer bargain hunters. Arizona Mills is the largest outlet and value oriented shopping center in Arizona with more than 170 shops and entertainment spots including IMAX, SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium, Tilt Studio and LEGOLAND Discover Center. Of course, meeting attendees will look forward to unwinding after a long day and Tempe has plenty of options to explore. The outdoor shopping and entertainment complex called Tempe Marketplace has popular hangouts including Thirsty Lion Pub, Kabuki, Harkins movie theaters and Dave & Busters. Downtown Tempe, aka Mill Avenue, is filled with bars, pubs and restaurants to fill an evening. Hang out at the newly renovated Pedal Haus Brewery, the rocking Culinary Dropout at the Yard, the modern day beer garden at Handlebar and the local favorite Rula Bula Public House. There are more than 60 places to choose from all within the pedestrian friendly, tree-lined Downtown Tempe. Off the beaten path, you will find the ever popular Four Peaks Brewing Company, Cornish Pasty, Salut Kithen and a little taste of India at The Dhaba. Taste buds will not be disappointed.
Is Mother Nature a concern? Meeting planners can rest a bit easier when planning a meeting in Tempe. Attendees can expect more than 330 days of sunshine a year which means fewer flight delays and more chances to enjoy the great outdoors. When the weather in other parts of the country can be cold and miserable, attendees will be more than happy to attend a meeting in Tempe. And because we are so centrally located, your attendees can spend an extra day or two exploring the beautiful sites around Arizona.
Interested in experiencing Tempe before bringing a meeting here? We have an opportunity for you to consider. You can see Tempe firsthand during the Tempe Tourism Office’s Destination Experience, April 10-13, 2017. Planners will have the chance to visit our signature hotels and venues, sample local cuisine and feel the warm spring sunshine. To learn how Tempe would be an ideal destination for your next meeting or event, visit their Cvent Profile and apply to participate in this fun and informative tour.