Why Choose Phoenix?

Phoenix is the cosmopolitan heart of Arizona and the sunniest metropolis in the United States. One of the nation’s most beautiful and sophisticated convention centers is located in downtown Phoenix, five minutes away from the airport and within easy walking distance of 16 hotels, two light-rail stations and the new CityScape entertainment district. Phoenix’s pedestrian-friendly urban core is surrounded by rugged mountains, resort enclaves and the kind of cactuses most people see only in cartoons. Phoenix also is the gateway to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World — the Grand Canyon — and the city’s famously sunny weather encourages al fresco dining, outdoor adventure and year-round golf. Phoenix Convention Center: The Phoenix Convention Center was recently named among the Top 10 Convention Centers in the United States. With a glass-and-stone design inspired by the turquoise waters and red-rock walls of the Grand Canyon, the Phoenix Convention Center is not your typical convention facility. It was built to drop jaws, not just house tradeshows. The convention center’s towering windows and outdoor meeting spaces make the most of Phoenix’s famously sunny weather, and its centralized location is within an easy stroll of every downtown hotel. Included within the Phoenix Convention Center’s 900,000 square feet of flexible exhibition and meeting space are: • Three ballrooms (two at street level) • 99 meeting rooms • An IACC-certified Executive Conference Center • $3.2 million worth of public art Thoughtful touches include 61 loading docks, 22 of which are temperature-controlled, exhibit halls with pre-scored floors, and an adjoining performance hall that seats 2,400 people. The convention center’s food court features five themed eateries and patio seating, and its award-winning catering staff can feed 360 people every eight minutes. The Phoenix Convention Center was designed with energy efficiency in mind, and its sustainability program encompasses recycling, solar power and water harvesting. This dedicated approach to sustainability helped the convention center’s conference center earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. RESORTS: Phoenix is one of the top resort destinations in America, and its best accommodations are found at lushly landscaped resorts secluded from (or hidden within) the bustle of the city. More than 30 full-service resorts adorn Phoenix’s sun-burnished landscape. Some are sprawling and palatial; others are intimate and romantic. All boast sophisticated meeting facilities and impeccable service.