Planner in Residence
Katherine Overkamp, CMP, CMM, is manager of special events and client hospitality for US Airways, which is headquartered in Tempe, AZ. She lives in Scottsdale.
What’s your favorite thing about living in Scottsdale?
The mountains and sunsets are beautiful.
Where do you take your friends from out of town when they visit?
The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is a must-see.
What’s the best thing about holding a meeting here?
It’s the great variety of hotels to suit every budget, with easy access from the airport for attendees. The Scottsdale CVB is also a great partner and works hard to showcase what the city has to offer.
What should planners be aware of when planning a meeting in Arizona?
Make sure you check the calendar of events on what is happening in the Valley. From Barrett-Jackson [a car collector’s auction] in January, to the Phoenix Open in January and February, right through March with Spring Training, it may be a challenge to find hotels. Summer months are the best deals — especially if your group is meeting inside; you take advantage of getting a high-level property for a great price. And don’t forget the great locations outside of Phoenix: all of Arizona has unique locations to fit every group.
What’s your favorite restaurant in the city for groups?
I love the
Chart House in Scottsdale. [The restaurant features majestic, unobstructed views of Camelback Mountain and a picturesque lake.]
It's been a busy year for Arizona's hotels,
restaurants, and meeting venues. First off, the Phoenix
Convention Center has just completed a $600-million expansion
that has transformed it into one of the largest meeting
facilities in the U.S. The convention center boasts nearly
900,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, including
outdoor meeting areas that capitalize on Greater Phoenix's more
than 300 days of annual sunshine.
Also in Phoenix, the Hotel Palomar has opened in the new
CityScape center downtown. The property has 10,000 square feet
of flexible meeting space, and each of its 10 rooms - with the
exception of the grand ballroom - have floor-to-ceiling windows
with views of the city. A nearly 6,000- square-foot outdoor
pool deck can also be used for functions.
Phoenix restaurateur Sam Fox is opening two separate
restaurants connected by an outdoor space - all of which is to
be called simply The Yard - early this year.
Over in Scottsdale, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess unveiled
its new $20 million Palomino Conference Center in October 2012,
which added more than 52,000 square feet of indoor meeting
space to the property, including the 23,000-square-foot
Palomino Ballroom. The resort now boasts a total of 156,000
square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, making it the
largest meetings resort in Fairmont Hotels & Resorts'
global portfolio. On Jan. 1, the Fairmont Scottsdale rolled out
its new spa concept, Well & Being at Willow Stream Spa,
which offers a variety of programs and services aimed at
promoting a healthy and balanced lifestyle. The property also
saw the opening of the new Ironwood American Kitchen, which
serves all-day fare overlooking the resort's South Pool and
features a patio with fire pits.
The Phoenician recently opened its Ballroom Complex, nestled at
the base of CamelBack Mountain. The $40-million,
45,000-square-foot multi-functional space is designed to
complement the hotel's existing 64,000 square feet of indoor
meeting space. The 15,000-square-foot ballroom can be
subdivided into seven separate function spaces, and features an
outdoor veranda for breakout sessions and receptions, while the
Casita Lagoon and Orchid Lawn offer garden areas for small
gatherings. The lobby foyer joins the ballroom to the resort's
pre-existing meeting space. It should be noted that The Canyon
Suites at The Phoenician, a collection of villas on the hotel
grounds, have been awarded the coveted Five Star ranking by
Forbes Travel Guide, the only hotel in Arizona to be so
honored.
The W Scottsdale, in January, debuted six new specialty suites,
collectively called VIP Suites. These new accommodations are
located on a private wing of the hotel's sixth floor, and they
include the 2,200-square-foot Extreme Wow corner suite.
In September 2012, the El Dorado Scottsdale opened with 33
apartment-style rooms. Most of the suites are two-bedroom with
several one-bedrooms available as well; the three-bedroom Day
Tripper suite offers more privacy with its own courtyard and
parking area. Among other amenities, the hotel has a pool,
barbecue area, and bicycles for borrowing.
The Scottsdale Marriott at McDowell Mountains recently finished
a nearly $6-million renovation to its lobby, dining concept,
fitness room, and meeting spaces, including adding 4,300 square
feet of meeting and event space. The Hotel Valley Ho,
meanwhile, recently added a 760-square-foot meeting room to its
event space. The addition of the room, called "Dunes," brings
the property's total meeting space to 11,500 square feet.
Meanwhile, the Talking Stick Resort and Casino, a 496-room
luxury property on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian
Reservation, received a new neighbor with the April 2012
addition of the 158-room Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale Salt
River - the first Marriott to achieve LEED certification. In
May Talking Stick will also see the opening of Butterfly
Wonderland, a 26,000-square-foot facility.
Last but not least, downtown Scottsdale welcomed its first and
only B&B, BeSpoke Inn, Cafe and Bicycles. The property
features four rooms, an infinity pool and offers a tailored
experience for meeting attendees, as well as an on-site
boutique bike shop that provides guests with complimentary
transportation. SM Questions or comments? Email
[email protected]