After 18 months of work, JW Marriott's Camelback Inn resort and spa has finished a $45 million renovation, it recently announced. The renovation, which encompassed virtually every aspect of the 71-year-old property, includes dramatic changes to the resort's lobby, landscaping, guestrooms and meeting space.
"At its core, this project is about opening up the property to its inspiring desert surroundings while preserving its history and the unique Southwestern style that has made it a favorite of generations of travelers," General Manager Ralph Scatena said in a statement.
The most significant piece of the Camelback renovation project was the reclamation by specialty masons of the resort's original adobe bricks, which were broken down, remixed, reshaped and then repurposed throughout the property using the 1930s method of adobe brick-making.
Also significant is Camelback's new lobby, which opens out onto an expansive redesigned courtyard offering views of Camelback Mountain, as well as a vast garden of native plants and flowers. Adjacent to the lobby is a new Discovery Room that tells the story of the resort's long history, with photos of famous guests, including John F. Kennedy and Bette Davis.
Beyond the lobby, Camelback's 300 renovated guestrooms have been redesigned with flat-screen televisions, artwork and Southwestern decor.
Meeting space, meanwhile, now includes a new 20,000-square-foot grand ballroom with 24-foot ceilings, keyless entry and security, full wireless connectivity, and production-quality lighting and sound. Adorned with flagstone, wrought iron and decorative glass, it is divisible into 12 sections to accommodate meetings of between 20 and 2,000 attendees. An additional 5,000-square-foot foyer is ideally suited for registration desks and pre-function events.
For more information on the new and improved Camelback Inn, visit
www.camelbackinn.com.