What's New In Scottsdale: Signature Spas, Renovated Resorts And Great Golf
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - There has never been a better time to escape to Scottsdale for an American Southwest vacation. Many of Scottsdale's world-class properties are spending millions of dollars in face-lifts and spa additions, and the world of golf is fixated on the community's unmatched selection of courses and amenities. Below are some of Scottsdale's newest projects.
Resorts & Spas
Mountain Makeover Prepares for Fall Debut
The Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain opened their 24 new spa casitas in October. The property, formerly John Gardiner's Tennis Ranch, has repositioned itself from a tennis resort to a casual, but elegant resort with facilities that cater to the mind, body, spirit and senses of their guests. The spa casitas will be constructed on two levels complementing the resort's mountainside setting.
The casitas will surround the centerpiece of the resort, their 12,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor Sanctuary Spa, which is scheduled to open in January. Adjacent to the spa will be a tennis compound, 25-yard lap pool and fitness center serving resort guests and spa members.
Already open are the resort's 82 re-designed deluxe casita rooms and suites, and their signature elements restaurant and jade bar, featuring American cuisine with Asian accents and offering breathtaking views of Paradise Valley. A dramatic signature water feature that appears throughout the property and an infinity-edge pool on the mountainside were completed in May.
For general information call 480-948-2100, or visit www.sanctuaryoncamelback.com.
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Creates a Desert Oasis with New Spa
This December, The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess will open its 44,000-square-foot spa complete with 26 treatment rooms, fitness facility and salon. The new facility will offer guests a Southwestern experience featuring the use of indigenous products in both its décor and treatments. The spa will encompass three levels all linked together by a flowing waterfall that will create the desert oasis setting. A private adult swimming pool for relaxation and mediation purposes will be featured on the roof of the facility.
Most recently, The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess completed a $4 million water recreation area called Sonoran Splash. Designed to enhance the resort experience, the water recreation area is in keeping with the existing Southwestern-style architecture of the property and features the longest resort water slide in Arizona. The Sonoran Splash project also features private cabanas, and a zero-entry graduated deck area that is great for toddlers and young children.
For general information, call 800-767-3574 or visit www.fairmont.com.
The Boulders Gets the Midas Touch and Undergoes $16 Million Renovation
The Boulders unveiled its 33,000-square-foot Golden Door Spa, affiliated with the acclaimed Golden Door Spa in Escondido, CA, this November. The spa features East and West wings, 25 treatment spaces, a labyrinth/meditative maze, a 2,000-square-foot fitness center, and outdoor patios. The west wing is comprised of the check-in area, fitness center, and mind/body and movement studios overlooking the resort's signature boulder piles. The east wing has a more contemplative setting with meditation areas, treatment spaces (each with four choices of music), hydrotherapy, a full-service salon, locker rooms, a circular tea room, and an interior rock and sand garden.
In addition, the facility boasts an area dedicated to Watsu (an underwater treatment designed to bring partakers "back to the womb"); two Vichy treatment rooms (with heated, tiled floors and Swiss showers); one couples suite (with private whirlpool, terrace and outdoor fireplace); and one "Ultimate Spa Suite" (700 square-feet with private access, steam showers, private patio, dataport and television).
The Boulders also underwent a $16 million improvement project that will include expanding the golf club, and renovating two of the club's restaurants, the men's locker rooms, the main lobby and the lodge area. Refurbishment of the resort's 160 casitas included new upholstery, artwork and other appointments.
For general information, call 800-767-3574 or visit www.wyndham.com.
The Phoenician Completes First Phase of $25 Million Renovation
The Phoenician completed the first phase of a $25 million renovation project updating all of the property's main guestrooms and casitas. The guestroom and casita renovations include new flooring, wall and window coverings. New flat-screen televisions, CD-clock radios, and enlarged wall safes were also added to the guestrooms and casitas. The Phoenician will refurbish its luxury suites and villa accommodations as well as renovate the lobby lounge, Terrace Dining Room, and Windows on the Green restaurant in 2002.
For general information, call 800-767-3574 or visit www.thephoenician.com.
More Scottsdale Resorts Spruce up Their Facilities
Several other Scottsdale properties are undergoing changes. Below is a recap of some of the latest renovations and refurbishments:
• The Hermosa Inn is spending $100,000 to renovate its 35 guestrooms. Additions include CD players and artwork.
• Royal Palms is undergoing a $3 million improvement including guestroom renovations and upgrades to T.Cook's, the resort's signature restaurant. A patio, fireplace, fountain, in-floor heating system and new furniture will be part of the project at the restaurant.
• Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch is currently renovating its Conference, VIP, Fountain Court and Presidential suites. All of the interiors will be done in a subtle Southwest décor using Earth and desert tones. In addition, four in-room, full-speed Internet outlets as well as two additional outlets on their large balconies will be added to the Conference Suites. All renovations are scheduled for completion on September 2, 2001.
The Centre for Well-Being Promises Stress and Pain Relief with "Acussage" Treatment
The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician recently unveiled their newest exclusive treatment, "Acussage," which incorporates aspects of acupuncture with massage therapy. A multi-tiered therapy, "Acussage" provides a more powerful tool to combat stress and negative influences by revitalizing the mind and body on a muscular-skeletal, as well as energetic level.
The combination of traditional massage techniques and ancient Chinese therapy is the brainchild of Joan Mansky, The Centre's highly trained acupuncturist. Each session is personalized and includes a partial body massage performed either before or after the acupuncture session, providing stress relief. In addition to alleviating tension, acupuncture is ideal for travel-related disorders such as jetlag, headaches and digestive disorders and has been known to treat female ailments including PMS, infertility, menopause and hormonal imbalances. An 80-minute "Acussage" treatment is $195 and a 50-minute acupuncture treatment is $145.
For more information, call the Centre for Well Being at 480-941-8200, or visit www.thephoenician.com.
Swing into Spas
Recognized the world over as a premier resort and spa destination, Scottsdale spa treatments are finding themselves incorporating healing techniques specific to the golfer. Designed to enhance performance by getting the entire body and mind involved in the game, golf-oriented massages and treatments combine spa and sport to make any golf vacation complete.
The Phoenician, a five-star resort, marries golf and spa with their three-night "Ladies Links" package, a complete golf and spa experience designed for women. The package includes a full range of golf and spa-related activities and features deluxe accommodations, two one-hour golf lessons, a nine-hole playing lesson with resident golf pros, one 18-hole round of golf, two 50-minute personal training sessions with the resort's fitness experts, and a choice of three spa treatments from the Centre for Well-Being.
Package rates vary by season. Also at The Phoenician's Centre for Well Being is the Golf Power program for golfers looking to refine their game. Golf Power equips golfers of all abilities with the advanced tools to improve physical and mental power on the course through an exciting combination of golf and spa. The two-part program includes the Automated Sports Training And Research (ASTAR) digital golf analysis to examine the golfer's technical form, and a training session with an exercise therapist to target postural misalignment and imbalances affecting stance and swing.
The Sonoran Spa at The Boulders also offers a massage treatment aimed at improving and refining a golfer's game. The Golfer's Massage is designed to enhance performance on the course by targeting specific muscle groups, concentrating on the neck, shoulders, lower back and hamstrings. This massage is ideal for both pre-game conditioning and post-game soreness.
Great Golf
Prestigious Nicklaus/Flick Game Improvement Golf School Finds Home at TPC of Scottsdale
The Nicklaus/Flick Game Improvement golf school, historically operated at the private Desert Mountain golf courses, has moved to the public stadium course at the Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale. The Nicklaus/Flick experience was created in 1991 and is based on the Anti-Tension teaching and playing philosophy developed by Jack Nicklaus and Jim Flick. Winter programs are available from February through May for individuals or corporate groups.
Nicklaus/Flick Game Improvement offers a resort package that includes three-nights accommodation at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, three full days of personalized instruction on all facets of the game, swing videotape analysis in the Jack Nicklaus Coaching Studio™, daily greens and cart fees, unlimited range practice, golf equipment evaluation, special amenity gift package, and daily breakfast, lunch and refreshments.
For more information, call the TPC of Scottsdale at 800-767-3574 or visit www.tpc.com.
SunRidge Canyon Golf Club Unveils Plans for New Pavilion
SunRidge Canyon Golf Club is adding a 2,400-square-foot pavilion to allow for weddings, banquets, tournaments and other events. The pavilion will be an extension of the existing clubhouse, adjacent to the course's 18th hole overlooking the McDowell Mountains and a fifty mile vista of the Mazatzal Mountain Range. SunRidge Canyon Golf Club, designed by Keith Foster, was listed in GOLF MAGAZINE's "Top 100 Courses in the U.S."
For more information, call 800-767-3574 or visit www.sunridgecanyongolf.com.
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club Opens in December
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, scheduled to open December 2001, is a 7,225-yard, 18-hole golf course designed by Scott Miller. It is nestled in a natural desert setting within the boundaries of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, just 15 minutes east of Scottsdale. The golf club will include a 21,000-square-foot clubhouse with fully stocked golf shop, restaurant and expansive open patios. We-Ko-Pa is the Yavapai pronunciation for the Four Peaks Mountain, which is sacred to the Tribe.
Scottsdale CVB Partners with the Canadian Tour in 2002 for "The Scottsdale Swing"
The Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau will host two tournaments of the Canadian Tour's six-event American winter season. The Scottsdale tournaments have been dubbed "The Scottsdale Swing" with the first event taking place March 25 - 31, 2002, at McCormick Ranch Golf Club, and the second event following April 1 - 7, 2002, at The Golf Club at Eagle Mountain.
Four-round coverage of the Scottsdale events will be provided on The Golf Channel making up three hours of live tournament coverage each day and two and a half hours of prime time or late fringe replay coverage. Viewers will also be able to catch the last three rounds of competition in an encore presentation during the week following competition.
On the horizon
Scottsdale Culinary Institute Adds Second Campus
The Scottsdale Culinary Institute, a Le Cordon Bleu culinary program, has opened a second campus in Scottsdale Downtown at the former Scottsdale Galleria. SCI's new "Sky Bridge Campus" adds an additional 50,000 square feet to the institute. A new 80-seat demonstration kitchen outfitted for television is one of the main attractions on the new campus. The kitchen will be used for cooking classes, celebrity chef demonstrations, corporate functions and team building. Travelers to Scottsdale will also be able to participate in the institute's Culinary Enthusiasts Weekend programs for non- professionals. These one- and two-day educational workshops will offer hands-on and demonstration experiences in a variety of culinary arts. The new campus also features a full-service restaurant called "L'Academie Café," which focuses on a casual dining experience with an updated café ambience and features the cuisine of the French and Italian Riviera; and a gourmet coffee shop, "Bistro Bleu," serving handmade gelato and prepared foods to go.
For more information, call 480-990-3773 or 800-848-2433 or visit www.scichefs.com.
Scottsdale Sets Scene for Olympic Torch Relay
The Olympic Torch will travel through Scottsdale on January 13, 2002, en route to Salt Lake City, home of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Downtown Scottsdale will host a festive celebration in anticipation of the relay, which is expected to go through the heart of Scottsdale's art and shopping districts. The torch will be run from Atlanta to Salt Lake City in 65 days.
Scottsdale Gets a Taste of the Wild West with Buffalo Bill's Best
The Fleischer Museum will soon be featuring a treasure-trove of art, photographs, western memorabilia, firearms, paintings, sculpture, artifacts, clothing and decorative art from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming. The exhibit, scheduled to open in January, will feature more than one hundred items from some of the nations most famous Western artists including works by Charles Russell, Frederic Remington, Albert Bierstadt, George Catlin, James Earle Fraser and Alexander Phimister Proctor to name a few. Indian artifacts, including a Sioux war bonnet and beaded vests, a Southern Arapaho Ghost Dance shirt, Northern Plains dance shields, and Crow and Sioux papoose cradles, will also be on display. Items that were personal belongings to W.F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, including his jacket, Winchester, and saddle, will be available for viewing.
The Buffalo Bill Historical Center, located in Cody, Wyoming, features thousands of priceless treasures related to the art, history, ethnology and technology of the American West and attracts more than 250,000 visitors each year. The Fleischer Museum, which opened in 1990 as the first museum dedicated to the paintings of American Impressionism - California School, displays the private collection of Morton and Donna Fleischer and serves as a cultural and educational contribution to the city of Scottsdale.
The exhibit will be on display at the Fleischer Museum January 19 through April 30, 2002. Exhibit hours will be 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. seven days a week, excluding holidays. Admission is $5.00 for adults, children 18 and under are free. Group tours to the public are available by appointment.
For more information, call the Fleischer Museum at 480-585-3108.
Set to Open in 2003, Westin Kierland Resort & Spa Breaks Ground
Scottsdale will soon boast another world-class resort and spa with the 750-room Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. Located 10 miles north of downtown Scottsdale, the resort is part of a master-planned community, which already includes the 27-hole Kierland Golf Club, managed by Troon Golf of Scottsdale; and Kierland Commons, an upscale, outdoor retail and entertainment venue.
The resort will feature 60,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and more than 40,000 square feet of space outdoors with its patios, courtyards and garden alcoves. The centerpiece of its convention facilities is a 25,000-square-foot ballroom and 21 breakout rooms. Meeting amenities include high-speed Internet access, video conferencing capabilities, satellite and T-1 line capabilities.
A 15,000-square-foot spa with 22 treatment rooms and complete fitness center will also be available for guests. Rounding out the luxury resort will be three swimming pools, eight restaurants and lounges, and 27 holes of championship golf. All guestrooms will feature Westin's trademarked Heavenly Beds, high speed internet access, dual-line speakerphones, oversized desks, and scenic views of the golf course and the surrounding McDowell Mountains. The new property is accepting reservations for the first quarter of 2003.
For general information, call 480-624-1000 or visit www.westin.com.
Historic Airplane Museum Coming to Scottsdale in 2003
The Arizona Aerospace Foundation is partnering with the City of Scottsdale to bring an aircraft museum to the Scottsdale Airpark. The museum will display 25 historic aircraft including rare World War I and Korean War planes and will feature profiles of the American fighter "Aces" living in Scottsdale. A detailed exhibit about the Scottsdale Airport, which opened in 1942 as an original Army Air Corps training base called the Thunderbird II, will also be on site at the museum.
When complete, this will be the third aircraft museum in Arizona operated by the aerospace foundation. Outreach programs including veteran speakers, children's activities and possibly a space camp have been discussed as part of the museum.
For more information, contact Scott Gray, aviation director, at 480-312-7735.
Spire to Honor Frank Lloyd Wright
A 125-foot-hight, illuminated spire will be built in Scottsdale to honor the late architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright designed the blue steel and lattice spire, inspired by north Scottsdale's surroundings, in 1957 as part of a never-built state Capitol project. The spire will be completed in 2003.
Industry News
Scottsdale CVB Celebrates New Era as Independent Tourism Authority
The Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau announced its separation from the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce after being a division of that organization for 54 years. Effective July 1, the Scottsdale CVB became an independent 501 (c) (6) not-for-profit corporation as designated by the Arizona Corporation Commission. Rachel Sacco, who has served as the bureau's executive vice president for the past 15 years, will continue her leadership of the organization as president and CEO.
Air Canada Announces Daily Non-stop Service from Calgary & Vancouver
Air Canada will be introducing daily non-stop service from Calgary-Phoenix and Vancouver-Phoenix beginning October 29, 2001. This is the first time Air Canada has gone into the Southwest from Western Canada. It also marks the first time there will be non-stop scheduled service out of Calgary. This new service will help boost arrivals from Alberta, which used to be the number one generating province for Arizona.
Discover Scottsdale with Free Destination Guide
The new 2001/02 Discover Scottsdale destination guide, the official visitors guide of the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, has arrived and is free for travelers and meeting professionals looking to plan memorable visits to the American Southwest.
This year's guide expands on the award-winning design of earlier Scottsdale destination guides and includes several exciting features including magazine-style articles on Scottsdale golf and cultural heritage, profiles of local celebrities, eight feature sections with tab dividers, articles on Scottsdale's public art and the Sonoran Desert, and sample itineraries.
This comprehensive travel resource includes detailed listings of Scottsdale area hotels and resorts, golf courses, spas, shops and retail centers, restaurants, activities and adventures. Not to be missed is the Events & Experiences section that informs travelers about Scottsdale's year-round festivities and includes several themed travel itineraries that visitors can use as a guide when planning their visit.
To receive a free copy of the Discover Scottsdale destination guide and begin planning your visit to Scottsdale, contact the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-805-0471 or 480-945-8481 or request a guide on-line at www.scottsdalecvb.com.
The new, 40-page, four-color Golf Scottsdale guide produced by the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau will be available in December. This publication will showcase Scottsdale's premier golf product, highlighting Scottsdale area, daily fee, semi-private and short courses. In addition, information is provided for Scottsdale area private courses and golf schools, as well as other valley daily fee courses. A photo, along with course information and statistics are provided for each course.
For more information, please contact Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau Public Relations Manager Laura McMurchie at 480-429-2253 or via e-mail at lmcmurchie@scottsdalecvb.com. You can also call the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-805-0471 or visit the website at www.scottsdalecvb.com.
January 2, 2002