Phoenix and Scottsdale heat up for summer travel

Family-friendly: The Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale

By Mark Chesnut

Whether it’s seasoned road warriors, groups of conventioneers or vacationing families with children, the cities of Phoenix and Scottsdale are well versed in serving the diverse needs of a variety of people. And this summer, new options abound for anyone looking to mix family travel with business travel.

Bring the kids
Luxury hotels are among the best at catering to business travelers who might be bringing along extra family members this summer.  Families staying at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, for example, can make use of the Kids for All Seasons program, which operates daily and is free for children ages 5-12.

At the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, fireworks light up the sky every Saturday night throughout the summer. In addition, children ages five through 12 may sign up for Bobcat Billy’s Clubhouse, the hotel’s children’s program. Teenagers age 13-17 will likely prefer the hotel’s Teen Hang-Out room.

Of course, adults won’t feel neglected during their visit. This summer, the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain launched a new dinner and live music series at its Elements restaurant, featuring a rotating roster of musicians every Friday night. Through Aug. 27, the hotel is also hosting a “Lunch & Learn” series that brings guests together with wine makers and celebrity chefs.

New venues
Meeting and event planners will find several new options in Phoenix and Scottsdale. New at The Phoenician is the Camelback Ballroom Complex, which opened last year with 45,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Scottsdale’s newest independent event venue is The Clayton on the Park, which accommodates up to 400 people. The Venue Scottsdale, meanwhile, is getting a half-million-dollar renovation this summer.

Related resources

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Mark Chesnut is a travel writer, editor and publisher of LatinFlyer.com, which focuses on business and leisure travel to Latin America.

Tagged: Family time, Hotels