Phoenix Arizona meetings and conventions

Phoenix, Arizona a great place for meetings and conventions!

Phoenix Arizona a place for meetings and conventions. I am a Corporate Convention Photographer and love covering meetings, traveling and photographing people having a great time. Also the awesome clients I have been lucky to be with for many years.

How do I start this blog? There are so many places in the country but I can say that Phoenix Arizona is in the top 10 for meetings and conventions.

Downtown Phoenix is where meetings and conventions come together.

Close the airport and easy to get downtown, is the Phoenix Convention Center.

My first meeting in Phoenix was mid 1990’s. The group was TCAA (Truck Cap & Accessory Association). Phoenix Convention Center was not what it is today. Mike Dwyer, CAE (hired me to be the official convention photographer for this association), he is now Chief Executive Relationship Officer for Association Headquarters, and serves on the AH Office of the President and a partner of Association Headquarters.

Phoenix Convention Center meeting space breakdown.

The total space is 900,000 sq ft, Exhibit hall floor offers 502,500 sq ft and breakout/meeting space is 150,000 sq ft. I do have to mention the ballroom, with 45,000 sq ft., you can easily pack any large event or dinner. This a great place that Phoenix has for meetings and conventions.

My last job was in January 2020 for Vision Source. I was providing headshots for a 3-day meeting. What I liked about this location is the walking distance to just about anything you need.

Hyatt Regency was the my hotel while on assignment, which is across the street from the convention center. You can easily walk to the Arizona Center Shops and entertainment can be found at CityScape that is about two blocks from the Hyatt hotel. If you are like me and like to eat healthy you are in luck. A new Fry’s Food full-service grocery store which is just a couple blocks from the Phoenix convention center opened when I was there. Also, there are so many places to eat that are close by.

Sporting Event Venues nearby

Chase Field home of the Arizona Diamond backs is always a favorite place and the Phoenix Suns Arena home of the Phoenix Suns, also is just a short walk from the Phoenix convention center. MLB spring training camps in Phoenix, no pun intended, is a home run for any group that wants to take their members to watch a baseball game.

JW MARRIOTT PHOENIX DESERT RIDGE RESORT & SPA

The drive from the airport is a nice scenic ride and well worth the time.

A luxury experience that makes this a AAA 4-Diamond JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona is a place for meetings and conventions.

7×24 Exchange is a great group to be associated with and Brandon Dolci, CMP Senior Director of Conferences has been hiring me since the early 2000’s to travel the nation with his them and other groups he manages.

Over the years, the resort has upgraded areas and that always improves and delight the guests. A google search said this resort offers about 212,500 sq ft of meeting space and with 950 hotel rooms, five pools, a river, a spa and two championship golf courses, (I have played the courses and they are always in the best shape and beautiful desert views.)

There is plenty of walking and jogging areas that the resort has mapped out. The Desert Ridge Marketplace has shops and restaurants. A 5-minute car ride or take the resort shuttle that leaves every hour. Check the hotel for specific times. If you like to walk, it is about 20-minutes. Great exercise in the dry desert air.

ARIZONA BILTMORE, A WALDORF ASTORIA RESORT, MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS THAT HAVE HISTORY.

Facts and history of this amazing place.

Another great hotel and resort to have meetings. Their meeting space offers 200,000 sq ft. The golf course is always in top shape. Great restaurants like Frank & Albert’s, Wrights at the Biltmore, and The Wright Bar.

If you are like me and like to explore there are some great art galleries nearby and Biltmore Fashion Park with many stores to choose from.

Opened in 1929 and the consulting architect was Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Biltmore was erected entirely of “Biltmore Rock” which is a textile block first used by Frank Lloyd Wright to build private homes.

Just a bit of trivia on the mansion. We all have had Wrigley gum to chew on at one time or another. Did you know that Chicago chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr became the sole owner of the Biltmore in 1930?

He built this mansion at a cost of $1.2 million back in 1929. That would cost $18,356,631.56. I googled this to be sure but that is a lot of money and the depression just started. That is a lot of gum to sell. He wanted a winter home because he was the majority owner of the Chicago Cubs, so he wanted a place of his own. In 1930 he then purchased the Biltmore.

The Arizona Biltmore currently has gone under some great renovation and slated to open in Spring 2021. They will reopen with a new pool and waterslide and renovated the spa and fitness center.

If you get a chance to visit Phoenix stop by these places, get a drink, or just walk around. It is worth your time to see what you can offer your groups. There are many other places I have stayed in Phoenix but want to just write about a few and hopefully not bore you too much.

Meetings will come back this year and even stronger the following. I wrote a blog on this if you care to read it, click here.

Phoenix Arizona ia a place for meetings and conventions and if you are looking for a Convention or Corporate Event Photographer for you meeting, conference or convention, I hope you can consider my services. I love what I do and will always go above and beyond to capture the images for you. If you are planning a meeting I would love the chance to earn your business. You can send your RFP here.

Any thoughts please feel free to comment.