Why here?
This Southwest city is well-known for its desert beauty, but it's also home to a rich urban culture that treasures art, downtown festivals and a renowned culinary scene. A wealth of golf facilities, top-notch spas, and superb meeting and incentive properties add to Tucson's overall allure.
NEWS FLASH
The Embassy Suites by Hilton Tucson--Paloma Village has completed a renovation of all 120 guest rooms and public spaces. The property offers 2,700 square feet of meeting and event space, a business center, a fitness center and complimentary breakfast.
Beginning February 18, American Airlines will introduce daily nonstop service between Tucson International Airport and Charlotte (N.C.) Douglas International Airport.
EVENT-FULL
In recognition of the 40-plus annual events (including the Tucson Jazz Festival) hosted by Tucson, the city was named a "World Festival & Event City" by the International Festivals & Events Association in 2017.
ART HOUSE
The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block has unveiled a recent renovation. The updated space will be used to show more of the museum's 9,000-piece permanent collection, including the Art of the American West collection. Private events are accommodated in two spaces: the Corbett House (for up to 60 guests) and the Lobby/Plaza, which can host up to 250 people.
TUCSON
Local Update
• City Park, a retail-restaurant-office complex under development in Tucson's downtown district, is slated to open in mid-2018. The complex will house a food hall; an entertainment venue with a bowling alley, a pinball arcade, a bar and private event space; and a 2,600-square-foot deck for outdoor gatherings.
• A 125-room hotel will built at the Tucson Convention Center. Caliber Development will serve as development manager and design/builder for the property; groundbreaking will take place in late 2018.
• The 136-room AC Hotel Tucson Downtown is the first new hotel to open in downtown Tucson in more than 40 years. The property includes four meeting and event rooms, a rooftop pool and poolside bar, a restaurant and a fitness center.
• The Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort has completed a multimillion-dollar facelift of its 428 guest rooms and public spaces. Among the improvements are the redesign of the main Desert Springs Oasis pool, which is now outfitted with cabanas, a larger deck with additional sunning areas, and several outdoor fire pits. The property has approximately 100,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space, including an 11,000-square-foot, IACC-approved executive conference center.
• Rancho de la Osa, a historic ranch that includes 19 guest rooms and a vintage Spanish hacienda, reopened last year following a restoration project. The property is one of the oldest in the state, dating from the 1700s.
• Topgolf has come to Tucson: The 53,000-square-foot golf/entertainment venue provides 1,500 square feet of private event space and 72 climate-controlled hitting bays that can host up to six players each at a time, along with a restaurant and a bar.
Meeting Hotels: Properties include the 610-room JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, 487-room Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, 428-room Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort and 398-room Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.
To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit mcvenues.com.
Convention Center: Tucson Convention Center; exhibit space, 148,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, eight; (520) 791-4101
Airport Transit: Tucson International Airport, about eight miles south of downtown. Transfer cost by taxi, approximately $25
Taxes: Hotels within Tucson city limits: room tax, 12.05%; sales tax, 9.1%; total tax on hotel rooms, 12.05% plus a $4 per night surcharge (recently increased from $2). Hotels outside Tucson city limits, but within Pima County: room tax, 12.05%; total tax on hotel rooms, 12.05%
Contact: Visit Tucson, (800) 638-8350