Blessed with a wealth of natural beauty and plenty of activities, Phoenix is among the most popular places for global meetings. While Arizona is widely known for the iconic Grand Canyon National Park – which is no doubt impressive and well worth seeing – the state capital offers much more to see and do beyond its proximity to the world-famous site.
The Phoenix Biomedical Campus is one example of the area’s lesser-known highlights. This medical and bio-science campus is home to over a dozen state-of-the-art research facilities and provides more than six million square feet of academic and clinical space. And don’t worry, there are plenty of recreational and cultural activities to enjoy, as well! Your attendees can immerse themselves in the beauty of the Desert Botanical Garden or the charm of historical Victorian Village.
| CLIMATE AND SEASONS IN NASHVILLE, TN | |
| The most comfortable times of the year to visit Phoenix, fall and spring, also happen to be the busiest times of the year for the same reason. While your attendees will encounter more tourists during these two seasons, the good news is, there are plenty of wide-open natural spaces to accommodate everyone.
Why visit Phoenix, Arizona? Phoenix offers a rare combination of year-round sunshine and warm temperatures with low humidity. Thanks to the arid desert climate, even 90-degree temperatures feel more pleasant than they do in more humid parts of the U.S. The ideal weather conditions are punctuated by canyons and deserts painted in vibrant hues of red, orange and green. Activities are available in a large variety of settings, from the soaring great outdoors to high-end spas. |
Average Temperature: 80℉ Seasonal Temperatures:
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MORE TO LEARN AND EXPLORE
A scenic day trip to Grand Canyon National Park can include adventures, views and experiences along the way, making it well worth the four-hour drive. In addition to the legendary Grand Canyon, standout activities in this intriguing locale include the following:
Phoenix Art Museum
Holding the distinction of the largest art museum in the entire southwestern U.S., the Phoenix Art Museum boasts a staggering collection of over 20,000 artifacts. Many of these pieces were sourced in other countries, giving this world-class museum an international flair.
Desert Botanical Gardens
Prepare to have your mind blown when you learn this little gem: Flowers and trees do indeed bloom, grow and thrive in Arizona. Visitors can get an up-close-and-personal look at not only local species, but also those found in other parts of the world, at the Desert Botanical Garden. The popularity of this attraction is little wonder, with its vast network of hiking trails that feature highlights like desert wildflowers and Sonoran Desert red buttes. You can also book events like a culinary demonstration that help build and strengthen the bonds between your attendees.
Arizona Capitol Museum
The political history of Arizona has some interesting anecdotes, and the Arizona Capitol Museum is the perfect place to learn about them. Appropriately housed in the state capitol building, this attraction places your attendees in the heart of the historical action, figuratively speaking.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Give your group the best bird’s eye view of Phoenix by sending them on a hot air balloon ride. They’ll get an unparalleled viewpoint of stunning desert vistas for miles upon miles as the balloon slowly floats upwards.
Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Located a convenient 15-minute drive outside of the city center, Phoenix Mountains Preserve neatly accommodates any itinerary. Here, on the winding network of trails, your attendees can explore a quintessential desert environment complete with the requisite cacti and mountains. Even desert rookies can easily find their way around the preserve, thanks to the plentitude of markers and signposts that adorn the site.
World-Class Golf Courses
You could say that the Arizona Biltmore golf course is sprinkled with stardust. Hollywood luminaries and U.S. Presidents alike have teed off on its hallowed grounds. It is no wonder when you consider the sweeping view of the downtown Phoenix skyline players get from the 15th hole of the Links course. As if that was not compelling enough, the impressive mansion of Arizona Biltmore’s creator, William Wrigley Jr., is just up the street.
Accented by the copper tones of soaring rock formations, The Boulders golf course is appropriately named. This ultra-challenging site won the GOLF Magazine Gold Medal Award for its notable layout and boasts scenery that anyone can appreciate.
Blackstone Country Club is not only a Golf Digest award winner, but it is also surrounded by the stunning Sonoran Desert. As a result, golfers get to play against the backdrop of mountain vistas, among striking scenery that includes black volcanic rock.
Thrilling Jeep Excursions
Sedona, just a two-hour drive from Phoenix, offers exhilarating jeep excursions that are ideal for participants of all athletic levels. These tours provide a unique way to explore the stunning Coconino National Forest and witness Sedona’s famous red rock formations up close. Participants can expect an adrenaline rush as skilled drivers navigate challenging trails, climbing over rocks and traversing rugged terrain. These excursions combine the thrill of off-road adventure with breathtaking scenery, making them a popular choice for visitors seeking both natural beauty and excitement in the Arizona landscape.
Horseback Trail Adventures
If you want to give attendees the unforgettable experience of riding a horse with the Phoenix valley below them and the mountains in the distance, a horseback trail ride is an excellent activity. The Phoenix area offers numerous opportunities for guided horseback rides suitable for both beginners and experienced riders. These tours typically wind through scenic desert landscapes, offering panoramic views of the Sonoran Desert and surrounding mountain ranges. Many outfitters provide tours of varying lengths, from short one-hour rides to half-day adventures, making it easy to accommodate different group sizes and preferences. Riders often learn about the local flora, fauna, and history of the area from knowledgeable guides, adding an educational component to the experience. Some tours may even include Western-themed photo opportunities or sunset rides for a truly memorable outing.
Tubing the Salt River
Feeding into area lakes and supplying the drinking water for Greater Phoenix, the Salt River is an icon in more ways than one. The most popular segment of the river, which flows through the Tonto National Forest in Mesa, is often frequented by tubers. Arizona’s Salt River Tubing and Recreation offers tubes to rent, along with a shuttle that will drop off and pick up tubers. Your attendees can stop at one of several recreation sites along the way to relax. Many people bring coolers packed with snacks and drinks, and mobile forms of entertainment such as waterproof speakers.
Major League Baseball Spring Training
If your attendees are visiting Phoenix in the months of February and March, you might consider treating them to a special experience: Cactus League spring training. No less than 15 Major League baseball teams play each other at ballparks around the Greater Phoenix area. The season runs from February 22 to March 26.
Hiking Camelback Mountain
With a name inspired by its similarity in appearance to the head and back of a kneeling camel, this summit has become a favorite among visitors to ascend. Rising 1,420 feet high, the finale of the Camelback Mountain trek gives hikers a bird’s eye view of downtown Phoenix. Along the way, they may see wildlife such as cottontail rabbits, Chuckwalla lizards and desert tortoises. Both of the trails winding up the mountain are rated as difficult, so if some of your attendees prefer to take a pass, they can unwind at one of the restaurants that offer views of the mountains from the ground.
Playing Pickleball
A sport that has grown exponentially in popularity in recent years also happens to be an athletic endeavor that people at most physical fitness levels and ages can do. Pickleball might resemble tennis in some ways, but it is much less exhaustive and easier for beginners to learn. Two to four players share a court that is small compared to tennis. And the year-round warm climate found in Arizona offers the perfect setting for a rousing game of pickleball during any season, except for the hottest summer days. The popularity of pickleball has been the driving force behind the opening of numerous recreation complexes featuring multiple courts, often accompanied by dining and refreshment options for players to enjoy after a spirited game.
MAKE YOUR MEETING MEMORABLE
The mountain vistas and deserts surrounding Phoenix are perfect for holding team building exercises like scavenger hunts and rock climbing – the latter overseen by experts to ensure safety. The city proper offers a wide range of dining options for your group to break bread and make cocktail toasts together. Highly rated, standout restaurants include Confluence, Andreoli Italian Grocer and Christopher’s at the Wrigley Mansion. Strolling the streets of the charming Victorian Village is another excellent way to encourage bonding among group members. Featuring 12 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 19th century buildings in Victorian Village give your travelers the chance to learn about structures that have stood for centuries.
WHY IS PHOENIX APPEALING FOR A MEETING?
Holding a meeting in Phoenix gives you access to first-class lodging, unique meeting spaces, many amenities and no shortage of activities. Whether the meeting is held over several crisp fall days or as flowers are beginning to bloom in the spring, there are plenty of year-round and seasonal things to see and do.
Help make your meeting in Phoenix a success by checking the following items off your to-do list:
- Before arriving, check the status of where you are headed to get the latest updates and news on the region. This will help create a harmonious trip for attendees and allow you to enact a backup plan if necessary.
- For all-day outings where dining may require catered food, consider providing attendees with box lunches or collaborating with local vendors to deliver food on the day of arrival and at certain points throughout the trip. In addition, packing necessary items such as extra water bottles, food/snacks, bug spray and a first aid kit is always a good move.
- Share information with attendees about expected weather conditions in the area during the time of the trip. They will also appreciate getting a list of suggested types of clothing that is appropriate for the climate, and recommendations about the type of shoes they should pack for activities.
- It is essential to respect animal habitats, public lands and waters, as well as Native and local communities, while spending time in the area. You may want to share a list of helpful tips with attendees that they can easily refer to if they need the information.
- Let attendees know that they can set themselves up for a fun, relaxing and productive trip by following safety precautions such as staying on clearly marked trails and obeying signs that prohibit fishing, swimming and feeding wildlife.
What are your meeting objectives? Some examples:
- Many company retreats are designed to improve productivity and “refocus” employees’ efforts. Arizona is an ideal place to break away from the confines of the office – whether shared or at home – and allows employees to socialize with people beyond their own departments. This can be extremely helpful for meetings where fresh ideas, new perspectives and/or networking are desired for high-priority initiatives.
- Hosting leadership retreats is a great fit here, as the area has many high-end hotels and spas where leadership can recharge, unwind and get pampered like VIPs.
- Incentive travel and meetings offer value to companies, key stakeholders and top performers. Phoenix offers unique, memorable experiences and an outstanding destination for exchanging information that improves growth, facilitates problem solving and engages change-makers.
Phoenix seems almost too good to be true as a meeting destination. Its noteworthy combination of natural scenery and outdoor activities, indoor venues well suited to meetings and large variety of activities provide a fascinating and appealing backdrop for any group gathering.
Do you need help planning a corporate meeting or incentive travel reward to Phoenix? Contact Gavel International for more information.
This article was last updated on April 3, 2025
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