5 Scottsdale Resorts Undergo Extensive Renovations

Five Scottsdale resorts have a new look: the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas, and Embassy Suites by Hilton have all recently completed—or are in the final stages of—major renovations that include new décor and in some cases new restaurants, swimming pools, and guest rooms.

 

Check out the changes at these popular Scottsdale properties:

 

 

One of only five hotels in Arizona to have a five-diamond rating from AAA, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has spent $60 million in upgrades since 2007. The latest phase, which will be completed by May 2016, adds 102 new guest rooms (for a total of 750 guest rooms), a new pool with a swim-up bar, a sand beach around the new pool, and a lawn for outdoor activities nearby. The resort is also adding an authentic 1880s Western town that will be available for private parties and events. New guest rooms will be available for booking by July 1, 2016.

 

 

The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch recently underwent a $10 million renovation that included opening two new restaurants and a bar, more than doubling the main pool, adding additional meeting and event space, and enhancing guest rooms with new bedding, carpeting, and color schemes. Even if you don’t stay at the resort, you’ll want to check out its flagship restaurant, Kitchen West, headed by Chef Rick Dupere. The seasonally-driven menu will feature a modern take on western American fare. Or, stop by for cocktails at Bar Six40. Named for the number of acres that city founder Winfield Scott purchased in 1888, the bar will offer premium craft beers, wines on tap, and small bites from Kitchen West.

 

 

Opened in 1956, the Hotel Valley Ho was a playground for Hollywood’s elite (Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood hosted their wedding reception here in 1957) until it fell into disrepair. After a major overhaul to restore it to its original glory, it reopened in December 2005. To celebrate the 10^th anniversary of its reopening, the swank hotel invested $4 million in renovations, including 49-inch HD TVs in the rooms and new décor and upgraded furnishings in the hotel lobby and in ZuZu Lounge.

 

Also worth noting: the spa is currently offering a 90-minute spa treatment, originally priced at $185, for $90 as an anniversary promotion.

 

 

The Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas recently completed a $5 million “refresh” that enhanced the already renovated guest rooms and updated the Villas with new carpeting, window treatments, and seating. Additionally, retractable glass doors have replaced the lobby’s glass windows, and the ballrooms have new carpet. Perhaps the most noticeable changes, though, are to the BlueFire Grille, which is now three times its former size and has a new executive chef, Patrick Doyle, the former executive chef at the Arizona Biltmore. Look for new entrees and cocktails on the menu.

 

 

Formerly Chaparral Suites, this resort is undergoing the largest current renovation in the city. Hilton has spent roughly $22 million, to transform the downtown hotel into an Embassy Suites by Hilton. The 15-acre property will feature a mural of Camelback Mountain, 312 updated guest suites, updated pools, and 60,000 square feet of updated meeting space. Watch for the hotel to reopen around the Fourth of July, with plans to take reservations for July 6 and beyond.

 

Scottsdale's world-renowned resorts are a huge factor when it comes to attracting tourists and future residents. These updates are sure to continue drawing in crowds from all over the world, and I know we'll be trying the new restaurants, too!