from Executive Chef Beau MacMillan — an Iron Chef America winner and Food Network star. The next morning, the 493-room

Under a Desert Sky Far left, Sanctuary Camelback Moun- tain resort; left, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch.

Marriott at McDowell Mountains, which overlooks the 36-hole TPC Scottsdale Championship Course, our group spent an hour meeting with dozens of area venues, hotels, DMCs, and local recreational/entertainment companies in a trade-show–style event hosted by the Scottsdale CVB. Planner participants earned a stamp for every vendor they spoke with, and at the end of the event received a prize for their fully stamped card.

The highlight of the second day

for many of us was Los Cedros USA, a horse-training facility on the grounds of a lavishly decorated Moroccan citadel. From the tranquil courtyards, ornate interiors, and stunning resi- dents — a range of breeds from Arabian to Palomino — to the friendly and knowledgeable host, general manager Dawn Green, our group was truly capti- vated by the facility from start to finish. And a healthy, Moroccan-themed lunch

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from A and M Catering left us feeling refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the day. Before our afternoon break, we stopped off at the Four Sea- sons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, where guests stay in adobe casitas nestled into the side of Pinnacle Peak and event spaces come with bird’s-eye views of the McDowell mountains. That evening, at the Spanish-style

Montelucia Resort & Spa, our group got a first-hand look at a corporate event enjoying a reception on the property’s 74,000 square feet of out- door event space. The hotel’s terraces, patios, multiple lawns, and plazas all take advantage of the sunny climate (Scottsdale has 330 days of sunshine annually) as well as the close-up views of Camelback Mountain. For dinner, we ventured up to the impeccable Sanctu- ary Camelback Mountain resort, an AAA Four-Diamond property famous for its panoramic views and exquisite cuisine

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch offered a perfect example of the preeminent Scottsdale resort experience — expansive lobbies and public spaces that open up to grand views of the adjacent mountains or golf course, and a sprawling collection of on-site amenities and activities. But Scottsdale also has its share of proper- ties ideal for associations with strict schedules or government groups on a budget, such as the Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center and DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Paradise Valley, which come without resort fees or have loca- tions convenient to downtown. Next in Old Town Scottsdale at FireSky Resort & Spa, A Scottsdale Hotel, our group oohed and aahed over the inviting Jurlique Spa, and oohed and aahed even more over lunch — fea- turing a custom salad bar and gelato bar. Creative F&B continued to be the day’s theme at the opulent Phoenician, Scott- sdale’s only AAA Five-Diamond resort, where an around-the-world–themed reception included Chinese takeout and Mexican food stations. That afternoon and evening, as our group enjoyed a margarita-making class at the new Saguaro Scottsdale, a champagne-and-painting class at The Art of Merlot in Old Town Scottsdale, and a comfort-food–inspired dinner on the tiki-lit rooftop of Hotel Valley Ho, we discovered a whole other side of the Scottsdale hotel scene, one with a campy, 50s-style vibe that defines retro chic. It’s just another reason why Scott- sdale is, and always will be, the popular kid at school.

. —Jennifer N. Dienst

For more information: experiencescottsdale .com.

AUGUST 2013 PCMA CONVENE 27