Culinary
ZuZu, Hotel Valley Ho’s signature restaurant, completes renovation and menu revamp
ZuZu, the restaurant located inside Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, completes mid-century and contemporary modern renovation and menu revamp. The restaurant centers on The Kitchen Table, an action station where the chef will cook tableside every evening, with live demos to the entire restaurant. During weekends, the station transforms into a seafood display to complement the restaurant’s bloody mary and mimosa bar. The new menu focuses on small, shareable plates featuring ingredients from the property’s brand-new, 240-square-foot herb and vegetable garden. Guests looking for a unique dining experience, have the option to let the chef curate a hand-selected coursed meal for the table at $75 per person. The restaurant’s famous “Show Stopper” Shake, now has the option to be spiked from a selection of spirits to create an adults-only dessert. A new wine room, known as The Vine Vault, houses wine from around the world and a new hidden private dining room called The Rosie Room, will be available for guests to reserve in advance.
PR Contact: Kelly Fausel
Phone: (619) 255-7069
Email: Hvh@jpublicrelations.com
Century Grand, the new bar concept by Barter & Shake Creative Hospitality, opens in Phoenix
Century Grand, part of Barter & Shake Creative Hospitality, is now open. The bar is comprised of three 20th-century inspired concepts: The Century Grand, Platform 18, and the Grey Hen Saloon. The Century Grand is the main bar and restaurant serving wine by the cart and dim sum style food. Platform 18 is an immersive cocktail bar set inside of a railroad car completed with sound effects and TV screens as windows that show the train traveling through the snowy, Colorado Mountains. The Grey Hen Saloon is an in-bar tasting room and store that sells alcohol and cocktail tools. Reservations are highly recommended to avoid long waits.
PR Contact: Barter & Shake Creative Hospitality
Email: Media@bartershake.com
Attractions
Plans unveiled for International Dark Sky Discovery Center in Fountain Hills
An $18 million, multi-functional, non-profit International Dark Sky Discovery Center (IDSDC) is planned to open towards the end of 2021 in Fountain Hills, Arizona. The 15,000-square-foot facility will feature four distinct educational attractions: A Dark Sky Observatory, a Hyperspace Planetarium, an Inspiration Theater, and an Immersion Zone filled with interactive exhibits and a featured dark sky immersion experience. In addition to being a regional attraction, the IDSDC plans to fulfill its mission with science-based education and experiences that will support STEM educational programs and foster partnerships with Arizona State University and area community colleges and high schools.
PR Contact: Joe Bill
Phone: (480) 200-8289
Email: Joebill@darkskycenter.org
Flight Service
United Express announces additional non-stop flight from Prescott to Denver, Colorado
Operated by SkyWest Airlines, United Express has added an additional daily, roundtrip non-stop flight between Denver and Prescott. The additional flight will operate on a 50-seat CRJ200 regional jet from March through June 2020, and resume again from Oct. 2020 through June 2021. The summer pause in the second flight schedule is due to Prescott Regional Airport’s shorter runway length coupled with midday summer heat, which necessitates aircraft weight restrictions.
PR Contact: City of Prescott
Phone: (928) 777-1362
Email: Communications@prescott-az.gov
Hotel News
Alvadora Spa at Royal Palms in Phoenix introduces new redesign and on-site herbalist
Alvadora Spa at Royal Palms Resort and Spa in Phoenix underwent a complete interior design refresh and introduced an in-house herbalist. The Mediterranean-inspired redesign of the 11,000 square-foot, two-story spa includes new furnishings, cabinets, stylish accents, art pieces, draperies, decorative tiles, and plush seating areas. Alvadora’s new botanical program and on-site apothecary, led by herbalist Rachel Sloat, will utilize plants, herbs, flowers, roots, berries and citrus foraged locally as well as sourced from the Mediterranean. The program will begin with two new body treatments, Coconut Milk & Honey Wrap (50 minutes, $175) and Olive Stone Scrub & Wrap (80 minutes, $240), and will later expand into teas, extracts, masks, exfoliates and oils.
PR Contact: Jan Bracamonte
Phone: (480) 540-3842
Email: Jan@jlaurenpr.com
Ambiente, North America’s first landscape hotel coming soon to Sedona
North America’s first landscape hotel is set to open in late 2020 in Sedona. Ambiente, a landscape hotel is uniquely designed to blend in with the surrounding geological setting and gives guests the opportunity to experience and embrace the natural beauty that surrounds them. The Landscape Hotel is comprised of 40 cubed-shaped, guest Atriums that are elevated above the ground by steel piers and constructed using floor-to-ceiling, bronze-tinted glass and matte-charcoal and rusted metal. Ambiente is designed and built with a deep respect for the environment with a focus on sustainable methods and organic, modern architecture that complements the surrounding topography and minimizes the impact on the land. The property is owned and managed by the Sedona family-owned company, Two Sister Bosses.
PR Contact: Kegn Moorcroft
Phone: (928) 204-1064
Email: Kmoorcroft@sedonachamber.com
Accolades
City of Mesa named first Autism-certified U.S. travel destination
On Nov. 18, 2019, the City of Mesa was named the first autism-certified travel destination in the United States. More than 60 visitor-related businesses and organizations in Mesa are IBCCES certified and offer tailored experiences for individuals with autism and their families.
PR Contact: Michelle Streeter
Phone: (480) 682-3638
Email: Michelle@visitmesa.com
The Hermosa Inn named Best Boutique Property in the Southwest by Northstar Meetings Group
Located in Paradise Valley, The Hermosa Inn has been named Best Boutique Property in the Southwest Region in the 3rd Annual Stella Awards from Northstar Meetings Group. The Stella Award is the finest symbol of excellence for suppliers around the globe in the meetings industry. Winners include the best hotels, convention centers, conference centers, convention and visitor bureaus, destination marketing organizations, destination management companies, airlines and cruise lines.
PR Contact: Keely Ast
Phone: (480) 220-1061
Email: Keeley.ast@gmail.com
General
Arizona Outback Adventures acquired by the REI Co-op
Earlier this year, local outdoor bike rental and tour company, Arizona Outback Adventure (AOA) was acquired by REI Co-op. As part of the transition, the company will retire the AOA brand and become part of the greater REI Co-op Experiences team. REI continues to offer adventure travel programs, in-store classes, outdoor events, and a new nationwide gear rental program. These experiences pair perfectly with AOA single day guided tours, classes and events, performance bike rentals, and multi-day trips.
PR Contact: Arizona Outback Adventures
Phone: (866) 455-1601
Email: Info@aoa-adventures.com
New camping cabins at Lake Havasu State Park
Lake Havasu State Park announced the completion of 13 new camping cabins along the shore of the Colorado River. The newly-built cabins provide a queen bed with mattress and two pairs of bunk beds with mattresses. Guests supply their own linens or sleeping bags. Each cabin features solar cooling and heating, an outdoor fire pit and picnic table. Four of the cabins are ADA-compliant, as are new nearby restrooms which also include an adult changing station. AZ State Parks are now taking cabin reservations for stays after Dec. 1, 2019.
PR Contact: Michelle Thompson
Phone: (602) 542-1996
Email: Pio@azstateparks.gov
Centennial Celebrations in 2019
Grand Canyon Centennial, Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon celebrates 100 years of its designation as a national park. The Centennial year will feature virtual and in-park events throughout 2019 at the South Rim, North Rim, Desert View, Inner Canyon, and surrounding gateway communities.
Watch it here: Senate (starts at 11 min 35 sec mark) -http://azleg.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=22237&autostart=0
Read it here: https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/54leg/1R/bills/SR1001S.ht
PR Contact: Mindy Riesenberg, Grand Canyon Conservatory
Phone: (928) 863-3878
Email: mriesenberg@grandcanyon.org
2020 Cactus League Spring Training Schedule
The 2020 Cactus League spring training schedule has finally been posted and this year marks the earliest start in the leagues history. The first games are scheduled to start on Saturday, Feb. 22 and end on March 24. The Cactus League features 15 MLB teams, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers. The 228 scheduled games will be played throughout the 10 Phoenix-area ballparks. Visit the Cactus League website for more information on game time, stadium location and ticket sales.
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