A Brief Update of News Around Arizona

September 2018

The Arizona Office of Tourism is pleased to provide this monthly update of new and noteworthy items regarding Arizona's tourism industry. For more information, contact Becky Blaine at bblaine@tourism.az.gov, Kim Todd at ktodd@tourism.az.gov or Marjorie Magnusson at mmagnusson@tourism.az.gov.

Attractions

The Thing Museum in Benson now Open

Bowlin Travel Centers, which owns the property about an hour east of Tucson, launched a new museum revolving around The Thing's origin story in a recently constructed 12,000-square-foot facility connected to its gift shop. The museum's exhibits including a giant dinosaur are part of the journey back through time. Guests will learn how interplanetary-beings covertly influenced important moments in history and unlock the mystery of “The Thing”. The new museum is more than three times as big as the previous multi-building facilities and is 100% climate-controlled. The expanded retail space offers handcrafted Indian jewelry, a variety of Southwestern merchandise, including fireworks and select museum souvenirs.

Hotel Valley Ho Launches Mid-Century Modern Architecture Tour of Scottsdale

Hotel Valley Ho in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona is launching the Insider Mid-Century Tour of Scottsdale, beginning November 2018. Local expert Ace Bailey will be guiding guests as they explore the history and architecture of buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright and other notable Valley architects. Tours are offered by appointment and must be booked in advance; at least two weeks' notice is recommended. The full tour is offered from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A three-hour mini-tour is available at 9:00 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., and includes Hotel Valley Ho, the Garden Apartment District and the Price House. The tours are offered at a flat rate and can accommodate groups from two to 10; the full tour is $1,400 (plus $25 per person for lunch including a glass of wine), and the mini-tour is $700. Your booking includes transportation and a donation to the Price House to help preserve Wright's legacy in the desert.

Culinary

Exclusive Fresh Foodie Guided Tours Now Available

This new Arizona Fresh Foodie Trail tour has been developed exclusively with DETOURS American West tour company. The guided tour takes guests on a guided journey of agritourism through Mesa, Queen Creek and Gilbert. The Tour starts in the morning and includes tastings, private tours at each stop and lunch, then returning you to your starting point in the early afternoon. Guests are treated to local tastes at Jalapeño Bucks, Queen Creek Olive Mill and Agritopia. Scheduled departure days are Tuesday and Saturdays, alternate dates can be scheduled as a group with a minimum participation.                                                                                                                      

Culture/Heritage

Tucson Museum of Art to exhibit a Claude Monet Painting  

Tucson Museum of Art (TMA) is the new temporary home to one of Claude Monet's 39 paintings from Belle-Île, one of France's islands off the southern shore of Brittany. On loan from the Kasser Mochary Art Foundation, Monet's Bloc de Rochers, Belle-Île depicts a jagged rocky coastline and encapsulates the island's mystique. The painting is on exhibit beginning September 2018 in partnership with Second SundAZe @ TMA presented by the Stonewall Foundation. The museum features permanent and traveling exhibitions of Modern and Contemporary, Native American, American West, Latin American, pre-Columbian, European, and Asian art.                                                    

Adventure

L'Auberge de Sedona Now offering Guided Tour of The Grand Canyon

L'Auberge de Sedona has curated a Grand Canyon Package to celebrate the landmark's 100th anniversary in February 2019, where guests can experience a full day of scenic byways and a Grand Canyon adventure via Pink Jeep Tours. The tour is a full day (10-11 hours) including lunch, transportation to and from the canyon south rim, entrance and a continued tour throughout the canyon. The Grand Canyon experience also includes a two-night stay in a cottage and a $40 one-time breakfast credit. Set among Sedona's Red Rocks, L'Auberge de Sedona features 62 luxury cottages and 21 traditional lodge-style guest rooms.

General

American Airlines Launches Nonstop Service from London to Phoenix

American Airlines announced it is launching a new nonstop flight between London and Phoenix, Arizona, beginning March 31, 2019. American Airlines will initially operate the new service daily from March 31 to October 26, 2019. This added service helps meet the heightened demand from UK travellers wanting to visit Arizona. The new route will be conducted on a Boeing 777-200 aircraft. Customers are now able to book the new flight. The new flight is meant to complement the already existing service between London and Phoenix from American's partner British Airways.

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