A Brief Update of News Around Arizona September 2019

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.

Culinary

SaltRock Southwest Kitchen announced new executive chef and menu

The SaltRock Southwest Kitchen at the Amara Resort and Spa in Sedona announced their new, 32-year-old executive chef, Lindsey Dale. Chef Lindsey designed a completely new menu of Southwestern-inspired cuisine featuring light and seasonal dishes using fresh ingredients from the Verde Valley. Some standout dishes include the Watermelon & Burrata with heirloom tomatoes, topped with mint yogurt, dehydrated blood orange, Chile oil, micro cilantro and Maldon sea salt; Seared Salmon with smoked tomato puree, forbidden rice, snap peas, stone fruit mango salsa; Blueberry & Lime Verrineith with lime curd, blueberry whip, graham cracker crunch, sweet pickled blueberries and mint. The restaurant's outdoor patio offers guests unobstructed views of Cleopatra Rock and Snoopy Rock.

PR Contact: Jan Bracamonte Phone: (480) 540-3842 Email: jan@jlaurenpr.com

SanTan Brewing Company offers behind the scenes tours and tastings

SanTan Brewing Company, Arizona's largest independent brewery & distillery, will offer behind the scenes tours and tastings of beers and spirits at their 35,000 sq. ft. production facility in Chandler. Highlights include tours of the craft beer and spirit labs, tasting samples, and education on the history and future of SanTan Brewing Company. At the end of the tour, guests can purchase packaged products to take home and enjoy. Tours are expected to start in early October 2019 and offered three times per day on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission will be $15 per person with a percentage of each ticket sold to benefit Chandler Compadres, a non-profit organization that provides support for East Valley families in need.

PR Contact: Jen Pruett, Phone: (950)265-3373, Email: jen@bigdillmarketing.com

Attractions

Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Co. expands fleet

Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Co. has purchased Float Balloon Tours, a Phoenix- based hot air balloon company. The expansion brings the Rainbow Ryders fleet to 33 hot air balloons and has increased the Phoenix fleet by 25%. The expansion now allows the company to fly up to 150 passengers per day.

PR Contact: Joanie Griffin Phone: (505) 261-4444, Email: jgriffin@griffinassoc.com

General

New shopping and dining center in the Talking Stick Entertainment District has finished Phase 1 of construction

The Block at Pima Center, located along the Loop 101 in the Talking Stick Entertainment District in Scottsdale, has completed the first phase of construction. Phase 1 consists of 14,000 square feet of shopping and dinning space but will grow an additional 46,000 square feet when fully completed. The first few tenants, Starbucks, White Castle, Jersey Mikes, and Happy Feet Nail Spa, are expected to open doors between August and September. The remaining tenants will open later in Fall 2019. The Block is within walking distance to Talking Stick Resort, Salt River Fields baseball stadium, Odysea Aquarium, and TopGolf. In addition to the retail, restaurants, and other services that will be offered, The Block will also provide two new Hilton Hotels, Tru and Home 2 Suites.

PR Contact: Tori Elder, Phone: (949) 239-9220, Email: victoria@victorisolutions.com

Accolades

Verde Valley listed fourth in the USA Today 2019 Readers' Choice Top 10 Best Wine Regions

Sedona's Verde Valley was voted the fourth best wine region in the country by USA Today. A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by readers vote. The Verde Valley features a dry, arid climate with dramatic temperature changes from day to night and volcanic soil, resulting in excellent conditions for growing grapes. Visitors to the region can explore its wineries and tasting rooms along the Verde Valley Wine Trail.

PR Contact: Tori Elder
Phone: (949) 239-9220
Email: victoria@victorisolutions.com

Flight Service

New nonstop flight between Frankfurt, Germany and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Eurowings, a Lufthansa Group airline, announced new nonstop flights between Frankfurt, Germany and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Flights will be available every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, beginning April 29, 2020 until November 2020. Flights will leave Frankfurt at 2:05 p.m., arriving in Phoenix at 5:05 p.m. then depart Phoenix at 6:55 p.m., arriving in Frankfurt the next day at 3:05 p.m. The Airbus 330-200 aircraft will have a three-class configuration, with 22 business class seats, 17 premium class seats and an economy class offering 231 seats. In total, the flights will have a total of 270 seats.

PR Contact: Sky Harbor PIO, Email: skyharborPIO@phoenix.gov

American Airlines adds second daily flight to Hermosillo, Mexico

American Airlines declared the addition of the second daily flight to Hermosillo, Mexico from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Flight service will begin on Dec. 18, 2019, leaving Hermosillo at 9:00 a.m., arriving in Phoenix at 10:19 a.m. then depart Phoenix at 7:14 p.m. and arrive in Hermosillo at 8:43 p.m. The flight will be served by a Bombardier CRJ-700 containing 70 seats and operated by SkyWest.

PR Contact: Sky Harbor PIO, Email: skyharborPIO@phoenix.gov

American Airlines announces first flight between Chihuahua, Mexico and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

American Airlines announced the first flight service between Chihuahua, Mexico and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is scheduled to begin on Dec. 2019. The non-stop, daily flight will be served on a Bombardier CRJ-700 jet, offering 70 seats. The addition of Chihuahua brings the total number of nonstop destinations in Mexico to 11 from Phoenix Sky Harbor.

PR Contact: Sky Harbor PIO, Email: skyharborPIO@phoenix.gov

Hotel News

The Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley is expected to open summer 2020

Construction has begun on The Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley; the 20 acre, luxury property is expected to open summer 2020. The lobby, situated above the rest of the hotel and overlooking Camelback Mountain, will display a water feature that cascades down through the property to a world-class spa. The resort's 215 guest rooms consists of regular suites, oversized suites, detached casitas and bungalows. Guest accommodations will be connected by lush courtyard gardens and shaded walkways. The main pool, spanning nearly 400 feet, will be one of the longest resort pools in North America. A specialty dining concept will harvest seasonal produce from the resort's herb garden and 400-tree citrus orchard. The 16,000 square-foot spa is comprised of indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, a private pool, whirlpool, Vichy shower, rainwalk and cabanas. The resort will also feature a 2,500 square-foot health and fitness center, various indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces, and a grand lawn with views of Camelback, Mummy and McDowell mountains.

PR Contact: Meg Connolly, Email:ritzcarlton@mcc-pr.com

PR Contact: Erica Flint, Email: erica.flint@marriott.com

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.htm

PR Contact: Mindy Riesenberg, Grand Canyon Conservatory Phone: (928) 863-3878
Email: mriesenberg@grandcanyon.org

Semicentennial Celebrations in 2019

Lunar Legacy, Flagstaff

On July 20th, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon. All astronauts who walked on the Moon – including Neil Armstrong, Alan Shepard, and Buzz Aldrin – completed their training in Flagstaff, and at several other locations in northern Arizona. After 50 years, it is time to celebrate Flagstaff's scientific role in the Apollo Moon Missions of 1969.

PR Contact: Meg Roederer, City of Flagstaff Phone: (928) 213-2924
Email: mroederer@flagstaffaz.gov

Connect:

@Arizona_travel @visit_arizona

www.youtube.com/user/ArizonaTourism
Newsroom:http://newsroom.visitarizona.com/
Official State Visitors Guide: http://digital.milespartnership.com/view/central/arizona-official-state-travel-guide/arizona- 2019-20
Additional inspiration: http://www.visitarizona.com/planning/local-word

Arizona Office of Tourism September 2019 Media Brief Page 6

https://newsroom.visitarizona.com/