03 Nov 2022
Tags: Lake Havasu City, Phoenix, scottsdale, Tucson, Sedona, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Glendale
Attractions
Oatman Bus Tours from Lake Havasu City
Lake Havasu's London Bridge Resort is now offering a six-hour bus tour to Oatman each Tuesday beginning at 10:00 a.m. This fully-narrated bus tour only travels 54 miles northwest of Lake Havasu City on Old Route 66, but steps back in time to the wooden sidewalks and 1880s-style buildings when gold miners and gunslingers filled the town. There is time to enjoy the Ghost Rider Gun Fighters group shootout, do a little shopping and have lunch. A highlight for many is seeing some of the furry natives - the burros. They are direct descendants of the pack animals brought to the area by gold miners during the 1800s. The tour is seasonal, from September to May, and reservations are required for this $25 tour. The tour is not wheelchair accessible.
- Media Contact: Kristina Gallo, Assistant General Manager, London Bridge Resort
- Tel: (928) 855-0888
- Email: kgallo@londonbridgeresort.com
Dinosaurs in the Desert
They're baaack! And this time… they've brought friends. Journey back in time at the Phoenix Zoo! Now through April 30, 2023, immerse yourself in a world where colossal dinosaurs and other ancient beasts dominate the landscape in this prehistoric experience that is included with general Zoo admission, no charge.
Creatures include Giganotosaurus, saber-toothed cat, sea scorpion, terror bird, allosaurus, pachycephalosaurs, T-rex and more!! More than two dozen creatures are scattered along the Desert Lives Trail. This self-guided experience includes a fossil dig and photo opportunities. Open daily during Zoo hours, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., members enjoy early entry at 8 a.m.
- Media Contact: Linda Hardwick, Director of Communications
- Tel: (602) 914-4363
- Email: LHardwick@phoenixzoo.org
UFO Experience: The Truth is Out There
A new attraction exploring the history and fascination of UFOs and extraterrestrial life will open at Arizona Boardwalk in Scottsdale later this year. UFO Experience: The Truth is Out There will feature more than 200 alien artifacts and recordings that support claims of life outside of planet earth dating back to ancient encounters through modern-day sightings.
The exhibit's interactive elements include a spaceship boarding pass, 3D film, an “alien hunter” laser shooting game, hands-on analysis of alien specimens, a “moon bounce” for pint-sized visitors, and video/audio recordings of famous sightings worldwide.
- Media Contact: Karin Korpowski - Gallo, Director of Public Relations and Social Media
- Tel: (480) 291-8218
- Email: Kgallo@azboardwalk.com
LightsUp! A Festival of Illumination at Tucson Botanical Gardens
Presented by NOVA Home Loans and illuminated by The Stonewall Fund at the CFSA, LightsUp! will premiere at Tucson Botanical Gardens on Friday, November 25, 2022, and run for 44 nights through January 15, 2023.
Designed by nationally known public garden landscape architect Tres Fromme, a carefully curated and artfully sequenced series of illuminated experiences will transform the Gardens into a compelling, all new holiday show. Six distinct thematic zones with their own unique color palettes lead visitors through more than a million lights, custom-built oversized installations, and pieces created by local artisans such as luminaria chandeliers and archways.
- Media Contact: Matt Adamson, Director of Marketing & Communications
- Tel: (520) 326-9686 *35
- Email: Marketing@TucsonBotanical.org
Culinary
Award-Winning Chef Alex Stratta Tapped to Lead Culinary Program at Fairmont Phoenix
Alessandro "Alex" Stratta, a two-Michelin star and James Beard Award-winning chef, has been selected to lead the culinary program at Fairmont Phoenix, the highly anticipated new luxury hotel destination in downtown Phoenix, which is scheduled to open in early 2025.
Stratta is creating the overall vision and menus for the five onsite restaurants, including an Italian coastal steakhouse, Mexican cantina, speakeasy, pool bar and lobby bar. After opening, he will continue to lead the culinary teams and oversee all day-to-day food and beverage operations. Stratta has enlisted Erik Segelbaum of SOMLYAY and GoodSomm wine club to build an accessible yet adventurous beverage program for the property.
In addition to the hotel's 225 guestrooms,the property will feature 151 Fairmont branded residences, as well as a collection of luxurious penthouses.
- Media Contact: Rachel Eroh
- Tel: (929) 231-0112
- Email: rachel@jlaurenpr.com
Ales & Trails Passport
Lake Havasu City has a new opportunity for people seeking the ultimate craft beer and trail-trekking adventure. Go Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City's official tourism organization, has launched Ales & Trails Passport: a web-based mobile app rewards program for exploring the region's rich brewery culture and 1,800-mile network of scenic hiking, mountain biking and off-road trails.
When five check-ins at the brewery/taprooms or trails are verified, the pass holder will receive a commemorative pint glass shipped to their address. The passport is valid until August 2023.
- Media Contact: Regan Ross-Robertson, Director of Community Programs and Relations
- Tel: (928) 453-3444 ext 130
- Email: regan@golakehavasu.com
New Addition to Sedona Dining: The Willows Kitchen & Wine Bar at Poco Diablo Resort
The Willows Kitchen & Wine Bar at Poco Diablo Resort offers a new dining option for resort guests. Under the direction of Executive Chef and Director of Food & Beverage Evan Campbell, the restaurant features eclectic, from-scratch American fare with a comprehensive selection of wines. Favorites on the menu Firecracker Shrimp Wraps (the chief's take on classic meatballs), signature flatbreads, lobster risotto made with the freshest seafood flown in daily, and lemon Ricotta Pancakes drizzled with house made blueberry syrup to enjoy at breakfast.
Opening and closing times depend on the day so be sure to check before arriving and reserving a table.
- Media Contact: Jan Sheehan, Tucker & Associates
- Tel: (310) 433-9626
- Email: jan@tuckerpr.com
Flights
New Canadian Airline to Start Phoenix to Calgary Service
Lynx Air, an ultra low-cost Canadian start-up carrier based in Calgary, has announced nonstop service to Phoenix. The Phoenix-Calgary nonstop flight will run three times weekly beginning February 7, 2023.
The flights will operate on the airline's brand-new Boeing 737 which seats up to 189 passengers and features Boeing Sky Interior lighting, large overhead bins and extra legroom seats (available for a fee).
Arizona is tied with Florida in serving the most number of cities in Canada out of any U.S. state. Canadian investment and tourism in Arizona is important to the state's economy with more than 23% of international visitors from Canada.
- Media Contact: Heather Shelbrack, Communications and Outreach Administrator
- Tel: (602) 683-2634
- Email: heather.shelbrack@phoenix.gov
American Airlines to Launch Nonstop Phoenix to Monterrey, Mexico
American Airlines is excited to welcome additional international air service to Mexico. American Airlines will begin daily, nonstop service from Phoenix to Monterrey, Mexico on January 10, 2023. Monterrey is Mexico's third largest city, the capital of the state of Nuevo Leon and is a business hub for Northern Mexico. There has not been a nonstop flight between Phoenix and Monterrey since 2004.
This is the 13th Mexican destination American serves from Phoenix Sky Harbor. American's flight schedule this January to Mexico is 11 percent larger than it was pre-pandemic in January 2019. Additionally, the 13 destinations represent a 44 percent increase in Mexican destinations served compared to January 2019.
- Media Contact: Heather Shelbrack, Communications and Outreach Administrator
- Tel: (602) 683-2634
- Email: heather.shelbrack@phoenix.gov
Breeze Announces Four New Destinations from Phoenix
Breeze Airways is launching four new destinations from Phoenix, including nonstop service to Hartford, Richmond and Bentonville- Fayetteville, as well as one-stop/no plane change 'BreezeThru' flights to New Orleans.
- Media Contact: Gareth Edmondson-Jones, Director, External Communications & Media Relations
- Tel: (917) 339-9355
- Email: EdmondsonJones@flyBreeze.com
Hotel News
VAI is Creating the Ultimate Entertainment Destination Opening Late 2023 in Glendale
VAI Resort is creating the ultimate desert oasis, a 60-acre luxurious retreat. Opening late 2023, the resort will include an entertainment epicenter with a $40 million, state-of-the-art concert stage for 8,000 showgoers that will feature top acts with prime viewing from hotel room balconies and VIP skyboxes.
VAI will include a six-acre swimming sanctuary and temperature-controlled white sand beaches with a man-made 52,000-square-foot party island, Konos Island, with a Mediterranean restaurant, private cabanas, DJ booth and a 16-person aerial bar ideal for sipping cocktails while enjoying panoramic views from 130 feet in the air. With approximately 1,200 luxurious rooms and suites across three towers, the VAI experience will include 12 upscale restaurants, seven of which will feature waterfront views, 10 exclusive bars and lounges, and a shopping corridor with high-end retail. The resort is a two-minute walk from State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, and a 20-minute drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Environmental responsibility is a top priority. VAI Global Development is working closely with the Arizona Department of Water Resources and the city on a water conservation plan and is making efforts to reduce its ecological footprint by incorporating solar power.
- Media Contact: Jessica Urgiles
- Tel: (480) 634-0250
- Email: jessica@jlaurenpr.com
The Global Ambassador Tops Off Construction, On Track for Late 2023 Opening
The Global Ambassador has officially topped off construction with the rooftop's steel structure put into place. In the coming weeks, exterior finishes will be installed, including brickwork, plus windows and doors. In December, the interior finishes will begin. The hotel is oriented around its plaza courtyard with a sprawling lawn.
Five original dining experiences will be offered. The hotel's signature restaurant will be a Parisian bistro and brasserie. The poolside restaurant will highlight Mexican and Peruvian dishes while the private Members Club will feature a members-only grill built around a centerpiece bar. Overlooking the iconic Camelback Mountain, will be a rooftop restaurant and lounge boasting inventive cocktails and shareable plates inspired by the flavors of the Mediterranean region.
The world-class Wellness Center will offer an ultra-luxe spa.
- Media Contact: Jan Bracamonte
- Tel: (480) 540-3842
- Email: Jan@JLaurenPR.com
COVID-19 Updates in Arizona
For visitor guidance due to COVID-19 such as mask-wearing, a list of tourism-related reopenings or closures, and a link to public health guidelines, click here: https://www.visitarizona.com/covid-19/ . Some attractions are open year-round and some are open seasonally or move to seasonal hours. To ensure the places you want to see are open on your travel dates, please check their website for hours of operation.
Connect
Newsroom: https://www.visitarizona.com/newsroom/
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