UNESCO DESIGNATION

TUCSON DESIGNATED UNESCO CITY OF GASTRONOMY

In December 2015, Tucson was named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, the first city in the U.S. to earn this honor. Tucson was selected for our 4,000 years of agricultural history, active preservation and promotion of native/heritage crops and for the wide variety of dining opportunities available in the area today.  For more information, read this article.

AIR SERVICE

AMERICAN AIRLINES LAUNCHES NONSTOP SERVICE BETWEEN JFK AND TUS

American Airlines will kick off daily nonstop service to and from New York City's JFK Airport starting October 7, 2016. This service not only opens up nonstop service to Tucson's largest feeder market for leisure travel, but also creates one-stop travel to and from numerous international destinations, as well as for cities across the northeast United States.  The daily flights between Tucson and New York will be aboard a 160-passenger Boeing 737-800 aircraft featuring 16 recliner seats in first class, 30 main cabin extra seats with more legroom and 114 coach seats.

HOTELS

MARRIOTT HOTELS TO OPEN TWO NEW PROPERTIES IN TUCSON

Although not ready to take reservations, Tucson's newest downtown hotel is one step closer to existence. The eight-story AC Hotel by Marriott will have 137 rooms and be located at 5th Avenue and Broadway Street.  It is scheduled to open in early 2017. 

Nearby, the 14 story, 213 rooms Tucson Residence Inn by Marriott Hotel will be located on the corner of 2nd Street and Tyndall Avenue.  The site is located in Main Gate Square, a pedestrian-friendly dining and shopping destination featuring over 20 retailers and 30 restaurants near the University of Arizona and Tucson's historic neighborhoods.

HILTON TUCSON EL CONQUISTADOR UNDERGOES MASSIVE RENOVATIONS

Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort, the iconic Tucson resort nestled at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, has embarked on a multimillion dollar renovation that will encompass all areas of the property. Uniquely Southwest experiences are at the heart of the renovations to bring new indoor/outdoor amenities, refreshed guestrooms, creative garden concepts and wildlife and nature programs to the resort. Unveiled this spring, the redesigned main Desert Springs Oasis pool offers new poolside cabanas, a larger pool deck with additional sunning areas and several outdoor fire pits for poolside mingling after dark. In April 2015, renovations began on the resort's 428 guest rooms, lobby interiors and lobby bar. In coming months, new wildlife programming, unique garden concepts and a formal adventure and activity program will be announced. All renovations will be complete by spring of 2017.

HACIENDA DEL SOL GUEST RANCH EXPANSION DOUBLES THE NUMBER OF ROOMS

Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort expansion, completed in November 2015, doubled its room count to 60 rooms. This luxury boutique resort, also known for its award-winning restaurant The Grill, recently completed construction of 32 additional guestrooms. The luxurious new Catalina rooms and suites were designed and built to reflect the same Santa Fe style construction of the existing historic structures. The six new and unique buildings that house the rooms were built in a village-like setting with landscaped walking paths that lead guests to the Terraza Garden Patio, historic courtyard and negative edge swimming pool. 

LOEWS VENTANA CANYON RESORT COMPLETES MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR RENOVATIONS

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort has undergone a comprehensive renovation that enhanced the overall guest experience and elevated its presence in the Tucson marketplace. The multi-million dollar remastering of the guest rooms, meeting space, lobby, fitness center, signature Lakeside Spa and Flying V Bar & Grill was completed in early 2016. The new look creates modern refinement throughout the property while preserving the original intention of blending the property with its striking desert surroundings.

WHITE STALLION RANCH BECOMES MEMBER OF HISTORIC HOTELS OF AMERICA

White Stallion Ranch was selected for membership by Historic Hotels of America in May 2016.  To be nominated and selected for membership into this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old;  been designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having historic significance. These historic hotels have all faithfully maintained their authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity in the United States of America. White Stallion Ranch was established as a cattle ranch in 1939.  It has been owned and operated by the True family for 50 years as a Guest Ranch, and has been ranked the #1 hotel in Tucson on TripAdvisor for 5 consecutive years.

WESTIN LA PALOMA RESORT AND SPA OPENS NEW RESTAURANT

The Westin La Paloma added an exciting new restaurant, Contigo in February 2016.  Contigo presents an innovative take on Latin cuisine incorporating flavors from Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Cuba and Spain in an elegant urban space.  Contigo will feature many signature Latin dishes including tacos, ceviche, paella and roast suckling pig.  The wine list, like the menu, will be reasonably priced, dominated by South American and Spanish wines and the cocktail list a combination of flavorful Latin classics like mojitos, caipirinhas and inventive new cocktails.  Contigo will be owned and operated by Deborah Tenino and Nicholas Kreutz.

CULINARY

BATCH CAFÉ & BAR SERVES UP AN USUSUAL COMBINATION IN DOWNTOWN TUCSON

The New Year brought a new concept to downtown Tucson – doughnuts and whiskey - when Batch Café & Bar opened their doors on January 1, 2016. While focused on freshly made doughnuts paired with an extensive whiskey list, Batch Café & Bar also offers a variety of sandwiches and salads. The options for grilled cheese sandwiches are almost endless including one made with a glazed doughnut and sharp cheddar cheese.

CHEF JANOS WILDER OPENS COOKING SCHOOL IN DOWNTOWN TUCSON

In February 2016 James Beard award-winning chef, Janos Wilder opened The Carriage House, a multi-use space featuring a cooking school, as well as a private event/dining room and patio. The space, with its brick walls, high ceilings, graceful trusses, sky lights and stunning collection of original local art will provide a beautiful back drop for events of all varieties and sizes.  The cooking school will offer year-round classes taught by Chef Wilder, as well as other guest chefs, wine experts, mixologists and culinary educators in a state of the art demonstration kitchen and video studio. The space will accommodate up to 70 guests for demonstration classes, 20 for hands on classes.

CHARRO STEAKHOUSE OPENS IN DOWNTOWN TUCSON

El Charro, a beloved Tucson tradition, has long been known for its delicious food and designation as the oldest Mexican restaurant in the U.S. continuously operated by one family (since 1922!). In March 2016, the Flores family expanded their offerings in downtown Tucson opening a new restaurant, Charro Steakhouse. As the name implies, Charro Steakhouse will showcase steaks with a focus on “ranch-to-table” cuisine. The menu features wholesome, all natural ingredients sourced locally including beef and chicken that are never raised with added hormones or given antibiotics.

ELVIRA'S RESTAURANT IN TUBAC EXPANDS WITH NEW DOWNTOWN LOCATION IN TUCSON

Downtown Tucson's reputation as a foodie destination continues to grow with the addition of Elvira's on Congress Street. The original Elvira's opened in Nogales, Mexico in 1927. In 2008, Elvira's grandson, Ruben Monroy, who had taken over the restaurant from his parents, moved it to Tubac, Arizona. With a menu focused on authentic Mexican dishes and a variety of tequilas and mescals, the restaurant's popularity continued to grow, giving Monroy the opportunity to open a second location. At Elvira's you won't find enchiladas, tostadas or chimichangas, but rather tender ribeye steaks grilled with peppers not typically found north of the border or complicated moles lovingly prepared with more than 30 ingredients.

ATTRACTIONS

NEW ECO ZIPLINE TOUR SWEEPS INTO TUCSON

Southern Arizona's longest eco Zipline tour, Arizona Zipline Adventures opened in January 2016. Located off the beaten path in rural Oracle, north of Tucson, Arizona Zipline Adventures offers a birds-eye view of dramatic cactus and canyons scenery with five lines, ranging in length from 300 feet to 1,500 feet. A low ropes course, a giant swing, gold-panning fun, hiking trails, and a huge porch for nature-viewing add to the team-building fun.

FLANDRAU SCIENCE CENTER AND PLANETARIUM TO BE TRANSFORMED

A generous gift to the Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium from The EOS Foundation will enable a complete renovation of Flandrau's planetarium theater over the summer. The construction will include new seats, a new seating layout, enhanced lighting and a new acoustic wall treatment. Combined with the FullDome digital projection system that was installed in the fall of 2014, the renovation will transform the theater and deliver a new level of planetarium experience.

EVENTS

TUCSON FASHION WEEK ANNOUNCES 2016 LINE-UP

Now in its fourth year, Tucson Fashion Week is a stylish, innovative and unique community-focused experience which is putting Tucson on the national fashion and retail landscape. On October 13th, Tucson Fashion Week will kick-off with an exciting rock and roll runway fashion show curated by Cesar Padilla, owner of Cherry Vintage and author of “Ripped: T-shirts from the Underground”. October 14th will showcase a runway show and fashion presentations featuring Richie Rich, an iconic designer and creator of the fashion brand and cosmetic line Heatherette. International brand Shahide Parides will also return as the featured runway designer and special guest model.

ANNIVERSARIES, ACCOLADES, and AWARDS

GRAY LINE TOURS OF TUCSON CELEBRATES 100 YEARS

IN 1916, Tom Morgan started a transportation company that linked the populations of Tucson and Nogales, Arizona.  Since then, the company has evolved into a full-scale transportation company that includes school transportation, cross border and domestic freight, luxury motorcoaches and an experiential tour/sightseeing division.  Gray Line Tours of Tucson is a preferred partner of University of Arizona, Visit Tucson, Accenture Match Play, Fiesta Bowl, Cactus Bowl, Bowl Championship Series, and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

TUCSON'S LEGENDARY ARIZONA INN CELEBRATES 85 YEARS OF LUXURY HOSPITALITY

The Arizona Inn, one of the West's most glamorous hotels for nearly nine decades, is marking 85 years of understated elegance and authentic hospitality. In addition to throwback menus, events and special touches to commemorate its storied history, the legendary Inn is offering attractive rates in 2016, making it a perfect time to visit – or revisit – this romantic desert hideaway. Family owned and operated since its inception, four generations of the Greenway family have lovingly protected, renovated and restored the Inn, which has played host to a who's who of celebrities and public figures over the years, including the Kennedys, Katharine Hepburn, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, Frank Lloyd Wright, Howard Hughes, and many others.

ACCOLADES

TUCSON NAMED A TOP 5 CITY FOR MELLENNIALS 

In this article from the September 2015 issue of Money Magazine, learn why Tucson was named a top five city for Millennials along with Seattle, Austin, Columbus and Atlanta.

TUCSON INCLUDED IN TOP CITIES FOR CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS

In August 2015, Tucson was included in Cvent's list of top 50 meeting destinations for only the second time.  An article in USA Today includes additional details.  In November 2015, Tucson was included in the list of top 10 cities for conferences by Successful Meetings.  Read the full article here.

TUCSON RANKED A TOP CITY FOR BICYLING

Tucson is a great city for on-road and off-road bicycling.  In a recent Travel Channel online article learn more about our ranking as a top 10 cycling city in the US.  Another article, from May 2015 includes Tucson in the top 10 most bike friendly cities in the US.   Read more at:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/frankbi/2015/05/14/the-most-bike-friendly-cities-in-the-u-s-ranked/