Refreshingly offbeat, Tempe is known for its vibrant downtown scene, its inviting outdoor activities and its welcoming and progressive spirit.
Home to Arizona State University, one of the largest and most innovative schools in the country, as well as a robust collection of state-of-the-art accommodations, Tempe is an urban oasis — located within the Greater Phoenix area — where anything is possible.
From arrival to departure, your attendees will experience the essence of what makes Tempe unique — from chic hotels and first-class amenities to year-round events and glorious golden hours. It’s that same magic that keeps groups coming back year after year, and it’s right here waiting for your attendees to experience it for themselves.
Here are four tips for planning your next event in Tempe:
1. Celebrate the Sonoran Desert
The beautiful and iconic Sonoran Desert serves as the backdrop for your next event — whether it’s taking place at a mountaintop resort, a downtown conference center, a unique meeting venue or one of the hotel rooftops in our growing collection.
Wherever you opt to host your meeting in Tempe, Sonoran Desert recreation is always just a matter of steps away. If you’re looking to add a team outing to your next program, start by considering these two proven crowd-pleasers: Choose from motorized or pedal boats for an outing on Tempe Town Lake at sunset or hit the trails of A Mountain or Papago Park for short hikes to two of the city’s most breathtaking vantage points.
The top spot for capturing the essence of this iconic landscape is a visit to the Desert Botanical Garden. Book a casual visit, or a formal off-site event, at one of the venues within this 140-acre attraction that invites guests to explore more than 50,000 plant species via five themed trails.
2. A Stay for Every Style
Tempe is home to a robust assortment of accommodations that range from new, high-rise hotels for larger groups to boutique and resort stays for more trendy experience.
The Southwest’s first Canopy by Hilton hotel opened its doors in Tempe in 2020. Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown pairs 198 guest rooms and 5,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including a full-service rooftop pool and bar serve as scenic spaces gathering atop 14 stories above the desert floor as well as the hotel’s signature, ground-floor restaurant and bar.
The Westin Tempe added 290 guest room that rise 18 stories, to the city's skyline in 2021. This full-service property also features more than 14,000 square feet of convention space and meeting rooms, a rooftop pool lounge, full-service restaurant and coffee shop.
Phoenix Marriott Resort Tempe at The Buttes combines the relaxation of a remote stay paired with the convenience of its urban location. Sparkling pools, first-class dining, a full-service spa, 362 freshly updated guestrooms and suites, a fully renovated conference center, including over 40,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, and unique open-air event and banquet space, round out this property’s dazzling amenities.
The city's newest hotel, Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU, is located steps from campus and offers 330 guest rooms and suites, four unique dining venues, a spacious pool deck, and over 36,000 sq. ft. of indoor, outdoor and pre-function event space and also includes the largest ballroom in Tempe.
3. Enviable Itineraries
After careful consideration and thoughtful planning, it’s time to show your attendees precisely why you’ve selected this destination for your event by facilitating opportunities for them to experience it for themselves. Fortunately, navigating from the meeting room to Tempe’s most alluring experiences is seamless.
Wrap up your meeting day with globally influenced dining at one of Tempe’s diverse and eclectic eateries. Choose from international flavors, Southwest favorites and more, at restaurants that also offer spacious patios and a variety of private rooms available for reservation. No evening is complete without sampling a matinee version of the nightlife scene. From sports bars to rooftop lounges, and breweries to distilleries, your attendees will appreciate the energy of this city and its relentless quest to elevate the happy hour experience. Cheers!
Take the entertainment factor of your itinerary to the next level with the hottest tickets in town: Broadway shows take place nearly year-round at ASU Gammage, an unmistakable landmark by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and professional sports, ranging from Cactus League Spring Training to the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, draw fans to Tempe season after season.
4. An Air Affair
While Tempe prides itself on being a compact and walkable city, your attendees have plenty of other transportation options for getting around here. Conveniently located less than 5 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Tempe is easily accessible via four major freeways. Additionally, Valley Metro Rail provides direct access — via the PHX SKY Train — from the terminal to the city for $2 each way. From here, the Tempe Streetcar, the first of its kind in the Valley of the Sun, shuttles riders from to hotels, attractions, dining and more.
For the more adventurous travelers, Arizona is the perfect place to embrace other modes of transportation as well. Imagine taking to the sky in the basket of a hot air balloon with Rainbow Ryders. Navigating the Gila River Indian Reservation, home to over 2400 acres of equestrian trails, on a guided horseback ride at KOLI Equestrian Center.
Tempe is a vibrant destination for meetings of 10 to 500 attendees, and our team is here to ensure your next event is a success.
