7 New Venues in Phoenix/Scottsdale for Fall 2024 Meetings and Events

After an extensive $115 million renovation, the recently rebranded Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort (formerly Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch) made its debut in October. The first Grand Hyatt in Arizona, the luxury resort includes 496 guest accommodations, including 18 casitas and the ultra-luxe, bi-level Gainey House. On property, guests can dine at six dining concepts from celebrity chef Richard Blais, spend time in an outdoor oasis with 10 pools and a waterslide, play on the pickleball and tennis courts, and relax in a full-service spa with 19 treatment rooms. The property encompasses 90,000 square feet of updated meeting and event space, including the 14,000-square-foot Vaquero Ballroom and the 24,000-square-foot Arizona Ballroom, the latter of which will be completed in January.

The 128-suite SpringHill Suites Phoenix West/Avondale opened in August. The new-build property offers a breezy, spacious atmosphere that’s designed to uplift guests. In addition to a 700-square-foot meeting room that can accommodate as many as 20 people, the hotel offers an outdoor pool and a patio with a fire pit that’s perfect for small gatherings.

Backyard opened a 9,500-square-foot Gilbert location in October. With capacity for as many as 600 guests in total, the indoor-outdoor venue offers a backyard barbecue vibe, with six distinct areas available for private and semiprivate events. The menu follows suit with a selection of dishes fit for a dream picnic—think carne asada fries, blackened shrimp tacos, Margherita pizza, and black truffle and honey bacon. HDTV screens throughout the restaurant are available for planners to use during events.

Downtown Scottsdale welcomed Mother Tucker’s Tavern in September. With vintage decor and a cozy vibe, the bar serves retro-modern cocktails and mocktails, along with a food menu of favorites like duck fat fries, prosciutto grilled cheese with tomato soup, and caramel sea salt pudding. Between 4,200 square feet of indoor space and the 800-square-foot patio, the venue can accommodate as many as 600 people. Additional perks include a built-in DJ booth and more than 40 HDTVs.

The Italiano, Scottsdale’s newest spot for upscale Italian dining, opened in September. Set in a 7,000-square-foot space adorned with artistic murals, classical sculptures, and Mediterranean-inspired seating, the restaurant also offers smaller spaces for more intimate groups, including a 558-square-foot event room that seats 50, a 440-square-foot room that seats 30, and a 300-square-foot room that seats 26. On the menu, guests can choose from homemade Italian dishes like pasta Bolognese with a three-meat ragu, butternut squash ravioli, filet mignon and sausage cacciatore, and veal Parmesan.

Santa Monica, Calif., hot spot Élephante will open its doors in Scottsdale Fashion Square in November, offering a menu of coastal Italian cuisine like wood-fired pizzas, house-made pastas, sustainably sourced meats, exciting cocktails, and a wine list that showcases vintages from every region in Italy. With seating for 345 guests, the 12,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor restaurant feels relaxed, airy, and elegant.

Already beloved at its Phoenix location, Copper & Sage expanded into GSQ in downtown Goodyear in October. The kitchen churns out Southern-inspired gastropub-style cuisine, like fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits with bacon sage butter, and house-made tagliatelle with Italian sausage and kale, along with an inventive cocktail menu to match. Comfortable leather seats, dark wood accents, and an open kitchen create a welcoming atmosphere. In total, the 4,500-square-foot restaurant seats 120 inside and 90 on the patio.