Why Phoenix?

Some facts about Phoenix:

• The geographical area containing Phoenix and surrounding cities is commonly referred to as the Valley. This area is partially surrounded by mountain ranges such as the Superstitions to the east, the Sierra Estrellas to the Southwest, the White Tanks to the West and the McDowells to the northeast.
• Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, is the largest city in Arizona. It is the 5th largest city in the United States with just about 1.4 million year-round residents. The city was settled in the 1400’s and founded in 1867. In 1881, Phoenix became an incorporated city.
• Greater Phoenix (which includes surrounding cities of Chandler, Glendale, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe and others) has a population of nearly 3.8 million.
• Greater Phoenix is located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert.
• Phoenix was selected the “Best Managed” city by Governing Magazine in 2000.
• More than 27 million people visit Arizona each year; 13.5 million people visit Phoenix each year. 62% of the Phoenix visitors are leisure travelers, while 38% visit for convention or business reasons. 8 out of 10 these visitors plan to return for future visits.

Phoenix loves its sports!

• University of Phoenix Stadium hosted Super Bowl XXX in 1996, and will host Super Bowl XLII in 2008. This is the only stadium in North America that can boast both a retractable fabric roof and a roll-out grass field.
• Phoenix hosted the 2001 World Series and is the home of the World Series Champion Arizona Diamondbacks.
• The Phoenix Suns have brought the NBA playoffs to US Airways Center 16 times in the past 18 seasons.
• Greater Phoenix is home to more than 200 golf courses.

What makes Phoenix ideal for your next event?

• Greater Phoenix boasts more than 325 sun-filled days every year. With only 7.66 inches of rain per year and an average high temperature of 85 degrees, the region offers an ideal setting for outdoor activity.

  Phoenix Average Temperatures Year-Round

  Month	High (avg)	Low (avg)
  January	65° F	41° F
  February	70° F	44° F
  March	75° F	48° F
  April	84° F	55° F
  May	93° F	63° F
  June	103° F	72° F
  July	105° F	81° F
  August	103° F	79° F
  September	98° F	72° F
  October	88° F	60° F
  November	74° F	48° F
  December	66° F	41° F

  
  
  
• Metro Phoenix has approximately 55,000 hotel rooms.
  ---Greater Phoenix is referred to as the “Resort Capital of the World” by many travel-industry professionals. It has consistently ranked among the nation’s top cities in the number of Four and Five Diamond Resorts.
  ---In 2005 Maritz Travel ranked Phoenix number one in the top ten travel destinations for business meeting and incentive-travel planners.
  ---Phoenix consistently ranks at or near the top of the annual Zagat Survey of U.S. Hotels, Resorts and Spas.
• The new Phoenix Convention Center will be one of the top 20 convention centers in the United States.
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is served by more than 20 airlines.
• Besides the greater Phoenix area, Arizona offers other prime destinations for your event including Sedona, Tucson, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon.

Sources: www.visitphoenix.com, www.phoenix.gov