Arizona Bi-Monthly Media Brief 

September & October 2024

The Arizona Office of Tourism is pleased to provide these highlights and news updates from across the Grand Canyon State’s tourism industry.  

Fall Fun 

Experience the alluring golden and amber hues of an Arizona autumn when visiting the state’s popular leaf peeping towns from late September to late October. 

Flagstaff, a leaf peepers paradise, is a Northern Arizona mountain city with countless trails venturing into the fall foliage to hike amongst the stunning golden aspens of the Coconino National Forest and the San Francisco Peaks. Enjoy watching the leaves change colors while sipping red wine at a local winery in Old Town Cottonwood, which offers Arizona-grown wines at seven wine tasting rooms. With more than 400 miles of hiking trails, escape into the ponderosa pines of the Prescott National Forest to hike under its amber leaves or venture to Prescott’s new Bean Peaks mountain biking trail to race past the falling leaves on this gravity flow trail that is bike-specific for all mountain bikers to enjoy.

While spooky season is year-round in Arizona, use the Arizona Office of Tourism's free Spooktacular Arizona: Haunted Attractions Passport to plot a course to 50+ haunted places and attractions, seasonal events and historical destinations for a fun-filled fall adventure. After signing up for the free digital passport at SpooktacularAZ.com, embark on a Ghost Tour in the historic mining town of Jerome to meet the haunted town's rowdy spirits or stay at the haunted Hotel Congress in Tucson for a chance to spot eccentric ghosts roaming the halls!

Attractions

Stargazers from around the world eagerly anticipate the opening of the new Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff which will start welcoming visitors on Nov. 16, 2024. Recognized by the Smithsonian Magazine as the most anticipated museum opening in 2024, the New Discovery Center will take visitors on a journey into the universe through the lens of astronomy with interactive exhibits and experiences. 

Designed to educate and engage guests of all ages, children will enjoy building their own rockets at the Orbits Curiosity Zone while adults learn about the planets and constellations by marveling at the Universe Theater’s two-story, 165-degree curved LED screen. Once the sun sets, journey up to the open-air rooftop planetarium to witness Flagstaff's famous starry dark skies and look for Pluto discovered at Lowell almost a century ago.

Enjoy an authentic dining experience at The Frybread Lounge, the first and only Indigenous-owned restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale that opened in August. Serving Indigenous cuisine inspired by local American Indian communities and made with ingredients from Native food producers, visitors enjoy savory bison burgers, crispy frybread and blue corn mush. Led by Chef Darryl Montana, an O’odham community member who has worked in award-winning restaurants, the restaurant introduces Indigenous flavors to customers' palates.

Soak in views of Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam and the secluded Rainbow Bridge, one of the largest known natural bridges in existence, with the new Rainbow Bridge Air Tour Package from Hyatt Place/Lake Powell in Page. With this package, guests embark on a 45-minute airplane tour for two, hosted by Antelope Air, to enjoy a birds-eye view of the area’s most famous natural formations, including Rainbow Bridge, which can only be seen by renting a boat or via a challenging hike. After their adventure, guests can relax at the hotel in their comfortable room, dip into the pool, or enjoy a prickly pear margarita with pork tacos at the onsite Prickly Pear Kitchen restaurant. This offer is available now until the end of November.

Accolades

The luxurious wellness resort Canyon Ranch in Tucson makes history as the first resort in Arizona to earn the Michelin Guide’s three key designation, the highest honor a hotel can earn from the world-renowned travel guide known for highlighting top-tier restaurants and hotels worldwide. This year, Michelin unveiled its new “Michelin Keys” hotel rating system, which uses keys instead of stars to recognize the world’s best hotels. Canyon Ranch earned three keys - the top rating - for providing guests with an extraordinary stay by having individualized wellness pathways that help guests achieve the personal transformation they desire and enjoy elegant modern style rooms that are surrounded by the lush Sonoran desert.

The Michelin Guide recognized six other Arizona hotels for offering guests exceptional stays and unique experiences, including Ambiente, A Landscape Hotel in Sedona, and a newer hotel that earned Two Key status. Five other resorts earned One Key status, including El Portal in Sedona, Mountain Shadow Resort in Paradise Valley, Royal Palms and Resort and Spa in Phoenix, The Global Ambassador in Phoenix and the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North. 

Embark on a journey of self discovery while staying at Miraval, a wellness resort in Tucson that was recognized as the Best Wellness Property for 2024 in Virtuoso’s Best of Best awards that celebrate luxury travel. Virtuoso, a worldwide network of luxury travel advisors, recognized Miraval for its picturesque Sonoran desert location and wellness programs. Here, guests can participate in horse training, gardening, culinary, outdoor and yoga classes, along with enjoying various spa treatments to reach personal or relationship goals.

For supporting diversity inclusion, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport was named Airport of the Year at the Airport Minority Advisory Council’s Awards, which recognize airports and aviation organizations that support diverse locally owned small businesses. Sky Harbor was awarded for promoting opportunities to diverse small businesses, partnering with multicultural chambers and collaborating with Phoenix’s Equal Opportunity Department.

Hotel 

The new Ellsworth Hotel opened on July 29 in Williams. The property draws inspiration from Ellsworth Kolb, the legendary photographer who captured stunning photos of the Grand Canyon in the early 20th century. Its design embodies his adventurous spirit, creating the ideal stay for travelers who love to explore. Guests can witness the natural wonder of the Grand Canyon before traveling for less than an hour to return to the hotel to play pool in the lobby, grab a drink at the onsite bar, or relax in one of its modern rooms. Its location along Historic Route 66 makes the Ellsworth Hotel a perfect stop when cruising the Mother Road to celebrate its centennial in 2026. 

Wake up to views of vast green vineyards and the majestic Mustang Mountains while staying at the newly opened casitas at the elegant Los Milics Vineyards in Elgin, a wine country town in  Southern Arizona. Opened in September, there are nine charming casitas, each with a modern open design and a private patio, guests can now stay at the heart of the vineyard and enjoy watching the sunset and enjoying a glass of wine. Guests can take advantage of being only a short walk away from Los Milics' breathtaking architectural tasting room that offers floor-to-ceiling windows to allow wine enthusiasts to soak in the views as they sip award-winning wines and dine on tapas-style plates by Chef Ana Borrajo. Located in “one of the fastest-growing wine regions in the country,” guests can spend their days exploring the numerous wineries within the Sonita-Elgin American Viticultural Area (AVA). 

Industry News  

The City of Sedona’s new Sedona Shuttle Connect, a ride-share public transit system that picks up visitors from their hotels to transport them to the city's attractions, is now available to the public. For only $2, visitors can order a shuttle from the Sedona Shuttle Connect smartphone app to embark on an adventure. Catch a ride to explore Uptown Sedona, Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village and numerous trailheads, just a few of the popular attractions. This new rideshare service is a continuation of the city's ongoing efforts to provide eco-friendly transportation options to visitors which also includes Sedona’s Shuttle trailhead service and the Verde Shuttle.

Flights

Porter Airlines inaugural nonstop flight from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) will commence on Oct. 3. This new route will be offered daily and is ideal for Canadian travelers seeking to explore Arizona’s outdoor adventures or escape the snow. 

Fall 2024

• Frontier Airlines now offers daily non-stop service from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to San Jose Mineta International Airport in California.  

Winter 2025 

• In February 2025, American Airlines at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will add flights to and from McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) in Carlsbad California.

• In February 2025, for the first time at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Southwest Airlines will offer redeye service to and from Baltimore, Maryland.

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Contact Us

For more information, please contact:                                                                 
Marjorie Magnusson at mmagnusson@tourism.az.gov