Awards and Accolades

A destination with buzz

More than $5 billion in downtown investments. A vibrant, walkable urban corridor teeming with culture. Sonoran Desert inspiration shining throughout every square foot of flexible meeting space. High-tech and healthcare intellectual capital at the ready. The desert made us do it.

Discover why Greater Phoenix has risen in national and local rankings. 

An Ideal Destination for Meetings and Conventions

• Phoenix named a top #9 Meetings Destination in Cvent's Top 50 Meeting Destinations in North America (May 2025)

• Arizona ranks first in the Mountain Region for attracting business investment, with 482 active business expansion projects. Site Selection Magazine (May 2025)

• Phoenix was named one of the top 10 best U.S. cities for corporate headquarters in a new Site Selection report. (January, 2025)

• Top 10 Destinations in North America (HelmsBriscoe, 2024)

• Phoenix #9 on the Convention Cities Index (2024)

• Phoenix #2 for Most Desirable and Highest Growth in Appeal (NorthStar Site Selection Survey, 2024)

• #2 for RFPs Received (Cvent, 2024)

• #3 for RFPs Awarded (Cvent, 2024)

• Top 10 for Meetings With Multiple Hotels and Top 10 for Corporate Meetings & Beyond (Maritz, 2024)

• #4 Largest Hotel Pipeline in U.S. (Lodging Econometrics, 2024)

• #8 for Visitation from Canada and Mexico (Tourism Economics, 2024)

• Best West CVBs/DMOs from the Best of Meetings Today Awards (October 2024)

• The Phoenix Convention Center came in at #8 for Best Convention Center in the U.S. in a ranking by the Wall Street Journal (Nov. 2023)

"With its modern facilities, warm weather, and unique blend of nature and luxury, Phoenix is an ideal destination for unforgettable events."

- Cvent

A Culinary Dream in the Desert

• Phoenix's airplane-themed bar Carry On earned the Best Bar Design Award from North America's 50 Best Bars.

• Phoenix area culinary scene received 12 James Beard Award Semifinalist Nominations (2025)

• Mr. Baan’s Bar and Mookata was named one of the 50 best restaurants in the country by the New York Times (Sept. 2024)

• Chilte Chef Lawrence “LT” Smith was named one of the best new chefs of 2024 by Food and Wine (Sept. 2024)

• Chef Rene Andrade of Bacanora won the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest (June 2024)

• théa at The Global Ambassador was named one of the best new hotel restaurants in the world by Conde Nast Traveler (June 2024) 

• Sauvage Wine Bar was named one of the best bars in America by Esquire (May 2024)

• Bagelfeld's was chosen by Bon Appetit as one of the 24 top bakeries with "The Very Best Bagels in the U.S." (June 2023)

• Chilte made Bon Appetit's list of "24 Best New Restaurants of 2023," (Sept. 2023) Mashed's list of "11 Best New US Restaurants To Try in 2023," (April 2023) and Esquire's list of "Best New Restaurants in America" (Nov. 2023)

• Lom Wong made Esquire's Best New Restaurants in America list (Nov. 2023)

• Valentine's pastry chef Crystal Kass was on Eater's list of "The Pastry Chefs Defining Restaurant Dessert Right Now." (Oct. 2023)

• Century Grand was named the Best Cocktail Bar in the U.S. (July 2023)

"At his lively 'new-wave' Mexican-inspired restaurant, Chilte, at the retro Egyptian Motor Hotel in Phoenix, he conjures a free-roaming whirlwind of a menu that transcends borders, nations, and even continents."

- Food and Wine on Chilte Chef Lawrence "LT" Smith 

America's Friendliest Airport

• Sky Harbor Airport was named the #1 Best Airport in the U.S. by the Wall Street Journal (Nov. 2023)

"Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a breeze to get to. It offers a solid lineup of airlines and flights. And travelers rarely fret about flight delays and cancellations given the never-have-to-look-at-the-forecast weather."

- Wall Street Journal

Hot Accomodations

• The MICHELIN guide awarded One Key designation to four hotels and resorts in Greater Phoenix: Mountain Shadows Resort, Royal Palms Resort and Spa, The Global Ambassador, and the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North (Sept. 2024)

• The Global Ambassador was named one of the Best New Hotels in the World by Conde Nast Traveler (Apr. 2024) 

"At first blush, you feel more like you’ve touched down somewhere in Europe: Peek outside at the sweet pool with its pink-striped chaise lounge and orange-with-white-piping sun umbrellas, and you’ll swear you’re on the Amalfi Coast."

- Conde Nast Traveler 

An Arts & Culture Destination 

• The Phoenix Art Museum was featured in The New York Times'  "A Guide to U.S. Museums to See This Year" (April 2025)

• Rebel Lounge was named best small venue in the U.S. by Billboard (February 2024) 

"This desert oasis of brick, steel and rust has long served as an important tour stop for developing bands traveling Interstate 10."

- Billboard

Bespoke Luxury

• Kierland Commons has been named one of the Top 10 Shopping Centers in the nation by USA Today’s 10BEST 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Building a Sustainable Desert

• Phoenix earns “A List” Designation for Climate Leadership by the Carbon Disclosure Project.

A Culture Rooted in Growth, Teamwork, Development, and Diversity

• Arizona Top Workplace (July 2024)

• Arizona Top Workplace (July 2023)