The legendary Phoenix rose up in the desert and so has the town of Glendale, AZ. Glendale is one of the western communities with a growth spurt due to the current development in downtown Phoenix spreading north, south and west. In 2006, Phoenix was listed as the 5th largest city in the United States with a population of 1,512,986. With an arid climate, the “Valley of the Sun” has an annual average maximum temperature of 100 degrees F and is the highest of any major U.S. city. Located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix has an annual average temperature of 72 degrees F.

The mythical “Phoenix” bird, bedecked in feathers of red and gold, stands for rebirth and resurrection. Phoenix, Arizona was named as a rebirth of the Hohokam Indian civilization that founded the area. You’ll also find the Phoenix bird on the city’s logo and flag.

Neighboring Glendale is like an oasis in the desert featuring the newest 12-story four-star Renaissance Glendale Hotel & Spa (a John Q. Hammons hotel) with 320 rooms, three presidential suites, 46 suites, and two concierge levels. The suites have cable high-def TV, a microwave, mini refrigerator, in room coffee and tea service and a work desk equipped with a Jack Pack dataport for your Internet audio and video use. The contemporary beds are furnished with fine linens, soft pillows, a comforter and a colorful designer duvet reflecting the warm reds, oranges and golds of the desert and setting sun. There is a modern shoji-style sliding screen between the bedroom and luxurious bath with a whirlpool tub. You can leave the screen open as you relax in the tub and gaze out at the setting sun. The adjoining sitting area provides a table and two chairs for in-room dining from room service. The contemporary couch and chair offers comfort and a place to sit back and relax.

The contemporary marble-tiled lobby has a 3-story colored glass sculpture and water fountain. There are colorful and comfortable chairs for lounging and celebrity watching.

Soleil Restaurant features upscale casual dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try Executive Chef Scott Cape’s luscious Lobster Omelet for breakfast, and contemporary American Cuisine with a Southwest flavor for lunch and dinner. Ray’s lobby bar serves beverages and light appetizers. Refresco’s serves cuisine poolside. Caffeina’s Marketplace Café has wireless Internet access and your favorite mocha latte served at Starbucks.

The two-story full-service Spa Botanica features Pevonia Botanica products and also has a private outdoor spa retreat with seven cabanas. The Spa offers facial and body treatments, skin care needs, and relaxing massages. Looking for a workout? Try the treadmills or elliptical striders in the fitness center with a 17-meter indoor lap pool and a swimming pool.

The Glendale Conference Center adjoins the Renaissance, a premier upscale business hotel. The conference center offers convention and meeting space. There is a Media Center for tradeshows and exhibitions, the Solana Grand Ballroom with 95,000 sq. ft. of space and the Circa Junior Ballroom for smaller meetings or weddings and receptions.

When you stay at the Renaissance you don’t have far to walk to the University of Phoenix Stadium since it is only 0.84 mi. from the front door across the parking lot and you won’t have to fight traffic after the game. The stadium is home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals football team, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and host of the February 3, 2008 Super Bowl XLII. The stadium has seating for 63,400 and is expandable to 73,000 seats.

The stadium offers tours for a behind-the-scenes look. You’ll be amazed at the retractable grass playing field that rolls in for game time. www.universityofphoenixstadium.com Tours are $7 adults, $5 children ages 4-12, seniors 65 and older and military (with ID). Tours last 75 minutes and include one mile of walking and are ADA accessible, just be sure to wear comfortable shoes. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Tour hotline: 623-433-7165

Next door to the Renaissance, is the sports complex with Wayne Gretzsky’s Phoenix Coyotes NHL’s ice hockey team and NLL’s Arizona Sting La Crosse Team at the Jobing.com Arena. Aptly named “the crown jewel of new sports venue complexes.”

The upscale Westgate City Center for shopping and entertainment, is expected to attract 26 million visitors a year. The center offers Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Kabuki Japanese Restaurant,The Shout House with their dueling pianos, 20 AMC Theatres, The Body Shop and many more shops. www.westgateaz.com

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is within 20-minutes from the hotel and offers AZ Town Car Service or Taxi Service to the Renaissance.

Renaissance Glendale Hotel and Spa, 9495 W. Coyotes Blvd., Glendale, AZ (opened October, 2007) For reservations call 623-937-3700.
As the Renaissance says, they have “Everything Under The Sun.” Click here to the Renaissance Glendale Hotel and Spa,website. Listen to kevin and Sue McCarty's Podcast of this hotel. Click here.