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Celebrating its 250th birthday this year, Tucson is the oldest city in Arizona and has a distinct fusion of cultures and a rich history. Known for incredible weather and surrounded by mountains, Tucson is the home of the giant Saguaro Cactus, the very symbol of Arizona. These silent sentinels are protected in a National Park that flanks the city on two sides. This is the Arizona your attendees expect to see, and will want to experience this unique destination firsthand.
As the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the United States, Tucson has a food scene that dates back hundreds of years. To this day, chefs are creating culinary masterpieces using the same ingredients indigenous to the Sonoran Desert that were used hundreds of years ago. From the small but mighty Chiltepin pepper to the glorious Prickly Pear Cactus, these ingredients authenticate each dish. You are not just tasting food but tasting the history of Tucson.
The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Tucson is a special astronomy city thanks to all the observatories on top of the mountains surrounding it. Tucson has a very dry, dark sky and more than 300 cloudless days a year. Light pollution restrictions throughout the city ensure that the night sky is very visible. Groups can take advantage of this by offering stargazing at their opening reception.
With amazing weather year-round, groups enjoy all sorts of outdoor adventures. From hiking inside a National Park to championship golf on one of the many courses around the city, the possibilities are endless.
Tucson boasts a lively walkable downtown that has over 600 new hotel rooms in its downtown and university districts, making downtown Tucson a favorite for those groups who prefer to have dining options right outside their door. These new hotel options are a perfect complement to the Tucson Convention Center which has over 233,000 sq ft of meeting space and three performance venues.
While downtown, make a stop in Barrio Viejo, one of Tucson’s oldest neighborhoods. Stroll down streets filled with colorful historic adobe homes steeped in history. This amazing destination within a destination is scheduled to receive a National Historic Landmark designation. Groups can enjoy having a world-class meal in a cozy enclosed courtyard of a 150-year-old adobe home, or try their hand at the art of glassblowing at the Sonoran Glass School. Barrio Viejo is also where Tucson’s oldest performing arts venue, the 300-seat Teatro Carmen, is currently being restored, with plans to reopen for live performances, film screenings, dining and outdoor programming on its 8,000-square-foot patio.
Tucson is so much more than a beautiful desert destination it’s a cultural hub, proud of its heritage and willing to share it with the world.
