It’s a dry heat.
Yeah, we’ve all heard that one about desert destinations before. However, business-event planners shouldn’t tune out when places like Palm Springs, California, and Tucson and Scottsdale, Arizona, are described that way, because the lack of humidity absolutely makes a difference versus other North American destinations in the hotter months.
In fact, holding a meeting in these desert destinations outside of the room-temperature high season of January through April can still be quite comfortable for attendees if an event itinerary is structured wisely. What’s more, the discounted rates at upper-upscale and luxury desert properties between May and December allow business groups to have a first-class experience within a reasonable budget.
Suppliers in each of the following destinations are adept at providing offsite options that offer a taste of the desert environment and culture, providing an enjoyable break from business sessions. Here’s how they do it.
Palm Springs, California
Two hours east of Los Angeles and with its own international airport, the Greater Palm Springs area consists of nine towns: Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio and Coachella. These places are home to a few dozen meeting- and incentive-friendly hotels and resorts.
Carolina Viazcan, vice president of sales for Visit Greater Palm Springs, notes that shoulder season there happens in May and again from mid-September through December, when high temperatures peak in the mid- to upper 90s while temperatures at sunrise are in the low 70s.
“This is the right time of year for groups that have extra needs with event space, because hotels tend to be more amenable on the terms for space, rates and perks, especially for midweek business,” she said. “From master account credits to room upgrades to food and beverage discounts and perhaps additional attrition as well, there is more flexibility then.”
[Related: Recent Developments for Meetings in Palm Springs]
Even better for event budgets is the low season of June through mid-September. While daily high temperatures can be about 110 degrees, “inside a ballroom it’s a perfect 72 degrees,” Viazcan noted. “Also, our resorts have added more shady areas and misting technology so that their outdoor spaces are comfortable even during midday.”
Indeed, there is a significant temperature difference between standing in the summer sunlight versus standing on a covered patio with misters blowing cool air on the perimeter to create a buffer from the heat. Nonetheless, spending a block of time outside in the off-season here requires a few tweaks to the group’s schedule.
“We can suggest ways to rework an event agenda so that a group starts the day with a fun outdoor activity,” Viazcan said.
Among the things that many groups do shortly after sunrise: trail walks or foothill hikes, pickleball, nine holes of golf, stretching and yoga classes, and more. After that, a group can begin its meeting sessions at 10 a.m. or 11 a.m.
And after a day in sessions, outdoor activity can come into play again as the sun sets. For instance, there’s the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway that brings visitors to the 8,516-foot-high Mountain Station featuring observation decks, two documentary theaters and two restaurants overlooking the entire valley.
Another interesting option in Greater Palm Springs: waterparks that cater to people of all ages. “We have one park that’s open now and one that’s on the way,” Viazcan noted.
The Palm Springs Surf Park features a lazy river, wading pools and waterslides, but the central feature is a wave pool that creates perfect surf conditions for experienced surfers as well as for beginners taking lessons. The park has a full-service restaurant, while catering is available for evening buyouts of the park, which also has shaded areas and grass lawns that work well for late-afternoon events.
The soon-to-come waterpark is called DSRT | Surf and will open by summer 2026 across five acres of water features, including a massive lagoon and other leisure pools. There will also be pickleball courts and other activities plus a large private event area, and the park will eventually connect to a luxury boutique hotel, according to Viazcan.
Tucson, Arizona
“We’re actually in the high desert at about 2,300 feet of elevation, so in our shoulder season and off-season it’s pretty temperate,” according to Mary Meade, vice president of sales for Visit Tucson. During those times of year, the temperature at sunrise is generally in the low to mid-70s while midday temps rarely get beyond 105.
And “once the sun goes down it cools off quickly, even in summer,” she noted. Being surrounded by five mountain ranges also makes the outdoors more comfortable in Tucson by blocking the direct sunlight starting an hour or so before the official sunset.
Many meeting groups take advantage of Tucson’s shoulder season, which comprises May and June as well as mid-September to mid-December. And the value for money becomes even better from July 1 to September 15 across the 20 or so group-focused hotels and resorts in Tucson and the surrounding foothills.
“That’s when a planner might want to flip the event agenda,” Meade advised. “Do your activities like yoga, hiking, Jeep tours, golf and whatever else in the morning, then let people freshen up and have lunch and go into their meetings in the afternoon.”
One feature that allows such an agenda to work in Tucson is Mount Lemmon, a 9,150-foot-high peak that’s about 45 minutes away from most of the area’s hotels and resorts. “It’s a fabulous drive to the peak because it passes through seven climate zones, from arid desert to a huge ponderosa pine forest,” Meade said.
At the top is the SkyCenter Observatory, where groups can see planets and stars through a huge telescope with guidance from astronomers while having a reception in the restaurant. There’s also a short tram from there that runs to the mountain’s peak, offering additional spectacular views of the Tucson area and the other mountain ranges surrounding the region.
Even in the afternoon heat of Tucson’s shoulder- and off-seasons, several offsite options are available to keep attendees comfortable as they are entertained.
“There’s the Tucson Museum of Art, the DeGrazia Art Gallery, the Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium on the campus of the University of Arizona, the Pima Air and Space Museum with more than 400 military and civilian aircraft, and four excellent car museums that accommodate group events,” Meade noted.
Scottsdale, Arizona
“Our shoulder season has pockets,” noted Kelli Blubaum, vice president of sales and services for Experience Scottsdale. “Groups can have some great opportunities in September but then most of October tends to be very busy here. As we get into Halloween week and right through to late December, though, there are value opportunities again. That’s also true for mid-May through end of June.”
As for the true “hot season”—July and August—“we’ve got some great financial incentives for business groups,” Blubaum said. “The organizations meeting here during that time will often do a fun activity in the early morning, then hold their content sessions later in the day.”
Two social-event possibilities that work well in Scottsdale’s warmer months are found at its spring-training baseball parks, which allow groups to have a reception or dinner with a sports theme.
“We have Salt River Stadium that’s shared by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, as well as Scottsdale Stadium, the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants that’s right in our Old Town district,” Blubaum said.
At Scottsdale Stadium, there’s a 10,000-square-foot space called the Field House that can host meal events featuring fun baseball-related contests, cornhole and other games. “The Field House is climate controlled and has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the field,” Blubaum noted.
However, other memorable social events are held on an elevated terrace or right on the playing field around sunset—an option known as “Dinner on the Diamond.” During that event, attendees can also take tours of the Major League locker rooms and training facilities.
Connections
Experience Scottsdale
experiencescottsdale.com
Visit Greater Palm Springs
visitgreaterpalmsprings.com
Visit Tucson
visittucson.org
More Desert Meetings articles from Meetings Today:
Desert Destinations Deliver Contemplative Group Outing Options
How Phoenix Leverages Local Industry Sectors to Lure Conventions
