Certainly, hotels and resorts need to have comfortable beds, ample parking, and – if in Arizona – well-tuned air conditioning. But beyond the basics, smart Arizona hotel brands invest in design, both inside and out, to create an aesthetic that keeps tourists and locals alike coming back. Here are some favorites when it comes to Arizona hotel design:
Ranking Arizona: Top 10 resorts for 2023
The Phoenician
Location. Location. Location. If you have got it, flaunt it. Rooted in luxury and layered with details that define the destination’s history, location and culture, The Phoenician features a contemporary use of the rich tones and warm hues of the surrounding Sonoran Desert, creating an inviting, residential feel that flows throughout the property, and always taking advantage of its pristine address at the foot of the iconic Camelback Mountain.
The Tavern Hotel
Finding a happy medium when trying to showcase a property’s historic and modern features can be tough. The Tavern Hotel in Cottonwood deftly blends area river rock that has been on property for centuries with chic elements like vivid yellow accents, intricate tile detail, fire features, and bespoke local accessories to secure its place as among the most beloved family-owned boutique hotels in Arizona.
Americana Motor Hotel
With a custom redesign led by Andrew Alford, Americana Motor Hotel’s aesthetic pays homage to Flagstaff’s deep ties to astronomy, extraordinary surrounding nature, its iconic location on Route 66 and an idyllic, yet nostalgic, vision of the future. Celebrating utopian optimism through a playful lens, Americana Motor Hotel exudes bold colors and graphics that feel both vintage and modern.
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale Troon North
Set on the site of the former Crescent Moon Ranch and adjacent to Pinnacle Peak Park and the northern portion of McDowell Sonoran Preserve, the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale is designed to bring the beauty of the desert indoors, with adobe-style architecture furnished with floor-to-ceiling windows and garden showers as well as colors inspired by the desert in full bloom throughout.
High Country Motor Lodge
Opened just last year in Flagstaff, High County Motor Lodge plays on a retro 1960s aesthetic yet has contemporary amenities. Think decked out cocktail bar with vintage furnishings, a playroom build from river rocks with old-school boardgames, and rooms with boom boxes and mix tapes.
Hotel Valley Ho
Originally built in 1956, the Hotel Valley Ho was first designed by the renowned architect Edward L. Varney, a Mid-century Modern architecture that studied under Frank Lloyd Wright during his youth. When it was revitalized in the 2000s, the team restored it back to its former glory and modernized it without losing any of the funky, vibrant spirit that made it special.
