SCOTTSDALE TRAVEL NEWS: SEPTEMBER 2009

A monthly tourism news update from the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau

HISTORIC PROPERTY UNDERGOING $2 MILLION ROOM REMODEL
Hermosa Inn an authentic Southwestern hacienda and boutique hotel, was hand-built in the 1930s by renowned cowboy artist Lon Megargee as his home and studio. This quaint boutique property is currently undergoing a $2 million room remodel to retain and honor the "Old Arizona" charm with new furniture, tile, carpet, artwork and bedding as well as expanded and updated bathrooms. In addition, Hermosa Inn's four, 1,400-square-foot villas will be converted into eight suites with connecting doors. The hotel and Lon's restaurant remain open during the remodel, which is expected to be completed in October 2009.

START YOUR ENGINES! SCOTTSDALE IS THE PLACE FOR AUTO EVENTS
The largest hot rod and custom car association in the world comes to Scottsdale Nov. 20-22 with the Goodguys 12th Annual Southwest Nationals. Held at WestWorld of Scottsdale , the event offers unique exhibits, a swap meet, model and pedal car show, and a hot rod cruise. Kicking off the New Year Jan. 17-24, 2010 is the grande dame of auto events, the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction with more than 1,000 collector and special interest automobiles. Also held at WestWorld, Barrett-Jackson will feature hundreds of luxury lifestyle vendors and is a must-see event for high-end travelers and car aficionados alike. Just down the road, the boutique-style Russo & Steele Collector Auto Auction takes place Jan. 20-24 and will boast American muscle cars, European sports cars, hot rods and customs in an all-reserve auction format. And rounding off the car events is the Gooding & Company Auto Auction on Jan. 23 at Scottsdale Fashion Square. The annual event brings high quality collector vehicles to downtown Scottsdale and has sold the second highest-priced car in Arizona's auction week history.

A TREATMENT FOR ALL SEASONS IN THE SONORAN DESERT
With the monsoons officially in season and the rain storms ascending across the desert sky, Agave, The Arizona Spa at The Westin Kierland Resort is featuring the Rain Massage , paying tribute to this precious desert commodity. Utilizing special rain sticks that are hand-carved with good luck symbols and petroglyphs showing the signs of prosperity and strength, a special rowing technique provides warmth from the stick and the sound of falling rain. 

     As summer turns into fall, The Golden Door Spa at The Boulders Resort will offer a cornucopia of new spa services inspired by the transformative spirit of autumn. The PumpSkin Body Treatment is almost good enough to eat with a pear and green apple scrub followed by a Vichy shower, pumpkin cream body wrap, and pear and green apple massage soufflé.

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     Reminisce about the days of snuggling up next to a fire with a warm cup of hot cocoa during the holiday season by treating your worn-out toes to a Cocoa-Mint Foot Treatment at Hotel Valley Ho's VH Spa for Vitality + Health . Cocoa sugar scrub of the calves and feet buffs away dry skin while peppermint oil revives aching muscles. A cocoa mint foot cream completes this treat as it quenches and softens overworked feet from holiday shopping.

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     Transport yourself to the Sonoran Desert this spring as its beauty is magnified with the flora in bloom. The desert-inspired Jojoba and Prickly Pear Body Polish at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North uncovers the skin's natural glow using the Sonoran Desert jojoba shrub and plant antioxidants. A prickly pear sugar scrub and body wash along with a prickly pear and jojoba body butter will make you feel like you're one with the desert. .

SEASON OF PERSONAL DISCOVERY AT FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE
This fall, the Fairmont Scottsdale is offering its new Season of Personal Discovery where you can connect up-close and personal with 32 best-selling authors and lecturers over six themed weekends. From Sept. 25 - Dec. 6, follow your passion and learn life-enriching skills by spending time in the world of self-improvement and the culinary arts, or with masters of mystery and book club novelists, including Pulitzer Prize winning humorist Dave Berry, mega-blockbuster lawyer-novelist Scott Turow and New York Times best-selling crime author Ridley Pearson. Each themed weekend includes a two-night stay at the Fairmont Scottsdale, exclusive admission to the Friday "Meet the Authors" welcome cocktail reception, Saturday book readings, "Q&A Sessions," a Saturday evening "Mix & Mingle" cocktail reception and more. The package starts at $499 per person.

EQUESTRIAN EVENTS GALLOP INTO SCOTTSDALE
The Scottsdale Classic Futurity & Quarter Horse Show brings more than 1,000 speedy horses to Scottsdale every year to compete for more than $200,000 in prizes. The free event, held Oct. 1-7 at WestWorld of Scottsdale , includes a silent auction benefiting the Quarter Horse Association's America's Horse Cares program, which supports therapeutic riding programs for special needs children. Other activities include a welcome party, costume contest and exhibition with equine vendors. 

     Since it's beginning in 1955, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show has grown from showcasing 50 horses to more than 2,000, bringing top owners, trainers and breeders from around the world to compete for more than $1 million in prizes. Held Feb. 11-21, 2010 at WestWorld, the event boasts more than just Arabian beauties, featuring a tradeshow with specialty items from more than 270 vendors. And after a day rooting for your favorite mare, enrich your mind at one of the seminars and demonstrations, with topics ranging from how to properly train your horse to criterion looked at by competition judges. For media information, contact Taryl Pearson at info@scottsdaleshow.com or (480) 515-1500.
     For more than 55 years, the month-long [Back to Press Releases Main]