The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is pushing the envelope of luxury with a comprehensive expansion plan that could broaden Scottsdale's horizon as a high-end tourist destination. From more guest rooms to swanky dining spaces, the celebrated resort is ready to amplify its footprint in the Arizona desert.
A massive makeover is on the cards for the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess following their move to revamp the resort's master plan. A 155-unit guest wing with the convenience of underground parking and 43 Sunset Villas, evocative of a past zoning case approval, aim to cater to an upscale clientele. According to ABC15, this addition would perch on the southeast corner of Cottage Terrace Lane and Hacienda Way, potentially extending the hotel's capacity to enhance its current 751 room tally.
It’s not just the rooms getting a facelift; the cuisine options are expected to be nothing short of gastronomic spectacle. Culinary maestro Michael Mina is on board to open a high-end Italian restaurant within the resort's bounds. Meanwhile, coffee aficionados might find their new haven in an expansive indoor/outdoor coffee roasterie envisaged by the resort. The project, outlined in the planning commission file, would breathe life into about 66 acres of Scottsdale's premium real estate.
While the city's planning commission will deliberate on the proposal on February 28, the expansion plan includes a striking conference center and a ballroom that would set the scene for events under the Arizona sky. The Princess, destined to elevate the Sunset Villas/bungalows with underground parking, sits at the third spot among the largest Phoenix-area hotels and resorts. The details revealed by Phoenix Business Journal also note that the new Michael Mina establishment would be clad in an "orchard of trees," a design hoping to marry Italy's rustic charm with Arizona's distinctive desert landscape.
"While nothing has been finalized, we look forward to working with Mayor Ortega and city leaders to explore new ways to evolve the Princess to make it a destination for tourists and city residents for years to come," uttered Jack Miller, regional vice president and general manager of the Princess, in a narrative obtained by the Phoenix Business Journal. The expansion, if realized, could continue the surge of luxurious accommodations and amenities that the Princess began with the introduction of Privado Villas in 2022.
In the context of city planning and the hospitality arms race, Arizona's markets have been a hotbed of hotel developments, with several marquee openings dotting the latter part of 2023 and more on the horizon for 2024. This planned expansion from the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is poised to add another layer of allure to the state's bustling luxury tourism industry.
