A new 240-room hotel complex near Desert Ridge Marketplace in north Phoenix is gearing up to welcome its first guests this December, pairing two Marriott brands under one roof with a saline pool, an eighth-floor mountain-view gym and outdoor terraces built for both business travelers and weekend visitors.
Boutique Hotelier USA reports that AC Hotel Phoenix at CityNorth and Element by Marriott Phoenix at CityNorth are expected to open this December. The dual-branded property will include 142 AC Hotel guest rooms and 98 Element suites, developed by LaPour and Holualoa Companies and managed by Azul Hospitality Group. The two hotels sit near High Street and Desert Ridge Marketplace in the Loop 101 employment corridor, and they're part of the broader, $2 billion mixed-use CityNorth destination taking shape in that part of the city.
The eight-story building includes approximately 7,056 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting, event and gathering space.
Two Brands, One Shared Set of Amenities
Guests at both hotels will share a resort-style saline pool, open-air bar, grilling areas, fire features and an eighth-floor fitness center with mountain views, the same report notes. AC Hotel Phoenix at CityNorth offers select balcony suites overlooking the pool along with the AC Lounge and an adjoining outdoor terrace for cocktails and dining, according to Boutique Hotelier USA. The property also includes a 2,000-square-foot ballroom with operable glass walls opening onto a private outdoor terrace and fireplace.
Element by Marriott Phoenix at CityNorth, meanwhile, is built around extended-stay comforts: suites with in-room kitchens, complimentary Rise breakfast, guest laundry, bike rentals and EV charging stations. Per Marriott, room options include king, queen, studio and one-bedroom configurations, and the brand's Studio Commons setup connects four private guest rooms to a shared living and kitchen space — a layout aimed at groups traveling together for longer stretches.
Leadership and the Brands Behind the Build
Azul Hospitality Group has appointed Fernando Vazquez as general manager to oversee pre-opening efforts and day-to-day operations across both hotels, Boutique Hotelier USA reports.
Holualoa Companies' Aroon Chinai said the firm is proud to partner with LaPour on a second project following AC Hotel Phoenix Biltmore, an earlier collaboration between the two companies. Chinai said the project would contribute to walkability and a destination experience.
LaPour said the project responds to travel demand.
Part of a Bigger North Phoenix Build-Out
CityNorth itself is planned to eventually include more than two million square feet of office space, 3,400 multifamily residences, approximately 1,000 hotel rooms and a mix of retail, dining and entertainment offerings, according to Hotel Online. The AC Hotel and Element pairing is part of that larger vision for the district.
The opening also lands amid a broader surge in Phoenix hotel construction. The city is projected to open 3,650 hotel rooms across 22 properties this year, second only to New York and up 117% from 2025, according to Bisnow. Bisnow's report also points to 124 hotel projects totaling 16,300 rooms under development citywide, though it doesn't specify which fourth quarter that count reflects. The outlet adds that rising tariffs on building materials alone are expected to push project costs up between 2.8% and 3.4% in 2026, a pressure facing developers across the Valley's hotel pipeline.
