The Arizona Biltmore has unveiled a 15-month property-wide transformation project rumoured to have cost over $70 million.
Situated close to the base of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve and around 20 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the property first opened in 1929, and features architectural design by Frank Lloyd Wright and Albert Chase McArthur.
The hotel features 701 rooms, including 28 standalone cottages which have been “restored by Virserius Studio and PHX Architecture to their iconic reputation as ‘Hollywood splendour with a splash of cool desert chic’”.
The property’s Wright Bar, where the Tequila Sunrise was invented, has been refreshed, and new evening-only restaurant Renata’s Hearth offers modern Latin cuisine with a philosophy based around “the essence of smoke”.
Meanwhile the new Spire Bar “serves as a lush alfresco lounge space with fire and water features, inventive cocktails and delicious small bites complemented by live entertainment – all anchored by a 30-foot spire that pays homage to Frank Lloyd Wright’s bold design aesthetic”.
The hotel also offers no fewer than seven swimming pools, including the new adult-only Saguaro Pool anchored around a 140-year-old Saguaro cactus, and the revamped Paradise family pool with 65-foot water slide.
The property’s meetings and events spaces have been renovated, and there is a new Tierra Luna spa with 12 treatment rooms and “a range of curated therapies inspired by the surrounding Sonoran Desert”. Nearby facilities include two 18-hole championship golf courses, as well as tennis and pickleball courts.
The renovation works have also seen the restoration of the hotel’s signature “Biltmore Block” – the textile blocks used in the construction of the property, which feature 34 different geometric patterns “inspired by the trunk of palm trees”.
Commenting on the news Danny Hughes, executive vice president and president, Americas, Hilton, said:
“Our team is delighted to welcome guests back as we reopen the iconic Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort that represents grace, style and luxury.
“The transformation provides a seamless connection between design and innovation that will undoubtedly inspire travellers to rediscover this incredible resort, located in one of the most sought after destinations in Arizona, all while experiencing Waldorf’s signature hospitality.”
The Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts brand has a portfolio of over 30 properties worldwide, with forthcoming hotels including the Waldorf Astoria Platte Island in the Seychelles.
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