The Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel continues to grow by a floor per week, and it is now starting to look a lot like the pictures that Phoenicians have been seeing publicized since 2004. Fortunately for the city, Sheraton, and all the people planning on holding events at the hotel, everything is right on time!

The response to the hotel and the emergence of Phoenix as a Convention Destination has been overwhelmingly positive. Organizations from around the world are planning events in Phoenix and more importantly, they are planning events in Downtown Phoenix!!

The biggest challenge to date has been creating an identity for our destination; generally speaking when meeting planners hear "Phoenix" they are really thinking "Scottsdale." Through education and partnership, we are really starting to create a public awareness of what downtown has to offer that is distinctive, cosmopolitan, and independent of the things that people traditionally come to the Valley for....while still acknowledging that those things are attractive supplements to the downtown scene.

Beginning in late 2008 the "New Phoenix" will be open for business. With that said, it is clear to my team and I that Phoenix as a great place to live, eat, work, play, and sell, is here and open for business right now.