AC Hotel Phoenix Downtown — Photo by Marriott
AC Hotel Phoenix Downtown — Photo by Marriott
AC Hotel Phoenix Downtown — Photo by Marriott
AC Hotel Phoenix Downtown — Photo by Marriott
AC Hotel Phoenix Downtown — Photo by Marriott

The 199-room, 13-floor AC Hotel by Marriott that opens today at Arizona Center in Phoenix is a double first - it's the first upscale select service boutique hotel in the city's downtown, and it's also the first joint venture between Dallas-based NewcrestImage and Las Vegas-based LaPour Partners.

According to Jeff LaPour, President of LaPour Partners, "Vibrant art, sophisticated furnishings, and state-of-the-art technology - that's what the AC brand represents and we've brought together all these qualities plus much more to create an elegant, modern travel experience in an urban environment."

The AC Hotel in downtown Phoenix blends contemporary, minimalistic European design with the latest high-tech amenities. In guest rooms, for example, sleek "floating" furniture enables travelers to use space as suits their needs, while public areas feature dramatic locally-commissioned artwork alongside finishes of wood and stone accented by chrome.

Amenities include a penthouse fitness center with multiple hydration stations; an outdoor patio with fireplaces and water features; and a lobby lounge offering tapas, crafted cocktails, and a "porron" wine experience that uses a special Spanish glass pitcher so everyone can drink from the same container without touching it with their lips.

Also available at the hotel is almost 5,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, including a ballroom, two media salons, and a board room.

The AC Hotel is the crown jewel of Arizona Center, a million square-foot mixed use development of shopping, entertainment, dining, and prime office space. Within convenient walking distance are destinations such as the Phoenix Convention Center; the state capital complex; Phoenix Suns Arena; and Chase Field, home of professional baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks.

Other nearby attractions include three theatre and music venues, as well as four college campuses, such as Arizona State University Downtown and the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy.

Collaborating with NewcrestImage and LaPour Partners on the project were Phoenix-based Layton Construction as contractor; Axis GFA Architecture & Design in Los Angeles as architects; and DESIGN Duncan Miller Ullman in Dallas as interior designers.

Hotel website