Metro Phoenix experiences hotel development boom Article originally posted on AZ Big Media on March 16, 2026 From hosting PGA tournaments and the kickoff of Taylor Swift’s world tour to an expanding tech sector ecosystem, the Valley’s calendar is packed year-round with events that draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to Phoenix and its surrounding cities. That steady stream of tourism, and the pressure it puts on lodging, has helped fuel a surge in hotel construction across the metro area as developers race to keep pace. “We have a large hotel pipeline right now, and a lot of it has to do with surging demand in the market,” says Eric Kerr, vice president of insights and development at Visit Phoenix. “The major events being announced, the expansions of major headquarters and economic development in the city have brought the spotlight on Phoenix and the growth that’s happening here.” Game on Major sporting events continue to be one of the most visible drivers of that demand. In Scottsdale, the city welcomes more than half of a million fans when Waste Management Phoenix Open — dubbed “The People’s Open” thanks to its popularity among fans — tees off. Events of that scale require hotels and resorts across the Valley to accommodate large, short-term influxes of visitors, stretching available room supply during peak periods. Beyond leisure and sporting travel, economic development has also played a significant role in boosting hotel demand. As large technology companies continue to expand their footprints in the Valley, cities like Peoria and Mesa have seen hotel occupancy rise alongside new development. In January, TSMC purchased another 900 acres of land near Loop 303 and I-17, a move expected to bring more workers, new construction and the need for additional hotel rooms. In response, developers have announced 27 new hotel properties across the metro area, adding nearly 4,500 beds aimed at supporting Phoenix’s growing tourism and business travel industries. Each of these 27 new properties is positioned, geographically as well as aesthetically, to address the needs of the travelers passing through its doors. “What we see is a lot of extended stay, limited-service hotels that are going in Southeast Mesa by Mesa Gateway Airport, as well as parts of Goodyear and Peoria,” Kerr notes. “A lot of those projects will cater to transient travelers coming [to Arizona] for business.” Striking a balance As hotel inventory continues to expand across the Valley, Visit Phoenix officials say the focus extends beyond adding rooms to ensure that growth aligns with long-term infrastructure, workforce and community needs. Development continues to expand the region’s boundaries farther out in all directions, while transportation and city planning plays a growing role in the viability of new hotel projects. Kerr says coordination with state and local agencies is essential to ensure visitors can move easily and efficiently between hotels, employment centers and major attractions across the Valley. “As the city continues to grow, it’s a mix between working with state highway departments to make sure we can move people around, but also looking at infrastructure within these cities,” he continues. “If Mesa is developing Legacy Park and looking to add a luxury hotel near Mesa Gateway and the Arizona Athletic Grounds, it’s important to ask what pieces need to be in place to make that successful.” With dozens of projects planned or underway, Phoenix’s hotel boom reflects a broader period of economic diversification driven by tourism, major events and continued business attraction across the Valley. As the ribbons are cut on new properties, city leaders and developers face the challenge of ensuring that infrastructure and workforce needs keep pace with expansion. How successfully Phoenix balances that growth in the coming years will help determine not only how the region accommodates visitors, but how it competes as a national destination for events, business and leisure travel. Upcoming hotel projects The following projects highlight some of the most significant hotel developments underway or planned across the Valley, reflecting how developers are responding to both tourism demand and continued economic growth. VAI Resort Located in Glendale, VAI Resort is expected to open in September and will include approximately 1,100 rooms across multiple towers. According to project announcements, the property will feature 11 restaurants, an 11,000-seat amphitheater, large pool area, conference center and the Mattel Adventure Park, positioning it to serve numerous types of travelers. “When we get these massive resorts, especially those that bring something novel like the amphitheater and the amusement park like VAI, it amplifies Phoenix as a new, interesting destination,” Kerr adds. Denū Hotel & Spa Located in Downtown Phoenix, Denū is expected to open in September and will include approximately 236 rooms. According to project announcements, the property will feature a full spa, 22,500 square feet of meeting and banquet space, a ground-level restaurant, and a rooftop bar, pool, and lounge, positioning it well to support events at downtown attractions like the Phoenix Convention Center and Mortgage Matchup Center. “Downtown Phoenix is getting our first luxury hotel with Denū,” Kerr says. “That will be an exciting new property in downtown to support convention business, as we’ve heard from clients that we were missing that in downtown compared to some of our competitors.” Homewood Suites by Hilton Gilbert Located in Gilbert, Homewood Suites by Hilton Gilbert is slated to open in May and will include approximately 130 rooms. The extended-stay property is planned near Mercy Road and Val Vista Drive and will cater to business travelers and longer-term guests tied to corporate offices and regional employment growth in the East Valley. StudioRes Mesa Located in Mesa, StudioRes Mesa plans for a July opening and will include approximately 124 rooms. Designed at an extended-stay hotel, the property will target travelers seeking longer accommodations near Mesa’s growing industrial, healthcare and technology sectors along the Power Road corridor. Residence Inn by Marriott Phoenix Southeast Located in Southeast Phoenix, the Residence Inn by Marriott Phoenix Southeast is slated to open in October and will include approximately 121 rooms. The extended-stay property is aimed at business travelers and professionals working in the area’s growing employment and technology corridors. AC Hotel Scottsdale Old Town Located in Scottsdale, AC Hotel Scottsdale Old Town is expected to open in March and will include approximately 168 rooms. The property will feature an on-site restaurant, bar and rooftop pool, as well as meeting spaces and a business center. Its location will support events in Old Town Scottsdale and is steps from award-winning dining, boutique shopping, and the Scottsdale Arts District. Cambria Hotel Mesa Located in Mesa near Ellsworth and Elliot roads, the Cambria Hotel Mesa hopes to open in April 2027 and will include approximately 107 rooms. The upscale hotel will cater to both leisure and business travelers, offering modern accommodations near expanding residential and commercial development in the East Valley. The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie Located in Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie does not have an opening date yet — the developer, Five Star Development, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2025 but has stated it intends to complete the project. If it does, the resort is expected to include approximately 215 rooms, 80 branded villas, 32 estate homes, and a 29-acre luxury retail and dining district, positioning it well to be a statement luxury property in the market.