Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Signs With Thunderbird Legacy Development for New Fairmont Hotel and Residences in downtown Phoenix
Scheduled to open in 2025, Fairmont Phoenix will bring a new and unprecedented luxury hotel and residential product to the expanding downtown Phoenix market
TORONTO, June 6, 2022 – Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, part of world leading hospitality group Accor, together with Thunderbird Legacy Development, today announced the signing of definitive agreements for the development and management of a new Fairmont Hotel and Residences in downtown Phoenix. Scheduled to open in early 2025, Fairmont Phoenix will offer a luxury hotel and residential experience unlike anything in the downtown market and will join an impressive portfolio of iconic luxury hotels in North America, including brand flagships such as Fairmont Grand del Mar in San Diego; The Plaza, a Fairmont Managed Hotel in New York City; and the recently reimagined Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, among others.
“We are excited to announce the signing of Fairmont Phoenix, bringing the renowned Fairmont brand to the heart of downtown Phoenix, an epicenter for innovation and growth” commented Heather McCrory, CEO, Accor North & Central America. “This prominent development further positions Accor as a leader in the luxury hotel and branded residences segment as we continue our expansion throughout key North American markets. Fairmont Phoenix will be a prominent addition to the region’s growing luxury portfolio and will provide a unique offering unlike anything in Phoenix.”
Fairmont Phoenix will be located in downtown Phoenix at the southern end of the Central Business District, just a short walk from the Phoenix Convention Center, the sports and entertainment district and the emerging Warehouse District. The 25-story property will feature 225 guestrooms, including 34 suites, and 151 Fairmont branded residences. The generously sized guestrooms will represent the highest quality room in the downtown Phoenix market with sweeping views of downtown, the South Mountains, Tempe, and Camelback Mountain.
Fairmont Phoenix will be host to an innovative cuisine and beverage program appealing to locals, owners and in-house guests across four bars and restaurants, including a full-service restaurant, a lobby bar, a rooftop pool & specialty bar and a gourmet café. Additional property features will include over 23,000 square feet of flexible meeting space; an exceptional spa and wellness center inclusive of five treatment rooms and a health club; a rooftop pool and terrace providing an urban resort ambience; the brand’s signature Fairmont Gold “hotel within a hotel” experience which includes private check-in and an 18,000 square foot lounge; a business center; and retail space.
The residential element will serve as a luxurious urban sanctuary that includes a unique collection of one-to three-bedroom residences, plus a collection of penthouses, occupying floors 14 to 25 of the building. Homeowners will have exclusive access to their own amenities including an owner’s lounge, outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, fitness center, dedicated parking, a private entrance and more. The residences will represent the first branded-residential condominiums in the central Phoenix market and will be among the most luxurious residential offerings in the city. An interest list for prospective buyers is now forming at FairmontResidencesPhoenix.
Thunderbird Legacy Development will serve as the developer and general partner, bringing the expertise of four principals with various professional backgrounds, including banking, airport F&B concessions, and construction. Thunderbird has selected renowned global design firm Gensler as the appointed architect, with Project Management Advisors overseeing management of the project. All design firms are working in close collaboration with Accor’s Luxury Design & Technical Services team.
“We are thrilled to partner with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts to create a unique and iconic mixed-use development project that will set a new benchmark for luxury hospitality and residential living in downtown Phoenix” said Dwight Alexander, Managing Partner of Thunderbird Legacy Development. “Fairmont is one of the most distinguished names in the hospitality world, so it was a natural fit to work together to create a vision of excellence that will further enhance Phoenix’s reputation as a center for innovation, collaboration, and education.”
Thunderbird Legacy Development will co-own the project with the Arizona Opportunities Industrialization Center (Arizona OIC), an active historic non-profit organization providing a network of comprehensive employment training and workforce development programs in Phoenix.
“The downtown Phoenix community is a thriving hub filled with opportunities for new businesses,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “I’m particularly excited about the influx of new jobs that Fairmont Phoenix will bring to the area. It’s a great way to add beauty and economic prosperity to the city.”
With more than 80 locations around the globe, and many more under development, the Fairmont brand boasts some of the most renowned hotel addresses in the world. Most recently in North America, the highly anticipated Fairmont Century Plaza made its official debut in September 2021, building upon its legacy as a Los Angeles cultural landmark. Other notable properties will soon join the exceptional Fairmont brand portfolio, including Fairmont La Paz Puerta Cortés Resort and Residences in 2023, Fairmont Orlando and Fairmont Costa Canuva on Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit in 2025, among others.
Fairmont is part of Accor, the second largest operator of luxury hotels in the United States and a leading hospitality group worldwide. Additional luxury brands in the Accor portfolio include Raffles, Orient Express, Sofitel, and many more. Upon its opening, Fairmont Phoenix will join ALL – Accor Live Limitless, Accor’s award-winning lifestyle loyalty program.
