Five hotels are proposed for Chandler that could add about 1,000 rooms in the next couple of years, boosting the city’s capacity to host visitors by more than 50 percent.

Four out of the 10 hotel projects pegged to nearly double Chandler's hotel room count within the next two years are under construction and scheduled to open within the next few months.

At a time when the East Valley economy is slowing to a crawl, hotel construction is providing one of the few engines of expansion. Among the new projects nearing completion or newly open are a Hyatt Place hotel at the Mesa Riverview development; the 197-room Hilton Phoenix/Chandler in the Price technology corridor; four new hotels at Price Road and Loop 202 in Chandler; and two huge casino/resorts on the Gila River and Salt River Indian communities.

Voters will decide in the March 9 city election if Mesa should have higher hotel taxes.

December 31, 2004

The Holiday Inn Phoenix-Mesa has a new owner, and soon it will have a new look.

Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett spoke to an audience of around 80 Wednesday at the Chandler chamber of Commerce’s economic update luncheon, attempting to shed light on a sometimes murky, sometimes confusing state budget scenario in recent years.

Labor Day is fast approaching and, with it, the unofficial end to summer. Whether you’ve lived it to the fullest or squandered too many hours indoors behind a desk, there’s one last summer hurrah for grown-ups: the hotel pool party, where locals can cut loose poolside, sipping exotic drinks, dancing on the pool deck and loafing on daybeds and chaise lounges.

A six-pack of hotels and resorts in or near the East Valley are for sale, and that could be good for business.

What’s on your wish list this holiday season? How ‘bout a career in rock-n-roll?

Mesa’s Williams Gateway Airport has landed coveted employers such as Brazil-based Embraer and Arizona State University, significant investment dollars, and a bright future according to a recent study by the Urban Land Institute.

Performing Arts 2012-13 season preview

Nearly 30 chefs will offer foods from roast duck with cherry and fig chutney to panna cotta and cake pops at an event celebrating Arizona women in the culinary arts.

New York-based Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide brought so many people to the Valley for its annual convention this week, the hoteliers are overflowing into the competition’s rooms.

Economy got you stressed out and skimping on luxuries like massages and bikini waxes?

September 23, 2004

Despite a declining economy that has left hotel rooms empty around the East Valley and around the country — or maybe because of it — Mesa tourism leaders are thinking of upping the tax tab for hotel guests.

One seldom-thought-of side effect of this recession? The growing number of unibrows, frown lines and muscles as knotted and ropy as golf balls on a strand of beef jerky.

A few years ago it was thought the lack of freeways and Class A office buildings in Mesa kept the city from landing many of the well-paying jobs it desired.

The Hilton Phoenix East/ Mesa is digging up its swimming pool to build a more lavish version for summer visitors.

Development of office and industrial projects is humming along in northeast Mesa, though the Valley commercial market is slowing from its breakneck speed of recent years.

The customer may always be right, but he might have the wrong idea about how to complain about bad service.

National travel trackers say would-be tourists are scrimping on vacation plans this fall because of economic woes. Local travel watchers — the hometown airline and local auto club — are seeing a decline in trip starts.

P.F. Chang’s Rock ’n’ Roll Arizona Marathon, which sprints into action today, adds a week to the front end of the Valley’s hot tourism season.