Industry News
Grand Canyon National Park South Rim Remains Open While North Rim Closes for the Season
The visitor season at the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park has been cut short by destruction from the Dragon Bravo Fire. The North Rim is now closed for the remainder of the 2025 season, which runs through November 30, 2025. While the North Rim is closed, all the South Rim businesses, hotels and surrounding communities such as Tusayan, Valle, Williams and Cameron remain open, fully operational and ready to welcome guests. For the latest on Grand Canyon National Park visitor information and fire updates, visit the Park's website.

Arizona's First Nonstop Flights to Asia
The launch of direct flights between Taiwan and Phoenix from Taiwan-based carriers China Airlines and STARLUX Airlines will start in late 2025 and early 2026, signaling a new era of connectivity between Arizona and Asia. These new routes connect Arizona to potential visitors from more than 20 major markets across the region. Asia is the state's fastest-growing international market with visitation increasing 42% year-over-year so far in 2025.

New to Route 66
Tin Can Alley Airbnb Welcomes Travelers on Route 66
With the Route 66 Centennial celebration next year, Kingman is ready to welcome visitors to the newly opened Tin Can Alley. Here, guests can stay overnight in renovated vintage Airstream trailers, footsteps away from the city's numerous museums, retro diners and memorabilia shops. Visitors can start every adventurous day at Mud on 66, the onsite coffee shop in a transformed mid-century tavern, and end it at Scoops on 66, a refurbished 1939 Mobile gas station serving ice cream.

Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn Reopens
Travelers in Northern Arizona can once again explore, eat and sleep at Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn, located along Arizona's Historic Route 66 and home of the largest dry caverns in the U.S. The famous site reopened to visitors in June after extensive renovations. Visitors can descend 220 feet underground to tour the caverns, winding through the rock walls while learning about the cavern's history. After working up an appetite, visitors are encouraged to enjoy a meal at the Crystal Restaurant, which is located directly inside the caverns. For an exclusive experience, a few can stay the night at the Cavern Suite, a single room in the cavern equipped with a bathroom, seating area and bedroom. Those who prefer to stay above ground can choose from the newly renovated Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn accommodations, including a ranch house, cabins, bunkhouse, standard rooms or a tent site. Visitors can also stay at the on-site RV Park, which features bathhouses for roadtrippers to enjoy. The Caverns make a great stop when driving along Route 66 to celebrate its centennial in 2026.

Petrified Forest Museum Association's 'The Bend on 66' Opens in Holbrook
The Petrified Forest Museum Association recently opened 'The Bend on 66' its new headquarters, educational outlet and store in downtown Holbrook. The store offers a blend of park information, books and nostalgic collectible items. Designed to embody the classic retro flair of Route 66, the store serves as a great starting point for visitors to learn more about the Petrified Forest before visiting the park.

Hotel News
Flagstaff's First-Ever Dual-Branded Hotel to Open August 2025
Visitors participating in Flagstaff's numerous outdoor activities can stay at the city's first dual-branded hotel featuring Home2 Suites by Hilton and Tru by Hilton this month. The 113 suites at Home2 Suites by Hilton are ideal for guests seeking an extended stay to explore Flagstaff, while 91 streamlined guest rooms at Tru by Hilton are designed for Route 66 roadtrippers looking for a quick, yet vibrant pitstop near the Mother Road. Just a short drive away from Lowell Observatory and Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course, guests can unwind after a day of adventure in the hotel's heated pool and dine at the onsite Pines Bar & Bistro.

Denū Hotel & Spa to Open in Downtown Phoenix in 2026
Just steps away from Chase Field and the Phoenix Convention Center, Denū Hotel & Spa will offer a new retreat in Downtown Phoenix starting in fall 2026. Ideal for business travel and leisure, this new lifestyle hotel will feature 236 rooms, 16 suites and more than 22,000 square feet of meeting/event space. "Denū" translates to "Valley of the Sun" and the hotel draws inspiration from the desert's energy, encouraging guests to embrace renewal by unwinding at the full-service wellness spa, lounging within the urban-designed presidential suite and soaking in the rooftop pool overlooking the city skyline.

The Spa at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn To Get $24 Million Transformation
Reopening in 2026, the redesigned Spa at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn will invite guests to experience the wellness benefits of the Sonoran Desert. The transformed spa will embrace the ariVéa philosophy, an individually crafted pathway to holistic health that combines the natural energy of Arizona's deserts with timeless rituals and treatments. This sanctuary offers desert-inspired treatments using indigenous ingredients, a trio of tranquil hydrotherapies and a studio where guests can engage in mindfulness sessions. After spending time enjoying the salt sauna, cold therapy and aromatherapy steam of the indoor wellness circuit, guests can refuel at the brand new Ora Cafe, where dishes are crafted by a licensed nutritionist.

Accolades
Chef Yotaka Martin of Phoenix's Lom Wong Wins James Beard Award for Best Chef- Southwest
Chef Yotaka Martin of Phoenix's Lom Wong earned the 2025 James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Southwest, making her the 12th Arizona chef to earn the award and marking the second consecutive year a Phoenix chef has won the title. (Chef Rene Andrade of Phoenix's Bacanora won the 2024 Award). Chef Martin showcases the flavors and culinary traditions of authentic Thai cuisine she grew up learning in Thailand at Lom Wong, offering diners a chance to try unique dishes from small villages across the country. This family-run restaurant invites guests to savor Won Pen's fried chicken, pork belly curry and egg noodles with a cocktail while enjoying the intimate yet welcoming atmosphere. The James Beard Foundation celebrates individuals transforming America's food culture by recognizing chefs and restaurants that uphold a standard of high quality.

Phoenix Ice Cream Shop Named Best Ice Cream Shop in the Country by Yelp
Novel Ice Cream in downtown Phoenix has been named the Best Ice Cream Shop in the Country in Yelp's Top 100 Ice Cream List in 2025. Visitors can devour unique handcrafted ice cream at this family-owned shop with specialties such as the signature Dough Melt, a sweet combination of ice cream and toppings stuffed in between a homemade donut, creating an award-winning ice cream sandwich. With 12 rotating flavors, including Bourbon Caramel Toffee Crunch and Sweet Tea Sorbet, Novel offers something for every sweet tooth. Visit one of Novel Ice Cream's three locations (downtown Mesa, Old Town Peoria or downtown Phoenix) for the best summer dessert.

Phoenix's Little Rituals Wins Best U.S. Hotel Bar
Guests can check in and then grab a cocktail at Little Rituals in Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott Phoenix Downtown, which earned the prestigious title of the Best U.S. Hotel Bar by The Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards 2025. An international competition, the Spirited Awards celebrates the excellence among beverage professionals and establishments across the globe. Little Rituals earned the award for offering consistently well-made drinks in a comfortable setting and upholding the tradition of the classic hotel bar. Visitors exploring downtown's nightlife will want to swing by to sip elaborate and seasonal cocktails while enjoying views of the city.

Castle Hot Springs Recognized in Travel + Leisure's Top 15 Resorts in the U.S.
Travelers' growing desire for secluded luxury and connection to nature earned Castle Hot Springs in Morristown a spot on Travel + Leisure's 2025 World's Best Awards' Top 15 Resorts in the U.S. This desert oasis and wellness resort was also named the number one resort in Arizona for the fourth consecutive year, thanks to its mineral-rich hot springs, outdoor activities and exceptional service. An adults-only getaway, the resort offers rejuvenation through Watsu pool therapy, an outdoor adventure course, farm-to-table dining and serene stays in their private cabins or bungalows.

Verde Canyon Railroad Recognized By National Geographic as a Top 10 Dreamiest Stargazing Train
Visitors can ride the rails beneath an endless starry sky on the Verde Canyon Railroad in Clarkdale, named the third-best stargazing train in the U.S. on National Geographic's Top 10 Dreamiest Stargazing Trains list. Riders can witness a vibrant Arizona sunset transform into clear dark skies on the Saturday Starlight Tour, as they journey into the magnificent Verde Canyon for an evening of stargazing and exploration of remote chasms accessible only by rail.

Flights
New Nonstop Frontier Flight between Tucson and Dallas-Fort Worth Begins this October
Frontier Airlines will offer nonstop service between Tucson International Airport (TUS) and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) twice a week, starting Oct. 9, 2025. This marks Frontier Airlines' third nonstop destination since returning to TUS earlier in the year.

Contact AOT's Media Relations Team
Kim Todd, Director of Media Relations, ktodd@tourism.az.gov,
Marjorie Magnusson, Media Relations Manager, mmagnusson@tourism.az.gov
Taryn Super, Media Relations Specialist, tsuper@tourism.az.gov