Sheraton Phoenix Downtown
Sub-brand
UnclaimedA 1,000-room convention hotel in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, operated under Marriott International's Sheraton brand.
Last updated August 24, 2026
Overview
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown is a large convention-oriented hotel in central Phoenix, Arizona. The property stands on Third Street north of Van Buren Street, next to the Arizona Center office and retail complex and close to the Phoenix Convention Center. Its location gives it a primarily business, meetings, events, and urban leisure role rather than the profile of a small independent hotel. With 1,000 guest rooms and approximately 80,000 square feet of meeting space, it is designed to accommodate large conventions, corporate gatherings, association meetings, social events, and visitors attending activities in downtown Phoenix. The hotel was conceived as a public-private downtown development intended to strengthen Phoenix's convention infrastructure. In July 2003, the Phoenix City Council approved a proposed $350 million convention-center hotel to be owned by the city and developed and operated by Sheraton Hotels as a Starwood facility. Arquitectonica and RSP Architects were selected for the design in November 2004. Construction began in late March 2006, and the tower reached its final height in October 2007. The hotel received its first guests on September 30, 2008, following the opening of the north building of the expanded Phoenix Convention Center earlier that year. At 31 floors, the tower surpassed the 24-floor Hyatt Regency Phoenix and became Arizona's tallest hotel tower according to the cited reference material. Its exterior design uses browns, oranges, and yellows intended to evoke the desert sky at sunset. The curved roofline was designed to recall the slope of Camelback Mountain, linking the large convention property to Phoenix's regional landscape. The facilities include a 6,500-square-foot fitness center, a 2,000-square-foot outdoor pool and sundeck, a 29,000-square-foot ballroom, a 15,000-square-foot junior ballroom, 16 meeting rooms, two boardrooms, and an outdoor event terrace. The property's branding changed during the broader development of Sheraton's premium positioning. In November 2015 it was renamed Sheraton Grand Phoenix as part of the Sheraton Grand designation. In June 2018, the City of Phoenix sold the hotel to Marriott International for $255 million, a transaction described in the reference material as a significant loss for the city. Marriott then undertook renovations from 2019 through 2020 and subsequently planned to sell the property. The hotel reverted to the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown name in early 2020, dropping the Grand designation. The property closed in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, while renovation work continued. It reopened on April 25, 2021. Its current brand affiliation is with Sheraton, part of Marriott International's global hotel portfolio. No separate founder, chief executive, public-market listing, or current ownership structure is identified in the supplied reference material.
History
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown was developed as a major convention hotel intended to support the expansion of downtown Phoenix and the city's convention business. The project was approved by the Phoenix City Council in July 2003. The proposed investment was approximately $350 million, and the city planned to own the hotel while Sheraton Hotels developed and operated it as a Starwood property. The project was closely associated with the Phoenix Convention Center, whose north building opened in early 2008. In November 2004, Phoenix selected Arquitectonica and RSP Architects to design the hotel. The building was planned as a high-rise tower on Third Street, north of Van Buren Street, adjacent to the Arizona Center and near the convention center. Groundbreaking took place in late March 2006. The tower was topped out in October 2007, and the hotel accepted its first guests on September 30, 2008. The completed property contained 1,000 rooms and was built around large-scale meetings and events. Its approximately 80,000 square feet of meeting space included a 29,000-square-foot ballroom, a 15,000-square-foot junior ballroom, 16 meeting rooms, two boardrooms, and an outdoor event terrace. A 6,500-square-foot fitness center and a 2,000-square-foot outdoor pool and sundeck complemented the lodging and conference functions. At 31 floors, the hotel exceeded the height of the 24-floor Hyatt Regency Phoenix and became Arizona's tallest hotel tower according to the cited account. The architecture and visual identity were tailored to Phoenix. Brown, orange, and yellow exterior tones were selected to suggest the colors of a desert sunset, while the curved roofline was intended to echo Camelback Mountain. These design decisions gave the convention-scale building a regional visual reference despite its highly commercial purpose. In November 2015, the property was renamed Sheraton Grand Phoenix as Sheraton introduced its Sheraton Grand designation. The designation was later removed. In June 2018, the City of Phoenix sold the hotel to Marriott International for $255 million. The supplied reference characterizes the sale as having occurred at a significant loss to the city. Marriott renovated the hotel from 2019 to 2020 and expected to sell it afterward, although the supplied material does not establish the subsequent ownership outcome. The hotel returned to the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown name in early 2020. It closed in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with renovation work continuing during the closure. The property reopened on April 25, 2021. It remains a Sheraton-branded convention hotel in downtown Phoenix within Marriott International's portfolio.
- 2021
Reopening
[1]The hotel reopened on April 25 after its closure and renovation period.
- 2020
Name restored and pandemic closure
[1]The property returned to the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown name and closed in March during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2018
Sold to Marriott International
[1]The City of Phoenix sold the hotel to Marriott International for $255 million.
- 2015
Renamed Sheraton Grand Phoenix
[1]The property adopted the Sheraton Grand Phoenix name under Sheraton's new Grand designation.
- 2008
First guests welcomed
[1]Sheraton Phoenix Downtown opened to its first guests on September 30.
- 2007
Tower topped out
[1]The hotel tower reached its final structural height in October.
- 2006
Construction begins
[1]Groundbreaking occurred in late March for the high-rise convention hotel.
- 2004
Architectural team selected
[1]Arquitectonica and RSP Architects were selected to design the downtown Phoenix hotel.
- 2003
City approval of the convention hotel
[1]The Phoenix City Council approved the proposed $350 million convention hotel project, with the city as owner and Sheraton Hotels as developer and operator.
Products and positioning
A large upper-upscale, convention-focused downtown hotel serving business travelers, conventions, meetings, events, and visitors to central Phoenix.
Hotel accommodation · 2008
Guest rooms and hotel accommodation
The property offers 1,000 guest rooms in a 31-floor downtown tower. Its scale and location support convention delegates, business travelers, group bookings, and visitors attending events in the Phoenix Convention Center and central Phoenix.
Meetings and events · 2008
Convention and meeting facilities
The hotel provides approximately 80,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including a 29,000-square-foot ballroom, a 15,000-square-foot junior ballroom, 16 meeting rooms, two boardrooms, and an outdoor terrace. The facilities are configured for conventions, corporate meetings, association events, weddings, and other large gatherings.
Hotel amenities · 2008
Fitness center, pool, and sundeck
Recreational facilities include a 6,500-square-foot fitness center and a 2,000-square-foot outdoor pool and sundeck. These amenities complement the property's business and convention focus by serving staying guests between meetings or events.
Food and beverage · 2008
Dining and hospitality services
As a full-service convention hotel, the property provides dining and hospitality services for overnight guests, meeting attendees, and event groups. The supplied reference confirms the presence of dining services in the hotel's overall offering but does not identify current restaurant names or menus.
Brand decisions
2020
Close and later reopen after the pandemic disruptionOtherBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic sharply disrupted hotel operations and travel demand.
Action taken
The hotel closed in March 2020 while renovation activity continued.
Aftermath
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown reopened on April 25, 2021.
2019
Renovate the hotelOtherBackground
After acquiring the property, Marriott undertook a renovation program before the anticipated future sale of the hotel.
Action taken
Renovation work was carried out from 2019 through 2020.
Aftermath
The work continued during the hotel's pandemic-related closure, and the property reopened in April 2021.
2018
Transfer of the hotel to Marriott InternationalM&ABackground
The City of Phoenix reviewed the ownership of the convention hotel after it had operated as a city-owned property.
Action taken
Phoenix sold the Sheraton Grand to Marriott International in June 2018 for $255 million.
Aftermath
Marriott renovated the hotel from 2019 to 2020 and expected to sell it afterward. The supplied material does not confirm a later sale.
Sale price. 255000000 USD (June 2018)
2015
Adopt the Sheraton Grand designationStrategyBackground
Sheraton introduced the Sheraton Grand designation for selected properties within its brand portfolio.
Action taken
The hotel was renamed Sheraton Grand Phoenix in November 2015.
Aftermath
The Grand branding was later removed, and the property returned to the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown name in early 2020.
2003
Develop a city-owned convention hotelStrategyBackground
Phoenix sought a large hotel connected to the growing convention infrastructure around the Phoenix Convention Center.
Action taken
The city approved a $350 million project under which Phoenix would own the hotel and Sheraton Hotels would develop and operate it as a Starwood facility.
Aftermath
The project proceeded through design and construction and opened to guests in 2008.
Planned project investment. 350000000 USD (2003 approval)
Recent events
- 2021
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown reopens[1]
Other
Following the pandemic closure and renovation period, the hotel reopened to guests on April 25, 2021.
- 2020
Hotel closes during the COVID-19 pandemic[1]
Other
The property closed in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, while renovation work continued.
- 2020
Property reverts to Sheraton Phoenix Downtown name[1]
Other
The hotel removed the Sheraton Grand branding and returned to the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown name in early 2020.
- 2018
Phoenix sells the hotel to Marriott International[1]
M&A
The City of Phoenix sold the Sheraton Grand to Marriott International for $255 million; the reference describes the sale as a significant loss for the city.
- 2015
Sheraton Grand Phoenix designation introduced[1]
Other
The property adopted the Sheraton Grand Phoenix name as part of Sheraton's Sheraton Grand designation.
- 2004
Architects selected for the downtown hotel[1]
Other
Phoenix announced the selection of Arquitectonica and RSP Architects to design the planned convention hotel.
- 2003
Phoenix approves a convention-center hotel project[1]
Other
The Phoenix City Council approved a proposed $350 million convention hotel to be owned by the city and developed and operated by Sheraton Hotels as a Starwood facility.
Sources2 sources
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