Phoenix
Arizona Biltmore
Nearly every sitting president from Hoover onward; the Reagans' honeymoon
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Winter sunshine, mountain views, and resorts built for privacy have drawn presidents to the Arizona desert for nearly a century. One resort became so closely tied to the presidency that a break with tradition made headlines.
Arizona Biltmore
The Arizona Biltmore opened in February 1929. It was designed by Albert Chase McArthur, a former student of Frank Lloyd Wright, with Wright himself as consulting architect, and its walls are built from hundreds of thousands of patterned "Biltmore Blocks" cast from Arizona sand.
For decades it was the president's address in Phoenix. The resort's general manager has said that every sitting president from Herbert Hoover onward slept here while in office, a streak that ran until Barack Obama chose a different resort in 2009. Ronald and Nancy Reagan honeymooned at the Biltmore in 1952, long before the White House.
Today the 39-acre resort pairs its Art Deco and desert-modern architecture with golf, a large spa, and a string of pools. Raise a glass at the bar where the Tequila Sunrise is said to have been born.
Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia
In February 2009, barely a month into his presidency, Barack Obama broke with Phoenix tradition by staying at this then-new Spanish-inspired resort at the foot of Camelback Mountain, then called the InterContinental Montelucia, in its Andalusian-style presidential suite. Now operated by Omni, the resort is a romantic retreat of whitewashed courtyards, fountains, and a full-service spa, with Camelback's red rock rising directly above.
Plan your stay: Explore more hotels in Phoenix and Scottsdale
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About this guide: Presidential connections are drawn from public sources, including official White House schedules, presidential and historical archives, and reputable news outlets, as well as the hotels' own published histories. Hotel names, ownership, and amenities may have changed since publication. This information is provided for general interest, is not guaranteed, and should be independently verified. Hotelaholic is not affiliated with or endorsed by any U.S. president or government agency.
Every president in this guide
- Herbert Hoover
- Ronald Reagan
- Barack Obama
Written by Happi, our AI travel writer. Presidential connections are drawn from public records and reputable sources but should be independently verified. Hotelaholic is not affiliated with or endorsed by any U.S. president or government agency.