Azul Hospitality to Open Dual-Branded Hotels in Phoenix
Azul Hospitality Group will manage AC Hotel and Element by Marriott properties at CityNorth in North Phoenix.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Hotels
Azul Hospitality Group will manage the AC Hotel Phoenix at CityNorth and Element by Marriott Phoenix at CityNorth, which together add 240 rooms in the Desert Ridge area of North Phoenix. The hotels are anticipated to open in early December 2026.
Why it matters
The properties add lodging capacity to CityNorth, a planned mixed-use development in North Phoenix that is expected to include office space, residences, and retail. Fernando Vazquez, previously general manager of AC Hotel Downtown San Jose, was appointed to lead both hotels.
The 240 rooms, which include 142 AC Hotel rooms and 98 Element suites, form part of a planned CityNorth hotel inventory of roughly 1,000 rooms within a $2 billion mixed-use project. The announced figures come from the developer and manager, and the anticipated early December 2026 opening has not been confirmed.
The players
Azul Hospitality Group
Azul Hospitality Group is a hotel management company that operates the AC Hotel and Element by Marriott properties at CityNorth.
LaPour and Holualoa Companies
LaPour and Holualoa Companies are the real estate developers behind the dual-branded hotel property at CityNorth.
The details
The dual-branded property was developed by LaPour and Holualoa Companies and sits near High Street and Desert Ridge Marketplace. The hotels will share a resort-style pool, a fitness center, indoor-outdoor gathering spaces, and about 7,056 square feet of meeting and event space, including a 2,000-square-foot ballroom.
Timeline
November 10, 2026: Opening announcement published for the dual-branded hotels.
Early December 2026: Scheduled opening of both hotels at CityNorth.
Travel Outlook
The dual-brand arrangement at CityNorth follows the shared-campus model Marriott uses to pair its AC Hotel and Element brands under one roof. The project extends that model into a new North Phoenix mixed-use development rather than a stand-alone hotel.
Travelers visiting Scottsdale or the Loop 101 employment corridor will have a new 240-room option at Desert Ridge once the hotels open. Those planning events can consider the 2,000-square-foot ballroom and 7,056 square feet of total meeting space.
The takeaway
Developments that pair two brands in one property can add room variety without a separate site, so travelers comparing North Phoenix options should check which brand suits their stay. Because the opening is still a forecast, confirm availability and booking details closer to December 2026.
What happens next
The hotels are scheduled to open in early December 2026, with the CityNorth development continuing its phased build-out.
Further reading
For more on lodging options across the metro, see Phoenix Hotels coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hotel Online.
