Devin Booker, Larry Fitzgerald, Dierks Bentley back new Sam Fox hotel
A luxury hotel opening in Phoenix next year has signed some big-name stars with Arizona ties to back the project.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald Jr. and country singer Dierks Bentley are reportedly involved with Sam Fox’s Global Ambassador hotel, which plans to open in 2023.
The three celebrities from the sports and entertainment worlds will not only bring their star power to the project as investors but are also reportedly involved in details of the development, according to Travel + Leisure.
Booker told the magazine that he appreciates the attention to detail in the hotel’s design, and when it opens it’ll be “a place where I look forward to hosting friends and family.”
Fitzgerald anticipates experiencing scenic Arizona sunsets at the massive rooftop restaurant with views that “really (capture) the essence and beauty of Phoenix.”
Bentley, who was born in Phoenix and has local business ties through his Scottsdale bar Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, also enthused about how the hotel will highlight the Valley’s scenery.
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What is the Global Ambassador hotel?
The Global Ambassador, at 44th Street and Camelback Road, will be a 141-room luxury property whose architecture and design will draw inspiration from cities around the world.
What’s in store: Sam Fox explains what to expect at the Global Ambassador
The high-end hotel is the first under Fox’s new company, Author and Edit Hospitality. Fox is the James Beard Award semifinalist behind Fox Restaurant Concepts, whose portfolio of restaurants includes Wildflower, The Arrogant Butcher and Culinary Dropout. He sold the company to the Cheesecake Factory in 2019.
The focal point of the hotel will be an open rooftop that boasts views of Camelback Mountain. It will have a Mediterranean restaurant whose menu will feature dishes inspired by Italy, Greece and Morocco. The property will also have four other restaurants that specialize in various international cuisines.
Amenities also will include a gym and spa.
“This is something that has taken eight years to get to the opening and we’ve pored over every single detail of the project,” Fox told The Arizona Republic last year. “We’re excited to have a hotel that will be very global in nature but will be very local.”
How Dierks Bentley inspired Sam Fox’s hotel
Fox told Travel + Leisure that Dierks, who is “fanatical about his health,” “inspired the hotel to incorporate the world’s best wellness offerings.”
One of these offerings will be “an incredible cold-plunge experience,” Fox said.
For his part, Bentley looks forward to the Global Ambassador making the most of its location — near Arcadia, in between uptown Phoenix and Scottsdale.
“For me, coming back home to Arizona is all about being outdoors — taking in the natural beauty of the most beautiful state in the country,” Bentley told Travel + Leisure.
He added, “I love the way The Global Ambassador has incorporated Camelback into its design — the view of the mountain from the top deck is going to be incredible. And if the view isn’t enough, it’s a short walk to the Echo Canyon trail if you want to hike to the top of it.”
Reach Entertainment Reporter KiMi Robinson at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @kimirobin and Instagram @ReporterKiMi.
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