There’s a new heartbeat in resort style entertainment and accommodations with all the amenities for success, just off Hwy. 101 and Indian Bend in Scottsdale. Talking Stick Resort has all the flavors, bells and whistles you would expect in Vegas, only surrounded by views of openness, mountains and greenery from two golf courses.

Upon entering the resort, in their complimentary valet area (which boasts the best looking valet staff in the Valley of the Sun), you feel the excitement immediately when the doors open to the lobby and you are ready to “let the gaming begin”. The 240,000 square foot Arizona Casino is wide open with tons of windows in the background with magnificent views while offering 800 slot machines, over 50 blackjack tables, a state-of-the-art poker room featuring 50 tables of Texas Hole’Em, Seven Card Stud, and Omaha Hi-Lo. There’s also off track betting and Keno in the Players Sports Bar, which produces and televises its own sports show “We’re Got Your Game”.

Leaving no detail to chance in the pursuit of guest satisfaction, those sampling the fare at Orange Sky Restaurant also enjoy the melodious sounds of live music each night from the eatery’s piano lounge (which has the feel and coziness of the late Mary Elaine’s fine dining restaurant lounge). The 200-seat restaurant features fresh seafood, aged steaks and just-harvested vegetables from local communities. Orange Sky offers a versatile menu allowing guests to eat light, mix and match and share plates, all while experiencing the 360-degree vista of the Valley.

Ocean Trail serves fresh seafood in a hip, sophisticated setting; Blue Coyote Café dishes out American cuisine in an indoor-outdoor setting; Wandering Horse Buffet, decorated and presented in a manner unlike this editor has ever seen, and so very pleasing to the eye that you can’t imagine it’s a buffet, serves international fare in the indoor/outdoor buffet. Black Fig Bistro features handcrafted sandwiches, specialty pizza 24/7, and The Coffee Garden offers just-baked pastries, fresh brewed coffees, teas, espresso smoothies, gelato and European chocolates which can be enjoyed in a garden atmosphere surrounded by two story glass walls facing the patio and pool areas.

The 15-story tower, which includes 497 deluxe, 500 square foot rooms, with 15 luxury suites and 38 executive kings, has a modern feel with all the amenities expected in a five star resort. Design is elegant with tasteful expressions of Native American art and a history of photos throughout their walls. You’ll have to visit many times to enjoy all of the history in the different rooms. All guest rooms feature king or two queen beds, complimentary high speed wireless internet access, GuestLINK for electronics interface with 42” LCD HDTV, two phones, rain shower heads, separate shower and bath, refrigerator and coffee maker, and too many more to name. Suites feature oversized patios/balconies accessed by both the living area and bedroom to enhance your company’s hospitality room or just for entertaining.

The resort offers the ultimate experience in entertainment and relaxation offering 10 lounges, each designed with its own theme – something to fit anyone’s liking. Usually only found in Vegas, the Shadows is a modern martini bar which features one of Scottsdale’s only indoor cigar bars. There’s the Degree 270, on the 14th floor, a contemporary lounge, with live music and sample flights of wine, gourmet cheese and chocolate and an option for the outside patio with spectacular views of Camelback Mountain and the Sonoran Desert. This is definitely going to be a favorite with all the locals. Then there’s the Palo Verde Lounge with margaritas in a warm indoor-outdoor setting, and the 750-seat Showroom with top-rated live shows reverting to a late-night DJ-manned nightclub complete with dancing.

Adjacent to the resort is Talking Stick Golf Club, a championship golf club, with 36 holes of golf, managed by Troon Golf. Two courses – North and South – test the skills of golfers of all levels. The North Course is links-style through grassland, while the South Course is more traditional and lined with trees. Talking Stick Resort guests have the convenience of booking their tee times through the resort web site, concierge or front desk. Transportation is provided to the golf club from the resort.

The Spa at Talking Stick Resort, due to open in the fall, pampers the body and rejuvenates the soul in a luxurious, soothing setting. And, its 13,000 square foot gym space features state-of-the-art equipment.

For the meeting planners, the resort offers a 25,000 square foot Grand ballroom, a 10,000 square foot showroom and 22 state-of-the-art meeting rooms making Talking Stick Resort Conference Center the perfect setting to accommodate every type of gathering, meeting or conference. Add in 50,000 square feet of flexible indoor meeting space and 50,000 square feet of premium outdoor function space (almost the size of two football fields) and you have a meeting planner’s dream…from trade shows to exciting outdoor venues for any theme your imagination can conjure up. And, what an exceptional venue for weddings with outstanding scenery for your memories and photographs as well as the perfect reception.

Talking Stick Resort is an enterprise of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRP-MIC). SRP-MIC comprised of two tribes: the Pima or O’odham and the Maricopa or Piipash.

As leaders of their community, Talking Stick Resort is committed to sustainable business practices that help the environment and align with their core values. Green/sustainability initiatives are carried out throughout the resort.

A priceless collection of Native American art is displayed throughout the resort. Guests are greeted by a cultural center in the hotel lobby. Ensconced in glass, the cultural center features native pottery and a talking stick from which the property gets its name. Other art mediums exhibited include historic photographs, textiles, paintings, baskets, jewelry and more. Each piece of art was created by Native American artists throughout the country, and some were commissioned exclusively for Talking Stick Resort.

No resort in Arizona is complete without a pool. And, Talking Stick Resort has two pools for the enjoyment of guests. Cabanas at the main pool offer privacy and upgraded services, such as in-cabana dining from the resort’s poolside barbecue and spa treatments.

Talking Stick Resort is located at 9800 East Indian Bend Road in Scottsdale, Arizona. For reservations or more information, call 480.850.7777; toll free 877.723.4687 or visit www.talkingstickresort.com. Just a 20-minute drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and 10 minutes from Old Town Scottsdale’s shopping and entertainment district, the resort is perfectly situated for the best of Arizona.

If you live in Arizona, this resort will become the place to be entertained. If you are coming to Arizona, it’s THE place for pure entertainment. Once you’ve experienced it, Talking Stick Resort will be the new heartbeat of entertainment in Scottsdale, Arizona.