TRANSFORMATION: Phoenician Resort undergoes renovation

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - The Phoenician Resort, located at the base of Camelback Mountain, has been undergoing a major renovation project this summer.

The resort, which opened nearly three decades ago, is often viewed around the world as a lap of luxury. Resort officials, however, say it wants to "up its game" even more, and be the best in the country. and it's putting a lot of money where its mouth is.

Officials with the resort are touting the renovation as a transformation, as it strives to be the number one resort in North America.

"Luxury has changed over the years," said Mark Vinciguerra, the General Manager of Phoenician Resort. "What we thought of as luxury in 1988 has totally changed."

The pool complex will get some work, which includes adding a waterslide and treehouse. The area will also be expanded.

"The leisure traveler the staycationer love the swimming pools," said Vinciguerra. "They want all the activity center on the pool."

Other projects involve rejuvenating classic eateries like the Thirsty Camel and the English Tea Court, and adding an athletic center and retail stores. Meanwhile, the golf course will be completely redesigned, which involves a reconfiguration from 27 to 18 holes.

"It's mostly about the experiences," said Vinciguerra. "people want to create memories, and they're willing to invest time money and vacations in creating family memories. It's not just about the glamor and bling."

The total cost of the renovation is not being revealed, but it could run into the tens of millions of dollars.

Vinciguerra said their goal is to provide an experience beyond their guests expectations.