Warnick + Company has enjoyed a long and successful relationship with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. We advised them on the development of the Radisson Fort McDowell Resort and brokered the sale of the Poco Diablo Resort in Sedona to the Community.

In 2003 the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation contracted with W+C to evaluate the feasibility of a hotel development on the Community lands that would complement their existing casino, golf courses, and Fort McDowell Adventures, creating a balanced resort community. Based on our extensive knowledge of the area and after fully understanding the dynamics of the Community and its goals, we recommended the Community proceed to develop the Hotel.

W+C involvement continued after feasibility and we worked with the Community and architectural and design team to create the building that exists today. We also negotiated both the management contract with TriStar and the franchise agreement with Radisson Hotels & Resorts. We have also performed additional analysis on the Hotel after opening and we continue working with the Community on other projects.

The Radisson Fort McDowell Resort comprises a 248-room property with an award-winning restaurant and 25,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, including an 18,000-square foot ballroom. Guests have access to the casino and the acclaimed We-Ko-Pa golf club, as well as other Community amenities. The hotel is located in Fountain Hills, adjacent to Scottsdale, with easy access to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

The hotel has received many awards including the prestigious AAA 4-Diamond Award and the property was named Radisson Hotel of the Year for 2008, receiving the President’s Gold Award.

This development was a particularly challenging and rewarding assignment because we worked on the project from inception through to and after opening. The contracting was particularly challenging because the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation is a recognized sovereign nation with its own laws that all contractors need to adhere to and be bound by. Before we could commence serious negotiations with anyone, we needed to explain the realities of working under the rules of law of the Community and assist parties in evaluating the relative risks. This was also the first hospitality venue for the Community and we needed to work closely with management to assist them in understanding the complexities of a long-term franchise arrangement and the nuances of a hotel management agreement.

• Platinum Choice Award Winner from Smart Meetings Magazine - December 2009
• Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino, Scottsdale, Arizona Honored With Radisson Hotel's, "Hotel of the Year Award" HotelOnline - June 2009