Renovating & Rebranding

The Camby

The main foyer of the Camby

Hospitality
Market

Southwest
Region

Renovation
Build Type

$15 million
Budget

5 months
Duration

Project Overview

Phoenix, AZ

PWI Construction was engaged to completely renovate the former, iconic Ritz Carlton Phoenix, which was being rebranded as The Camby, part of Marriott's Autograph Collection. In addition to a remodel of the property's 277 guest rooms, the scope of work also included the pool deck flooring and landscape, boutique spa, fitness center, and 20,000 SF of meeting space, plus four dining concepts and three bars – and ADA upgrades. The decor is inspired by Arizona's five Cs – cotton, cattle, citrus, climate, and copper.

Outside view of the entrance to The Camby

By The Numbers

  • An icon graphic of a blueprint

    11 floors including 277 guestrooms

  • Rooms floorplan icon

    11 event rooms totaling over 20,000 square feet

  • An icon graphic of tiles contected into a square

    Ballroom accommodates over 650 guests

  • Pool Icon

    One incredible heated rooftop pool

  • Chef Icon

    4 separate food and beverage venues 

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1 of 5
The Camby interior showing an over hanging chandelier

How We Helped

Host Hotels (the owner) brought PWI Construction in early to develop preliminary budgets as well as a timeline for completion. In our role as general contractor for the project, we were a true partner to Host, helping them bring their design vision to fruition in the most efficient, cost-effective manner. In the pre-construction phase, we worked with Host, their interior designer, and their architect to formulate our plan from start to finish. PWI Construction was responsible for scheduling, construction, site logistics, materials procurement, and coordination with the client's purchasing agent, plus warehousing, delivery, and installation of all furnishings and art pieces created for the Camby. All was completed during one of Phoenix's hottest summers on record – that also featured record rainfall and monsoons. "You can't let weather delay the process; you just compress a lot of the tasks into a shorter timeframe," says project lead Mauricio Bustos. 

Project Awards

  • AAA Four Diamond Award
  • Hospitality Design’s 2016 HD Awards Finalist, Public Spaces (Luxury/Upscale)
  • Travel + Leisure’s 17 coolest New Urban Hotels
  • Top 20 Hotels in The Southwest and West in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2019
    Readers’ Choice Awards
  • Business Insider’s 20 Best Hotels for Business Travelers

Gallery

  • The Camby interior showing an over hanging chandelier
  • A living room suite inside one of the rooms of the Camby
  • The pool of the The Camby lit up at night
  • Highly decorated tables inside a banquet hall of the Camby
  • A vista look at Phoneix, Arizona from the top of the Camby
  • A small living room facing a TV inside The Camby
  • A luxury living room area inside the Camby
  • A luxury bedroom suite inside the Camby
  • Camby elevators
  • A room in the Camby with pink flooring and a sign saying "be a revel"
  • Dinning booths surrounded by blue lighting inside a restaurant in the Camby
  • The dinning are of a restaurant in the Camby surrounded by blue lighting
  • A bar inside the Camby surrounded by blue lighting
  • A look at a small Camby room with two beds facing a tv
  • The pool of the The Camby lit up at night
  • Outdoor dinning tables at the Camby
  • Chairs surrounding a fire pit on the patio of the Camby
  • A private dinning room in the Camby with lounge chairs surrounding the table
  • A billiards room inside the Camby
  • The main foyer of the Camby
  • A single bed suite with a small couch inside the Camby
  • A two bed suite facing a TV in the Camby
  • A Camby suite with a queen size bed facing a tv next to a couch and coffee table
  • A side view of a waiting area outside some of the lounge rooms at the Camby
  • A shot of the side of Camby building at dusk
  • A shot of the Camby building at sunset including the logo
  • A small conference room facing a podium in the Camby
  • A view of the marble bathroom sinks in the Camby
  • A side view of the banquet hall with the stage facing the Camby
  • A banquet hall in the Camby facing a stage with fully decorated tables surrounding the stage
  • A look at the tables inside a banquet hall in the Camby
  • A look outside some of the lounge rooms at the Camby
  • A full view of the Camby building at dusk
  • An bar and lounge area with a large couch inside the Camby
  • Outdoor patio of the Camby with chairs and pillows
  • The Camby restaurant and bar with dark blue mood lighting

Client Story

Host Hotels came to PWI Construction with an ambitious project – to transform the Ritz-Carlton Phoenix into a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel called The Camby. Pronounced “Cam-bee,” the hotel’s name was inspired by its proximity to Camelback Mountain.

The goal was to turn the property into a hub for locals as well as travelers, according to Greg Miller, vice president and general manager of the hotel. “In addition to stunning design details found throughout the hotel, we thoughtfully amplified the dining, fitness, and wellness offerings for travelers and Phoenicians to enjoy,” he explains.

PWI Construction was the general contractor for the total rebrand and remodel – which included 277 remodeled guest rooms, a rooftop pool, a boutique spa, a fitness center, and 20,000 square feet of meeting space. The décor, led by Stonehill Taylor, features copper elements and turquoise accents, a lobby lounge with an oval ceiling, and other elements.

The result was a new life and new energy for an iconic property. "And thanks to PWI Construction, we were reopened and ready in time for the hotel's busy holiday season," says the owner's representative.

The Team

Stonehill Taylor
Designer

The Camby was conceived as a relaxed, playful approach to the luxury experience. The Stonehill Taylor team used the classic bones of the original hotel as the canvas upon which they built a new, contemporary personality. 

Mauricio Bustos
PWI Lead

Mauricio Bustos, a natural leader, worked with the PWI Construction team onsite, as well as with the owners, owners' representatives and design team from pre-construction planning through staffing up through warehousing, delivery and installation of all furnishings and art pieces.

PWI Construction Mauricio Bustos Portrait photo

“It's one of those projects that the owner still shows off, purely because of timeline and cost, because they have not been able to replicate that again.”

- Mauricio Bustos, PWI Construction

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