After dominating the restaurant industry with more than 25 years of experience and 140 restaurants across the country, award-winning restaurateur Sam Fox decided to tackle the other side of the hospitality industry and open his own hotel, The Global Ambassador, today, Dec. 6.
“The Global Ambassador is a deeply personal, legacy project for me that furthers my pursuit of combining unmatched hospitality with culinary excellence,” said Fox, who manages, operates and co-developed the hotel under his newly formed Author & Edit Hospitality company. “This is so much more than a hotel – it’s a luxury lifestyle brand that we hope will inspire and draw travelers from all over the world to explore Phoenix in a new way. The Global Ambassador is the natural evolution of my passion for creating memorable hospitality experiences.”
Located at the base of Camelback Mountain at the corner of 44th Street and Camelback Road, The Global Ambassador combines elevated hospitality, culinary and wellness experiences within one perfectly and precisely curated destination.
“With The Global Ambassador, we are evolving luxury hospitality at every level and from every perspective in order to deliver something truly remarkable for the well-traveled set who is looking to be inspired and intrigued in an authentic and unexpected way,” Fox said. “This is a convergence of significance found in hospitality, wellness and culture.”
Every detail of the hotel has been meticulously poured over, studied and designed by Fox himself. The hotel is oriented around a plaza courtyard with a sprawling lawn accented with lush, verdant landscaping and inviting seating that encourages guests to relax and unwind.
The five-story hotel has 141 luxurious yet comfortable rooms, a world-class spa and state-of-the-art fitness center.
The Global Ambassador will also feature five new restaurants created by Fox.
“As the hotel name implies, the restaurants are an expression of all these spectacular places,” he said. “I’m excited to showcase what has been almost a decade in the making. These five restaurants are gathering places, not only for travelers and hotel guests, but for locals who have been instrumental in our success.”
Four of the five restaurants will welcome guests on opening day, including:
Le Âme
Nestled in the soul of The Global Ambassador, where romantic charm meets culinary excellence, Le Âme is a Parisian steakhouse that pays homage to traditional French fare with the perfect steakhouse touch. The menu boasts a wide variety of classic French dishes like Steak Frites Au Poivre and French Onion Soup along with a new take on dishes like Tuna Carpaccio and Brick-Pressed Chicken Coq Au Vin.
Carefully curated by the hotel’s master sommelier to complement the flavors of the dishes, the wine offering at Le Âme is true to its Parisian roots, but with reach across the globe. The cocktail program is also designed to mirror the cuisine – beautiful ingredients, perfectly executed with drinks like Le Spritz Nouveau and French for Grapefruit.
Le Market
The Parisian patisserie, Le Market, draws guests in with echoes of chatter and a bustling pedestrian energy throughout the day. From decadent pastries and the perfect espresso in the morning to exquisite cheese presentations curated by the in-house fromager paired perfectly with wines in the evening. Le Market is a place where guests come to socialize in a chic yet elegant setting.
Pink Dolphin
Step into the playful and laid-back atmosphere of Pink Dolphin, where Mexican and Peruvian-inspired dishes and drinks pair with a whimsical and vibrant poolside setting. Whether looking for a leisurely lunch, a sunbather’s retreat or an alfresco dinner, the indoor restaurant spills out into a covered dining terrace.
The bar offers a range of margaritas and authentic cocktails, each made with fresh ingredients and pressed juices. Guests can dive into the Peruvian Ceviche with a variety of seafood options like shrimp, white fish and scallops, or order the Cancha, shallow-fried corn seasoned with lime and salt. As guests sip, savor and sway to the beat, they can’t help but get carried away at Pink Dolphin.
Lobby Bar
With a sense of style that exudes the perfect combination of intimacy and liveliness, the Lobby Bar ignites creative expression with a sophisticated spirit — think jazz trios and special artist-in-residence nights. The Lobby Bar serves a mixture of classic and craft cocktails with a European flair as well as an all-day snack menu.
At the pinnacle of the hotel is theà Mediterranean Rooftop, an 18,000-square-foot restaurant overlooking Camelback Mountain, which will open Dec. 27.
théa Mediterranean Rooftop
Soon to be one of the West’s most picturesque rooftop settings, theà Mediterranean Rooftop is inspired by the sun-soaked Mediterranean region. In the shadow of Camelback Mountain, theà, which translates to “goddess of light,” serves as a haven where guests experience simple pleasures and extravagant moments sky high.
The menu explores preparations of mezze, pasta and coastal seafood with dips, flatbreads, perfectly prepared vegetables and marinated protein skewers, all designed to be shared. Théa’s cocktail program is equally rooted in fresh and house-made ingredients that combine the classic with the unexpected. But the cocktails are not to be outdone by one of the country’s most extensive rosé collections.
Also opening is The Spa, a center for personal discovery, inspired vitality and luxury nourishment.
The spa has 10 treatment rooms where health, beauty and fitness experts will curate treatments like facials, full-body massages, light therapy, IV drips and cryotherapy. Even the locker rooms are upscale, equipped with jacuzzi, cold plunge, steam room and sauna. There’s also a 9,000-square-foot fitness center with a yoga studio, spin studio and pilates room.
The Global Ambassador is located in Phoenix at 4360 E. Camelback Road. Stays can now be booked online, starting from approximately $600 per night, at globalambassadorhotel.com.
