Obama's resort in foreclosure

[Phoenix-Risen]

President Obama bucks Biltmore tradition by checking in to Montelucia

President Barack Obama's parade of change has come to Arizona, indeed. He's switching things up in the presidential boudoir.

Every American president since Herbert Hoover has stayed at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix at least once while visiting the Valley.

For his first visit here, Obama chose to stay at the new InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa in Paradise Valley. Open just three months, the Montelucia is a $325 million Andalusian-inspired stunner that's already facing foreclosure.

The White House declined comment about why Obama is bucking Biltmore tradition, leaving a bare spot on the resort's beloved wall o' presidential pics. (We understand - we'd much rather the White House folks spent their time changing the world.) Perhaps Obama's staff found it apropos that the president could support a suffering business while on his economic-stimulus national tour. The lender backing the Montelucia began foreclosure proceedings this month.

Good news: The presidential suites at the Montelucia go for $3,000 to $4,000 per night, and the resort was fully booked Tuesday night with Obama's entourage and other guests. The president might help to get some bills paid. O-bam-a!

The rest of the story