The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

A magical Celebration of Charm and Heritage…

Story and most photos by: Robin Roth

Except for 1,2,9,24, and 25

The multi-award winning Westin Kierland Resort and Spa is a real treasure in the desert. With its stunning, sophisticated warmth, its sleek modern elegance, and its total celebration of Arizona’s rich legacy, this hotel is a real find. From the instant you enter its doors, you can see, taste, and touch the state’s vast heritage. From its stylish hallways, plush opulent grounds and landscape, to its traditions and restaurants, you can feel the state’s timeless culture and everlasting traditions.

There are plaques throughout the hotel that share details of the state’s proud history provided by the state’s historian, Marshall Trimble. The decor itself, displays artistic versions of rivers, the Grand Canyon, waterfalls, and the Southwest environment. The resort boasts the spirit and dedication of those Arizona visionaries who came before us.

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is a four-diamond Resort located in the heart of Scottsdale, Arizona. The Resort features 732 rooms, 55 suites, and 32 casitas as well as 175,000 square-feet of indoor and outdoor function space.

Every stunning room in the resort has a private balcony or terrace with truly magnificent views of the plush, opulent golf course and the glorious mountain range. Walking around the magnificent grounds is a real treat and I highly suggest taking some time to stroll around, reflect and enjoy its splendid beauty. Their luxurious beds, ‘the Heavenly Bed’ (appropriately named) and cozy bedding provided me with a rejuvenating and blissful nights sleep. Each room is equipped with every amenity you can imagine. Even though I was thousands of miles away from home, I felt at home. The rooms radiate with warm inviting colors, vibrant textures, and natural materials typical of the Southwest style and décor. I was immensely comfortable and at ease staying at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa.

I do suggest the Royal Peaks Lounge, which is one of the hotels major luxuries. It is truly A MUST for your stay. The lounge serves a lovely continental breakfast, along with snacks throughout the rest of the day. It is very special. The cookies are out of this world I must add. Sead, is the charming gentlemen who attends to the lounge daily, and will no doubt provide you with the same gracious hospitality he showed me.

Meetings and Events are an important part of the Westin Kierland. The hotel provides all the services, resources and amenities needed to hold productive and successful meetings and events. The hotel will even assist clients in building their ideal event. It is a marvelous resort for groups to hold their events because of the countless activities and services offered to the participants and their families to enjoy. The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa boasts generous meeting space, banquet rooms, 37 meeting rooms, ballrooms and conference center separated from the main areas, which is perfect for privacy and efficiency. I also noticed an event outside in one of many themed courtyards. It looked like such a fun, ideal atmosphere for the people gathering outside in the fresh air that I almost crashed the party myself… I said, almost!

Agave Spa:

The spa is truly a heavenly retreat where I was able to forget the outside world. When I left that spa I was rejuvenated from my mind and body to my spirit. This spa embraces the traditional native treatments handed down from Arizona’s many cultures of healing, with its rare treatments infused with the essence of the Far East, as well as the common traditional treatments. There are also many facial, therapy, and acupuncture treatments as well as meditation courses available for pleasure and relaxation. As it was explained to me, the spa’s goal is to bring enjoyment and a variety of spa treatments while dedicated to improving their guest’s well-being and promoting a healthy lifestyle. I felt all of that and more.

There are three championship golf courses at the hotel:

The Scottish influences are important at the hotel; hence, the "Great Scot" Kilt Golf Experience is an entertaining past time. The Westin Kierland is well known for their Scottish Traditions, including their “Bagpipes at Sunset Series” and “Scottish Golf Experience.”  Golfers seeking to play golf, the “Scottish Way”, can play Kierland Golf Club on the “Great Scot” Kilt Golf Experience Package. There are also, Segway Golf and FORE-MAX Golf Training Systems available which offers golfers improved distance, flexibility, and stamina on the course.

The Award-winning golf instructor Mike LaBauve works with The Westin Kierland Resort’s fitness director, Steve Heller, to create a program that blends the best of exercise physiology with top golf instruction.

Family Golf Program offers Jr. Golf Clinics, club rentals and fees.

There are eight food and beverage venues for dining at the resort.

Deseo:

This fine restaurant is an incredibly zealous food and dining experience. Its Latin influenced cuisine features a distinctive, brilliant blend of bold, enticing flavors and combinations that will blow your mind. I loved this food and no doubt will be a forever delicious food memory. Chef Douglas Rodriguez is the brilliant inventor of this Nuevo Latino Cuisine in the hotel. The ever so charming Roberto Madrid is the current chef, who is so in love and passionate about his food and restaurant. I loved just listening to him speak with excitement for the dishes he helps to create nightly. I extend major kudos to Doug and Roberto. This food rocks!

The Westin Kierland’s signature restaurant Deseo, has transformed into an art gallery, showcasing the work of Cuban artist and resident artist, Nelson Garcia-Miranda. Nelson brings a unique display of artistic expression to his canvas as he paints Tuesday through Saturday during Unwind Hour. Garcia used to work as a steward at the Resort after seeking political exile from Cuba until his remarkable talent was discovered by Chef Roberto. It is a real life Cinderella (Or Cinderfella) story.

Thanks to my lovely server Amelis Paz for her guidance on my food journey.

Allow me to make a few suggestions:

You must begin with one or two or three of their famous and luscious Muddle drinks, YUMMMM! Get a designated driver though, safety first and then Muddle…

I shamelessly did try not to eat a dozen of the Pan De Bono, the fabulous unique bread served.

Lobster Escabeche 18 anise-scented duck ropavieja empanada: An explosion of flawless flavors… To die for

Tuna Tiradito: Tangy and zesty fusion of flavors

Shrimp Chicharron: Wow… sweet yummy and spicy

Anise scented duck ropavieja empanada: Delectable and mouth watering

Jamon Serrano wrapped mano de leon scallop: The funny thing is, I am not a scallop fan, however, I did manage to devour every bite of this fish treat with its astounding combination of flavors and textures.

Dessert: The famous chocolate cigar: A presidential chocolate cigar that is ridiculously delicious and won’t get you into any trouble… Sinful though; And ya know what, go for it and have one of everything else! The resort has a fab gym!

Nellie Cashman: named for "The Angel of the Mining Camp” is the hotel’s casual dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is a large emphasis on locally grown produce. Bravo to Chef Jason Christies’ menu that carries a large choice of southwestern Mediterranean flair. The breakfast buffet is a real morning treat and I suggest you really go for this offer. I immensely enjoyed the assorted selection of wonderful fresh baked pastries and breads, cereals, meats, nuts, dried fruits, fresh fruit and berries, as well as the made to order omelet stations and meats. Yes, readers, I ate it all!  It’s all part of my job!

For lunch and dinner: You can choose from a huge selection of foods ranging from soup to salad features, to flatbreads and pizzas, to sandwiches. Nellie Cashman’s is a real unique old fashioned restaurant serving wonderful foods.

I also enjoyed on Sunday, a scrumptious champagne brunch featuring wonderful food delicacies like house-cured white tea smoked salmon, iced shrimp, crab legs and international organic cheeses. Great little café, I wish Nellie Cashman’s was a franchise.

Brittlebush Bar & Grill: Is a Gastropub (n):British term for a public house ("pub") which specializes in high-quality food and a step above the more basic "pub grub." The Bar and grill has a hassle-free atmosphere as well as a menu that complements an assortment of beers and wines offered.

Other fine dining places at the hotel are:

Waltz and Weiser Saloon

Dreamweaver's Canyon

J Swilling's

Edie's Range House

The Rim Lobby Lounge

Or the 24 hour In Room dining, which is unusually sensational as well.

Award-winning Family FUN Programs:

Kids Club

FUN activities, lawn chess, basketball and more at the new “OK Corral” Adventure Water Park and Lazy River

Poolside Activities for kids

Kid’s Pajama Party

FUN Arts and Crafts

Kids in the Kitchen

Arizona S’mores Roasting:

The Westin Kierland Resort takes traditional S’mores roasting to a whole new level. Families can enjoy the usual fun of roasting S’mores around a campfire, with a unique Arizona twist that creates a brand new memory every Friday and Saturday.

Digital Kids Zone

“Kierland Mining Co.”

The Compass Passport Program

Next to the Adventure Pool is the children's play area, which features pop-jet water fountains, a shallow pool for small children and babies.  The entire Westin Kierland water park is surrounded by well-manicured native Arizona landscapes and family-friendly cabanas. 

Poolside Movies

The Phoenix Zoo is here!

The FUN Team has partnered with the Phoenix Zoo to bring the animals to you!

Family Golf Program

I loved the Scottish influence at the Westin Kierland Resort:

You can enjoy Scottish-themed Resort amenities including golf, scotch tastings, wedding ceremonies, and bagpiper Influences. In keeping with the Resort’s “Essence of Arizona”, I had a blast at the “Scottish Pipes at Sunset Series”. People just gather around the fire pit at the Resort’s Dreamweaver’s Canyon to listen to the authentic music of the Scottish Bagpipes with Michael McClanathan (a bagpiper with 40 years of experience). The only thing that made this a cooler experience was the Johnnie Walker Scotch Line…. The weather is so perfect year round for such an event. Still keeping with the Scottish heritage, there is also the, “Saturday Night Scotch Tastings,” the “Scottish Golf Experience,” Scottish-themed wedding ceremony package, and even the Resort’s mascot, “Scotty” the bagpiper. One of my favorite Westin memories was ordering room service and dining on my terrace sipping a glass of wine, staring at the breathtaking golf and mountain views while listening to Michael on the bagpipes. This was truly an awesome memory. I was speaking to a friend on the phone who replied, “Wait, do I hear bagpipes, are you in Scotland?” To which I replied, “Of course!”  Let her fester with that for a while…

EXPECTING PARENTS CAN ENJOY ONE LAST ROMANTIC RENDEZVOUS:

This is a really neat program for expectant parents to have one last fun romantic time together before the blessed event. Do look into this. It is really awesome.

Key to Kierland provides guests with exclusive offers at Kierland Common:

The Westin Kierland and Kierland Commons (just adjacent to the hotel), have partnered together to bring the exclusive key to guests of The Westin Kierland. The key unlocks the opportunity to receive exclusive discounts and offers from many of their celebrated retailers. The Commons is one of the hottest shopping and dining districts in the Valley. The Commons Shopping District provides Resort guests a VIP shopping Experience. Loved this perk…

The staff is stellar at the Westin. They are not only accommodating and helpful, but cheerful and friendly. The made my entire stay effortless. I felt completely at ease and welcomed lodging in this lovely resort. My hotel stay enabled me to let go of all the worries and pressures of my daily stress-filled life. I left the Westin Resort not only wearing a happy smile but relaxed, tan, wined and dined, exercised, massaged, invigorated, refreshed, renewed and looking forward to the future. I do believe that is the definition of a successful vacation. The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa is an awe inspiring, luxurious, retreat and a wonderful hotel experience.

I would like to thank, Nancy Flores and Stephanie Dowling, two amazing women who helped in every way to make this story possible…

For more information about The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa visit www.kierlandresort.com

OR CALL: 480-6241000

6902 E. Greenway Parkway

Scottsdale, Az.  85254