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THE WESTIN KIERLAND RESORT & SPA EMBRACES THE SOUTHWEST

State’s History Comes to Life in The Treasuring the Essence Of Arizona Theme

PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE — It is often said of older hotels, “If these walls could talk.” If developers of The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa have their way, the hotel will do more than talk. They will sing with tribal music; they will share cowboy folklore over a crackling fire; they will rumble beneath the thundering hoof-beats of dramatic wild-horse roundups. In short, The Westin Kierland’s hallways and venues will paint a colorful portrait of Arizona’s forebears — Native Americans, pioneers, artisans, rogues, explorers, history makers — and of the land they tried to tame.

Newly opened (November 3), under the “Treasuring the Essence of Arizona” theme, the 735-room hotel pays tribute to the people, landscape and events that shaped the state’s cultural heritage.

“When we start any resort project, we do a tremendous amount of research into what makes the destination unique,” explained John Field Scovell, chief executive officer of Dallas-based Woodbine Development Corporation, the resort developer. “What we found here is that people came to Arizona not just for the desert, the mountains, the Grand Canyon or desert golf. It’s really the combination — the state’s multi-faceted character — that provides the allure.”

Not wanting to “leave our interpretation of that allure to chance,” Scovell said Woodbine recruited Marshall Trimble, Arizona’s official state historian, to guide their efforts.

Trimble is the author of 19 books about Arizona and the West, his first having been published by Doubleday and Co. in 1977. He also writes a monthly column, “Ask the Marshall” for True West Magazine. As a cowboy singer/storyteller, he is a frequent guest on local and national radio and TV programs, including ABC’s “Good Morning America,” CBS’ “This Morning” and PBS programs on history and folklore. Trimble also teaches Arizona and Southwest history, music and folklore at Scottsdale Community College.

As an integral part of The Westin Kierland’s “theme team,” Trimble first played tour guide for members of the hotel’s design and development groups. He escorted them to scenic parts of the state, sharing historic tales along the way to provide inspiration for the resort’s look and feel. He also assisted in developing names for the resort’s public spaces and outlets, suites and courtyards.

“I was so pleased to find a developer as interested in Arizona history as Woodbine,” Trimble said. “The company has a genuine interest in history. It’s not lip service. Their enthusiasm is real.”

Moreover, he said the theme serves to meet the needs of today’s changing traveler. He points to several studies showing that tourists are no longer content to buy curios and snap the obligatory photos. “They’re looking to capture the essence of the place they’re visiting,” Trimble said. “I’m hearing that from tour guides, too. In Arizona, people aren’t looking to bring home a Grand Canyon key chain and take a picture of a saguaro. They want to learn a few things.”

Guests of The Westin Kierland will have that opportunity just by strolling the property. The immersion in Arizona starts with the entry road landscape and continues into the split-level lobby, which features a library lounge filled with the literary works of Trimble and many others who have been inspired by Arizona’s history, legend, lore and beauty.

Trimble and the resort team have written narratives to explain the history behind names selected for The Westin’s restaurants, shops, meeting rooms, suites and courtyards. He also has assisted the team in selection of historic artwork to be displayed throughout the property. Resort associates were enrolled in Trimble’s eight-week Arizona history course to ensure all hotel leaders are apt in the history of the state.

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa features 735 rooms with 63 suites and 32 casita units; 160,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space; eight food and beverage venues; a full-service spa and fitness studio; an elaborate water park; Westin Kids Club®; and the 27-hole Kierland Golf Club, which opened in 1996. As an added benefit,
The Westin Kierland is adjacent to and a short walk from Kierland Commons, one of the hottest new shopping and dining districts in the Valley.

The Westin Kierland is a joint venture among entities affiliated with Woodbine Development Corporation of Dallas, Texas; the Herberger Interests of Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz.; Cook Inlet Region, Inc., of Anchorage, Alaska; and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., of White Plains, N.Y.