Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain

One of the most coveted retreats in Phoenix’s Valley of the Sun, Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain clings to the rugged north slope of its namesake mountain. Intimate and sophisticated, as favored by Hollywood heavyweights as by readers of Condé Nast Traveler, the resort welcomes groups seeking a tranquil environment well above the day-to-day fray.

Stone walkways lead to the Sanctuary Spa (an Asian-inspired pleasure palace), Elements restaurant and Jade Bar (led by celebrity chef Beau MacMillan), and 105 luxury casitas (filled with over-the-top amenities and personal touches). Six homes terraced further up the mountain—complete with pools and terraces—contribute exceptional lodgings for corporate retreats. Like everything at the resort, the accommodations achieve their magic through Zenlike simplicity, generous space, natural materials, and lofty views of the surrounding desert.

Custom corporate activities range from wellness programs at the spa to cooking classes in the teaching kitchen, photography workshops, tennis tournaments, and croquet. Yet most groups spend the majority of their time at The Views, a secluded building with its own lobby and reception area. Recycling, energy-conservation, and other initiatives contribute an eco-friendly element to meetings, often held in the ballroom. Flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows and a wraparound terrace, it serves up to 200 participants for conferences and banquets or breaks down into five smaller spaces. Three boardrooms stand by for executive sessions, while the pool deck, patios, terraces, and lawns set the stage for unforgettable parties under the Arizona sun and stars.

"Mi Casa, Mi Chef"

There are no hot dates at this time. Posted Nov 4, 2008 by Allison B
View RSS Feed Thursday, October 30, 2008

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.) is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Vance as spa director at the award-winning Sanctuary Spa. Vance will oversee all areas of operations pertaining to the spa, salon, tennis and recreation facilities. In 2008 the Sanctuary Spa was named the 2008 "Most Excellent Spa Hotel" by Cond Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence and introduced a revitalized menu of spa services.

"We are confident that Robert's extensive experience in the hospitality industry, particularly in spa management, will further propel Sanctuary's reputation as an acclaimed spa destination," said Mike Surguine, general manager of Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain. "His proven leadership will be an invaluable asset to our Spa's growth."

Prior to joining Sanctuary, Vance spent five years with the Golden Door brand. Most recently, Vance served as the spa director of the Golden Door Spa at Naples Grande Beach Resort in Fla. during its 2007 opening. Earlier, Vance was spa operations manager at the Golden Door Spa at The Boulders Resort in Carefree, Ariz.

Vance graduated from Pepperdine University with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

About Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain: One of the country's most lauded luxury resorts, Sanctuary is a striking boutique property on Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, Ariz. Under the direction of Westroc Hospitality, Sanctuary enjoys international acclaim for its contemporary design, and award-winning elements restaurant and Sanctuary Spa. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Sanctuary was recognized in 2006 as the "top resort" in the United States by the readers of Cond Nast Traveler and was also included on the Travel + Leisure "T+ L 500" list. Sanctuary has been a Cond Nast Traveler "Gold List" and "Reader's Choice" winner since opening in 2002. Posted Sep 8, 2008 by Elite Concierge
View RSS Feed Guests of the Mountainside Estates at Sanctuary Can Now Enjoy Unique Access to Private Jets

Scottsdale, AZ. (September 8, 2008) " Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, Scottsdale, Arizona's nationally-lauded boutique resort and spa, is pleased to announce a partnership with Flight Options, one of the country's leading private jet aviation companies. Now, guests of the Mountainside Estates at Sanctuary " a collection of private mountain homes " enjoy unique access to Flight Options' fleet of 120 aircraft, with no minimum leasing terms or program fees. Flight Options' clients also enjoy preferred access to Sanctuary, including special rates, concierge services, complimentary experiences and Sanctuary's stylish Spa Casitas surrounding the resort's infinity-edge pool as well as Sanctuary Spa. Ultimately, the symbiotic partnership will offer travelers an elevated experience from start to finish.

"We're happy to partner with Flight Options " their reputation for safety and luxurious service made them an easy choice," said Mike Surguine, vice president and general manager of Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain. "Private air travel is becoming increasingly important to our guests, and this program gives them a flexible, no-strings-attached opportunity to use Flight Options' services."

Kenn Ricci, founder and chairman of Flight Options, added, "Many of our clients are looking for a unique destination during their travels, which made the Mountainside Estates at Sanctuary a natural fit. Our customers want the best, and we know Sanctuary will more than meet their expectations."

The Mountainside Estates at Sanctuary are a true private haven " each of the distinctive homes is an architectural masterpiece. Ranging up to 5,500 sq. ft. and situated on one acre of land, guests are cosseted from the outside world, enjoying the ultimate retreat of a private home with full access to Sanctuary's resort amenities and services. From the foothills of Camelback Mountain to the skies above, guests travel in style with Flight Options. Its fleet includes light, mid-size, super mid-size and large cabin aircraft such as the 7-passenger Hawker 400 XP, 8-passenger Hawker 850XP, 8-passenger Citation X, and the 13-passenger Embraer Legacy Executive. The Flight Options and Sanctuary teams are available to arrange every aspect of the unmatched travel experience, from scheduling flights to arranging ground transportation, catering and special activities, such as Sanctuary's Mi Casa, Mi Chef personalized dining program.

For more information or to make a reservation, please call 480.607.2300.

About Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain: One of the country's most lauded luxury resorts, Sanctuary is a striking boutique property on Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, Ariz. Under the direction of Westroc Hospitality, Sanctuary enjoys international acclaim for its contemporary design, and award-winning elements restaurant and Sanctuary Spa. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Sanctuary was recognized in 2006 as the "top resort" in the United States by the readers of Cond Nast Traveler and was also included on the Travel + Leisure "T+ L 500" list. Sanctuary has been a Cond Nast Traveler "Gold List" and "Reader's Choice" winner since opening in 2002.

About Flight Options: Flight Options, LLC, has earned a reputation as a leader and innovator within the private aviation industry. The Cleveland, Ohio-based company marks its 10th Anniversary in 2008 and offers the complete spectrum of programs from Fractional First ownership to leasing, aircraft management, and JetPASS Membership. The company is an industry leader in private aviation safety as well, having been selected by the FAA to partner and participate in the development and implementation of a formal Safety Management System (SMS) soon to be required for all air service providers. Flight Options provides personalized service to its Owners and Members, with a fleet of 120 aircraft consisting of the Hawker 400XP, Hawker 850XP, Citation X and Embraer Legacy. More information is available at www.flightoptions.com or by calling 877.703.2348. Posted Apr 24, 2008 by Elite Concierge
View RSS Feed Beau MacMillan Named "Culinary Chef Extraordinaire" for Epicurean and Philanthropic Achievements

Scottsdale, AZ. (April 24, 2008) " Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain's Executive Chef Beau MacMillan, who leads the resort's award-winning elements restaurant, has been inducted into the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame and named the 2008 "Culinary Chef Extraordinaire." Presented by the nonprofit Scottsdale League for the Arts, this award recognizes Chef MacMillan's significant contributions to the Arizona hospitality industry, both as a chef and philanthropist.

When not wowing Sanctuary's guests with his refined, farm-fresh American cuisine, Chef MacMillan contributes his time and expertise to a variety of community-focused events. In a friendly competition benefiting C-CAP, which provides culinary scholarships to local students, Chef MacMillan and Phoenix's Chef Mark Tarbell " both of whom competed and won on The Food Network's hit show, "Iron Chef America" " went head-to-head in their own "Heavy Medal Culinary Competition." Chef MacMillan also co-chairs Share our Strength's "Taste of the Nation" benefit, which raises money for anti-hunger organizations across the country. Additionally, each year Chef MacMillan participates in the "Flavors of Phoenix" event, which benefits the American Liver Foundation.

As executive chef of elements, MacMillan's culinary innovation has enjoyed national acclaim, distinguishing Sanctuary " and Arizona " as one of the country's pre-eminent dining destinations. Most recently, Chef MacMillan appeared on NBC-TV's "Today," joining anchor Al Roker for two segments on holiday and comfort-food cooking. In 2006, Chef MacMillan's cuisine reigned supreme over Iron Chef Bobby Flay in "Battle American Kobe Beef" on "Iron Chef America." And this summer, Chef MacMillan will spearhead Sanctuary's seventh annual "lunch & learn" series, featuring noteworthy chefs, wine connoisseurs and guest lecturers from around the country.

For more information on Sanctuary and elements restaurant, please call 480.607.2300

About Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain: One of the country's most lauded luxury resorts, Sanctuary is a striking boutique property on Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, Ariz. Under the direction of Westroc Hospitality, Sanctuary enjoys international acclaim for its contemporary design, and award-winning elements restaurant and Sanctuary Spa. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Sanctuary was recognized in 2006 as the "top resort" in the United States by the readers of Cond Nast Traveler and was also included on the Travel + Leisure "T+ L 500" list. Sanctuary has been a Cond Nast Traveler "Gold List" and "Reader's Choice" winner since opening in 2002. Posted Mar 4, 2008 by Elite Concierge
View RSS Feed Top U.S. Resort Raises Bar with Web-based STAFFScope

DALLAS " MARCH 4, 2008 " UniFocus, a global pioneer in the hospitality industry for performance, workforce management and closed-loop feedback solutions, announced that the top-ranked resort in the United States has selected the firms STAFFScope feedback solution to raise the bar even higher. Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa, a boutique property on Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, Arizona, was named top U.S. resort by readers of Cond Nast Traveler in one of the largest such polls ever conducted.

STAFFScope is a Web-based feedback solution that helps hotel resort organizations improve employee morale and productivity while lowering labor costs through decreased turnover.

We chose the UniFocus STAFFScope solution based upon four compelling reasons, explained Ian Dunlap, Director of Human Relations for Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain. First and foremost, UniFocus Diane Heppel is a strong customer advocate and very passionate about the product, and this was a big influence in our decision. Second, the intuitive look and feel of STAFFScope is exactly what we were looking for. Third, cost is very reasonable for the quality of the product and service we have seen thus far. Finally, we received an excellent reference from another resort in Phoenix that has used the UniFocus STAFFScope product with much success.

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain plans to utilize STAFFScope to survey its employees at least twice annually. The renowned Arizona hideaway will capture employee feedback to determine attitudes and perceptions of team members and establish baseline patterns. Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain will then compare what effect employee satisfaction has on guest satisfaction and revenue.

To a large degree, our partnership with Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain is the result of a mutual dedication to ideals of sterling quality and service in the hotel resort industry, said Mark Heymann, President and CEO of UniFocus. Many of our clients are well spoken of in the industry, and certainly Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain has the reputation from their guests of being the best resort and spa in the United States. The fact that organizations with such impeccable service standards come to UniFocus is further validation that together were raising the bar in the hospitality industry for service, quality, satisfaction and performance.

UniFocus executives have provided technology leadership to the hospitality industry for more than 25 years. The Dallas-based firm provides proven technology solutions to convention bureaus, hotels and resorts that enable operators to more efficiently manage their workforce and gain a 360-degree view of the customer experience. Equipped with superior business intelligence and labor management technology, UniFocus clients can more effectively optimize quality, satisfaction, operational efficiency and profitability"with a higher ROI.

STAFFScope is a Web-based survey solution geared toward helping lodging properties key in on staff concerns, creativity and suggestions, which in turn result in increased employee morale and productivity, decreased turnover, and the kind of top-quality guest services that only a satisfied, highly motivated staff can provide.

Key features of the STAFFScope employee-survey solution include:

* Web-based technology that enhances the standard paper survey formats for easy and fast deployment across an entire organization.
* State-of-the-art online reporting applications for every level of the organization.
* Roll-up reports for multiple properties.
* Essential benchmarking by market segments.
* Scientifically proven identification of the Critical Staff Factors that will truly make organizational change occur.
* Integrated goal setting and action plan tracking functionality that ensures achievement of improvement goals.
* STAFFScope training and support provided by a UniFocus team that has decades of hospitality and human-resources experience.

For more information on STAFFScope and other UniFocus management and financial solutions, visit the companys Web site, www.unifocus.com.

About The Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa

One of the country's most acclaimed luxury resorts, the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa is a boutique property on Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, Ariz. Under the direction of Westroc Hospitality, Sanctuary enjoys international renown for its striking contemporary design and award-winning elements restaurant and Sanctuary Spa. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Sanctuary is a AAA Four-Diamond resort and is included in the 2006 Travel + Leisure "T+L 500" list. The Sanctuary also has been a Cond Nast Traveler "Gold List" and "Reader's Choice" winner since opening in 2002. For more information, visit the Sanctuarys Web site at www.sanctuaryoncamelback.com.

About UniFocus

Based in Dallas, UniFocus serves hospitality, casino and resort operations in the U.S. and overseas. UniFocus offers full-service operational analysis, management and staff training, financial and labor management applications, as well as staff, meeting planner and guest satisfaction measurement programs, along with a unique mystery evaluation system that can link service standard attainment to guest and employee perceptions. The resulting database allows UniFocus to uniquely correlate and benchmark each clients performance to their particular competitive markets. Enhanced reporting capabilities allow hospitality executives to have a total picture overview of their operations, set strategic actions and gain asset value.

UniFocus is a Preferred Vendor of The Leading Hotels of the World, a Microsoft Certified Partner, an affinity partner of the International Association of Conference Centers, a business partner of the International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus, and an allied member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. For more information, visit www.unifocus.com or call 972-512-5100.