The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

More than 300 days of sunshine a year grace the skies over Scottsdale, Arizona—and groups take full advantage of them at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. Opened in 2002, the resort offers over 175,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space in a 730-acre master-planned enclave, surrounded by 27 holes of golf and an upscale shopping and restaurant district.

Dedicated teams of conference professionals, including on-site audiovisual specialists and Star Meeting Concierges, oversee every event. Crystal-clear acoustics enhance presentations in the 25,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom, where lighting treatments create the illusion of clouds suspended in air.

In the great outdoors, the 27,000-square-foot Marshall’s Outpost Lawn and the 4,000-square-foot Pavilion host themed events such as cowboy cookouts. Another 42,000-square-foot lawn accommodates tented functions, while strategically placed courtyards throughout the property invite impromptu gatherings.

Downtime finds many guests relaxing at the 9,000-square-foot water park, with its lazy river ride, sandy beach, and waterslide. Others gravitate to Agave, The Arizona Spa, where 20 treatment rooms and some 250 appointments each day makes accommodating group spa sessions trouble-free. Equally easy for groups: three nine-hole, Scott Miller–designed golf courses, where 216 players can participate at one time in group tournaments. Other highlights include dining at eight on-site venues—among them, Deseo, showcasing the cuisine of James Beard Award–winner Chef Douglas Rodriquez.

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There are no hot dates at this time. Posted Oct 29, 2008 by Elite Concierge
View RSS Feed The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa has been chosen by Celebrated Living's esteemed readers as one of the best of the best in this summer's Celebrated Living Readers' Choice Platinum List in the U.S. Business Hotel category. Posted Sep 1, 2008 by Elite Concierge
View RSS Feed ~Program Recognizes 10 Arizona Residents Dedicated to Preserving the Culture and Heritage of the State~

PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE " In conjunction with the Barry Goldwater Center for the Southwest and State Historian Marshall Trimble, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is honoring 10 Arizona residents for making a positive impact on the states history, culture, environment and/or economy.

Selected from more than 100 nominees, the 2008 Arizona Culturekeepers honorees will be recognized at a ceremony on Sunday, September 28 at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. The public is invited to participate in the uniquely Arizonan event. Tickets are $45. To purchase tickets, the public is encouraged to call the Barry Goldwater Center for the Southwest at 602-920-7772. Proceeds will benefit the Arizona Culturekeepers program and the Barry Goldwater Center for the Southwest.

The 2008 Culturekeepers include Janice Bryson, Nancy Burgess, Josue Maria and Frances Ann Burruel, Wink Crigler, Bill and Lynn Haak, Kathy Klump, Dr. Bob Kravetz, Donald K. Nelson, Ted Newman, and the Buffalo Soldiers Greater Southern Arizona Area Chapter 9th and 10th (Horse) Calvary. For a complete description of each honoree, please see below or visitww.kierlandresort.com/culturekeepers.

Were proud to acknowledge these Arizonans that have contributed so much, said Marshall Trimble, Arizonas official state historian and chairman of the Culturekeepers program. These are longtime Arizona residents who spend their days working to better their communities, but rarely are recognized for their contributions.

Each Culturekeeper will be presented with an award that describes the individuals or groups contributions
to the state. Plaques with photos of each honoree will be displayed along the walls of Culturekeepers Hall, a
special area of the hotel adjacent to the Kierland Grand Ballroom.

Jose Maria and Frances Ann Burruel (Scottsdale) " Jose Maria and Frances Ann Burruel have dedicated their loves to addressing civil rights issues and educational opportunities of Latinos for more than 25 years throughout the Valley of the Sun. Jose Maria has advanced the history of Scottsdales Hispanic community with the publishing of his book, Mexicans in Scottsdale. As educators, the Burruels passion is to ensure that minorities are provided an opportunity to receive a quality education which will lead to a better quality of life. The two have been involved with the Piaute Neighborhood Center in Scottsdale since its inception volunteering and teaching ESL classes for adults and assisting in various advocacy roles. Their service on boards and commissions is far reaching and includes LULAC, The Herberger Theater, the Scottsdale Sister Cities Association, the Arizona Theatre Company, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights as well as volunteerism with the Heard Museum, Las Damas del Valle and many more.

Wink Crigler (Springerville) " Wink Crigler was born on the X Diamons Ranch, where she was raised with a strong dedication to the land and steeped in a desire to preserve a beloved family legacy. After the X Diamond Ranch became Criglers full responsibility she started a museum that continues to grow, depicting the history of the land, its people, its uses and even its entertainment. In conjunction, she wrote and published two books on cowboy lore and local history, Beans and Things and Fadin Footprints.

Dr. Bob Kravetz (Phoenix) " For more than 35 years, Dr. Kravetz has been diligently preserving Arizonas medical history and conserving hundreds of medical artifacts for current and future generations. He began displaying medical antiques in local hospitals in 1972 and currently there are permanent exhibits on display at the Arizona Historical Society Museum in Tucson, Heard Museum, two hospitals, and the Maricopa County Medical Society. He has gifted hundreds of artifacts to several museums and historical societies in the state. Dr. Kravetz initiated and helped organize a comprehensive exhibit about Arizona Territorial Medicine entitles Healers, Hucksters and Heroes on display at the State Capital Museum from 1993 " 1997.

Dr. Kravetz subsequently wrote a companion book about Arizona medical history: Healthseekers in Arizona. He recently published Medical Humanism in conjunction with the Yale School on Medicine. Bill and Lyn Haak (Globe) - The Haaks moved to Globe Arizona in July 1981 and became involved with the Gila County Historical Society and its museum within weeks. Both have spent many years working to improve the Gila County Historical Museum (both facilities and collections) and raise awareness of local history in the Globe/Miami area. They were founding members of the Globe Mainstreet Program and worked on the Historic District nomination for the downtown area. Both still serve on the Museums board of directors. Bill has authored 3 books on area history and written numerous articles for area newspapers. Now retired he serves as the museums Director. Lynn serves on the board of the Arizona Historical Society and the Arizona History Convention Committee. In 2007 the Haaks co-authored the Images of America book Globe, Arizona for Arcadia Publishing.

Nancy Burgess (Prescott) " Nancy Burgess had the privilege of meeting and getting to know several pioneer Arizona families " people whose parents, grandparents and great grandparents had come to Arizona in the 1870s through the 1920s. From them, she began to learn the history of her home state of Arizona. Burguess wrote her first Arizona history research paper about Jack Swilling, a Phoenix pioneer, without really realizing that he was also an early explorer in Prescott. After an early career in interior deign, Burguess became a paralegal " one of the first in Arizona. She then became involved in historic preservation as a volunteer member of the Prescott Preservation Commission. In 1991 she was hired as the Historic Preservation Specialist for the City of Prescott, and is still there today. To date, Burguess have documented over 700 buildings, sites and objects for the National Register of Historic Places. Most of those buildings are included in districts in the Prescott City limits, but others are located in Groom Creek, Mayer, Sedona and other parts of Yavapai County.

Kathy Klump (Willcox) - Kathy Klump, President of the Sulphur Springs Valley Historical Society, has dedicated more than thirty years of volunteer activities in Willcox, Arizona. She oversees the day to day operations of the Chiricahua Regional Museum and Research Center as an archivist and research librarian. She is active in researching, collecting and preserving the history of Willcox and the surrounding towns in the Sulphur Springs Valley, Bowie, San Simon, and Bonita. She was instrumental in starting the Chiricahua Regional Museum in 1999 and raising funds necessary to purchase the historic Valley Hardware building as its home. She founded the Wheels of Progress that honors important persons in Willcox history, researches and writes their biographies, and compiled the book, Willcox, Arizona 1915, the Year of Incorporation In Clippings. Klump coordinated the reprinting of Southwestern Town, the official history
of Willcox.

Newman (Gilbert) - Ted Newman moved to Holbrook, Arizona in 1954. There, he developed an appreciation of the Arizona open spaces hiking in the desert north of Holbrook, hunting on the Blue River near Alpine, and camping in the Sitgreaves Forest along the Mogollon Rim. During this time he made his first public appearance with his guitar singing Empty Saddles in the Old Corral for an old cowboys funeral and sang at the opening of Channel Three TV in Phoenix in 1955. He wrote a song for Polly Rosenbaums 100th birthday which he performed with his fifth grade class from Aguilar School at the Arizona Historical Society. He wrote a song Barry Goldwater, Arizonas Son for the Senator and sang it
for him before he died. Newman has lived in Gilbert for the past ten years and continues to write and perform for schools, libraries, museums, Lost Dutchman State Park, Superstition Mountain Museum, Retirement communities, and private and corporate events. One of his favorite volunteer jobs is working with special needs kids and horses at the Therapy Zone in Mesa, and the M Lazy C Ranch in Colorado where he entertains during the summer months.

Janice Bryson (Tolleson) - Janice Bryson, the fifth generation of her family to live in Arizona, believes that Arizonas history is a source of pride and leads to a better understanding of the present. She is descended from pioneer ranchers and merchants in Navajo, Gila and Cochise Counties, giving her a broad interest in the state. As a member of First Families of Arizona, Bryson began researching her own familys roots and contributed their histories to an oral history publication as well as an article published in a Southern Arizona publication. Encouraged by others interest in these writings of Arizonas history, Bryson, as an Arizona State Cowbelle, began writing pioneer histories for the Living Pioneer Stockman volumes published by the Arizona National Livestock Show. As President of Arizona State Cowbelles, Bryson served on the board of the Arizona Cattle Growers and represented the organization on the Arizona Beef Council. She serves on the board of the Arizona National Livestock and as a co-chair for the Ranch History Exhibits during the show. Her agricultural interests have included being a 4-H Leader for over twenty years.

Donald K. Nelson (Member of the Hopi Tribe) - Donald K. Nelson - whose Hopi name is Dawayauma - was born in Prescott, Arizona at the old County Hospital. His home place is Kykotsmovi Village, Third Mesa.Oral tradition was taught to him by his maternal uncle and grandfather and maternal clan mother and great-grandmother. In 1978, Donald was one of three co-founders of ElderHostel at Yavapai College in Prescott. He developed and coordinated the first Native American Elderhostel programs and has escorted hundreds of people from all over the U.S. to the Hopi, Apache and Hualapai reservations where they meet knowledgeable and authentic native presenters and artisans, giving participants a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Beginning in 1989, Donald facilitated a Native American Exchange, bringing Indians to ElderHostel - not just as presenters but also as participants. He has always generously and patiently shared his knowledge and love of place with others and supports the use of oral tradition among the tribes, as well as personal participation with the oral tradition of clan and ritual activities on the Hopi Reservation.

Buffalo Soldiers Greater Southern Arizona Area Chapter 9th and 10th (Horse) Calvary (Tucson) - The Greater Southern Arizona Area Chapter of the 9th & 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association (GSAAC) chartered in 1995, is the states only nationally affiliated organization honoring the Buffalo Soldiers in Arizona. The members keep the Arizona legacy of the Buffalo Soldier alive with numerous school and civic presentations. In 2007, the GSAAC hosted the National Buffalo Soldiers 141st Anniversary Reunion in Tucson. The Chapter is also involved with the community at large. Recently members participated with Habitat for Humanity and helped to raise funds for the Dunbar Project. The Buffalo Soldiers award two scholarships annually open to all high school seniors. GSAAC is also the recipient of the William Aiken Walker Award for Promoting Black History.
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The Arizona Culturekeepers were selected based on the following criteria:
A Culturekeeper must have worked to preserve the image of Arizona.
This individual must maintain the traditions, rituals and/or cultures that have made Arizona a home and a preferred travel destination for decades. These could be artistic, ethnic or historic traditions or activities. These could be actions taken to preserve Arizonas natural environment or animal habitat.
A Culturekeeper must have a long-time commitment to services as a keeper or influencer of Arizona culture and have served the state through paid or volunteer efforts.
The recognition will honor the individual who has demonstrated a passionate dedication to the issue, hobby or endeavor that keeps Arizonas culture alive.
This individual must have lived within Arizonas borders during the time for which they are being recognized, and they must be living.

About Arizona CultureKeepers:
Working in conjunction with the Barry Goldwater Center for the Southwest, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa designed the Culturekeepers program to recognize state residents who are committed to upholding the traditions, rituals and culture of Arizona. Established in 2002, the Culturekeepers will continue to announce and recognize 10 individuals during an annual event at The Westin Kierland for the next four years. By the states centennial in 2012, 100 Culturekeepers will have been honored at the resort. The selection committee is led by Marshall Trimble, Official State Historian and was originated by Katherine Kax Herberger, longtime Valley philanthropist, who passed away in 2003. Posted Aug 4, 2008 by Elite Concierge
View RSS Feed Guests Enjoy Scottish-themed Resort Amenities including Golf, Scotch Tastings, Wedding Ceremonies and Bagpiper Influences

Scottsdale, Ariz. (2008) " In keeping with the Resorts Essence of Arizona theme, the Scottish Traditions at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa serve to pay homage to the contributions made by the Scottish immigrants to the development of Arizonas railroads, mines and towns. The Westin Kierland has recently introduced a Scotch Tasting event to round out the variety of Scottish Traditions to the Resorts offerings.

The Scottish Pipes at Sunset Series is the original tribute to the Scottish immigrants where every evening guests and families are encouraged to gather around the fire pit at the Resorts Dreamweavers Canyon to enjoy the haunting sounds of the Scottish Bagpipes with Michael McClanathan, a bagpiper with 40 years of experience.McClanathan has acquired numerous medals and trophies as a result of his success in various competitions. He has performed before such dignitaries as the Lord Mayor of London and President George Bush, and for the opening day ceremonies of a variety of state legislatures. The Resort is well known for the Bagpipes at Sunset nightly performances and has been a mainstay at the Resort for several years.

The presence of the bagpiper also serves to bring in the golfers after a great game of golf at the Kierland Golf Club, where golfers can try the Scottish Golf Experience. Kierland Golf Club offers Scottish kilt rentals for those golfers who would like to try golf, the Scottish way. Unique Johnnie Walker beverage carts, serving Johnnie Walker Blue, Johnnie Walker Gold and Johnnie Walker Green, help golfers toast to the game of golf with the perfect Scotch. Also unique to Kierland Golf Course and the Scottish influences are the Johnnie Walker Flags that represent the different labels of the Johnnie Walker Scotch Line.

Continuing the Scottish traditions in Arizona and bagpiper influences at The Westin Kierland, the Library at the Rim Lobby Bar offers Saturday Night Scotch Tastings featuring Johnnie Walker Scotches. From 6:00pm to 6:45pm, Tom Turner, brand ambassador for Johnnie Walker, will showcase the Johnnie Walker family featuring Johnnie Walker Blue, Johnnie Walker Gold and Johnnie Walker Green.

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa also offers a customized Scottish-themed wedding ceremony package, where guests can incorporate the many Scottish influences into their special day, whether it is doning traditional kilts and Scottish formalwear, having a bagpiper play during the ceremony, a toast of Johnnie Walker Scotch or even adding a
game of golf the Scottish way.

Completing the Scottish influences at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is Scotty the bagpiper mascot. Introduced this summer, Scotty is quickly becoming the face of Westin Kierland at special events and activities all for families to enjoy during their stay. Posted Jul 14, 2008 by Elite Concierge
View RSS Feed SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - (Business Wire) The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa's "Be Greener" program holds several Green initiatives. The Resort is well known for Keeping the Essence of Arizona and equally as well known for being one of the largest Resorts in Arizona. In keeping with their reputation they are honoring that essence and that responsibility with several initiatives that protect and conserve the environment and reduce their carbon footprint.

Their Be Greener program, launched in early 2007, was initiated to help set an example and lead the way in the hospitality industry for the State. Through programs such as energy conservation, waste reduction, water conservation, alternate transportation, staff and guest awareness, and community service projects, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is dedicated to preserving that essence of Arizona it is known for.

We know this is a process. You cant be 100 percent green overnight, but we are 100 percent dedicated to doing our best and looking for new ways to do our business and be greener, said Managing Director, J. Bruce Lange. We know its our responsibility to do the right thing.

The Resort implemented an environmental policy and named a committee that meets on a regular basis to discuss operational opportunities and implement those changes. The committee also takes the initiative in training staff and promoting awareness. A key program the committee has initiated is the recycling program that recycles cardboard and paper. They have just rolled out a program that recycles plastics, aluminum, and food waste. They also only work with printing companies that are certified as responsible companies with reforestation and rehabilitation projects in place and print on recycled paper.

Some of the largest impacts that are being made are through The Westin Kierlands Greener Meetings program. Specifically, these impacts include paper recycling, digital copies of meeting materials, and a reduction in plastic water bottle consumption as a standard and several options to customize their meeting with other green tactics.

Our groups know we are willing to work with them on anything they would like to do to reduce the carbon footprint of their program, said Director of Sales & Marketing, Liz Franzese. We offer several standards for greener meetings, but we know that options and ideas are endless so we are ready and willing to meet the challenge of any meeting, group, or event.

Energy conservation in a property like The Westin Kierland is key to reducing its carbon footprint. Guestroom sensors regulate temperature according to activity in the room, meeting room temperatures centrally controlled in accordance with meeting schedules, and a majority of light bulbs have been switched out with CFL bulbs.

Weve been actively researching and implementing operational change for a few years now and weve made great strides with what weve done so far, said Director of Engineering, Bob Cisco. We still have a long way to go, but every day we are finding out new, smarter, greener ways of operating.

The Resort has had a linen and towel reuse program in place for years and last year implemented an eco-culinary program eliminating trans fats completely from all its food served and incorporating super foods into its menu offerings. Another key component to the green programs success is staff awareness and their impact. The Westin Kierland associates have made a very considerable impact just in the way they do business, get to and from work, and take their knowledge home with them for changes in how they operate in their personal lives and their homes.

Each associate makes an effort to print less paper and work more digitally. They participate in our Trip Reduction program, and bring their own coffee mug or water container to reduce the usage of water bottles, said Brian DellErgo, Human Resources Specialist and green committee chair. We give them tips on green living. Last year, the associate cafeteria eliminated Styrofoam and paper cups completely. Associates also turn their computers and lights off when not in use and recycle all paper and cardboard. That alone makes a tremendous impact.

The Agave Spa at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa has been a leader in functioning greener for several years. They have been using organic products and working with companies who provide environmentally friendly products and services. The spa also recycles all of its plastic, glass and paper from all of the products it uses for treatments. By 2009, the spa will be working with vendors and partners whose businesses are either completely organic or environmentally conscious for more than 75% of its business.

We feel operating environmentally friendly and being an organic, wellness spa can be one and the same. We always get curious questions when our guests realize our products are organic, we use battery-operated candles, and even our nail polish is vegan! said Loren Anderson, Spa Director. We are moving to all corn-based disposable cups and products for food and beverage by the end of the year.

This philosophy transcends to the Kierland Golf Club as well. The golf course has always had a relationship with the Audubon Society to help protect the natural wildlife on the Resort grounds; in the last year, we have begun to recycle our grass clippings and yard waste and have implemented a recycling program throughout the course, said Director of Golf, Kipp Bates. We recycled over 500 tons of yard waste through a local compost processing plant that turns it into natural fertilizer.

We also try to minimize the amount of turf that needs to be maintained through the use of water. We use a lot of natural preserve landscaping and have been transitioning what used to be watered and maintained turf back to a natural desert terrain. We have been looking for new ways to use solar power to run our golf carts and beverage carts and several other ways we can contribute such as environmentally friendly packaging for our food on our beverage carts and course food outlets, adds Bates.

Even The Westin Kierlands FUN program that focuses on the experience of the leisure traveler has implemented change. They work with the Phoenix Zoo to educate their smallest guests on how to preserve wildlife and have respect for their habitats. Programs that are currently planned and underway are lessons in the environment educating the younger traveler.

We understand and believe we are helping to create a new generation of individuals that are connected to travel and understand their individual impact, said Director of FUN, Josh Riffe.

Goals for the future are also key components in The Westin Kierlands green program. We are looking at ways to solar heat our pools, buy more organic and local foods, and partner with vendors and companies that have solid environmental policies in place, and reduce, reuse, and of course recycle more and more, Lange said. Im excited to report that we are currently recycling over one ton of waste per day. We have officially reduced what we send to landfill by over 50%. It will only get better from here.

The Westin Kierlands Environmental Policy

The Westin Kierland Resort is committed to protecting our environment and preserving our precious natural resources. We believe being green is not a definitive objective but understand its a process of being greener. We are dedicated to the process and promise to promote a lifestyle that ensures our environmental impact on the world around us is minimal and as positive as possible.

We have integrated various methods of greener living into our daily lives and encourage our guests and team members to do the same. We reduce, reuse, recycle where possible. We support our vendors, neighbors and local merchants and do our best to promote the good work they are doing throughout the community. By blending an upscale, luxury Resort experience with low impact living practices, we offer our guests the peace of mind they are doing business with an organization that has the environment in mind.

We are in the midst of great change and look to our customers, associates, and partners to help us navigate through this change and support us in our efforts.

About The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

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; 175,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space; eight food and beverage venues; a full-service spa; an elaborate water park and lazy river; Westin Kids Club; and the 27-hole Kierland Golf Club. As an added benefit, The Westin Kierland is adjacent to Kierland Commons, one of the hottest shopping and dining districts in the Valley. For more information about The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa please visit www.kierlandresort.com or call 480-624-1000.

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Scottsdale
Stephanie Dowling, 480-624-1315
stephanie.dowling@westin.com