Award-winning service isn’t seasonal
August has arrived, and with it, the end of summer and preparations for the start of a fast-paced fall…for both our guests and the resort. This is the time of year when we see lots of families squeezing in one last refreshing summer getaway while simultaneously getting their kids ready to return to school or settled in at the University of Arizona. It’s also when we prepare for the busy season ahead, because as the weather cools off, the number of visitors increases, ready to enjoy the many natural delights the desert has to offer – from the majesty of the monsoons that light up the night sky and cool the earth, to the miracle of brilliant sunrises that color the clouds with all the shades of autumn leaves…and then some.
Yet even during our busiest season, rest assured that you can expect the same devoted and personal service you’ll find during the serene days of summer, as our dedicated Front Office Manager, Nathan Leonard, will tell you. In his guest blog this month, Nathan shares his secrets for providing sparkling service year-round.
See you around the resort,
Alan Klein
General Manager
Guest blogger
Nathan Leonard, Front Office Manager
It has been told that they are born of fire in the basement of time. The Hope. The Millennium Star. Or maybe it’s the Taylor-Burton that you’ve heard of. They’re admired, they’re coveted, but above all, any and all diamonds hold one thing in common – they’re valued.
And why, you might ask, is the Front Office Manager of a certain historic Southwestern resort so pre-occupied with diamonds? Well, there are four diamonds in particular that are very important to all of the staff here at the Westward Look Resort. Rather than being dug from the depths of the earth, our four diamonds are awarded to us annually by the Automobile Association of America. These AAA diamonds represent the value we look for in ourselves, and the value we place on our guests.
And what exactly does this value mean for our guests? For me it’s the effort our staff makes to match the warmth and friendliness of our resort’s heritage – the Vigas room that’s just off the main lobby immediately comes to mind. It’s my favorite room in the resort with its large fireplace and original ocotillo ceiling. It’s the difference between checking you into the resort and welcoming you into the resort.
Having worked the front desk of a 20-floor conference center for the summer when I was just out of college, I can recall a check-in process that felt more akin to a cattle-call of sorts. You would literally be light-headed by the end of your shift, and unable to remember the first guest you greeted from the last. While Reno has the title of the world’s biggest little city, I feel the Westward Look is the world’s biggest little bed and breakfast. We as staff members have the opportunity to impact each and every guest that stays with us in a positive and personal way.
One of the ongoing goals that any manager at our resort has is trying to impart a sense of empowerment to our front line staff. I had the pleasure of visiting my family last spring (and yes, in case my mother is reading this, any family trip is truly a pleasure!), but unfortunately for me, one of the nights on this trip involved an unplanned evening in Chicago’s O’Hare airport. So following three flight delays, two gate changes, and finally a cancellation, sometime around midnight, the customer service agent for the airline was kind enough to offer me a cot or the floor. What wonderful options! But in reality, the airline’s customer service agent was left in a position to fail because she had been given no options at all to provide to her customers.
In the service industry, this type of situation is not acceptable, whether you’re at the airport, a restaurant, or a four-diamond resort. Being flexible to the needs of our guests and providing viable options to our guests’ requests is something we pride ourselves on at the Westward Look Resort.
At the end of each day our staff understands that if you haven’t made a guest’s stay better, you haven’t been successful in your job.
In closing, I want to thank you for your interest in the Westward Look Resort, and for those of you that have stayed with us in the past, I encourage you to contact me or any of our on-site reservationists (that’s right, you won’t be directed to a call center) should you need any help in coming back to stay with us again.
Happy travels & I hope to see you out soon at our resort.
Thank you,
Nathan Leonard
Front Office Manager
Westward Look Resort
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Find Treasure at Westward Look’s Resort Gift Shop
We’ve had an absolutely jubilant July so far! Guests from near and far visited us on the Fourth, and I must say we all had a wonderful time celebrating our nation’s independence. We ate delicious food, watched great family movies and enjoyed the city’s brilliant firework displays from the rooftop terrace. I honestly can’t think of a better way to celebrate July 4th!
For this month’s blogger, I’m pleased to introduce our fabulous Gift Shop Manager, Joanne Gauthier. Need a gift or memento of your stay here? She can steer you to the perfect unique item that friends and family will envy! And so, I invite you to read on…
Enjoy,
Alan Klein
General Manager
Guest Blogger
Joanne Gauthier, Gift Shop Manager
We’re already halfway through summer and here at Westward Look everything is in full swing! As the Gift Shop Manager, I’m one of the lucky few who receives a visit from nearly everyone who stays at the resort. I’m always especially excited to meet people who have traveled here from out of state and to hear what they think of our gorgeous Sonoran Desert. Many express their surprise at how lush and vibrant the desert can be, while others are very surprised at the variety of products we carry.
I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of these truly special products and items here at the gift shop. Most are made in Arizona, and many are made right here in Tucson! As a native Tucsonan, I take pride in our shop’s selection of Arizona treasures. Whether you want to find something as a gift for someone special or a unique desert memento for yourself, you’ll definitely find it here.
Some of my favorite items offered at the gift shop are the handmade traditional Navajo herbal remedies by Medicine of the People. The creams, oils and balms bring enlightening and healing energies to the user. They’re made with organic and natural remedies for rehydrating, refreshing and soothing relief of the skin and lips. A few other great products made right here in Tucson are our jellies, syrups, candies and bread mixes from Cheri’s Desert Harvest. They’re made from the finest and freshest ingredients found in and around our beautiful city.
Looking for something totally unique? A favorite local artist, Chris Bubany, designs and creates unique earthenware for all occasions! Her distinct serving pieces and dinnerware are famous for their vibrant colors and whimsical style. We also carry Native American and contemporary jewelry, pottery by Arizona artists, walking sticks made from cacti, Southwestern cookbooks and much more.
Great mementos of this Sonoran Desert experience include Western-style candle holders, saguaro-shaped margarita glasses, saguaro blossom tea, local botanical lotions and soaps and adorable plush desert creatures.
The gift shop also carries travel essentials, such as sunscreen, sundries, magazines, adult and kids’ clothes and more.
So whatever your needs may be, gift, memento or otherwise, I look forward to meeting you and hearing your stories.
Have a wonderful visit at our beautiful resort!
Joanne Gauthier
Gift Shop Manager
The month of weddings!
Wow, in just the blink of an eye, May has passed and we’re into June. Have you stopped by the resort lately? With such a rainy spring, everything is in full bloom! All around us the land is vivid with color, in so many brilliant shades that I cannot name or describe them all. A magnificent sight!
Speaking of the resort, I’d like to introduce this month’s guest bloggers: Melinda, Genia and Julie! These lovely ladies form the amazing team who take care of all of Westward Look’s catering needs. All three are full of great advice on how to make your wedding day, business meeting or anything else seamless and perfect, so I invite you to read on…
Enjoy,
Alan Klein
General Manager
Guest bloggers
Catering staff: Julie, Genia and Melinda
Julie, Genia and Melinda
Ahh, June. The month of weddings! Summer is known as the time for weddings, and at Westward Look Resort it’s also the time for great savings. Our beautiful rooftop terrace offers 360° views of the city and surrounding mountain ranges, and our beautiful ballrooms will keep your guests cool and the party going!
Our catering team is here to assist you with every little detail and make your planning stress-free! Here are a few cost saving tips to help you along the way:
Planning
Before you begin to plan your dream wedding, ask yourself: “Do I need professional assistance?” Planning a wedding is a lot of work, and there are many details to be addressed. Sometimes a professional wedding planner may be a good choice to help keep you organized and things flowing smoothly.
If you choose to plan your own wedding and reception, be sure to use the resources available. There are great websites, such as weddingchannel.com, with To-Do lists to keep you on track and make sure everything is completed. Best of all… it’s free!
And of course, you can rely on your Westward Look catering manager to help you with every little detail for your ceremony and reception here. From the color of the linens to the time your meal should be served, we are there to guide you every step of the way.
Décor
Décor can be a big part of any wedding; it sets a mood, creates a theme and reflects your personality. But décor can also be a budget breaker! We work with you in using the natural surroundings, from the picturesque views to the lush lawns and colorful blooms. Westward Look offers many focal points to tie into your event.
Budget
Most couples find the need to work within a budget, but it can be very difficult to stay on track. Here’s our tip - make a list of your top three ”must have” items and three “would like to have” items. If you start to get close on your budget, use the list to make sure you are making the right decisions. If you’ve exceeded your budget accomplishing the top three items, then you know you are able to cross the others off your list. But if you absolutely, positively want to have everything on your wedding list, remember Westward Look offers discounts for Friday or Sunday weddings, and even more discounts available through summer.
But most importantly, be sure to take the time to enjoy your special day. Enjoy your guests and take photos with them! The planning takes so long, and the day disappears in the blink of an eye. Be sure to create the best memories to carry with you for a lifetime.
Take a peek here for inspiration for the perfect wedding day!
Looking forward to showing you our beautiful property.
Your Catering Team,
Melinda, Genia and Julie
Tips for Summer Health, Beauty and Fun!
Now that spring is in full swing, we are enjoying the best time of the year at Westward Look Resort. Every area of the resort has something new and exciting going on every week!
This week, I am excited to introduce our Sonoran Spa Director, Debra Henrickson, as a guest blogger. Debra is full of beauty advice and traveling tips, so now I invite you to read on…
Enjoy,
Alan Klein
General Manager
Guest Blogger
Debra Henrickson, Sonoran Spa Director
The most important tip: Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated makes the top of every hot-weather health list. Start the day with a large glass of water and enjoy another before you step outdoors. Stay hydrated all day. Wear SPF. May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month and Tucson is one of the hot spots in the US for overexposure! Try our Eminence Organic Skin Care Tropical Vanilla SPF 32 for the face with natural zinc for UVA, UVB and UVC protection. It also has linden tea and shea butter for smooth, non-greasy moisturizing.
Wear large sunglasses to protect your eyes. Add a wide brimmed hat or baseball cap for extra shade as well.
Keep cool with aromatherapy. Our Tara Pitta face and body mist can be kept in a handbag or backpack for instant cooling. Vetiver, sandalwood and rose oils provide an instant “chill out” sensation. Spritz some on to cool down when driving and for instant cooling after exercise or any time you’re feeling overheated.
Arm yourself with aloe vera gel for sunburns and skin rashes. While you could use the fresh aloe that can be found growing here at the resort, our Tara Recovery Gel has added tea tree oil for fighting bacteria and lavender to soothe the skin. It’s the same great gel that we use in our Arizona Aloe Wrap treatment in the spa.
Schedule a pedicure to kick off the sandal and swimming season. Both men and women benefit from a great sea salt soak, foot massage and caring for calluses and cuticles. Ladies, have fun with our newest polish colors: purple, green, blue, orange, and, of course, pinks and reds for a splash of color as you splash in the pool.
Remember to slow down, relax and enjoy your summer. Treat yourself to our Sonoran Spa Tapas Menu. The word “tapas” is a Spanish term for small appetizers. It’s also a Sanskrit word from yogic philosophy that means a fiery burning discipline and commitment to being aligned with the universal energy via the “right” diet, meditation and self care. Our Spa Tapas services offer small, action-packed treatments for you to combine and to help you feel aligned and right with the universe.
This little list of warm-weather tips is a reminder to change with the seasons and plan ahead now for the upcoming sunny, hot weather so that you can enjoy a summer of good health. I have one more reminder for the month of May: this year, Mother’s Day is May 9th. I may be a little biased, but I truly believe that most women love the gift of a spa experience.
Have a wonderful month of May – enjoy the flowers, sunshine, get a massage…..
Be well,
Debra Henrickson
Sonoran Spa Director
Spring Inspiration
We’re now into one of my favorite months of the year – April! Why is April one of my favorite months, do you ask? To me, April represents so much wonder and promise… The weather is warming up, everything is that glorious shade of emerald green, flower buds are beginning to bloom, and we even get a glimpse at spring’s babies cautiously exploring their new world. It’s simply a magical time here at the resort.
In fact, spring has inspired me to try something new! Starting this month, each of my blogs will feature a “guest” staff member who will share their department happenings, as well as their expertise. I am very excited to share their stories with you!
This first month, I would like to introduce Raymundo Ocampo, our Resort Landscape Manager. Raymundo is responsible for all the beautiful landscape you see at the resort, as well as our resident plant expert. I invite you to read his story…
See you around the resort,
Alan Klein
General Manager
Guest Blogger
Raymundo Ocampo, Resort Landscape Manager
After an unusually wet winter in the Sonoran Desert, we are preparing to witness Mother Nature’s display of colors in April. The Arizona State Tree, the palo verde (which means “green stick” in Spanish), will be blooming throughout our 80 acres here at Westward Look Resort. Masses of fragrant, bright yellow pea-shaped flowers literally blanket the entire tree in spring; the flowers are so vibrant and bright that artists have called the tree “shower of gold.”
The prickly pear and cholla cactus are also found in abundance on our property. Prickly pear cacti have pear-shaped pads, large blossoms and fruit which is usually edible. The fruit is used to make many culinary delights, including the prickly pear butter you will find served in GOLD. Cholla cacti are not quite as showy as their prickly pear relative, but are commonly used in landscape for their interesting structures and color. The “jumping cholla” is a cactus many have heard about. It earned its nickname because if the plant is even slightly brushed against, a section will detach from the plant and stick to clothing, skin, etc., giving the impression that the cactus actually “jumps” on passers-by.
The Arizona State Flower appears atop the largest cactus in the US, the saguaro. Its white flower opens in the evening hours and is cross-pollinated by bats and moths. In early summer, its green oval fruit split open like petals to reveal a bright red pulp that is edible and sweet.
With all the rain we have experienced, the desert is brighter, greener and healthier. Remember the plants are protected by law, so take only memories and leave only footprints.
A great desert tip: if you are hiking or walking through an area where you may encounter cactus, bring a comb! Should a piece of cactus find its way into clothing or skin, the comb can usually be used to safely remove the cactus without having to touch it.
Hope to see you at the resort sometime this spring!
Raymundo Ocampo
Resort Landscape Manager
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