So Many Perks!

Now, we've stayed at a lot of hotels during my short 4 years on this earth. However, I can honestly say that the Westin Kierland Resort is quite unique in many ways and truly stands out for being very guest-friendly.

The first thing you notice is that all the staff members really make an effort to remember your name. My father would constantly be addressed as Mr. Songer by anyone he came into contact with more than once and also thanked for being a Starwood Platinum member.

I don't know if it was because he had elite Starwood status, but I think it was actually how they treated all their guests.

Kids Scavenger Hunt
Many hotels are kid-friendly, but this property truly loves its smaller guests. They have so many amenities and activities catered to us children.

From the moment we arrived, kids were given a small "passport" with a page about each location at the resort. The goal was to get a stamp from each place and then trade in the passport full of stamps for pins that we could take home. A great way for kids (and their parents) to visit each part of the resort.

Kids Club
Like many other Westin hotels, the Kierland had a Kids Club. In addition to the activities (daycare) during the daytime ($10/hour per child), they also offered free activities (Storytime or Relay Races by the pool) along with some paid activities (decorating tote bags).

Pajama Party
And every evening from 5:30-9:30PM, they offered Pajama Parties. According to their website:

"The Westin Kids Club Pajama Party is offered 365 days a year for children ages 4 – 12, supervised by the Resort’s award-winning FUN Team. Offered from 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm, this program allows parents to enjoy a dinner date or evening meeting while the kids enjoy FUN activities, arts and crafts, dinner, and a movie! Kids are welcome to come to the Westin Kids Club in their favorite pajamas and slippers or bring them to change into. 

The cost is $50 per child, and reservations are required as space is limited. Simply stop by the Kierland Mining Co. or call 480-624-1202 to make reservations. Parents can enjoy a dinner date in the Resort’s signature restaurant, Deseo and kids receive a Pajama Party for FREE!" for up to 2 children.

Children have to be at least 4 years old, but since I was a just few weeks short of my 4th birthday, they made an exception for me. My parents came back from their romantic dinner date, and I had 3 hours of fun for free!

Texting the Front Desk
Another feature we really used frequently during our 2 day stay was the Texting. In our room, we saw a small card that invited guests to text their service requests via SMS (480-725-3997). Nifty idea for us young folk!

My father tested it out after getting access to our room. Normally, Westin hotels give 2 free bottles of water on a daily basis. We couldn't find any, so my father sent a message to the Front Desk. They responded almost immediately. By the time my father texted back, there was a knock on the door and a man handed him two bottles of Dasani as he caught his breath.

Royal Peaks Lounge
Access to the Club Lounge is a perk given to all SPG Platinums (and holders of the SPG American Express business credit card). At the Westin Kierland, the lounge is located on the 9th floor and allows access to 2 adults and 3 children per guest. We'd visit frequently to have breakfasts and grab some pre-dinner snacks as well as refresh our soft drink supply.

Unwind in Deseo
As a Platinum member, my father is entitled to receive either 500 SPG points, a local gift (waterbottle) or continental breakfast as a welcome amenity. However, since there was an executive lounge serving breakfast each morning, the Westin offered its guests a replacement amenity of vouchers for a free appetizer each night during Unwind (happy hour) at their restaurant, Deseo.