The Wigwam

Groups Discover Unconventional Approach to Meetings & Conventions at The Wigwam
With 14 outdoor function spaces, a total of 100,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting space and an ideal location just 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix, The Wigwam has revamped its meetings and conventions offerings for 2011. Kicking-off a new year of meetings business with savings, associations that book at The Wigwam by June 31, 2011, can take advantage of board members eating, sleeping and playing for free.

In today’s fast-paced and digitally connected society, The Wigwam has also created programming that offers a respite for group meetings and business with experiences that allow guests to celebrate the history of The Wigwam and make their own history. Relieving meeting planners from having to allocate major budgets for client activities outside of the actual meeting, The Wigwam offers new destination experiences that are complimentary, such as the resort’s new resident Native American cultural interpreter Lance Polingyouma who hosts unique weeknight destination experiences that explore Arizona history, the night sky and desert flora and fauna among other topics. Weekends at The Wigwam also feature live nightly entertainment at the resort’s new Palm Courtyard.

Putting food and beverage into motion, from breakfast and afternoon snack breaks to formal evening dinners, The Wigwam has reenergized dining for groups. Active breakfasts featuring fresh, piping hot donuts being created before your eyes, custom lunchtime grilled-to-order paninis and teambuilding chili cook-offs are just a few examples of The Wigwam’s new interactive dining offerings.

Redefining group breaks at The Wigwam, the opportunities are endless for active, healthy and outdoor custom breaks paired with suitable recreation. With Arizona’s 334 days of sunshine a year, groups are taking to the resort’s expansive front lawn for morning games of flag football. And in the afternoon, breaks feature a variety of active offerings from one-hole golf challenges to fresh, made-to-order smoothie breaks and express minute massages from the resort’s on-site Red Door Spa.

“Companies and organizations look for unique experiences that meet their individual needs, so we’ve completely revamped our meetings offerings and services to cater to the objectives and mission statements of our clients - which often leads to total program customization,” said Frank Ashmore, Director of Sales and Marketing at The Wigwam. “Traditionally, experiences at The Wigwam have always centered around social activity, so with 65 percent of our core business being groups, there was an opportunity for us to incorporate unique activities into the overall meeting experience. Feedback from group planners has been overwhelmingly positive. They love the fact that their attendees have the opportunity to experience the destination without sacrificing their main objectives or impeding their schedules in any way."

Indoor meeting facilities at The Wigwam include three ballrooms, including the 10,800-square-foot Wigwam Ballroom, and 25 separate meeting rooms, a business center with wireless high-speed Internet and audio/visual specialists. The Wigwam’s recent renovation added several new outdoor spaces, including private, intimate gardens, an al fresco terrace adjacent to the resort’s new pool and a grand lawn featuring new lighting and staging areas to accommodate groups of up to 1,000 people. Lively events at Sunset Point, The Wigwam’s signature Old West-inspired outdoor venue with a stunning backdrop of the Arizona desert, are always popular with groups.

One of Arizona’s most historic resort destinations, The Wigwam has entered a new era with a $7 million renovation completed earlier this year. Remaking The Wigwam’s 80-year history, the resort offers new indoor/outdoor lounges, dining and entertaining spaces, as well as a new main pool complex, lobby and restaurants. Situated on more than 400 acres and featuring 330 guestrooms, including 72 suites, The Wigwam boasts some of the top resort amenities within Phoenix and Scottsdale, including three championship golf courses and Arizona’s largest resort golf practice facility, and a Red Door Spa.

In January, the hotel removed "Golf Resort & Spa" from the property’s formal name. The new name- The Wigwam, affords the ultimate flexibility to customize the guest experience for each group individually. The Wigwam is part of the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection.

Litchfield’s Opens January 14 Featuring Farm-to-table Fare Inspired by Chris Bianco
The West Valley will have a new destination for fresh, locally-sourced dining with the grand opening of Litchfield’s on Friday, January 14, at The Wigwam.

Replacing the resort’s former signature restaurant Red’s Steakhouse, Litchfield’s will be open for dinner nightly with a menu offering fresh Arizona cuisine at approachable prices. Litchfield’s will feature farm-to-table fare focused on seasonal cooking and ingredients that are grown, harvested and produced from sustainable and local Arizona farms and artisans. Playing an integral role in developing the concept of Litchfield’s, James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Bianco, behind the famed Pizzeria Bianco, also provided inspirations for the menu. Litchfield’s menu reflects Bianco’s appreciation for local resources.

At the heart of Litchfield’s is an exhibition kitchen featuring a wood-fired grill as the centerpiece. Guests will have a “chef’s-eye view” of the culinary creations of Chef de Cuisine Brian Cooper. Cooper is an Arizona native who was selected by Bianco to lead the new restaurant. Featuring a rustic, yet comfortable setting, the ambiance at Litchfield’s is the creation of famed local designer Jim Smith whose credits include the revitalization of many Valley resort restaurants including T. Cook’s at The Royal Palms, Lon’s at The Hermosa Inn, Prada at InterContinental Montelucia and Bistro 24 at The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix.

Litchfield’s menu items begin with small plates designed for sharing, such as La Querica Organic Prosciutto served with local dates, Queen Creek Olives with blood orange and crushed chiles, and Housemade Spinach Pasta. Big plates are served as entrees and emphasize Arizona’s local meats, including a Double Check Ranch Chopped Steak with sweet potato spaetzle and trumpet mushroom gravy, Talus Wind Ranch Lamb Stew with carrots and potatoes and Citrus Wood-Fired Free Range Chicken with fork mashed gold potatoes and buttered spinach. Dinner entrees are priced from $16-29.

Side plates include Trumpet Mushrooms, Garlic Roasted Potatoes, Wood Charred Green Onions, and Warm Red Cabbage with caraway and humboldt fog blue. Freshly baked desserts and bakery items will also be offered.

“A real point of pride at Litchfield’s is that we’re partnering with the farmers, growers and artisans in our own backyard,” said Litchfield’s Chef de Cuisine Brian Cooper. “We’ve created the menu to use slow cooking styles and techniques that compliment the natural flavors of the simple ingredients used in each dish,”

Expansive outdoor seating will offer guests and locals the opportunity for al fresco dining under the stars. With an outdoor seating capacity for more than 100 guests featuring expansive views of the historic property and lush landscaped grounds, guests dining outside will also have the opportunity to be up close and personal with the chef. Chef Cooper will regularly tend to and pluck fresh herbs from a Chef’s Garden planned near the outdoor dining patio that will feature farm fresh herbs.

Litchfield’s is named after Paul Litchfield, the founder of Litchfield Park who as the President of Goodyear Rubber & Tire Company brought his cotton farming business to the area back in the 1900s and helped grow the town, to include bringing neighboring Luke Air Force Base to the area. As a result, Litchfield’s service staff will offer personal stories and knowledge about local history and lore to share with guests.

With his own Arizona ties, Chef Cooper is no stranger to the Valley’s resort dining scene, including holding former positions as Executive Sous Chef at Lon’s at The Hermosa Inn and Restaurant Sous Chef at T. Cook’s at The Royal Palms. Formerly of the Inn and Spa at Lorreto in New Mexico, Cooper has traveled the globe pursuing his culinary passions, including working in Costa Rica and Alaska, and has participated in the honorable James Beard Foundation Dinner in New York and the James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour in Phoenix.

In addition to the opening of Litchfield’s, new menus focused on fresh, local Arizona products will be offered across the resort from in-room dining to poolside snacks. The Wigwam Bar offers a new local “hangout” featuring a signature indoor/outdoor experience. Small bites and more substantial meals will be featured at The Wigwam Bar, including Market Antipasto, Tepary Bean Cakes, Cheddar Panini with Duncan Tomato Soup and Arizona Buffalo Chili, along with daily salad, burger and soup specials. Room service offerings include breakfast items like Organic Blue Corn Pancakes, sandwiches and entrees including Grilled Mexican Grouper and Double Check Ranch Burger.

The Grill at The Wigwam will also be renamed Red Allen’s and will introduce a new menu on January 20.

Last December, The Wigwam was purchased by sports icon Jerry Colangelo and JDM Partners. In August, $7 million was invested into the resort to create all new dining offerings, amenities and experiences, including a new arrival experience, main pool, outdoor plaza, indoor/outdoor bar and event venues. The resort has also returned to its original name- The Wigwam.

Revitalization Project Begins, Will Bring New Pool, Restaurants, Wedding Venues and Outdoor Plaza To Resort
– The Wigwam, one of Arizona’s first and most celebrated resorts, has broken ground on a multi-million dollar rejuvenation project that will position the resort back to legendary status among Arizona destinations for meetings, conferences, elite social events, entertainment and unique dining.

With expansive grounds of more than 440 acres and substantial amenities, the resort will enjoy the benefit of remaining open during the project with a full-service restaurant, two swimming pools, spa, fitness center, nine tennis courts, three golf courses and all of its meeting and banquet facilities in tact. It will be “business as usual” for leisure guests, group business and social events. Returning many of the most celebrated and charming elements from the resort’s history, the project will bring several new experiences, amenities and al fresco dining to the property. Under new ownership of JDM Partners, led by national sports executive and Valley business icon, Jerry Colangelo, the project will be completed in December and will return the resort to its historical name, The Wigwam.

Starting from the moment guests arrive the new arrival experience will reflect the character and charm of the resort’s original grand entrance when it first opened in 1929. Undergoing a complete redesign, guests will experience an estatelike arrival along a new brick-paved road lined with aged citrus and palm trees leading to a wood-beamed archway with the Wigwam insignia framing the resort’s entrance, complete with a front porch as guests arrive. Guests will enter the new lobby through the original entrance offering a more intimate and historic arrival experience showcasing decades of history.
The original fireplace built in 1918 will remain a centerpiece of the redesigned living and lounge area. Offering a more relaxed resort environment with several new outdoor gardens, a lush social community courtyard and various al fresco entertainment and dining areas complete with fire pits and fountains – all strategic elements of the new design intended to allow guests to enjoy modern comforts from the moment they arrive.

Featuring all-new restaurants and dining options, celebrity chef Chris Bianco will influence and consult on the resort’s new food and beverage menus. A longtime friend of Jerry Colangelo, Bianco is the James Beard award-winning chef behind the nationally acclaimed Pizzeria Bianco.

New spaces for dining and entertainment will also be created in a new outdoor plaza centered by a indoor/outdoor bar, lounges and entertainment venues where guests can enjoy social, family and professional gatherings at all times of day. To make way for new entertainment area, the existing Adobe Pool will be relocated, redesigned and expanded into a new resort pool with separate adult and family zones. The adult pool will be lined with luxury cabanas and poolside bar, while the family zone will feature a 25-foot tower with two twisting water slides and child splash fountain water features.

The project’s award-winning design team is led by celebrated consultant Jim Smith, who has directed the revitalization of many Valley resorts including Royal Palms, The Hermosa Inn, InterContinental Montelucia and The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix, to name a few. Prior to planning the renovation, Mr. Colangelo and his partners Mel Schultz and David Eaton conducted their own market research spending countless hours observing and talking to existing guests and locals about changes they would like to see.
"We are in the entertainment business and want to create a place everyone can enjoy. Not just our guests, but a place that locals can embrace too. The Wigwam is a great asset to Arizona and has great bones. We want everyone to have a great time and want to come back," said Jerry Colangelo, partner, JDM. "Our plan represents what we heard. It’s a response to the local community and our guests regarding desired improvements and raising the bar."

Legendary AZ Resort Continues To Deliver Excellence, Joins JDM Portfolio of Top Sport & Entertainment Projects
Phoenix, Ariz. (January 7, 2010) – The Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa has claimed its long-awaited stability under the new ownership of JDM Partners, one of the largest land owners of entitled land in greater Phoenix with over 100 years experience in real estate, sports and entertainment development and operations.

The legendary resort located in the West Valley of Phoenix joins a high-profile collection of JDM projects that have included the U.S. Airways Center and Chase Field, home to the Valley’s NBA and MLB sport teams, and Dodge Theater. Phoenix based JDM is led by Mel Shultz, David Eaton and Jerry Colangelo, the Chairman of the NBA Phoenix Suns. With a vested interest and commitment to the West Valley of Phoenix, Colangelo is also involved with the proposed development of the USA Basketball facility in the West Valley.

Under its new ownership, the Wigwam joins JDM in re-energizing and strengthening sports relationships among just a few to mention in the West Valley of Phoenix. The Wigwam has been a longtime favorite destination for Major League Baseball spring training fans that flock to the greater Phoenix area each year. Offering an authentic Arizona resort experience and close proximity to top spring training facilities, the Wigwam is located just minutes from the new Camelback Ranch and four other top ball parks.

“Colangelo’s projects under JDM have seen such outstanding success and we look forward to welcoming that same prosperity and long-term stability at the Wigwam,” said Greg Miller, Vice President and Managing Director of the Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa. “In addition to his JDM projects, Colangelo has been recognized for returning USA basketball to Olympic glory and claiming the Gold Medal at the 2008 Olympic games. Needless to say, we are eager to see what lies ahead for the resort under his leadership, strength and vision.”

A treasured Southwest landmark for more than 80 years, the Wigwam first opened to the public over eight decades ago in 1929. Situated in the West Valley of Phoenix, the Wigwam features 331 rooms including 72 suites set on over 400 acres of lush green grass, vibrant floral landscaping, over 8,000 rose bushes and fragrant citrus groves. Offering a truly unique experience that captivates every sense and takes you back to another time, the Wigwam is home to the Southwest’s only 54 holes of championship golf, a signature Red Door Spa, a nine-court championship tennis facility and the coveted AAA Four Diamond-rated Red’s Steakhouse.

Celebrated as Arizona’s most authentic desert retreat destination, the Wigwam blends the essence of the Old West with the latest in traditional amenities steeped with rich history, golf traditions and legacies. The Wigwam’s three golf courses are recognized internationally as top golf experiences in the Southwest, with the resort’s first 18 holes created by then golf pro V.O. “Red” Allen. In 1964, Allen worked closely with Robert Trent Jones, Sr. to build the resort’s second course. Today, a third generation of the Allen family continues to head golf at the Wigwam and its legacy. Acclaimed by top professionals as being built for the way golf was meant to be played, the Wigwam’s golf courses feature expansive, lush green fairways, cascading canals, streams and spectacular views. Paying tribute to the Red Allen legacy at the Wigwam, in 2007 Red’s Steakhouse debuted at the resort and has since earned the coveted AAA Four Diamond rating, one of only two such steakhouses in the state.