Nothing make a girl feel cooler than spending the day in a posh little hotel. I was lucky enough last week to spend a morning touring the new Westin in Downtown Phoenix, and even got to experience the beautiful restaurant inside, province. This Westin opened March 10, 2011, and only seven months ago was a concrete shell of a commercial space! What was originally set to be offices has been transformed into a boutiquey, luxurious hotel downtown with urban views and modern finishes. 

First Impressions

With a focus on business travelers, the location of the new Westin couldn't be better. This new hotspot is only five miles from Sky Harbor and two blocks from the Phoenix Convention Center, and conveniently sits next to the light rail stop on Van Buren and Central.

The ground floor is open and immediately connected to the hip new province restaurant. As you enter the space you can't miss the floor-to-ceiling windows with surprisingly cool, urban views, and the open patio which will soon house restaurant and bar seating. A short outdoor staircase takes you up a level to the boutique-style Lapis Pool Terrace.

The entire property has benefited from Westin's very latest interior design standards, meaning the most updated paint chips, fabric swatches and patterns have been used to craft the newest Westin experience. The general look is a lot of pretty neutrals (slate grays and woody browns) with cool purples and beautifully textured furniture- marble, mirrored pieces and beautiful woods are all used.

The lobby winds around a mini library seating area and soon-to-be shop to reach the hotel elevators. State-of-the-art touchscreen TVs are mounted in the lobby, showcasing the local events and resort happenings, among other things.