If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably already familiar with the advantages of following the social media accounts of your favorite businesses. Social media is changing our relationships with companies. Smart businesses are becoming much more interactive with their customers. You can have conversations with your favorite stores, restaurants, resorts, etc. about how they do business and things you would like to see them change – or not change. You can participate in fun games and contests and you can reward those companies that do things the right way. If you care about your friends, you want to warn them to stay away from places that don’t treat you well, and conversely you really like turning them on to places that make you feel special.

If you’ve been around Xona Resort Suites lately you’ve probably noticed our social media cards. Xona has been a fixture in our North Scottsdale neighborhood for over 20 years. Along with the thousands of travelers we’ve entertained over the years, we’ve also served as an oasis for local residents. People in “these here parts,” as we say in the wild west, know they can come to Xona for great food, great drinks, and lots of smiles and laughter. If you follow us on Facebook and Twitter, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to share in all the fun. Stay in tune with all the happenings in and around Xona and join us whenever an event or activity captures your attention. We encourage you to talk to us directly and talk about us to your friends through Twitter & Facebook. After all, we’re your neighborhood party planners!

If you live here in Scottsdale now is the time of year you might start to think you’re getting tired of sunshine. You’re really not. All you have to do is get out and play in those glorious rays. It’s a whole different ball game when you…go to a ball game, or play golf, or hang out by the pool. You can do all those things and more from summer base camp at Xona Resort Suites.

Take, for example, our “Half as Hot” special. Every Thursday we take the forecasted high temperature for the day and cut it in half. When you call on Thursday, you can reserve any number of nights for the remainder of the summer for that “Half as Hot“ rate. So if it’s 100 degrees you can book a 2, or 3, or 5-nights stay for $50 per night in one of our 1-bedroom Deluxe suites.

Another great deal is our 15-25-35 special. Stay two nights for 15% off, three nights for 25% off, and four or more nights for 35% off. That’s up to 35% off what are already the lowest rates of the year. For example, if you have a large group or family, you could stay 4 nights in one of our magnificent 4-bedroom suites for only $855 instead of the normal $1,316! Savings like these are pretty cool, no matter how much sunshine is raining down. Don’t wait too long to call us though because time is running out to get the best lodging deals of the year.

We’re officially into the dog days of summer now and it’s HOT! Remember those long ago days when we didn’t care about the temperature? Summer was fun time and the goal was to cram as much play as humanly possible into those precious daylight hours. We found plenty to do in the mornings but in reality we were just killing time…until the pool opened.

How much fun did we have at the pool? Do you wish you could recapture some of the energy you expended on those summer days? There wasn’t much concern about burning calories in the days of cannon balls, Marco Polo, and trying to perfect your jack knife. Just think about the number of times you dove in and climbed back out of the pool every day. It’s no wonder we were all such magnificent physical specimens!

We have four pools here at Xona – each one with a slightly different personality. Our Social Pool is perfect for people looking for fun and camaraderie. There’s plenty of room for groups of all sizes and at night the fire pits lend a cool, primal element.

The Cabana Pool is a place for quiet time like reading and sunning. Just don’t stay out so long that you start to look like an Orange Iguana.

The Waterfall Pool is very near the restaurant and lounge so poolside service is conducted at warp speed (great poolside service is available at all four pools, by the way).

The Fiesta Pool is a family favorite with plenty of options for the kids to exhaust themselves like we did in those good old days.

The Social and Cabana pools also feature saltwater purification systems instead of chlorine. For those who are sensitive to chlorine or just like the soft, silky feeling saltwater systems leave on your skin, they are a terrific addition.

Whatever your poolside preference, we have it here at Xona. Give yourself a break and come relax. I’ve heard you can burn a lot of calories drinking umbrella drinks.

Most hotel and resort restaurants find themselves with a tremendous challenge. Although they are guaranteed a certain amount of business from their hotel guests, it’s very difficult to attract outside (non-hotel) customers. Let’s face it, most hotel restaurants are not very original or exciting. Asada Desert Grille at Xona Resort Suites is gaining momentum in proving itself the exception to the rule. To be sure, Chef Kevin Myers has mastered the first prerequisite – great tasting food. But Chef Myers has taken it a step further by adhering to three simple themes that you see again and again in his work – natural, sustainable, and local.

Many chefs are very protective of their recipes and suppliers. Refreshingly, Chef Myers is quick to acknowledge several of the companies from which he purchases food because they do things the right way and he believes they deserve recognition. He purchases all natural beef from a company called Niman Ranch. All of Niman’s meats are hormone, antibiotic, and steroid-free from animals that are humanely treated. They support U.S. family farmers and ranchers and everything they sell meets the highest animal care practices in the industry.

Seafood is purchased from companies that practice sustainable methods – ways of working that leave our oceans, lakes, and streams cleaner and healthier than they found it. For example, a company called Fisherman’s Daughter harvests shrimp from the Sea of Cortez. For generations they have been leading the way toward sustainability by using a system that is more resource efficient and less taxing on the environment and goes far beyond national conservation standards.

Chef Myers always buys locally whenever he finds companies that share his outlook. He believes that when natural, sustainable methods are used, healthier and better-tasting foods are the result. Having sampled all the new menu items, I am a believer. We invite you to come and see for yourself. You can get a copy of our new dinner menu at http://www.xonaresort.com/dining/documents/AsadaDinner.pdf or take a quick tour of Asada Desert Grille and the Orange Iguana Lounge at http://www.xonaresort.com/dining/index.cfm.

June…the month of June is one of Scottsdale’s great golf secrets. Play Troon North, Grayhawk, TPC of Scottsdale, We Ko Pa, The Boulders, Legend Trail, Superstition Mountain, and many other fantastic golf courses at reasonable rates, in comfortable conditions, without the distraction of bugs and high humidity.

I know what you’re thinking. The weather forecast for Scottsdale today shows a predicted high temperature of 104 degrees. If you’ve never been here in June you’re probably shaking your head and feeling sorry for us fools who have actually chosen to reside in a place where summer temperatures are only slightly lower than those in Hades. Also that old line about it being “a dry heat” has probably popped into your head and no doubt elicited a chuckle and a “yeah, right” response. For the record, the humidity is currently 18% which is actually on the high side for us in June.

Having played a lot of golf throughout the United States, I will make the bold statement that our 104 degrees and 18% humidity is more comfortable than just about anywhere else. Under no circumstances would I trade you for 85 degrees and 85%. Sure, 104 degrees is hot but it’s hot where you are right now, too. We would ask you to not be so quick to base your vacation decisions on one number. Comfort level is a better barometer. Not only will you be very pleasantly surprised with the weather, but you’ll feel good about the prices you’re paying and the uncrowded, casual conditions.

If you want to experience something really special, come and play a few of the courses in our Private Collection. We can’t mention names but we have access to many of the most exclusive private clubs in the area – also at the lowest rates of the year. June in Scottsdale is a real bargain and still one of our best kept secrets.

We all know we are very fortunate to live in a beautiful place like Scottsdale. But let me ask you; are you finding ways to take advantage of living in this remarkable desert paradise? It’s very easy to get caught-up in a daily routine that eventually turns into a plain, old rut. People travel from far and wide to visit our Scottsdale resorts, but many of us that live here know very little about them.

The rise of the “Staycation” in the past few years may turn out to be one of the true silver linings to emerge from our economic cloud. It has opened our eyes to the fantastic opportunities right here in our back yard. If you’re interested in embracing the trend, now is your chance because here at Xona Resort Suites we have wholeheartedly embraced the summer! We are offering great package values, excellent room rates, and lots of activities designed to keep the entire family happy and motivated.

Many of our activities are organized around one of our four, sparkling pools. You can swim and listen to acoustic jazz under the stars, sample new beverage tasting experiences, enjoy Summer Splash movies and our snack shack, or listen to the Tommy Egglsten Band in the Orange Iguana Lounge. Sunday afternoons we’re introducing Wii Sports at Xona – interactive video game competitions where you can test your skills against family and friends or other resort guests.

Of course, we still boast the finest Golf Xperts in the entire universe if you feel like golfing. You can find all this and more at www.xonaresort.com!

If there’s one thing that’s associated with Scottsdale above all else, it’s golf. But while the lush greens are indeed an alluring draw for the club-swinging crowd, there’s just as much ado to be said for another attraction that’s got just as much variety and even more opportunity: Shopping. If you don’t have a tee time to rush off to, why not spend an afternoon (or three) perusing one of dozens of shopping centers? From outlet malls to upscale, one-of-a-kind boutiques, Scottsdale can satisfy all your wildest consumer fantasies.


When a wide selection and vast array of proprietors is what you’re looking for, you need look no further than Scottsdale Fashion Square. The largest enclosed shopping center in the southwest, Fashion Square isn’t just a shopping destination; it’s an all day adventure. For over 40 years it’s been a leader in shopping excursions and in the fall of 2009, the Grand Opening of a new, 100,000 square foot “wing” cinched it’s rank as #1 in all of Arizona. Three stories house over 225 stores, several of which are exclusive to the property. Well-known names like Hugo Boss, Max Azria, Barney’s, Ferragamo, Burberry, Tiffany, True Religion and Jimmy Choo all reside in the 2 million square foot property.


Tips from a local:
-Wear comfy shoes and use the online directory to scope out where you want to go ahead of time. It’s easy to get side-tracked (or even lost!) if you don’t have a game plan to stick to.
-Go in the mornings and on weekdays to avoid the issue of parking. I’ve found that the parking structure on the north side of Macy’s is a safe bet and you won’t be too far from the action.


Scottsdale Fashion Square: NW corner of Camelback & Scottsdale Rd | 480.941.2140

When you think about customer service, is your glass half-empty or half-full? Does it bring to mind the surprisingly consistent kindness and personal flair from the places of business you’ve adopted as your special favorites; or the complete lack of personality, imagination, and caring you’re forced to endure practically everywhere else you go? Can people be trained to provide great customer service or do some of us just have the necessary traits ingrained in our DNA?

These days, practically all businesses, everywhere, are forced to provide more goods and services with fewer resources. So how does one accomplish the daunting task of making customers want to come back? Everyone is looking for a better deal and, let’s face it; loyalty has to be pretty doggone strong to survive the lure of saving a few dollars by going down the street.

As a resort hotel, exceptional customer service is an absolute necessity for us to be successful, especially in these difficult times. This is a subject that is so important that it should keep us up at night. Fortunately we know the solution to this particular conundrum. You simply have to constantly strive to hire the right people and empower them to do the right things.

In the past couple of months, the busiest stretch of our year I might add, I’ve witnessed countless acts of exceptional personal service by our staff. Here’s one example.

One of our managers took it upon himself to “adopt” an elderly couple that had come to Scottsdale for a short time to visit the Mayo Clinic and, due to some complications, ended up staying for three months. The wife had hip replacement surgery and the husband had lung surgery. The manager moved them into a larger, 3-bedroom suite with better handicap facilities for the same price they had planned to pay for the original 1-bedroom suite. He hired a car to drive them to and from the hospital and charged it to our hotel account instead of their suite. When her New York driver’s license expired, he drove the wife to the Arizona Dept. of Motor Vehicles and waited with her while she got a replacement. These are just a few of the highlights from a long list of truly kind and meaningful deeds.

Many businesses would have been appalled at his “wasteful spending, time away from his station, and negative impact on profit.” Here at Xona Resort Suites, he is celebrated as a shining example of a great businessman. And that’s why we sleep okay at night.