Life for this Palm Springs travel writer is filled with peaks and valleys. I have learned to accept rejection, celebrate wins, and value the relationships that I make along the way. This past week, all the good aspects of this writing journey came together at the reopening of Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort and Spa after a $15 million remodel of the resort and grounds.
Through various Facebook posts, zoom calls, and phone calls, I realized there was a person who not only was willing to share but went out of her way to help writers learn the path to becoming good and recognized travel writers. Her name is Mary Charlebois.
I sought her out somewhere along the line for some quiet advice on a direction I was thinking about taking the following week. I knew I could count on getting an answer from her based on her seven years plus of travel writing and editing for a popular website.
An Email Arrived
Mary sent me a note and told me how she had met the lovely women from 360viewPR on her travel journeys. They had invited her to come to Palm Springs to reopen the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa and wanted her to cover various aspects of the resort.
I gave her a call, excited about the fact that we would, at last, meet in person. During that conversation, she said, Let me send them an email and suggest you be invited to cover the event, too, since you live there.
Meeting at the Restaurant at the Resort
We agreed to meet for lunch at the newly remodeled Pinzimini Restaurant, for she had breakfast there and was raving about the food. At the appointed time, we met, hugged, and carried on with a two-hour lunch and a tour of the beautiful resort grounds. Later, we agreed there were no surprises about meeting each other, but she thought I was taller.
The Introduction Worked
The 360viewPR group invited me to attend the dinner and concert that evening. After my lunch and tour, I headed home and changed clothes to enable me to arrive on time to meet the others covering this event.
Michelle Rodriquez, the owner of 360viewPR, and her colleague Jan Ortega met Mary and me in the resort lobby. The resort manager soon arrived and escorted us to our VIP table. The floor-length tablecloths perfectly accompanied the beautiful table with an approximately three-foot-long fresh flower centerpiece.
The Evening
The meal was delicious and contained several healthy options. The resort's goal of becoming known as a wellness resort appears to be well on its way. The spa is remodeled, the exercise room has a view of the 18-hole champion golf course, and bicycles are available to rent. Courts for pickleball, tennis, basketball, and volleyball are upgraded. The huge central pool is convenient for the hotel and restaurants and provides the perfect space to exercise or drink your umbrella-decorated cocktails if you desire.
Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort Backyard Venue
This newly enlarged and remodeled space on the Westin Mission Golf Resort and Spa grounds is sure to become a place where locals and hotel guests look forward to the scheduled concerts at this outdoor venue. The location with artificial turf, raised round stage, provides a great space under the stars that is hard to beat.
Please see the attached schedule for the concerts. https://groovesatthewestin.com The first concert showcasing DW3, and The Grooves sold out. It was easy to see why. Not only did the music have us tapping our feet and swaying with the music, but the dance area was packed.
As I left the concert and walked toward the entrance, I peeked in Pinz & Pints, a game arcade where you can play various pinball machines, bowl, or play air hockey. If you want to watch it, no problem. There is a great bar and lounge area.
It has been a wonderful day. Quiet time with Mary was very special. I met many members of the resort staff who not only were attentive, but their pride in their resort was also so evident, for they enjoyed sharing some details we may have overlooked.
As a resident of Coachella Valley, I can say that I am thrilled to learn about this beautiful resort. No question, I will be back, and I look forward to inviting someone to come with me to future concerts in their Backyard.
Kathy Condon is a freelance journalist and travel writer. She is the Founder of the Palm Springs Insider Guide. Her book It Doesn't Hurt to Ask: It's All About Communication was named Best Book Finalist By USA Book News.
@kathycondon.net 760-902-3094 www.PalmSpringInsiderGuide.com
WOW!! Amazing