The Westin La Quinta Golf Resort & Spa, Benahavís, Marbella is one of the Costa del Sol’s must-visit resorts, chosen year after year by those seeking a vacation that has it all. Managed by Westin, one of Marriott International’s brands, the resort is synonymous with wellness that recognizes the uniqueness of each guest and anticipates their needs.
This philosophy is well known to Nigel Cook, its new general manager who, after 25 years with the company and more than 40 in the international luxury hotel sector, lands in his first management position in Spain. Nigel declares himself to be in love with the Costa del Sol, to which he has a strong connection with the area due to his wife being Andalusian. As he himself tells us in this interview, his blood is English, but his heart is Spanish.
The Westin La Quinta Golf Resort & Spa, Benahavís, Marbella
He comes to the management of The Westin La Quinta after 40 years in the luxury hotel industry. What are his goals in taking on this position?
I love my job and my goal is simply to create memorable and indelible experiences that guests enjoy so much that they want to come back again and again, and that they can remember and share for years to come. At The Westin La Quinta we offer a service that anticipates and adapts to the individual needs of each guest.
As a hotelier, my passion for my work leads me to create unforgettable experiences and, as I said before, that they enjoy so much that they want to return. At The Westin La Quinta we recognize the uniqueness of each guest and reflect this in our service. Our desire is that each stay becomes a lasting memory.
Another of my main objectives is to motivate my team to share the same passion that I feel. Good things happen when we set ourselves new challenges and challenge ourselves to be curious and connect as a team, working together to be the best at what we do.
Mr. Marriott once said, “Great companies are built by people who never stop thinking of ways to make the business better,” a legacy that has characterized the company since its inception 97 years ago and is part of my journey. My 40 years in the hotel industry have provided me with unique and amazing experiences, both in my personal and professional life. The word “change” has been a protagonist in my life, as I have been to more than 44 countries and lived in 11 of them in five different continents. Throughout this journey I have met new cultures, destinations, co-workers and interacted with new guests in some of the most beautiful and luxurious places in the world. Now, Spain is my home.
What is the philosophy behind the Westin brand and how is it reflected in the guest experience at The Westin La Quinta?
The Westin brand is linked to wellness. Our priority is that our guests leave the resort feeling better than when they arrived. To this end, Westin has exclusive programs where eating, sleeping, moving, feeling, working, and playing well are the hallmarks of the brand.
We have our “Eat Well” menus that offer Mediterranean gastronomy with local and 0 km products; rest is essential to wellness, as evidenced by our award-winning Heavenly Bed® beds; the Westin’s “Sleep Well” menu features a carefully selected selection of foods that contribute to this.; keeping up with your workout routine away from home and “Moving Well” is made easy with WestinWORKOUT® sports equipment loaner and recovery programs, which offer the ultimate in massage to relieve aches and strains from workout routines or travel and can be used by the guest anywhere in the resort; our Heavenly Spa By Westin™ is the place for “Feeling Well” and find the time for tranquillity, disconnection from technology and total renewal; to “Work Well” we find our meeting rooms that offer adaptable spaces and responsible practices, boosting the productivity of attendees and organizers; finally, “Playing well” is possible thanks to our Westin Family program where, among other things, we offer a travel diary and activity guide.
The hotel is surrounded by a 27-hole golf course. How important is golf to the resort?
La Quinta Golf is a fundamental part of the resort. It is in the heart of Marbella’s “Golf Valley” and was designed by Manuel Piñero, three-time world champion and Ryder Cup winner. With sustainability at the heart of the care and upkeep of the course we use exclusively regenerated water. In addition, this year we have taken a step forward with the installation of a fertigation plant, which allows us to reduce the use of fertilizers and phytosanitary products, incorporating them directly into the irrigation water. In this way, we directly reduce our carbon footprint.
Another of the most important areas of the hotel is its Spa with more than 1,500m2. What does the spa offer to its guests?
Our Heavenly Spa offers eight treatment rooms and as we constantly look to improve the guest experience, we have recently installed a new Sauna as part of our water circuit. Additionally, we have a new treatment menu to waken your senses and we have just launched the exclusive Thalgo brand, with a new menu of beauty and wellness treatments, including rituals such as the Heavenly Detox Bath, a 100% natural sea bath with algae rich in minerals and trace elements, ideal for reshaping the silhouette with its draining and detoxifying action.
For those guests looking to pamper themselves with an experience as revitalizing as it is nourishing, we offer the Sprunch, with which they will enjoy a relaxation session in the spa’s thermal circuit, ending with a healthy brunch in the hotel’s clubhouse.
We have a wide offer available also for local clients, including the possibility to become a member and all the services & facilities, including access to our Westin WORKOUT®Fitness Studio.