Restored Royal Palms Reopens

<B> Restored Royal Palms Reopens</B>

By Judy Jacobs

<I>Phoenix</I> - Royal Palms, a unique inn that consists of a series of 116 villas, casitas and guest rooms built around a 1929 mansion, reopened last year following a total refurbishment. Renovated to evoke its glory days as a 1940s getaway for the rich and famous, the Royal Palms is now one of Phoenix's most attractive meetings properties.

In a state where new seems to be better than old, the Palms ranks as one of the few historic hotels. The main mansion was built as the winter home of Delos Cooke, an executive of Cunard Steamship, and includes many pieces of art that he and his wife brought back from their travels.

The Cookes also brought back plants from around the world, devoting $10,000 per year to purchase rare and unusual flora. Today much of the original landscaping remains, and the 8.9-acre property includes 11 types of palm trees, among them Windmill Fan, Canary Island Date, and Mexican Blue, as well as bougainvillea, jasmine, hibiscus, cape honeysuckle, orchids and jacaranda trees.

Cooke died in 1931, and the property deteriorated drastically over the years until it was sold in 1995 to new owners who wanted to restore it to its former glory. As part of the restoration, 25 members of the the American Society of Interior Designers were invited to work on the design of some of the casitas and public areas, making each very unique.

"The place is perfect for groups who want privacy, who want to feel like they're alone," said Kathy Massarand, the hotel's director of sales. "They will be, since we only have one group at a time on the property. The Royal Palms is perfect for board meetings, executive retreats and incentives. We can handle conferences of up to 170 people. If a group wants to buy out all 116 rooms, that's fine with us."

Meeting facilities at the Royal Palms include a total of 27,000 square feet of space. The largest, the Estrella Salon, can accommodate up to 300 for receptions, 240 for banquets, and 280 theater-style. The Palmera Salon can accommodate up to 220 for a reception and 160 for a sit-down dinner. There are several smaller rooms and boardrooms, accommodating between 12 and 50 each.

A selection of outdoor spaces provides other options for social events. The Alegria Garden, surrounded by flowers and citrus trees and enclosed by four stone walls, includes a stone platform stage and accommodates 50 for banquets and 100 people for receptions. The Veranda, another outdoor venue, can accommodate up to 200 guests for receptions and dinners.