Sip & Sash

Caleigh Shade draws on her pageant past to perfect the wine program at the Princess

By Alison Bailin Batz / Photo by Claudia Johnstone

While the wine menu at the Bourbon Steak Scottsdale is certainly a page-turner, equally impressive is the woman behind it. In 2025, Caleigh Shade was named lead sommelier at the award-winning restaurant, a role that also includes oversight of the entire wine portfolio at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (www.scottdsaleprincess.com). Tasked with curating a 4,000-bottle collection spanning more than 1,000 labels and vintages, leading staff education and elevating guest experiences, Shade credits two unlikely influences for her poise, passion and precision: a rural upbringing and the pageant stage.

“I was born in a small town in the Appalachian Mountains on the Maryland-West Virginia border,” Shade says. “To give perspective, our family worked the land and, even in the 2000s, my school did not have computers.”

Her father, a hunting guide, instilled an early respect for sourcing and preservation, shaping her connection to food. By 12, she was working in restaurants and at 17, she was splitting time between a boutique resort with a high-end dining program and classes at Salisbury University, where she studied Buddhist philosophy and marketing. “In the winters, I would travel to ski towns in Colorado and Montana to immerse myself in food and wine culture, getting especially enamored with the art and science of wine.”

At the same time, Shade was rising through the pageant world, first earning Miss Maryland Teen USA in 2018 and later being crowned Miss Maryland USA in 2022. During her reign, she continued working full time and studying, ultimately becoming the first certified sommelier to compete on the national stage at Miss USA. “That experience – where I felt as if I was performing in front of the entire world – taught me how to connect, how to be present and how to read a room,” she says. “It all translated directly into hospitality.”

In 2023, Shade drove solo to Scottsdale with her personal wine collection carefully bubble wrapped and temperature controlled. Within months, she joined Bourbon Steak in a hybrid sommelier/server role, rising to lead sommelier in less than two years.

Today, she is reenergizing the resort’s wine programming, from reintroducing wine dinners to spotlighting large-format bottles that bring a sense of occasion to the table.

The Lap of Luxury

Kim Westhoff crafts unforgettable guest experiences at The Global Ambassador

By Kaylor Jones / Photo by Claudia Johnstone

When the Global Ambassador opened its doors in 2023, the internationally inspired hotel was catapulted to the top of countless best-of lists thanks to its five signature restaurant concepts, luxury wellness offerings and exclusive members’ club, to name just a few of its draws.

Kim Westhoff has been with the hotel since the final stages of construction. “It was an incredible experience to watch the transformation from concrete floors to beautifully finished hallways and the hand-painted mural in Le Âme. Seeing every detail come to life was truly special,” she says.

Westhoff admits her entry into the hospitality industry was a bit unexpected – she got hooked after applying for a concierge position at the Arizona Biltmore shortly after graduating from the University of Arizona, where she studied communications, economics and marketing. In her current role as director of leisure sales, she oversees the corporate, entertainment and travel industry markets, ensuring all guest journeys reflect The Global Ambassador’s elevated standards of service.

“Each team member brings an exceptional level of expertise and genuine passion to their role and it shows in every interaction. Guests often tell me how much they appreciate the thoughtful details like the coffee table books, wallpaper and minibar, but what truly stands out to them is the staff. From the pool to the Lobby Bar to the rooftop, there is a consistent, authentic sense of care and connection that defines the guest experience.”

As a Bay Area native who’s lived in Phoenix for 30 years, Westhoff has watched firsthand as Phoenix has grown into a cultural destination for travelers from all over the world, including those using Phoenix as a gateway to other destinations like Tucson, Sedona and the Grand Canyon.

“Even repeat visitors continue to return, drawn by the region’s unique combination of relaxation, adventure and consistent sunshine.”

At the end of the day, she says the best part of her job is creating experiences worth remembering. “The key is making a genuine connection with each guest. When you discover that ‘golden nugget,’ a shared interest in sports, fashion, or technology, it transforms a stay into something personal and meaningful.”