Chandler, Arizona
Renovated
2021
Price
$$$
Rated for
Wellness Resort LocalOutside the door
The house
MarriottTribal desert resort
Owned by the Gila River Indian Community, the resort grounds its desert stay in Akimel O'otham and Pee Posh cultural traditions.
“I was especially smitten with the 10 murals in the main lobby, which encompass local Native American tribes' (Pima and Maricopa) styles of art.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Pima and Maricopa tribal heritage guides the architecture and community art throughout.
What they say
Forbes Recommended
Forbes Travel Guide
2026
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
The influence of the local Pima and Maricopa tribes are perhaps most vividly felt at the hotel’s Five-Star Kai Restaurant and Five-Star Aji Spa.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Open desert surrounds the resort on the Gila River Indian Reservation, where wild herds roam beneath the Sierra Estrella mountains.
The rooms
Interiors feature saguaro cactus rib valances and tribal calendar sticks, with earth tones reflecting the surrounding desert landscape.
The pools
Bring a swimsuit.
Four heated pools curve through the grounds, linked by waterfalls and a 111-foot water slide modeled on ancient ruins.
The spa and gym
Aji Spa draws on tribal healing traditions for its restorative body wraps. The gym includes cardio and strength equipment.
Hanyo Pool Bar
The open-air deck looks out across the river loop, serving Southwestern lunches and cold drinks by the pool.
Kai Restaurant
The dining room looks toward the mountains, serving indigenous regional dishes on tables set with handcrafted clay pottery.
At the table
The Lobby Bar pours evening cocktails beside a stone fireplace. In the morning, Link Café serves espresso and fresh pastries.
How it began
Every public entrance faces east following tribal tradition, and the domed lobbies borrow their shape from ancestral Olas’ki roundhouses.
Good to know
Stay here
Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.