Jenny's View
Friends,
Each month, La Fonda on the Plaza recognizes an employee for going above and beyond. And each year, we nominate a handful of really stellar team members for the New Mexico Hospitality Association’s Top Hat Awards. The awards celebrate those whose exceptional performance elevates the travel, tourism, and lodging industry in our state. We brought five terrific people to the 2019 awards gala on November 6 as finalists in their categories, plus we were a finalist in the Best Digital Campaign category for our recent website redesign.
So let’s hear it for Patricia Tapia, Lead Concierge, and Fermin Moran, Front Desk Manager for being named the top finalists in the state for Front of House Hospitality; and Adrian Hernandez, Houseman, for Back of House Hospitality. Each one deserves recognition and praise for their efforts in making La Fonda the special place it is.
Now for the great news! We took home two big awards: Leo Granados, Bartender in La Fiesta Lounge won for Front of House Food & Beverage and Gil Mesa, Purchasing Manager, took the top award for Back of House Food & Beverage. Of course, we need to share with you exactly how these two gentlemen have contributed to La Fonda’s success.
Leo’s been working in one capacity or another at La Fonda for twenty-six years. He started working in the laundry part-time while he was still in high school. When he graduated, he moved into setting up for banquets, has run turndown service, worked in the maintenance department and then ten years ago, became a bartender. He’s tended to patrons at the Bell Tower Bar, at banquets and meetings, and now is the daytime bartender at La Fiesta Lounge.
“I’ve met so many nice people over the years that I feel responsible for them,” Leo says of his desire to take care of people and serve them. “People can be overwhelmed by how busy Santa Fe is and need a place to rest during the day. When they come in to La Fiesta Lounge I get to talk to them and get to know them. In the evening, with the music in the Lounge, it’s a different ambience and I don’t have much opportunity to interact. That’s also really fun, but I really enjoy talking with people from all over.”
Leo’s customer-centric attitude and genuine, authentic spirit of hospitality shines every day, making him a true hospitality rock star. Congrats, Leo!
If you compare La Fonda on the Plaza to an army, where the hundreds of guests and employees are the troops who need three meals, snacks and beverages every single day of the year, then Gil Mesa is the quartermaster. He ensures that supplies are always in stock and ready for the busy chefs to prepare the signature dishes the hotel is known for. As purchasing manager for the past 25 years, he has been responsible for ordering and deploying millions of pounds in foodstuffs every year.
Gil is also the person responsible for the annual La Fonda holiday gingerbread house, which itself draws thousands of visitors to the lobby each year. Gil and his team spend hours crafting ice-cream cone trees, adding LED lights for the farolitos, and finishing the construction of an edible masterpiece before wheeling it out to the lobby to add candy canes and other sweet touches. He’s also a master ice carver whose astounding displays grace our banquet tables all year long, including our Thanksgiving and Christmas buffets.
Gil is close to retiring now, and is looking forward to spending time with his large extended family, especially returning to Colombia where much of the family still lives. “I haven’t been back in 63 years, and I haven’t had a holiday off since I started at La Fonda. I wonder what it would be like to spend holidays with family? Although La Fonda really is my family – I’m never not thinking about how I can do my job better. I never punch out.”
So many thousands of people each day depend on Gil– he really is the beating heart of the food side of the hotel and we’re so pleased that he has been recognized for his extraordinary efforts.
Here’s to our fantastic crew!
Jenny
P.S. Don’t forget to stop by Detours for your holiday shopping. I’m sure there’s someone on your list that would love a custom-made jacket fashioned from contemporary American Pendleton blankets. I had been holding out for many, many years in search of the perfect handmade Pendleton coat (so Santa Fe stylish!) to keep me warm since I’m always cold. I never could find one that I thought was made beautifully and purchase worthy – despite looking at many of them. When I discovered Lynn Wilkinson’s work and saw her exquisite craftmanship and designs, I knew my long wait had finally paid off.
