Celebrate What Matters
Dear Friends,
After an incredibly bustling holiday season, all of us at La Fonda welcome the opportunity to celebrate the new year, reflect on our past successes and plan for future improvements.
Every year we count our blessings: an amazing team, an iconic location on the historic Santa Fe Plaza, a resilient community filled with caring volunteers, innovative thinkers, curious minds and kind intentions.
And kindness was on full display at the hotel this holiday season! After an incredibly busy few weeks, our team rallied to seamlessly deliver thousands of piping hot meals, custom cocktails, tidy, comfortable guest rooms, concierge services galore, curated wines and spirits, special local goods and gifts, and above all, the spirit of hospitality that sets us apart from any other lodging option around. To the many guests that have been part of our holiday story over the decades, thank you for making memories with us.
Our 2025 holiday party was an absolute blast – this year’s theme was “Harley Christmas” and the team went to town with their attire. Our President, Rik Blyth was unrecognizable with his tattooed forearms and mustache, General Manager, Fermin Moran donned a blue bandana, and I managed to find some authentic Harley gear from Santa Fe’s popular consignment shop, Double Take to match the vintage jacket I’ve had for years. I always love distributing the team’s annual bonus, holiday gifts and celebrating the spirit of the season, especially to a rocker Christmas playlist! To top off the event, Comedian, Steven Michael Quezada, who famously played DEA Agent Steven Gomez on the hit series Breaking Bad, entertained all of us. His bit was hilarious and the way he engaged with our department heads and employees added fun and loads of laughter to the party.
As we head into the new year, we are preparing for exciting upgrades to the hotel – some so extensive that we’ve made the difficult decision of closing La Fonda for most of February. After operating nonstop for over a century, our kitchens and electrical panels need some serious TLC, and it would simply not be possible to replace our main electrical panel without guest interruption. By closing, we will be able to accomplish the disruptive elements of the project quickly and efficiently. The upgrades include modernized kitchens with shiny, new appliances (Chef Lane and his crew are thrilled!) and an expanded bar that will offer more seating and most importantly, a larger dance area for Bill Hearne’s die-hard two-step fans! You can learn more about the project here, and of course, we’ll keep you posted on the progress along the way.
Cheers to a new year and the many possibilities ahead!
Jenny
Jenny Kimball
Ambassador and Board Chair Emerita
La Fonda on the Plaza
DETOURS AT LA FONDA
From HF Coors dinnerware, to Sandy Vaillancourt originals and prints, the Shop has an eclectic mix of hand crafted goods. Explore!
PIÑON COURT BY LA FONDA
Piñon Court by La Fonda —just steps from Santa Fe’s historic Plaza is an ideal location to relax in the heart of Santa Fe. Discover the hotel’s Bistro, featuring local spirits, wines and regionally inspired cuisine.
LA PLAZUELA
Celebrate the holidays at La Fonda on the Plaza with festive seasonal menus, featuring classic New Mexican flavors and chef-inspired holiday dishes.
LA FIESTA LOUNGE
La Fiesta Lounge has a dynamic group of live acts lined up this month. Enjoy a lively atmosphere filled with festive cheer, Southwestern flavors, and great local music.
CYNDE ROOF FINE ART
Cynde Roof
105 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
505-365-2758
GEMSONG GALLERY
Discover Santa Fe’s largest collection of turquoise at Gemsong Gallery, next to Detours at La Fonda.
Learn about the history of turquoise through Gemsong’s “Turquoise 101 Tour” guided by Peter Vajda, an industry icon and a unique resource in Santa Fe, who:
- Led the jewelry and gemstone trades for over six decades
- Operated on every level of trade from mining to retail
- Is a world recognized expert in colored gems, has lectured widely and advised gemstone laboratories around the globe
- Wrote definitions concerning the proper disclosure and sales of turquoise and other gems, definitions related to authentic Native American jewelry and other Native American Arts and Crafts for both state and federal laws (testifying before the US Congress twice)
- Was intermittently the largest international turquoise dealer during his career (acquiring over 10 billion carats of turquoise from virtually every iconic turquoise mine in the world)
- Specializes in collectable American Turquoise and Native American Jewelry
- Served as a board member for the New Mexico Better Business Bureau and a member of Ethical Trade Organization
- Featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal
To book a tour, inquire at the gallery or call:
505.819.7227 or 505.988.5536
EXPLORE THE SHOPS