Jenny's View

Dear Friends,

Whether you’re into rugged mountain biking through ravines and forest trails, quaint strolls through quaking leaves, or a cruise up Ski Santa Fe’s Super Chief Quad chairlift through the aspens to 11,250 feet in elevation —I promise, there’s an amazing view in store for you!  Especially this year, as you can witness the seasons collide – the combination of early snowfall and shivering yellow leaves is spectacular.

Anyone who has ever visited Santa Fe knows gorgeous vistas abound.  We’re blessed with a 360 degree panorama, surrounded by dynamic mountains and a sky that can best be described as an ever-shifting canvas saturated with every shade of light.  As visitors, we’re each granted a role in the awesome theatre this landscape affords, and everyday I give thanks that I can take part in the vibrant beauty of our Land of Enchantment.

If you’re into surreal imagery, there’s not much that tops the eye candy of 500+ hot air balloons hovering in the sky above Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque.  We’re thrilled Balloon Fiesta is back in action!  The City of Santa Fe offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from the festivities, so be sure to book a spot in advance!

The Bell Tower will close shop later this month, or in early November, depending on the weather and staffing, so if you haven’t yet made the trek up to our 5th floor be sure to plan a visit before the temperatures drop.  We’ve had one heck of a season — Mother Nature served up her signature sunsets and surprised us with more than a few monsoon downpours! Over 21,400 guests have enjoyed our classic cocktails and southwest fare so far this year.  It takes a team effort to maintain service levels on par with the view, and thanks to our manager, Karen Severson along with her amazing crew, we’ve done just that. 

We pride ourselves in serving our guests’ needs.  Even with the recent labor shortage that seems to be nationwide, we’ve managed to open our banquet and catering departments to welcome conferences and galas, weddings and family gatherings.  Last month four lovely couples tied the knot on the very same day, each with a festive gathering!  The hotel was bustling with excitement as mariachis made their way through our corridors belting out classic Mexican wedding songs in celebration. Our super talented wedding director, David Stone, was just a tad busy that day as you might imagine!

We’re fortunate to have access to over 20,112 square feet of meeting space, but even more fortunate to have a stellar team working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the many moving parts work together like a well oiled machine.  If the hotel is a machine, then our Sales Manager, Desiree Quintana is the master mechanic.  Desiree understands how the hotel revs up for big events and where and when additional resources are needed to ensure optimal performance.  She is one of Santa Fe’s most experienced professionals in the industry, and thanks to her, our favorite groups keep coming back. She has worked at La Fonda for over twenty-two years, and it is a family affair as her husband, Greg, is our comptroller and has worked for us for forty-four years.

Because of Desiree and our wonderful sales, banquets and catering teams, the conference DENT keeps returning to La Fonda.  DENT is all about people, filled with what Pulitzer Prize winner David Horsey calls, “an eclectic mix of generally brilliant human beings.”  The 2021 list of speakers and presenters is a reflection of brilliance: former CIA officer and author,Valerie Plame, Meow Wolf’s founder and director, Vince Kadlubek, and Global Diversity Recruiting Leader, Torian Richardson are among the mix.    If you want to be inspired and gain experiences that will empower you to make a dent in the universe this conference is for you.  

Another event that garners rave reviews about our staff and service is the Fred Harvey History Weekend, now in its 12th year.  The diverse annual series includes lectures, panels, events at the Castañeda Hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico, demonstrations, museum talks and the celebratory Fred Harvey Foodie Dinner and Auction at La Fonda, all benefiting the New Mexico History Museum.  Purchase your tickets here and plan to immerse yourself in the dynamic story of the visionary young immigrant, Fred Harvey, a man who worked his way up from dishwasher to founding father of the nation’s service industry. 

I hope we can each take a lesson from the trees and celebrate how lovely it is to welcome change and adapt to new elements and seasons!

Very truly yours,

Jenny