HOUSE MEMORIAL 55

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Matthew McQueen

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF DESIGNATING A NEW MEXICO HISTORIC HOTELS TRAIL.

 

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is steeped in history, with many old and charming buildings that date back centuries; and

     WHEREAS, some older buildings have been converted or upgraded to hotels yet retain their historic charm with classic New Mexico design elements such as latilla-and-viga beam ceilings, rooms with traditional fireplaces and thick adobe walls; and

     WHEREAS, these hotels capture New Mexico's vibrant historic heritage and offer travelers unique experiences; and

     WHEREAS, the site of the current La Fonda on the plaza in the city of Santa Fe has been the location of various inns since 1609, and the Fred Harvey company established La Fonda as one of its premier Harvey houses; and

     WHEREAS, on the national register of historic places, the hotel St. Francis in the city of Santa Fe opened in 1924 on the site of a previously operating hotel and was designed in California mission revival style; and

     WHEREAS, the Casa de Suenos old town historic inn in the city of Albuquerque was built in the 1930s and 1940s and retains the charm of soft adobe walls and hidden courtyards; and

     WHEREAS, Indian Springs in the city of Truth or Consequences was established in 1939 and boasts two private, natural hot spring pools situated next to 1940s-style apartments; and

     WHEREAS, the Castaneda hotel in the city of Las Vegas was built in 1898 and was Fred Harvey's first trackside hotel and is currently under renovation, scheduled to reopen in the spring of 2019; and

     WHEREAS, the St. James hotel in the village of Cimarron has been a gathering place for more than one hundred forty years and began as Lambert's saloon in 1872, with hotel rooms added later; and

     WHEREAS, the original part of the hotel Eklund in the town of Clayton was built in 1892 and operated as a saloon and gambling hall, with hotel rooms added later; and

     WHEREAS, the Palace hotel in the town of Silver City dates back to 1882 and was restored to its former elegance in 1990; and

     WHEREAS, unique and historic hotels with storied pasts are nestled in every corner and back road of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the tourism department implements the New Mexico True advertising campaign to tout unique assets and experiences throughout New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the tourism department also groups assets and experiences into themed New Mexico True trails focusing on architecture, outdoor adventure, local cuisine, art, culture and history and ghost towns, among others; and

     WHEREAS, in creating a New Mexico True trail, the tourism department, in collaboration with the cultural affairs department, involves industry partners to create guidelines for inclusion in the campaign;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the tourism department, in collaboration with the cultural affairs department, be requested to study the feasibility of designating a New Mexico True historic hotels trail; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the tourism department be requested to consult with industry partners such as the New Mexico hospitality association to create guidelines for the inclusion of a hotel in a New Mexico True historic hotels trail; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the tourism department be requested to report its findings and recommendations to the appropriate interim legislative committee by November 1, 2019; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of tourism, the secretary of cultural affairs and the chief executive officer of the New Mexico hospitality association.

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