‘New year. New management. New everything’
Motel Taos remodeled and rebranded
Motel Taos, a longstanding lodging option in Ranchos de Taos, reopened on Wednesday (Jan. 11) after more than a year of renovations.
Bright turquoise and orange beam from the lot of Motel Taos, and those fresh coats of paint represent the drastic change the property underwent. Guests can hang their hats on the cactus hooks featured in every room while they break in the new central heating. With new paint and floors, the rooms now come equipped with Keurig coffee machines, while suites come with stove tops and wet bars, offering guests a new way to enjoy roadside motels.
“New year. New management. New everything,” reads the motel’s freshly-made Instagram page. According to General Manager Damian Cortez, who ascended to the role in September, people are “surprised” to see the motel in its current state, especially those who were guests prior to the remodel. With the new look comes a new brand, as the location now labels itself as a “boutique” motel.
“We’re not meeting the standards of a four- or five-diamond hotel,” Cortez said, “but I do feel that we’re a step higher than a regular motel. We don’t fall under a three-star category because we don’t have a restaurant near our property, but [we’re] definitely a high two or three. So, we’re to meet those expectations and services for the guests.”
Rooms are stocked with the usual toiletries, with the addition of makeup wipes and refillable shampoo and body lotion bottles, which Cortez believes will be easier for guests to use, in addition to being sustainable for the environment.
Motel Taos is also becoming more technology-driven, with features such as Apple TVs in every room, keyless door locks and remote, cashless check-in. Guests are still able to book a room in person, but cash is no longer accepted on the property. When guests decide to check in remotely, they’re texted a code to their room as well as the Wi-Fi password.
“The hotel is no longer your traditional Holiday Inn hotel where you go to the front desk and you get a physical key,” Cortez said. “The guests can make the reservations directly to the hotel, which is preferred. Once we secure a method of payment and know the money is in the account, we give them a code that goes directly to the room without seeing the front desk.”
The motel also boasts boosted security in the parking lot, with new cameras and more lighting. According to Cortez, the motel has 24-hour on-call security guards from High Desert Security. Keeping safety in mind, one room was converted into a handicap-accessible room compliant with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Standards for Accessible Design, complete with a walk-in bathtub.
While the motel may be open, there is still work to be done on the property. The building in front of the motel will become the front desk and will offer complimentary breakfast as well as venue space for events, at which Howard Scott — of the 1970s funk band War — will be performing on a date still to be announced.
According to Cortez, they aim to convert the rear exterior into a botanical garden with fire pits and waterproof speakers. Some rooms are still being renovated, including one on the ground floor currently being used as the front office. This suite, Cortez hopes, will have a jacuzzi and private deck installed. Another unfinished suite will have bunk beds installed, in addition to a queen-sized bed.
Cortez would like to make other small changes to the rooms, including sound-proof windows, blackout curtains, more decorations and pots and pans to accompany the stove tops in the suites. Other plans include repaving the parking lot, which Cortez and his team hope to accomplish by summer, and offering bed and breakfast services.
“We just wanna give it a nice feel when you come in, give it that home-feel,” Cortez said. “It feels like somebody’s house, a little upscale.”
As the long closure has left job vacancies, Motel Taos is currently hiring for front desk, housekeeping and engineering positions.
Motel Taos will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., but once they’re completely staffed, Cortez hopes the motel will be open longer. Motel Taos is located on Paseo del Pueblo Sur, on the right-hand side traveling south.