My sister so wanted to get married at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya
Resort and Spa that she booked her wedding more than a year in
advance three months before she got engaged. It was a good
choice.
The Tamaya sits on 500 acres of the Santa Ana reservation
between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, N.M. Driving through the
four-stop-light town of Bernalillo, clients would never guess the
Hyatt is just around the corner. But once they know the way, guests
will find a unique bridge between present and past.
“The resort was very much designed, not to be themed, but to
represent the people who have come before,” said Tamaya general
manager Steven Dewire. “We wanted the hotel to have a sense of
place.”
The resort is part owned by Hyatt and the Pueblo Indians, who
own the land where the Hyatt sits. Hyatt partnered with 700 tribal
members to build the resort where a Pueblo village once was. And
the fingerprints of their culture are quite intentionally placed
throughout the resort from the design of the pool to the pinon and
sage scent present throughout the Tamaya even the small spiral
designs on the carpet and spoons have meaning.
Dewire often acts as a mediator between the Pueblo and corporate
cultures, and he said the Native Americans have a strong influence
on the shape of the Tamaya. The resort was first intended to sit
about 150 yards south, but a tribal elder stuck a stake in the
ground and said to build there.
“And that’s where we built it,” Dewire said.
Keeping with tradition, the Hyatt hosts a variety of cultural
activities, including traditional Pueblo bread-baking
demonstrations and tribal dance performances as well as the Tamaya
Cul-
tural Museum and Learning Center.
The Tamaya also features an 18-hole championship golf course,
tennis courts and the not-to-be-missed Tamaya Mist Spa. The spa
offers clients a menu of holistic treatments rooted in New Mexican
culture, including cornmeal and herbal body treatments. Along with
a sauna and steam room, the spa features a shared, outdoor Jacuzzi
that’s swimsuit optional.
The Hyatt was also designed to incorporate New Mexico’s scenery and
stillness. The 350 guestrooms and public areas offer views of the
Sandia Mountains, and many guests often remove their watches to
escape time during their stay.
Despite its unique desert motif and mild climate, the
Albuquerque area has yet to become well known as a tourist
destination, but travel to the city has steadily climbed especially
with the addition of low-cost carriers, like Southwest, to the
Albuquerque airport. The Hyatt has also seen a steady increase of
guests since it opened its doors in early 2001 mainly through word
of mouth.
During its first year, the resort was typically only about half
full, but while I was there, the Tamaya was at 80 percent
occupancy. Although many business travelers were also there, the
layout keeps conferences separate from the guestrooms and
lobby.
There were even a few weddings some in the ballrooms, another
outside. But in my opinion, my sister’s was by far the most
lovely.
THE DETAILS Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa
Room rates: During the high season (April-November) nightly rates
range from $195-$345. During the low season (November-April) rates
drop to $155-275. Getting around: Since the Hyatt sits between
Santa Fe and Albuquerque, most guests opt to rent a car. The Tamaya
offers driving itineraries that highlight the area’s popular
historic and shopping venues. One tip: I-25, which runs between the
two cities, is heavily patrolled for speeders. Packages: The Hyatt Tamaya is offering a
Girlfriends’ Peaceful Getaway for busy women wanting to escape into
the desert. The Package includes accommodations for two nights, a
welcome cocktail, breakfast daily, valet parking, a gift and two
treatments at the Tamaya Mist Spa. Through Nov. 18, rates start at
$1,090, double; $1,740 for quad occupancy. From Nov. 19-April 5,
rates start at $990, double; $1640 for quad occupancy. Commission: 10 percent 505-771-6037
www.tamaya.hyatt.com |