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General manager Rui Reis in front of The St. Regis Mexico City // © 2009 St. Regis |
The St. Regis Mexico City is poised to make a splash in the capital when it opens on Aug. 5. The hotel, which has a prime location on Reforma Avenue and the Plaza of Diana the Hunter, will have 189 rooms, including 36 suites. While the word stunning is often applied to architecture, this time it’s a good fit. The building, designed by Cesar Pelli, will likely become an iconic addition to the city. TravelAge West recently caught up with Rui Reis, general manager of The St. Regis Mexico City, for a preview of what to expect.
Q: Opening a hotel during an economic recession must be difficult. What kinds of challenges did you face?
A: The situation in Mexico has been complicated this year — maybe for the last 20 years — and we did see a couple of months delay in the opening. Ninety percent of the investment was in place before the downturn, so we weren’t affected on that level. On the other hand, it’s been easy to staff the hotel, since good talents are without a job right now.
Q: What makes The St. Regis Mexico City stand out from other hotels in the capital?
A: Certainly, our signature butler service. We’ve designated one butler for every 20 rooms.
Q: What can you tell us about the restaurants at the hotel?
A: The Prime Steak House by Jean Georges will be the first Jean Georges restaurant in Mexico City. The Diana Restaurant, our St. Regis Signature restaurant, looks out onto the Plaza of Diana the Hunter.
Q: What kinds of views can guests expect?
A: Rooms facing west look out on Chapultepec Castle and gardens, while those on the east have views of Reforma Avenue. While we make every attempt to accommodate our guests’ requests, we try not to get into promising specific rooms.
Q: Can you give us a snapshot of your typical guest?
A: The U.S. will be our biggest market. We predict 60 percent from the U.S., 10 to 15 percent from Mexico and 10 to 15 percent from Europe. Sixty percent of our guests will be corporate travelers, although we’re making efforts to attract leisure travelers.
Q: Will you be offering special opening rates?
A: Yes. We have a special $235 weekend rate — the rack rate is $545.
Contact
The St. Regis Mexico City
www.stregismexicocity.com
