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Executive Chef at the Hotel Willa Noah Pettus, left, interviews Alex Morales who is applying for a line cook and chef position at the new Hotel Willa during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening Monday (March 3).
Siouxzen Kang, event and community manager for the new Hotel Willa, stands in front of the hotel’s restaurant, Juliette, as she gives the Taos News a tour of the new hotel during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening, as seen Monday (March 3).
Santiago La Roche, general manager for the Hotel Willa, right, gives Brandon Bleakley, who’s applying for the manager position at the hotel, a tour of the hotel’s restaurant, Juliette, as seen during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening Monday (March 3).
Prospective employees interview for a plethora of jobs at the new Hotel Willa during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening, as seen Monday (March 3).
Santiago La Roche, general manager for the Hotel Willa, right, speaks with Veronica Lino Aguilar, Human Resources manager, at the new Hotel Willa during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening Monday (March 3).
A double standard room in the south-side building of the new Hotel Willa featuring artwork by Johnny DeFeo as seen during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening Monday (March 3).
Lighting fixtures in the Hotel Willa’s restaurant, Juliette, as seen during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening Monday (March 3).
The bathroom in the double standard room in the south-side building of the new Hotel Willa as seen during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening Monday (March 3).
Prospective employees interview for a plethora of jobs at the new Hotel Willa during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening, as seen Monday (March 3).
Radio clocks are featured in every hotel room in the new Hotel Willa as seen during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening Monday (March 3).
Executive Chef at the Hotel Willa Noah Pettus, left, interviews Alex Morales who is applying for a line cook and chef position at the new Hotel Willa during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening Monday (March 3).
DANIEL PEARSON/Taos News
Siouxzen Kang, event and community manager for the new Hotel Willa, stands in front of the hotel’s restaurant, Juliette, as she gives the Taos News a tour of the new hotel during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening, as seen Monday (March 3).
DANIEL PEARSON/Taos News
Santiago La Roche, general manager for the Hotel Willa, right, gives Brandon Bleakley, who’s applying for the manager position at the hotel, a tour of the hotel’s restaurant, Juliette, as seen during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening Monday (March 3).
DANIEL PEARSON/Taos News
Prospective employees interview for a plethora of jobs at the new Hotel Willa during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening, as seen Monday (March 3).
DANIEL PEARSON/Taos News
Santiago La Roche, general manager for the Hotel Willa, right, speaks with Veronica Lino Aguilar, Human Resources manager, at the new Hotel Willa during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening Monday (March 3).
DANIEL PEARSON/Taos News
A double standard room in the south-side building of the new Hotel Willa featuring artwork by Johnny DeFeo as seen during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening Monday (March 3).
DANIEL PEARSON/Taos News
Lighting fixtures in the Hotel Willa’s restaurant, Juliette, as seen during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening Monday (March 3).
DANIEL PEARSON/Taos News
The bathroom in the double standard room in the south-side building of the new Hotel Willa as seen during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening Monday (March 3).
DANIEL PEARSON/Taos News
Prospective employees interview for a plethora of jobs at the new Hotel Willa during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening, as seen Monday (March 3).
DANIEL PEARSON/Taos News
Radio clocks are featured in every hotel room in the new Hotel Willa as seen during the hotel’s job fair prior to their tentative April grand opening Monday (March 3).
As construction of Hotel Willa nears completion in April, the hotel has begun its search for staff. From Sunday through Monday (March 2-3), property owner Casetta Group hosted its first job fair for positions in food and beverage, hotel operations and management.
“We had a really good amount of people coming, from the town as well,” said Santiago La Roche, Hotel Willa’s general manager. “We got some people for the kitchen and we got some people for the front desk as well. So, I’d say it probably took us close to 35 percent of the total workforce we're looking for. We’re still going to be for sure actively hiring, probably virtual interviews and individual interviews. I think there’s going to be an April 4 job fair somewhere here as well.”
Hotel Willa replaces the Indian Hills Inn, which fell into disrepair and was condemned by the Town of Taos Council in 2017 for over 200 code and fire violations. Casetta purchased the property in 2019 and has slowly revitalized the building ever since.
Once complete, Hotel Willa will have 51 modernized rooms, a restaurant and bar, outdoor patio, gym, 40-by-18-foot pool, cold plunge, dry sauna, fitness center and art gallery.
“We’re so excited,” said Siouxzen Kang, the hotel's event and community manager. “We didn’t think it was going to open for a while.”
Jennifer Armbruster, Casetta’s vice president of operations said, “This is our first hotel outside of California. We have three hotels that are operating. We have two hotels in California that we’re reopening this year and then we have the Willa project. Really, our ethos is taking beautiful historic buildings and beautiful historic places, then refurbishing them and bringing life into them.”
The hotel will offer rooms of varying size and amenities, such as standard, queen and king suites. The rooms feature terracotta walls, arched shower doorways and a special nod to Taos: a bear fetish carved out of clay from Taos Pueblo.
Some rooms still require final furnishing and decor. The “Adobe House” is a standalone suite for larger parties with private backyards, fire pits, a hot tub and a full-sized kitchen. Kang said the Adobe House can be rented as a single or two separate suites depending on guests’ preference.
“This side of the house will have its own full-size kitchen, which will be the amenity here,” Kang said. “It’s the only place that has a full-size kitchen that you can rent out. Then, like I said, you’ll have this hallway to connect the two.”
La Roche said the hotel is looking to hire 65 positions for the entire property.
“ It’s a total of 65 positions for the entire property,” said La Roche, who’s worked in the hotel industry since he was 14 years old. “It goes everywhere, from food and beverage, like servers, waiters, line cooks, prep cooks and stewards. Then, for the front desk, hotel operations is housekeeping, which includes, laundry, groundskeeping and maintenance. Then, we have the management and supervisor team, which includes a hotel manager, restaurant general manager and a bar manager … So, we’re starting from scratch.”
Taos-based chef Johnny Ortiz-Concha has designed the menu of the hotel’s restaurant, Juliette, which is named after Ortiz-Concha’s mother. The menu will offer seasonal dishes using local ingredients, including fresh eggs from an onsite chicken coop.
There are 44 seats in the dining area, along with a bar and outdoor patio that can accommodate around 35 and 60 guests, respectively.
“He’s doing all of the conceptualizing of the restaurant,” La Roche said. “So, it’s a really well-crafted farm-to-table menu. We have Noah Pettus, who is the executive chef coming from The Blake in Taos Ski Valley. So, we’re getting a pretty strong team when it comes to the kitchen and the restaurant service.”
Local artists’ work is showcased throughout Hotel Willa and in each suite, including watercolors by Johnny DeFeo. The Paseo Project’s Artist in Residency program will invite a rotation of artists to live in an onsite studio. According to Kang, the program is already booked a year out, with around 90 artists who applied.
The Paseo Project’s J. Matthew Thomas is in charge of curating an art gallery, which also includes a gift shop and space for hosting events.
In late March Hotel Willa will host a private, soft opening that will allow friends and family to give their feedback, followed by a public opening in April.
“Our main responsibility for this town is to create a space for the community to join and enjoy,” La Roche said. “Anywhere from the restaurants to the area, as we’re doing a local membership that will allow people to enjoy the amenities we have in the hotel as well. We want to be another spot where people can come visit, gather and create."
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