Queretaro surprises. This comfortable colonial city is sometimes overlooked by international visitors who visit better known destinations nearby, such as the metropolis of Mexico City or the quaint, expat-haven San Miguel de Allende.
That, however, is changing due to the allure of Queretaro’s spectacular historic center and high-quality infrastructure, including excellent hotels and restaurants.
The recently inaugurated Centro de Congresos, a stunning, hill-top setting for conventions and congresses, will draw more visitors to Queretaro, as will the fact that Queretaro has, over the last two decades, become a manufacturing hub for multinational companies, including Bombardier, Samsung, Colgate-Palmolive, Kellogg’s, Procter and Gamble and GE, to name just a handful of the more than 700 corporations with a presence in the area.
During the 18th Annual Mexican Secretary of Tourism´s Meetings Industry Congress, held August 3-5, 2011, Queretaro´s convention bureau invited Mexico Meetings Network (MMN) to experience the city´s boutique hotels, nestled in the heart of the colonial center. Eight of these hotels have joined together under the umbrella brand Hoteles Boutique Queretaro (HBQ).
Recently, these hotels completed a course with SITE Mexico, to learn how to better provide service to incentive travel groups. Together, the eight hotels, all within walking distance of one another, offer 129 rooms. To qualify for membership, an HBQ hotel must be located in a colonial building in the city´s downtown; it must meet high service standards; and each of the hotel’s rooms must be unique.
The current eight hotels are: the Casa del Atrio; Casa del Naranjo; Casona de la Republica; Casa de la Marquesa; La Casa del Obispo; Antiguo Meson de Aspeytia; Doña Urraca; and El Serafin.
The MMN team was hosted by the Casa del Atrio, Casa del Naranjo and Casona de la Republica.
Casa del Atrio
The first impression of the Casa del Atrio is that you are walking into an art and antique gallery. A pair of 19th century carved lions keeps watch over a busy but harmonious assortment of contemporary art and Mexican colonial and post-colonial objets d´art. The property is long, and just when you think you have reached the end, it continues on to two small courtyards (good from small meetings and break-out sessions) and, nearly half a block from the entrance, ends in a beautiful teacup of a garden.
Antonio Arelle and his partner Pepe Homs opened Casa del Atrio two years ago. They had never run a hotel before, but with extensive experience in galleries and video production, they know how to put on a show. The reviews and 5-star rating on Tripadvisor are a testament to their instincts and hard work.
“What I want from a hotel is a good bed, a clean bathroom and quiet,” says Arelle, who enjoys getting to know the interesting guests who appear at his six-room hotel. Each of the high-ceilinged rooms is unique. There is art on every wall and, in some cases the walls themselves have been painted with scenes.
Some of the most appealing characteristics of the hotel are:
· The quiet. The rooms are set far back from the street. From inside, you’d never know you were in a city. In fact, the slices of blue sky over the courtyards seem more country than city.
· Simple but elegantly comfortable bathrooms: plenty of space; big, fluffy towels; high-quality lotions and shampoos.
· Real coffee in the rooms. Every morning you can make your own brew from freshly ground beans, a wonderful alternative to the usually bland coffee offered by hotels. Great touch.
· Abundant breakfasts: Fruit, juice, granola, more coffee and eggs to order.
Arelle, a transplanted Mexico City resident, is proud of his adopted city, and the fame it’s starting to achieve. “Queretaro deserves it,” he said. “The people are so nice. They treat you well. The city is clean and very safe. And, it has so much culture. There is a good art scene. Every weekend there are one or two gallery openings. Students play music on the street corners.”
Hotel Casona De La Republica
Located in a 16th century house in the heart of Queretaro’s historic center, Casona De La Republica is a stunning boutique hotel, which successfully combines historical charm with modern luxury. With its colonial architectural, Casona De La Republica surrounds an impressive, inner courtyard, a restaurant and a rooftop terrace, all of which are ideal for social gatherings, such as weddings, cocktails and dinners.
The hotel’s versatile rooftop terrace can hold cocktails of up to 300 people, and the restaurant, El Encuentro, can serve 80 people. The hotel also has an executive meeting room, which can seat 20 people. Since opening one year ago, the Casona De La Republica has hosted a variety of social events, international incentive groups, meetings, and even a fashion show.
Casona De La Republica has 15 unique suites, the majority of which feature private jacuzzis. Each room is individually decorated and furnished with art and furniture; guests are invited to purchase items that entice them. A stay at Hotel Casona La Republica, is an excellent choice for incentive trips, corporate retreats and executive meetings.
La Casa del Naranjo
La Casa del Naranjo, a charming boutique hotel located in the heart of Queretaro’s historical center, opened three years ago in a renovated 17th century convent. The hotel features an inner courtyard that is home to an orange tree and a restaurant. The rooftop terrace overlooks the stunning dome of the city´s cathedral.
Vintage yet modern, each of the hotel’s six suites is uniquely decorated with local art, some preserving stone murals and walls from centuries past. For those looking for some pampering, La Casa del Naranjo offers a Dakini Spa.
For events and meetings, La Casa del Naranjo is perfect for intimate gatherings with space for up to 70 people on the rooftop terrace and 50 people on the patio. This boutique hotel provides in-house catering services and can arrange all types of entertainment for your guests.
MMN recommends that planners think of the eight HBQ hotels as a set, placing guests in each and using the different, unique space for receptions and meetings.
