ALBUQUERQUE, NM – September  24, 2010 – The Hotel Andaluz, the newly opened and restored Downtown Albuquerque Boutique Hotel, has been honored as Lifestyle Hotel of the Year.  The award was presented by the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association and Hospitality Design Magazine in Miami this week. The Boutique & Lifestyle Hospitality Awards are set to become the universal benchmark for recognition of quality amongst the boutique and lifestyle lodging industry and is the only one dedicated exclusively to the boutique and lifestyle hospitality industry sector, according to the event organizers.  The hotel competed internationally for this honor. It is especially significant since the hotel is just completing its first year in operation.

The Hotel Andaluz, open since October 2009, beat out major industry names and leaders in its category including the Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte, NC, the  Hotel Felix in Chicago and the Hotel G in Beijing.

The Hotel Andaluz first opened in 1939 as the Albuquerque Hilton, Conrad Hilton's first Hilton property. Then, as it is today, the hotel was the pinnacle of luxury. The hotel recently underwent a $30 million renovation to bring it to its current level of luxury that incorporates modern technology and eco-friendly, LEED-certified standards, while preserving the building’s historic integrity. The Hotel is on track to receive its LEED Gold certification, and is the “Greenest” hotel in the Southwest.  

“We are delighted to be the only Hotel in the world to receive this distinction,” said Gary Goodman, Hotel Andaluz owner.  “What we've created is a property with a tantalizing and sensuous tapestry of past and future. We’ve redefined hospitality, historic significance, environmentally responsible design and luxurious amenities. The hotel was designed to be and has become the social and cultural hub of Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico.”                                          ©2009 Ramona Willis d'Viola/ilumus photography

Hotel Andaluz is managed by Gemstone Hotels & Resorts, a full-service management operating  company that specializes in luxury and upscale hotels and resorts. Gemstone Hotels & Resorts manages properties all over the country including the Mosaic Hotel in Beverly Hills and the Carlton Hotel in New York City. They are experts in seemlessly blending effective  management with hotel luxury, creating uncommon results in their management partnerships. Jeff McIntyre, a Gemstone Partner, commented that “Hotel Andaluz is an extraordinary hotel and this is an extraordinary award reflecting the unique experiences we strive to create for our guests.”  For more information on Gemstone Hotels & Resorts go to  www.gemstoneresorts.com. For more information on the Hotel Andaluz, go to www.hotelandaluz.com or call (505) 242-9090.