ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Citing unavoidable delays in receiving products from the factory, it was announced today that the official re-opening of Andaluz (formerly the La Posada de Albuquerque) has been delayed from September 1 to October 1.

“We’re shooting to achieve Gold LEED certification for Andaluz,” said Paul D’Andrea, Regional Director for Gemstone Hotels & Resorts, manager of the property. “A big part of that certification comes from the use of eco-friendly materials in everything from custom built furniture and fixtures, to products such as carpet padding made from recycled material. There is unprecedented demand for these eco-friendly products and as a result, some of our vendors are simply not able to get their products delivered to us in time for us to meet our targeted opening date of September 1. Because of that, we felt the most prudent thing was to delay the opening 30 days to accommodate those revised product delivery schedules.”

“All of our vendors are as committed to sustainability as we are, and they are doing their best to get us the products we need as close to their original delivery date as possible. As things arrive, they will immediately find their homes in the rooms and public spaces of the new hotel,” D’Andrea said. He also noted that accomplishing the historic considerations involved with this major re-modeling have added to the project’s complexity as well.

D’Andrea also said that staffing for the opening will proceed at the same pace. “We’re close to filling all of the key management positions and as those people come on board over the next few weeks, they will begin hiring the staff who will work in their departments,” said D’Andrea.


About ANDALUZ
The former La Posada de Albuquerque Hotel will reopen in fall 2009 as ANDALUZ, following a $30 million major renovation. The hotel’s new name reflects the Moroccan and Spanish- inspired architecture that Conrad Hilton incorporated into this, his first hotel in his native New Mexico, when the building was first constructed in the late 1930’s.

In addition to a full-service restaurant, Saffron, and an exciting indoor/outdoor bar, Ibiza, Andaluz will also feature a mezzanine-level cultural center honoring New Mexico’s museums, cultural institutions, performing arts groups, and other culturally significant organizations. The renovation preserves the history of the building, while modernizing its technology and introducing true environmental sustainability. When complete, Andaluz will achieve gold LEED certification making the Andaluz property, a member of the National Register of Historic Places, one of the first historic hotels in America to achieve LEED certification.

Andaluz, owned by Goodman Realty Group and operated by Gemstone Hotels & Resorts, is located a block from the Albuquerque Convention Center and will become have 107 rooms and suites, and meeting space for a variety of corporate booking needs. For more information, please visit www.hotelandaluz.com.

About Goodman Realty Group
Albuquerque-based Goodman Realty Group is a full service, national real estate firm, with more than thirty years of experience in construction, management and leasing of shopping centers, industrial property, office buildings, residential real estate, and now hotels. Goodman Realty is well-known for a true commitment to the marriage of sound business economics with true environmental sustainability. In addition to the remodeling of Andaluz, Goodman Realty is leading the re-development of the Winrock area of Uptown Albuquerque.

Gemstone Hotels & Resorts LLC.
Headquartered in Park City, Utah, Gemstone is a full-service operating and asset management company that specializes in luxury and upscale hotels and complex resorts. Gemstone currently manages or asset manages 15 projects in California, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, and New York.