Christmas at La Posada de Taos

Christmas in Taos!  It's a special time in a special place.

At La Posada de Taos we simply don't hold back in any way.  On Christmas Eve, for example, we provide our guests, close friends and neighbors with an Open House immediately following the festivities at the Taos Pueblo.  With the house decorated for the holiday inside and out, we open our doors for a traditional New Mexico feast that includes foods and treats prepared by Chef's Rochelle and Michael.

With heavy snow already accumulating in the mountains around Taos, we're bound to have a White Christmas here as well.

A Snow-Covered Front Courtyard at La Posada de Taos

 This year's festivities will also include a special Christmas morning treat for our guests -- but it's a surprise, so I can say anything more. 

As of the time I write this entry, we have three rooms open for guests on Christmas.  Sorry, the week after is completely booked up, but if you're wanting some skiing along with your Christmas, consider La Posada de Taos as your perfect home away from home.

30 Years at Taos' First B&B and a Remarkable Sale

We're kicking off our 30th Anniversary season a little early with a remarkable 30% off sale good until December 15 excluding Thanksgiving.


It's remarkable because we know that if you come to say with us, regardless of the price you pay, you'll know that you're being taken care of as few in Taos do.  For example, with two professional chefs on staff, your breakfast each morning will be prepared to a very high standard:  Fine Dining Standard.


Think about it:  we're the top-ranked B&B in Taos on TripAdvisor.com.  We're the oldest B&B in Taos.  We're a short walk to the center of town and all that Taos has to offer.  600-threadcount sheets.  Wood-burning fireplaces.  Free parking.  Free wi-fi.  Top-of-the-line breakfast included in the price of your room.

Outside the El Solecito Room

Why not give us a try?

And . . . 

Here's a secret only those reading this post will know about.

Later this winter -- beginning in January -- we'll be offering deeply discounted Lift Tickets to New Mexico's Top-Ranked Ski Resort Taos Ski Valley along with free 3-course lunches at the Bavarian Restaurant.  If you call now, we'll offer you these amenities before they're officially advertised in December 2011.

La Posada de Taos Kicks Gas!

As part of the national Better Way to Stay Campaign sponsored by the Professional Association of Innkeepers International, La Posada de Taos Kicks Gas!

The B&B's Kick Gas promotion offers incentives to try a B&B for a change.  La Posada de Taos is offering two options: 

1. Book 4 or more nights and we'll give you a $50 gas card to enjoy driving either of the nationally listed scenic byways in our area: the Enchanted Circle or the High Road to Taos, 

or

2. Arrive in a Hybrid and we'll give you a $25 gas card. 

With gas prices through the roof, we're aware that many of our guests are feeling the pinch this year, so we're trying to add some value to an already remarkable stay at La Posada de Taos.  You'll still receive all the amenities we offer including the incredible multi-course gourmet breakfast, afternoon snack, free parking, free wi-fi, free DVD collection and our close-to-everything location.

Innkeeper Brad Malone is Ready for Your Call to La Posada de Taos

Give your Innkeeper, Brad Malone, a call at (800) 645-4803 and he'll set it all up for you.

Spring Has Sprung at La Posada de Taos

The daffodil blooms are about to burst.  The crocus are showing off.  The soil is slowly warming up here in Taos and we're excited that Spring has really arrived.

It's kind of wonderful since we're planning our Summer Chef's Garden already.  We're trying to hold back since we know that being at 7000 feet means that Spring may be more of a concept right now than a fact.

Believe it not Spring in Taos is a Rocky Mountain Spring.  Meaning that at any time a little storm could come flying overhead and dump several inches -- or a foot -- of snow here in town.

Two years ago Michael and I drove to a little town outside San Antonio, Texas to visit my extended family for Easter.  It was such a beautiful trip.  Leaving Taos the giant herds of elk had already migrated down into the Moreno Valley east of Taos.  Geese and ducks could be seen flying their "vees" north.  We saw Bald Eagles and giant flocks of Sand Hill Cranes along the way. Down in Texas the trees were green and the bluebonnets were peaking.

On our way back to New Mexico, we camped overnight in Garner State Park in our tent and sleeping bags.  It was warm!  Foxes were chasing rabbits through our campsite and we were glad to have some ice-cold drinks for dinner.

Not being in a hurry, we visited our dear friends, Shaan and Collen at Casa Cuma B&B in Santa Fe for a night and took care of some B&B business before heading home early the next morning.  It was a little cool that morning in Santa Fe, but nothing signaled what we were about to encounter.

When we're on our way home after a long trip, we always take the so-called Low Road to Taos.  This means taking State Highway 68 from Espanola north and east through the beginnings of the Rio Grande Gorge.  About 10 miles north of Espanola you start following a carefully engineered road that hugs the twisty Rio Grande river channel.  About 10 more miles along the river, steep cliff faces begin to rise along the road.  Finally, as you prepare to come up into the San Luis Valley, home of Taos, you make one final climb up and out into a breathtaking view of the giant crack in the Earth that is the Rio Grande Gorge.

On this day in the 3rd week of April, 2009 we drove north knowing that home and our own warm bed would be awaiting us after two weeks away.  As the road began shadowing the Rio Grande we noticed something odd for late April:  southbound cars were covered with snow.  In fact, the farther north we drove, the more snow there seemed to be on passing cars.  By the time we started up the last hill out of the gorge, some cars had as much as a foot of snow on them.

We looked at each other.  We looked at the cars.  We looked back at each other and both of us busted out laughing.  The tent and sleeping bags we had just used two nights before in the Texas Hill Country obviously were immediately going into storage.

Climbing up and out into the valley with Taos off in the distance, we were awestruck.  The whole San Luis Valley was covered with the pristine white of freshly fallen snow.  The steep walls of the Rio Grande Gorge held ledges of snow accentuating its depth and majesty.

This year hasn't brought the heavy spring snows yet.  We're kind of melancholy about it.  Historically, the Southern Rockies receive the majority of their snowfall and almost all of their snow-sourced moisture in March and April.  It hasn't happened yet and long-term forecasts are for that trend to continue into the summer.

Not to worry, experts say that the snow-pack as of early March was just below average.  The rivers will run and the adventure sports will continue.  Plus -- and here's the big one for our guests -- the weather is absolutely spectacular.  I mean day after day after day of cool, crisp mornings followed by 60 degree afternoons.  It's really special.

We'll be taking our first white water trips in a few weeks.  Why don't you come join us?  La Posada de Taos awaits. . . 

Don't Be Fooled: Book Your Rooms Directly With La Posada de Taos

The Message:  if you want the most accurate information about availability at La Posada de Taos with the best pricing we offer, give us a call at (800) 645-4803 or visit our website at laposadadetaos.com.

La Posada de Taos Late Afternoon in Winter

 
Expedia.com, hotels.com, travelocity.com, kayak, and hotwire.com all claim to have the most comprehensive listings and the best priced lodging on the Internet.  Then why do they tell those surfing their sites that La Posada de Taos has nothing available when we have open room nights?  

Simply put, we provide services to our guests.  We care about the quality of each and every form of that service we provide.  The booking sites sell "products" that mean only dollar signs to them.

In recent years various online booking "portals" have been created for folks to make lodging reservations just about anywhere in the world.  These sites claim to have all of the information you need to allow you to make discount reservations in places such as Taos, New Mexico.

The problem is that these sites don't even begin to offer all that's out there -- especially at small B&B's or boutique Inns such as ours.  

Until recently, La Posada de Taos participated directly with these online reservation sites, allowing guests to find us at hotels.com, expedia.com, travelocity, and others.  These sites were all linked into information we provided to BedandBreakfast.com.  

Our research indicated that guests who found us through those sites typically went ahead and looked directly at our website or called us.  They sometimes booked through the larger company, but most people found that the best deals were offered directly through us -- not through a 3rd party reseller.

We frequently visited those sites ourselves and found the information they had posted about La Posada de Taos contained critical errors and omissions, often to the detriment of the guests themselves.  For example, stating that breakfast was not included in the price of the rooms (we're a bed and BREAKFAST, so the price includes the full, multi-course breakfast) or that the rooms did not contain features that are standard here at La Posada.  Guests were confused about check-in and check-out times or they did not know that there were specific limitations on the number of guests that each room can safely and comfortably accommodate.

We and all the others using these 3rd party resellers, had to pay hefty commissions.  By the time we discounted their commission off of our rate, the real savings for guests was negligible or non-existent.  

Their inventory systems did not match up with ours and we sometimes ended up with double bookings.  In each case, we and we alone offered the guest a goodwill gesture of arranging upgraded accommodations for them at another local B&B.

When we left this system about a month ago, we joined a new network known as "GDS" that we hope will offer up-to-date and accurate information for anyone wishing to book rooms with La Posada deTaos.  That system should be up and running in a few weeks.  In the meantime, visit our online booking portal or call us directly, please.

If you visit one of these monster online 3rd-party companies and look for La Posada de Taos, they will tell you that we have no availability.  That's nice information but it is dead wrong.  In fact, it's deliberately false information designed to get you to book with a hotel or B&B that's paying the 25 or 30% commission to that 3rd party.  David v. Goliath.

La Posada de Taos Offers Homemade Fare Each Morning

So, give us a call, won't you?  We'll offer you competitive rates based on the value of the services we offer:  full, professionally-prepared, multi-course, gourmet breakfast; 600-thread-count sheets; concierge services, DVD collection, jetted tubs in premium rooms; privacy; close-in access to all the amenties offered by Taos itself; free parking; free wi-fi; free waters, sodas and teas.  All in one price that you won't find anywhere else through any online re-seller.

SBA Disaster Assistance

If you haven't read my previous post regarding making claims in general, I encourage you to do so before you read this one.

Whether President Obama signs a Disaster Declaration for Taos County is unknown at the time of this post.  It may take several more days before anything actually happens, but I'm going to post this information with hopeful optimism that Washington doesn't let us down.

There are some types of immediate assistance grants available to homeowners through FEMA.  Some of the specific items covered include water delivery systems for example.  You can file directly through FEMA for this assistance and they promise a 10-day turn-around time in most cases.

More comprehensive assistance is administered through the Small Business Administration.  These are all Disaster Loans -- not grants.  Navigating their website can be a little daunting, but here are key links:

Types of Disaster Loans are described as:

• Home and Personal Property Loans

  SBA states:  Renters and homeowners alike may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, cars, appliances, etc. damaged or destroyed in the disaster. Homeowners may apply for up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence to its pre-disaster condition.  A Factsheet for Homeowners is available online and applications can be filed electronically or over the phone.

• Business Physical Disaster Loans 
  

  Physical Disaster Loan proceeds may be used for the repair or replacement of the following: Real property, Machinery, Equipment, Fixtures, Inventory, Leasehold improvements

In addition, disaster loans to repair or replace real property or leasehold improvements may be increased by as much as 20 percent of the total amount of disaster damage to real estate and/or leasehold improvements as verified by SBA to protect the damaged real property against possible future disasters of the same type.
SBA loans cover uninsured and under-insured physical damage. If you are required to apply insurance proceeds to an outstanding mortgage on the damaged property, you can include that amount in your disaster loan application.

• Economic Injury Disaster Loans

  If your business is located in a declared disaster area and has suffered economic injury because of the disaster (regardless of physical damage), you may be eligible for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). Substantial economic injury is the inability of a business to meet its obligations as they mature and to pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses. EIDLs provide the necessary working capital to help small businesses survive until normal operations resume after a disaster.

  The Factsheet for Businesses should be helpful.
  

Please note that if you have insurance that may cover part of your loss, the SBA Factsheet states that you should not wait for your insurance claim to be processed before you file for an assistance loan with them:

Should I wait for my insurance settlement before I file my loan application?
No. Don’t miss the filing deadline by waiting for an insurance settlement. Final insurance information can be added when a settlement is made. The SBA can approve a loan for the total replacement cost, but any insurance proceeds that duplicate SBA’s loan must be applied to your SBA loan.

I hope this gets you started if you're thinking about the SBA process.  They state in several places that their loan applications are processed within 18 days, but that the most common reason for delay is that some piece of information was not provided or verified to them.

This is a kind of "heads up" to those who have never dealt with the U.S. Government.  They want each "i" dotted and every "t" crossed before they approve your loan and they'll want hard copies of just about everything they ask for, but don't be discouraged.  This low-interest loan program is a reason why we pay Federal Income taxes each year.

Gas-tastrophe: To Claim or Not to Claim

I've been asked to say a few words about making claims for losses incurred during the recent gas-tastrophe here in Taos.  At this time businesses have the opportunity to consider claims to be made against New Mexico Gas Company directly or they can consider making claims under insurance policies, or there may be some other alternatives that I mention below.

My comments are going to be directed at the business community as a whole, but generally circumstances will vary greatly and you'll need to think carefully about the course of action you wish to pursue.  Although I have a law degree, I'm not an attorney and I'm not familiar with the nuances of New Mexico law.  If you believe that you have a monetary claim against New Mexico Gas Co., and you believe that the value of the claim is substantial in any way (not just monetary), then you better go talk to an attorney. 

Get it over with.  If you've lost a boatload of money or your business has been damaged to the point where it's teetering on the edge of oblivion, talk to an attorney at least for your peace of mind.  Get an opinion from someone who might be able to protect you.

The most important thing you want to ask an attorney is "What is the best way that I can make myself (my business) whole again?"

Federal Disaster Declaration?  As I write this there has not been a Federal Disaster Declaration.  If one does come, FEMA should come to Taos and make certain low-interest loans available "on the spot" to allow you to open your doors each day and stay in business.  It is not necessarily the intent of FEMA loans, but they can help tie you over while your legal claims against New Mexico Gas Co. are processed.  That way you shouldn't have to rush a claim. 

If a Disaster Declaration happens, that's a game-changer for the claims process.  So, hold on, for a few more days and let's see if one comes.

If a Disaster Declaration does not come, things are going to be a lot tougher.

Property Insurance?  If you've got property damage and you have insurance, file immediately.  I suggest that you don't wait for an attorney on this one.  Do it now.  Find the phone number and get the claims process started.  The Insurance you have contains specific contractual and statutory obligations to act quickly on your behalf.  In other words, they have to pay valid claims and they have to pay them quickly. 

Be advised that the insurance company will most likely attempt to "subrogate" your claims against the Gas Co. -- This means that if you have filed a property insurance claim under an insurance policy, you should not make a separate claim for property damage with the Gas Company since the Insurance Company will probably do that.

Renters Insurance?  Same as above.  Call the insurance company immediately.  Don't wait to talk to an attorney.  Don't file two claims.

Business Loss Insurance?  If you've got this, you're going to need to speak with your insurance agent right away.  I suggest you do this in person where you can get a checklist of all the things you're going to need to substantiate your claim.   Insurance claims for business loss are really hard to make in some industries -- such as lodging, for example, where a lost room night might or might not be considered an actual business loss (I know: Ouch!)

Again, don't wait to speak to an attorney when it comes to filing an insurance claim.  Your agent should be able to advise you.  If you feel you're getting jerked around, contact the State Insurance Commission.

No Insurance?  If FEMA doesn't come in and start offering low interest loans for business and property loss, you might be able to get something going through the Small Business Administration.  Otherwise, your last chance might just be a direct claim to New Mexico Gas Co or filing a law suit (remember the attorney).

Claims Against New Mexico Gas Co. Directly?  Again, if your losses are substantial and your business is teetering on the edge, go to an attorney first.  My biggest concern for our business community is that none of us waives any of our rights for full compensation. 

Don't sign an Arbitration Agreement if it is presented to you without first speaking to an attorney.

Any system New Mexico Gas Co sets up will be biased in their favor.  It will be - by design -- full of procedural pitfalls and claims denial loopholes.  Also, it will involve some type of waiver of your right to have your claims resolved in court by a jury of your peers (such as an Arbitration Agreement).

Bottom Line:  Unless you're filing an insurance claim under an existing policy, don't worry about rushing to make your claim to New Mexico Gas Co. immediately if you don't have all the facts together (extra costs associated with Electrical Heating, for example). 

The process will take an uncertain amount of time and if the Gas Co's response time to the actual emergency is any indication of the speed they'll address your claim, well . . . good luck.

Meet Fritz!

La Posada de Taos allows guests to bring their dogs.  As listed on various pet-friendly accommodation websites, we've always allowed folks with well-behaved dogs to stay with us. 

I'd like to introduce everyone to our best friends, Fritz and Roxy.  First:  Fritz.

Fritz is a Mini-Schnauzer.  When he's in the room, he is convinced that he is "in charge" -- the complete center of attention.  That's primarily why our little boy lives upstairs in the Innkeepers quarters and only gets to pay visits downstairs once or twice a day before or after his walks.

He's very vocal, as they say.  But he's also incredibly friendly.  He'll bark, bark, bark his "Hello" until you give him his scratch behind the ears, then he'll bark, bark, bark his "Thanks."

Fritz at La Posada de Taos in his Christmas Regalia

We adopted this cute little guy in late-July 2001 and he's been with us ever since.  Someone had already clipped his ears and docked his tail by the time we adopted him -- a practice we think should be outlawed.

Since he was fully grown when we met him, we assumed he was at least a year old.  During his most recent visit to the Salazar Vet Clinic here in Taos, the doctor did geriatric blood work and pronounced that he's as healthy as a 3 year-old.  That made us very happy, since we believe he's at least 11 years old now.

As with any aging dog, we've tried to stay on top of various things that our "Old Man" might need, such as dental work -- he's lost 3 teeth so far -- and something called Schnauzer Bumps which I don't describe.  Although he can go from zero to Mach 9 in about 10 seconds, Fritz sleeps more than he used to these days.  We take him to a nearby open space and run with him as often as we can.  We're pretty sure that dogs get the same benefit of exercise at 7000 feet as people do.

Fritz knows he's a handsome dog and he's completely willing to show off his good looks to anyone who would notice.  Because mini-Schnauzer's don't shed, they have to be groomed every 4 to 6 weeks to keep their hair from matting (I call it the "Brillo Pad" look).  After a grooming, Fritz is especially interested in showing off his "new look."  Because we keep his hair short (except for the beard), Fritz wears a variety of seasonal sweaters.  His favorite look is the Space Man cape (photos later)

When you visit us at La Posada de Taos be sure to ask how Fritz is doing and we'll see if he's awake for a visit.  Just be prepared for a very vocal greeting.

Gas-tastrophe: Protocols, Procedures

I previously said that I didn't want to focus on "stupid people" and I still don't want to do that.  Because what ultimately happened here is a collapse of a system that was created by lots of people.  The people who created that system, by the way, aren't those who were present on Thursday at the gas company.  Nope.  They're all gone on to their greater reward or have simply retired.

A system failed.  A human-created set of rules and procedures didn't work.  When New Mexico Gas Co. decided that it didn't need to service the coldest, most isolated communities on its system, they made a conscious decision to follow a protocol that industry executives had established years ago.  They followed a procedural book that someone wrote back in the 1970's.

How do I know this?  Simply put:  a very loud cell phone conversation in a small lobby at Taos Ski Valley on Friday morning. 

Please stay with me. . .

It's Friday morning, February 4, 2011.  I'm helping a guest of La Posada de Taos finish his ski week at Taos Ski Valley.  We've arrived at the Ski School and he's getting his equipment.  I'm standing there checking e-mail on my Blackberry.  A large gentleman with a distinctive Texas accent (I know, I grew up there) is having a very loud conversation on his cell phone in the little lobby of the equipment rental office.  He's not slowing down or trying to be quiet I'm assuming because he's very excited about something. 

I keep hearing the words, "That's what I told the media," and "The press I spoke to were told that it's the blackouts."

What disturbed me is what I heard next.  "At some point someone is going to start talking about the protocol; the 1970's protocol that set this whole thing up." 

Well, I guess I can start talking about it if no one else has.

At some time in the 1970's the procedures were established for dissemination of gas from Point A to Point B in the fields that service what is now known as New Mexico Gas Co.  The owners of the production and distribution system prepared for an emergency involving predictable interruptions and shortages.  They made rules for where their supplies would go first, second, third, etc.  The system was geared to address conditions known at the time based on federal and state law then existent, populations and power plants then existent, and other quantifiable, provable facts known at the time.

Let's say that this was developed in light of the 1970's Energy Crisis and was adopted in 1977.  Therefore, I'll say that the "1977 Protocol" was the plan in place when the Winter Storm of 2011 hit our region.

The explanation that pumps were being turned on and off, that pressure could not be maintained because of the shortage caused by the inability to pump and all the related "details" that New Mexico Gas Co. gave us during the Gas-tastrophe start to fall apart in light of the truth surrounding the 1977 Protocol.

What actually happened, in my opinion, is that those who control the production followed a set of procedures -- the Protocol -- they had in front of them.  They didn't care about what the results of following this protocol would be.  In their minds, they didn't need any information about the "effects" on communities or who they would "affect."  The simply did something by a book that was written in another time by other people who could never have anticipated explosive population growth in the region thus could never have foreseen the demand for gas created by a 21st Century Storm.

It's a shame and someone needs to look into this Protocol -- perhaps demanding that it be rewritten.

It's not a perfect comparison, but here is where I'm coming from:  In the legal system today we follow protocols developed over the centuries for the orderly administration of justice.  Much as it in Congress and elsewhere, the procedural rules of the legal system are often more important than outcomes.  As an example, follow the development of Consumer Protection Statutes in every state from the 1970's when a consumer could make a claim without a lawyer to the present when lawyers are the only ones who can see claims through the system.

Call me cynical, but in my opinion we are often focused on the game while the score isn't being followed whatsoever.  Sadly, procedures and protocols are constantly used by those who are losing or those who are wrong to prolong the game.  Worse yet, they are filled with traps for the unsuspecting.

So, here we sit on our 4th night without Natural Gas, with the "relighting" proceeding at a snail's pace because of Protocols and Procedures.  Rules and Regulations?  Words and more words written decades ago and never considered until we got what the National Weather Service now calls an "Epic Storm."

We'll have gas tomorrow I expect and all will slowly fade into the background of the history of this region, but it's my hope that the fade will only occur after we've all had a thorough explanation as to how our lives were turned upside down by the Gas-tastophre of 2011: the Protocol of 1977.

State of Emer

Driving down Paseo del Pueblo Sur on my way to run some errands, the blinking roadside marquee read:  "State of Emer" and then provided some phone numbers for the public to use during the Gas-tastrophe. 

Everyone in Town knows what the sign means -- it didn't need much else to explain.

The National Weather Service now acknowledges that the storm that swept across this region and much of the country last week was one of the record books.  The Special Weather Statement issued for the storm predicted for later this week in New Mexico said the following:

WHILE THIS SYSTEM CURRENTLY IS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS SEVERE THAN THE EPIC STORM OF LAST WEEK...IT WILL STILL HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF SNOW...WIND...BLOWING SNOW AND MUCH COLDER AIR.

Just to update everyone:  as we all expected, the electrical power grid failed in Taos.  Our little B&B was without power for over 10 hours in one stretch and then two stretches of about 3 hours.  With 6 fireplaces in the house, we immediately went into "Fireplace" mode and kept the Inn warm during the blackouts.  Kit Carson Electric Co-operative had various excuses for the power failures, but it all boils down to the fact that no community in New Mexico -- not just Taos -- has a power grid capable of handling the heating demands created by a loss of gas heat.  There simply was no way that Taos' system was going to survive unscathed by this huge winter storm.
In the meantime, the Town Officials responsible for keeping order and disseminating information to the public did a smashing job.  When the citizenry began to panic on Thursday, these folks hit the radio airwaves and used the extensive e-mail program they have developed in order to give us factual information that was valid and useful in the immediacy of the developing disaster.

Amazing folks! 

Cathy Connelly, Town of Taos Public Information Director.  Wow, Cathy.  All I can say is I hope you get some paid leave when this blows over.  Have you slept?  I doubt it.

Steve Fuhlendorf, President and CEO of the Taos County Chamber of Commerce.  What can I say to you, Steve other than "Thanks" and "Thanks, again."

It's been remarkable.  On two occasions I communicated with both Cathy and Steve and they both responded immediately to me with facts.  Just the facts.

Thanks to our public officials from Governor Suzanna Martinez all the way down to those working in the trenches here in Taos. 

All will return to normal tomorrow and we're thankful.  Our guests will never know anything happened other than the stories I'll tell them at the breakfast table each morning, but La Posada de Taos will be a warm, comfortable oasis as our Trip Advisor ranking indicates.

Gas-tastrophe

Early Thursday morning as I made coffee and prepared for the day, I kept track of the temperature outside here in Taos.  It had dropped to minus 20 degrees when I first checked.  The last time I checked it was minus 25 -- yes, that's 25 below zero.

It was an unusual occurrence to be sure.  Record low temperatures here in Taos tend to range in the minus 10 to minus 15 area.  Only a few occasions in the past have there been recorded lows as far below zero as they were on Thursday, February 1.

During breakfast we got a phone message -- we are rarely able to answer our phones while serving what we're so famous for.  The message, from a concerned friend, said something like this:  "All the natural gas in Northern New Mexico has been cut off and you're going to be out of gas soon."

It sounded like a joke at first.  We looked at one another and said, "Really?"  What else, the Zombie's are coming?  We had no context for the words and we had no understanding of what was about to come within a few short hours.

According to the folks from New Mexico Gas Co., somewhere upstream in their production network, gas pumps were being turned on and off by "rolling blackouts" and "brownouts."  Turning these pumps on and off had reduced pressure in the distribution system such that it had become unsafe (or such that it had run out of gas!).

At the end of the distribution network, in other words HERE in Taos and vicinity, the gas could not reach the customers and was being shut off somewhere south of here.

Gas stoves, heaters, and other essential appliances relied upon during dangerously cold weather were now inoperable.  The entire Taos region was suddenly cut off from a basic necessity -- the primary source of residential and commercial heat -- during record low temperatures.

Individuals and businesses were not told about this by New Mexico Gas Co.  Word of mouth was the primary means of communication about the impending gas-tastophre.

As the crisis became apparent, individuals began to panic in Taos.  There were runs on the grocery stores and hardware stores.  People were seeking water and heaters primarily.  As the official response came slowly at first, the word-of-mouth panic spread.  People were told that the power grid was going to go out next, then the water supply would be cut off.  It was pandemonium, frankly.

Here at La Posada de Taos we began the process of assisting our guests with finding alternate accommodations.  Without the ability to take a hot bath or shower, we feel our guests would simply never have the quality of experience they demand and deserve.

We started following advice to conserve electricity by turning off lights and computers, setting electric heaters at the minimum required to heat a room, and by making sure we turned off the lights that adorn our rooftop during the winter.  Thank goodness the power grid hasn't failed yet.

As darkness descended on our town, we posted items on Facebook letting our friends and contacts know that we will be available to assist any way we possibly can.  A few locals called up and booked rooms with us.  We have a couple of small families staying here.

We've taken food to the shelters and we're getting ready to do some more volunteer work.  Fact is that I want to RAGE in this blog about this situation, but I'm simply too busy to think about it.


New Mexico Gas Co isn't off the hook, by the way.  But we're in full crisis mode here in Taos and I'm not going to think any more about stupid people.

Can't spend too much on the computer, by the way.  Can't even really proof this before I post it, but I just wanted everyone to know:  Taos is doing OK for now.  We'll make it because we're a community that knows how to pull together.

If you want to donate some food or other items, please let me know.  I can help arrange that. . .

Taos Ski Valley Ski Weeks

We're skiing this week up at the top-ranked ski resort in New Mexico:  Taos Ski Valley.  It's such a beautiful place and the entire organization is focused on professionalism and customer service in a way that renews our own commitment to the guest experience.

La Posada de Taos offers discounted lift tickets to all of its guests.  We'll help you set up any and all services you need at Taos Ski Valley so long as you let us know at least 72 hours in advance.

For each of the past few seasons, we've arranged full ski vacations for dozens of our guests.

Because we ski at TSV, we know the set-up and all of the staff who work so hard to set up ski trips for travelers from all over the world.

A big storm is supposed to come in tomorrow night through Wednesday.  We have confirmed with the Ski Valley that all services continue when it's snowing and all roads are kept clear with an aggressive plowing program. 

Having spent all day up there today, we can attest to the fact that there is plenty of snow at TSV already.  Unless you're a top-ranked skier wanting to jump down some of the Double-Black Diamonds, the mountain is open for business.  After this storm, we're hoping that these expert/professional runs are opened in time for the Extreme Skiing Event scheduled for about a month from now at TSV.

Ski Weeks, by the way, are a 6-Day package of instruction at one of the top-ranked schools in the country.  The Kid's School is ranked among the best in the world.

With miles of green and blue runs open, TSV is the place to be this season.

Taos Pueblo: Spiritual Center

These entries are intended as an introduction to Taos for those who are preparing to visit us at La Posada de Taos.  It is my hope that others will take interest and begin the journey to learn and understand about this unique place.

I'm writing about a place in the Hinterland where history stretches as far back as time itself and where its peoples have helped shape the destiny of our great nation in ways that are unknown to most.  It's the story of the Taos Pueblo and of towering historical icons such as Kit Carson.  If I were to write the story of America's Conquest of the West, the story of Taos would be inextricably woven into each chapter. 

Starting with the Taos Pueblo -- the oldest continually inhabited place in our country.  I've always wondered how it is that the Taos were never forcibly relocated from the ancestral home as were so many other Native Americans.   Why has this place somehow been continuously inhabited -- never destroyed or abandoned.  It is a fundamental piece of the story of what makes Taos so incredibly special, not just to those of us who live here, but to our entire national identity.  Here's why:

When I visit the Taos Pueblo with its 1000-year old dwellings, I think about all the storms it has weathered -- both literally and figuratively.  In the context of American expansionism in the 19th Century and the brutality we inflicted on so many tribes, it seems miraculous that this place has remained intact much as it has always been.

Perhaps it's as simple as the fact that the Taos were already settled in place when the Spanish arrived not long after 1500.  They were not nomadic as were so many other Native Americans who we forcibly removed from their lands and pushed into remote and desolate reservations.  They had an architecturally complex and unique home and were farmers and traders.  The Navajo Nation, on the other hand, were "enemies" because they would not settle down or remain in place as the American Government insisted was necessary for peaceful coexistence. 

Another reason that the Taos have survived "in place" is that they have continuously and closely observed their religious and cultural traditions passed down from time immemorial.   From the time the Spanish arrived almost 500 years ago, the Taos were a close-knit community bound together by their complex religious ceremonies.  It is completely my opinion, but some measure of respect for these traditions has always overcome efforts to destroy the Taos culture.

More likely than maintaining religious freedom is the fact that when Spanish Catholics arrived to spread the Gospel, the Taos were receptive to the New Testament story because it so closely resembled some of their own oral histories.  I suppose one could say that over time the two religious systems came to a form of detente where major observances were held simultaneously or within close time-frames to one another.  Thus, today Taos Pueblo celebrates the 2-day ceremony of San Geronimo with Catholic Vespers every September 29 and completely Native traditions on September 30.

But peace has not always been the status quo.  The Pueblo Revolt in the 1600's saw the violent rejection of all things Spanish and Catholic in New Mexico.  The Taos participated from the beginning of the Revolt and saw it to the bitter end. Although I'm not trying to dismiss the importance of these years of violence and struggle in the history of the Taos people, it seems to me that when the Spanish returned, it was with a better understanding of the importance of allowing the Taos their Native religious traditions.

The Taos have also been the victims of repeated efforts to take their ancestral lands away from them.  Fraud and deception sometimes resulted in the loss of lands to an amazing array of people who history does not smile upon.  The Taos have had to work to retain their lands and to protect themselves from being overrun by those who want to claim this place as their own.

The Taos have had to struggle against the U.S. Government's blatant land grab in the guise of "preserving" natural resources.  When Congress created the Kit Carson National Forest in the Teddy Roosevelt Era, it carved out ancestral lands of the Taos containing their most sacred place -- Blue Lake. 

Problem was that the boundaries of the ancestral lands of the Taos had been recognized by the Spanish long before the United States laid claim to the New Mexico Territory.  The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo stipulated that the American government would honor the land and water rights granted by the King of Spain.  Depriving the Taos of control over the lands containing Blue Lake can be equated with forcibly relocating them from their homes.

After years of legal efforts, however, Congress and President Richard Nixon finally returned the disputed lands to the control of the Taos Pueblo.  It was the first time in this nation's history that the U.S. Government had given back lands it had taken from a Native American tribe.  In fact, the peaceful triumph of the Taos in these efforts is credited with beginning a new wave of legal and civil rights efforts on behalf of Native Americans across the United States.

Next:  Taos Mountain

Taos Pueblo: World Heritage Site

I live in the hinterland -- a place that is far from any coastline and remote from any urban area.  It is my hope that you will find some understanding of this place in Notes from the Hinterland.  In many cases I'll keep each entry relatively short -- a quick read of less than 5 minutes each.  As I tell the story of this place, each post will try to build upon those coming before.

Starting a story of Taos means that one should go back, back, back in time to find its original inhabitants.  That means that you start with the story of the Native Americans who first called this place home.

Most people have never heard of the Taos Pueblo.  They probably don't know where Taos is and they think Pueblo is a town in Colorado.   Like so many other things about New Mexico, Taos Pueblo remains a secret to most of the world at large.  Being the only inhabited World Heritage Site in the United States hasn't raised its profile.  Being one of the oldest continually inhabited structures in the North America hasn't brought it to public attention.

Pueblo de Taos, as it is known to some, is a place you must see in your lifetime. That is the sole purpose of writing here about Taos Pueblo -- to ask that you come here and to experience it for yourself.  In particular, you should Ask your Innkeeper at La Posada de Taos about which times of year are the most special to visit the Pueblo.  Christmas at Taos Pueblo, for example, is one of the primary reasons Travel+Leisure Magazine designated Taos as one of the Best Places to Spend Christmas in both 2001 and 2009.

The official World Heritage designation of Pueblo de Taos says in part:

"Taos is the best preserved of the pueblos north of the borders defined by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848). Located in the valley of a small tributary of the Rio Grande, Taos comprises a group of habitations and ceremonial centres (six kivas have been conserved), which are representative of a culture largely derived from the traditions of the prehistoric Anasazi Indian tribes who settled near the present borders of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado."

Archaeologists and anthropologists believe that the two main old buildings at Taos Pueblo are at least 800 years old.  The Taos people say that their buildings are much older than that.  This much we know for sure:  when the original Spanish explorers arrived at Taos soon after 1500, they found the Taos in their adobe buildings much as we see them today.

World Heritage Site Photo of Taos Pueblo

 As you can see, these structures are not teepee's, nor are they wigwams or igloos.  Constructed of adobe as only the Taos make, the structures are said to have been seven stories tall when the Spanish arrived.  The bottom floors, used for food storage, had neither windows nor doors.  The Taos employed their now-famous Pueblo Ladders to climb up to the safety of upper floors and pull their ladders up after them.  In modern times, doors and windows have been added for function.

A Pueblo-Style Ladder at La Posada de Taos

One of the ways to understand the significance of these structures is to realize that unlike so many nomadic peoples, the Taos were settled.  When the Spanish arrived about 500 years ago, the Taos had been settled here a period longer than our nation has existed.  By the time the Americans arrived in the mid-1800's the Spanish and the Taos had shared the land in this valley for almost 300 years, again a period longer than the United States has been around.   Americans,therefore, became the interlopers, the invaders and the uninvited.  Despite promises that everyone would be protected by this nation of laws, the Taos and the Spanish were circumspect at best and rebellious at worst.

Equally important to an understanding of the modern Taos Pueblo, is the role played by the Catholic Missionaries who accompanied the Spanish explorers and settlers.  As Willa Cather noted in her masterpiece "Death Comes for the Archbishop," by the time the United States annexed the New Mexico Territory, the Catholic Church had been the principal authority in the region since 1540.  The whole vast expanse stretching from Texas to California had sat ignored, isolated and uncharted until the very end of America's Westward expansion.  Even after California became a State, the New Mexico Territory remained just that -- seemingly unworthy of Statehood until 1912 (New Mexico's Centennial Celebration is gearing up this year).

Through all the centuries of repeated invasion and settlement, through all the years of rapid technological change, Taos Pueblo remained.  As Americans violently implemented all that Manifest Destiny demanded, the Taos remained in place at their ancestral home.  They were never forcibly relocated as were so many other Native Americans.  The complex history of their interaction with the European-American culture tells only a part of their story.

To many the Taos Pueblo helps form the spiritual foundation of this place we all know as Taos.  There are many who will disagree. 

In future blog entries I'll begin to describe this special place for those who want to visit; I'll try to provide context and color.   Please understand, however, that my telling of these stories will be affected by the lenses of my own life experiences and from the perspective of someone who is not from here.  Although I'll try to quote authoritative sources, my telling of the story of Taos will not necessarily be what you might hear from an official source or from a local.  Watch for future posts.

Kudos for New Mexico

Why is New Mexico suddenly getting lots of attention in the media? 

After yesterday's announcement that Sunset Magazine had listed Taos as one of the Best Places to Live Your Dream, Global Traveler Magazine has listed New Mexico as the Best Domestic Destination.

Since I've just restarted this blog, I haven't had time to tout some of the great things about Taos, but getting a little attention in a travel magazine or two reminds me that I've got lots of stories yet to tell.  The incredible range of subjects yet to write about include the Taos Pueblo, Kit Carson, Bert Phillips, Georgia O'Keefe, and so many more. 

A press release from the New Mexico Tourism Department stated in part:

"The readers of Global Traveler Magazine – voting on the best in business and luxury travel – have named New Mexico the Best Domestic Tourism Destination in the magazine’s seventh annual Global Traveler-Tested Reader Survey. Global Traveler is a premier luxury travel magazine written for executive business travelers."

Nice!  If you're interested in coming to New Mexico, we can be your guides.  Give us a call at (800) 645-4803 or visit our website.

Take Control of Your Trip Advisor Listing

With 50 million visitors -- that's 50 million unique visitors -- a month, Trip Advisor is in control of the travel review world right now.  Whether Yelp catches up remains to be seen.  So, I'm going to focus on Trip Advisor for now.

According to an e-mail that TripAdvisor sent to us early this year, Taos' TripAdvisor.com webpage and pages related to Taos received 1.6 million hits in 2010.  That's a lot of traffic for our little town.  

Are you fully optimized to get any business results from this traffic?

First, it's important that you realize that Trip Advisor is not just for reviews of B&B's, hotels and motels.  It has now extended its reach into restaurants, tours, and other attractions that may include ANY business in our area.  Look at the Taos Page, the Taos County Page or the New Mexico Page of TripAdvisor.com to see the many types of businesses being reviewed.

For example, if you look at the Restaurant Listings on any of these pages, you'll see El Meze Restaurant.  It has been consistently ranked #1 locally and either #1 or #2 statewide for some time now.   It is my opinion that this is in part because El Meze has actively promoted the business through Trip Advisor, in particular by encouraging guests to post reviews as they leave the restaurant.

Second, it's important that you realize that Trip Advisor is not your enemy -- even if some of your reviews have been bad, wrong, unfair or just plain stupid.  There are specific ways to deal with bad reviews and I'll discuss that issue in another blog post.  My point here is that Trip Advisor is now an important business tool for you to use with as much or as little time, money and effort as you choose.

As an example, La Posada de Taos has signed up for the subscription add-on that Trip Advisor offers.  On this page alone you will see links into the many ways the site has been restructured in recent years to allow you to control a lot of the information about your company that visitors to their website actually see.

Additionally, Trip Advisor has a plethora of promotional tools that any business can use.  We recommend that you consider signing up for the Business Listing and then pick and choose one or more tools.  We currently offer a promotional package of one type or another on our TripAdvisor listing, always trying to keep interest high for our listing.

Third, there are lesser known features about TripAdvisor.com that have been generating an increasing amount of traffic to Taos, including their Travel Forum and Travel Guide sections.  I strongly encourage all businesses in Taos to get active in these aspects of the Trip Advisor pages -- in particular the Travel Guide pages.  There is outdated information, useless information, self-promotional information and there are many things that need to be written or posted on these pages for the first time.  For example, look at the "Culture" posting for Taos on TripAdvisor.com.  It's terrible!  Well, OK, it's not great.  It needs help from someone in Taos who has the energy and enthusiasm to fix it.

A little over a year ago, a well-known and respected local Innkeeper asked me to assist answering questions on the Trip Advisor Travel Forum.  Over time with lots of posts, I was lucky enough to be designated as a "Destination Expert" on TripAdvisor.  I'll talk more about this issue in another blog post as well, but suffice it to say that before we started answering Forum questions many other so-called experts for New Mexico and Santa Fe were SLAMMING Taos, telling TripAdvisor visitors to New Mexico's Travel Forum that Taos wasn't worth visiting or that it was at most a day trip.  Ouch!

We have just about stopped that nonsense being posted by New Mexico's other Destination Experts, but it's a continuing battle. 

 The last point I'd like to make on this topic is about volume.  Any Destination is ranked in part by the volume of traffic it generates on any given website.   We know Google does this.  It is believed that Trip Advisor uses some Google search results for its rankings.  Google also bases its ranking on the frequency of content updates or upgrades.  Therefore, as a community, we can substantially raise our profile nationally and internationally if we ALL spend 15 to 30 minutes a week posting or tweaking something on the Taos Pages of TripAdvisor.com -- especially the Guide section where so much more is needed. 

 TripAdvisor.com is a Social Networking site.  Larger destinations with more resources than Taos have staff members who do nothing but manage their Social Networking sites such as TripAdvisor.com, Facebook, Twitter, etc.  We're not there yet.  This means that all of us, each of us, every one of us, can help control the future of our Town on that website -- the most important tourism website in the world.  I find it very exciting, personally.

 Good, bad or ugly, Trip Advisor is here to stay and I'm hoping we can all do some work to get this working for ALL of us.  Please help our community by doing the following:

1. Claiming their Google Places Pages and keeping them updated
2. Claiming their TripAdvisor.com listing and keeping it updated
3. Visiting the TripAdvisor Forums and Guide pages and keeping them updated
4. Posting content changes to your websites, your business listing sites and TripAdvisor.com

Trip Advisor Arbitrarily Redraws the Lines of Taos

Taos is a place with a long history and with deep cultural roots extending back into time immemorial.  Those of us who call it home know this and the world knows this, but TripAdvisor.com does not know this.  My previous posts lauded Trip Advisor for how wonderful it can be to promote tourism.  Unfortunately, there's a dark side to their story when it comes to Taos.

If one were to describe Taos, they would have to do so on many levels.  Historical, cultural, political, demographics, geography, climate, and more.  To be sure there is what we all know of as the Town of Taos, but there are all of Taos' additional places that have never been incorporated, but are nontheless a part of the culture, heritage, history and politics of Taos.  El Prado.  Ranchos de Taos.  Arroyo Seco, Arroyo Hondo and more.

When Trip Advisor set up designations for lodgers in what we know of as Taos, they decided that they would use Zip Code designations.  This means that a businesses location on Trip Advisor will be determined by its Zip Code and not by where it actually belongs or where it identifies itself as actually being.  This also means that even if a business belongs to a Professional Association such as the Taos Lodgers Association or the Taos Association of Bed and Breakfast Inns, Trip Advisor will designate its location by its Zip Code.

When you're looking for Trip Advisor reviews and information, do you search by Zip Code?  If not, will you click on something called "Taos County" when there's an adjancent link called "Taos."
It's a shameful thing because it is arbitrary, unfair and harmful.  Visitors to TripAdvisor.com's Taos page will not see businesses that are outside of Taos' Zip Code 87571.  In order to find our peers in El Prado, Ranchos, Arroyo Hondo, Arroyo Seco and more, a visitor to their website must somehow find and click on the "Taos County" page.  This means that visitors are not allowed to find the all of the members of our business community unless they are pretty good researchers.

Compare this to a visit to the "Dallas" page on TripAdvisor.com.  When the page appears, it contains listings for businesses in Grand Prairie, Duncanville, Irving and more.  There is no Dallas County page whatsoever.  These are towns listed on one page, not separated out by Zip Codes, but fully formed cities with populations of greater than 100,000 people each.  Visitors don't have to dig around looking for choices because they're already given to them.   They don't have to look at Dallas County like they would have to do here.

Why the difference, Trip Advisor?

When we spoke to Trip Advisor representatives at the recent Professional Association of Innkeepers International conference in Charleston, SC, they began a circular argument that even they ultimately agreed fell flat.  Here's what they said, then caught themselves:  "Only Zip Codes matter, but in places like Dallas visitors don't know the names of these smaller cities, so we include them in "Dallas," but since it's all about Zip Codes, Taos' lodgers must all identify themselves by Zip Code only, although Dallas is different." 

Huh?

It's not just Dallas.  Look at any TripAdvisor page for any large city and you'll see that they have conveniently included all of the bedroom communities in the city's designation.  Not so here.

What's the harm?  Guests will never see reviews of some of the best B&B's in the Southwest unless they can somehow figure out that TripAdvisor has excluded them from Taos.  Visitors will never see Adobe and Pines Inn, designated as one of the "Best of the Southwest" or the Little Tree Inn, the nation's only true all-adobe Inn.

After repeated attempts by various individual businesses to get Trip Advisor to change this and after being told a variety of things, including "No," it's time to get some of our Professional Associations and public officals involved.  Therefore, I'm asking that if you have the time, to please approach the Taos County Chamber of Commerce, the Taos Lodger's Association, the Taos Association of Bed and Breakfast Inns, the Taos Town Council, the Taos County Commissioners, the Tourism Association of New Mexico, and anyone else you feel may OFFICIALLY present this problem to Trip Advisor.

Write a letter of follow my Forum posts. 

Trip Advisor, LLC
141 Needham St.
Newton, MA 02464

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i14281-k4177751-l30721587-Incorrect_Geographic_Listings_in_Taos_Area-Owners.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12104-k4177765-l30715037-Geographic_Designations_of_Properties_in_Taos_New_Mexico-Help_us_make_TripAdvisor_better.html

Our local businesses are being hurt.  It's time to get this fixed.

Google Place Pages

Before I launch into details about how to use TripAdvisor.com, you should probably be aware of the importance of Google Place Pages.  If you have already claimed your Google Places Page, you're not done yet.  Google has recently introduced several new products that are important for you to know about.  One expert recently told me that Google has introduced more new products in the last 4 months than they had in the previous 4 years.

If you haven't already claimed your business listing on Google you should immediately do so.  Don't worry, it's a simply process that you can complete in less than hour.  In fact, Google now has tutorials and a step-by-step lesson for you.

Why is this important?

In a recent TripAdvisor.com Forum posting, a Property Management Company representative from Santa Fe asked if there was anything she could do about how Google Places had links to reviews on Trip Advisor on her company Places Page that weren't for her company.  She was told in separate correspondence that Trip Advisor relies at least in part upon Google Places to identify companies.  She was told by Google that they rely on Trip Advisor listings to match reviews to "Places."

Caught in what seemed to be a circular trap, the company representative was exasperated.  The problem was that the reviews for this company on Google Places were NOT reviews for this woman's business.  They were reviews for a vacation rental company that had appropriated the business name via an identical domain name.  Ultimately, the problem wasn't really either Trip Advisor's or Google's fault -- it was a legal matter.

The point of this example is to show you the danger of not claiming and managing your business identity on Google and of not properly managing your business reviews on Trip Advisor.  If you have time, click on this link and follow the thread of responses -- there was a lot of confusion and a lot of wasted time and effort.  Because the TripAdvisor Forum was not the setting for a detailed response, I communicated via e-mail with the business rep.

My recommendation for this business:  they had not included the full name of their business when they claimed their Google Places identity.  I recommended that she start over on Google Places as if claiming a NEW business identity and once she had that set up, she could "Suspend" the first one.  Most people don't know it, but as the business owner, you have the power to remove your Google Places Page as long as Google can verify your relationship as owner.

An example of a Photo on La Posada de Taos' Google Places Page

Finally, I want to relate to you that La Posada de Taos did not claim its Google Business Identity on what is now known as Google Places until late in 2009.  At the time I first went to claim it, their map had us out on the West Mesa (we're downtown) with 3 rooms instead of 6 and lots of other misinformation.   We claimed our Identity and we keep our page current with visits every few months.  Here's what we currently do.  If the link doesn't work, do a Google Search using keywords La Posada de Taos and Google Places.

From time to time I'll have more information on Google Places Pages, but for now here are the Must Do's:

• Fully complete all the information
• Include photographs
• Link a video (even if it's just a generic Taos video from YouTube)
• Look at ALL of the business development tools available through Google, use at least one.
• Check your Google Map location (you can change it here easily)

Why Trip Advisor Matters

For our guests and fans, La Posada wants to extend a huge Thanks for the recent reviews on TripAdvisor.com.  For local businesses in Taos, this is the first in a series of articles that I'll be posting introducing you to TripAdvisor.com and assisting you in using all the business tools that they have to help you grow in 2011.

We recently had the opportunity to attend the annual Professional Association of Innkeepers International Conference and Trade Show in Charleston, SC.  At that conference, several representatives of TripAdvisor.com were there to answer questions and give factual information regarding developments at the world's largest travel review website.

When we took over Taos' First B&B in 2008, it had already been operating continuously since 1982.  We didn't know much about Trip Advisor, but we knew it was the 600 pound gorilla in the corner of the room.  At the time of our take-over, La Posada was #8 out of 26 B&B's in "Taos" and #12 out of 48 B&B's in the Taos area.  More on the difference in "areas" later.

We quickly rose to the #2 spot early in 2009 and have held steady at #2 or #3 ever since.  Earlier today, the newest listing from TripAdvisor.com came out and La Posada de Taos moved into the #1 spot for all of Taos and the Taos vicinity.  We're really proud of this new designation.  Here's the latest listing for "Taos" and the "Taos Area."

La Posada de Taos

If you're not familiar with TripAdvisor.com, it is the world's leading travel review website with over 50 million visits per month.   Because it allows anyone and everyone to participate, it is a Social Networking website of the first degree.  Facebook is the largest of them all and was featured in last summer's hit movie The Social Network.

Although other websites allow you post reviews like Trip Advisor does, none of them approach the volume of traffic.  A newer -- some say more savvy -- website known as Yelp is quickly gaining popularity, but is still dwarfed by TripAdvisor.

In addition to reviews of B&B's and hotels, Trip Advisor accepts reviews of restaurants and other attractions, including other businesses in any given area.  As part of an effort to assist other members of the Taos County Chamber of Commerce, I'll be posting information on the business uses of TripAdvisor.com in my upcoming blogs.

Be sure to post back comments and questions on this blog if you have anything.

The Reviews Don't Lie: La Posada is Truly Special

Since becoming an Innkeeper in May 2008, I've had a shift of perspective away from many of the things found in big city life such as career tracking and toward simpler things such as the history of my new hometown and those who have lived here for over 1000 years, the Taos people.  Of course, it helps that I get to do this in Taos and that I get to share it all with guests from all over the world.

La Posada de Taos is a Bed and Breakfast in Taos, NM.  It was the first in town almost 30 years ago and it has remained in constant operation since its visionary founder rescued the historic home.   As the first B&B in town, we believe that we have a higher set of standards to meet and we have worked hard to keep raising the bar for ourselves as we prepare to enter our 3rd full year as the stewards of La Posada.

Our focus has always been on the customer experience, particularly the comfort of our guests.  Soon after we took over the Inn switched to 600 thread-count sheets and pillow cases.  Guests rave about them and we offer them for sale when we can keep them in stock.

Food standards are no different.  Immediately upon assuming control of the kitchen my partner and the Inn's Chef Michael Carter threw out the old 3-ring binder of breakfast casserole recipes and began introducing his own signature dishes each morning.  Featured in this first of many breakfast photos to come is Michael's Blue Corn Toasted Pinon Waffle with Buttermilk Biscuits, fresh fruit, housemade granola and organic yogurt.

Blue Corn Toasted Pinon Waffles:  Chef Michael Carter's Signature Dish

When you come to a B&B like La Posada, you're going to be surprised.  Unless you're staying at a 5-Star resort, H\hotels and motels are sterile, impersonal places.  Not so here.  Reviews of La Posada de Taos posted on TripAdvisor, Yahoo, BedandBreakfast.com and other travel review sites indicate that we are the #1 B&B in Taos that includes breakfast in the price of your room.

Having just returned from the 2011 Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII) Annual Conference and Trade Show in Charleston, SC, we are ready to continue to raise our standards and to focus even more resources on the guest experience.  Stay tuned.