By Stephan Post, Launch General Manager, Palacio Nazarenas
Years of work have all come together. Today we open our doors to welcome our first guests. All our staff have completed their initial training and are putting on their uniforms. They’ve spent weeks practicing: now it’s for real. I can’t tell you the sense of excitement that everyone is feeling. We are all set to thoroughly spoil the first visitors to our beautiful new hotel.
Over the past few weeks we’ve been working hard to bring the spirit of Cuzco to life within the hotel. Gently-heated water awaits bathers in Cuzco’s first outdoor infinity pool. Menus have been printed with the amazing dishes that await diners at Senzo, the destination restaurant. We even have our own bespoke fragrance, based on local flowers, that guests can take home to remind themselves of their stay.
Our 55 luxurious suites have many touches to surprise and delight. Among these are the bath pillows filled with dried herbs from the hotel gardens that release an exotic aroma when in a tub. Many rooms have spectacular views over the rooftops of Cuzco and some even look out towards the Ausangate mountain beyond.
To celebrate the launch, Orient-Express has put together a special opening package that will allow guests to discover the gastronomy of Cuzco. The “Taste of Cuzco” programme includes a market tour and cooking class with Chef Director Virgilio Martinez, not to mention a special dinner based on each guest’s choice of ingredients.
But now it’s time to say our first “hellos”. Watch this space for our next report—as a fully fledged hotel.