Rik Blyth, president of La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was recently given the Hotelier of the Year honor from Historic Hotels of America, a program for the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The 27th annual honor is awarded to those who demonstrate “the highest contribution to furthering the celebration of history at historic hotels as well as leadership and innovation.”
Blyth, who has been at the landmark Santa Fe hotel for nine years, sat down with the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper to talk about his honor.
The lead factor working in his favor, Blyth said, was probably his work in launching an internship program in Santa Fe in 2022 that since has grown into a citywide endeavor. The idea, he said, was to encourage businesses across the city to offer internships to local students as part of an effort to develop homegrown talent.
The program had a modest start, attracting only 11 interns in its inaugural year. But by last year, it had attracted 125 participants and is now operated by the city of Santa Fe. […]
Blyth said he couldn’t be more proud of the success of the internship program in Santa Fe, with dozens of businesses of all types offering positions to young people.
“Look what it’s become,” he said. “If I had to hang my hat on something I’ve accomplished recently, that would be it.”
Blyth said La Fonda will renovate its guest rooms early next year and make infrastructure improvements before he retires.
La Fonda marked its official centennial a few years ago, though records indicate a lodging establishment has been on the site as far back as 1607, bolstering its claim as “the oldest hotel corner in America.”
La Fonda sits less than a block from the 1926-1937 alignment of Route 66 that runs into downtown Santa Fe.
(Courtesy image of La Fonda in Santa Fe, New Mexico)