Hotel Andaluz in Albuquerque: LEED Green Luxury with a Moorish flair

The building started as the Albuquerque Hilton, built by New Mexico-born Conrad Hilton, and opened on June 9, 1939. It was the epitome of luxury and an artistic achievement with its two-story lobby, arched wood-paneled ceiling and carved beams, Spanish tiled floors, Navajo rugs and painted wall murals.

Eventually the hotel was sold and in 1984 new owners completed a major historic renovation and the hotel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It became the beloved La Posada de Albuquerque, the Inn of Albuquerque.

Sadly, the hotel was not a financial success and was about to be razed when, in 2005, the Goodman Realty Group purchased the hotel out of bankruptcy. The renamed Hotel Andaluz (named from Andalucia, a region of southern Spain that inspired the Moorish interior style and architecture of the hotel) reopened October 1, 2009 after a 30 million dollar renovation. It also became one of the first historically renovated green hotels in the country, and it will be the first Gold LEED certified hotel in the state of New Mexico.

Hotel Andaluz Goes Eco-Friendly Green

The Hotel Andaluz has achieved the coveted LEED Gold certification - an impressive achievement for a renovation of a historically important and protected building, offering green eco-friendly 4 diamond luxury.

Stepping into the beautifully tiled bathroom with its subtle Asian influence, guests may notice that the water-saving dual flush toilets. However, guests may not realize the water savings standing under the streaming shower because the oxygen-assisted shower heads mix in air to reduce the amount of water but not its power. Instead of tiny bottles of soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion, the bathrooms offer mounted dispensers of luxury brand Pacific Direct's We Live Like This.

Most of the furniture in the guest rooms is made of either bamboo or rubber wood - both quickly renewed sources. The lighting is LED and fluorescent and thoughtfully done. The tiny, powerful, and totally adjustable reading lights grace each side of the bed and illuminate only the book or magazine. Reach over and change the thermostat setting to reduce energy use.

Other smart energy systems include the almost universal setback system that senses when the room is no longer occupied and sets the thermostat to setback mode. But there’s also solar heated hot water system that produces 60% of the hotel’s hot water.

It has always seemed wasteful to use drinking water for landscaping, especially in a desert. The Hotel Andaluz uses captured rain water and no drinking water for irrigation.

Thoughtful Luxury

Sheets and pillowcases are made by the Italian company Frette, considered by many to be among the world's finest linens. If the down pillows are not to your taste, other pillows are available Contact the front desk for the pillow concierge. I'm usually allergic to feathers, but the new process, used in the Hotel Andaluz and others, leave me sneezeless, a result of a special filtering process.

Outside the room, the sense of thoughtful luxury continues in the library with its welcoming winter fireplace (complete with delightfully fake buck with antlers), and an array of carefully chosen books and magazines to entice visitors to sit and relax. The business center is tucked away in the library as well. The books can be checked out for reading in your guest room.

The hotel doesn't have its own fitness center or pool, but guests have complimentary access to New Mexico Sports and Wellness located adjacent to the hotel below the atrium of Plaza Galleria.

Lucia for Dining

In contrast to the decor of the rest of the hotel, the restaurant Lucia offers sleek and sophisticated dining. I tried the excellent garlic shrimp appetizer, the meaty double cut brined pork chop and finished with the difficult to eat but quite yummy white peach melba parfait. The soup of the day was a rich and flavorful Mediterranean chicken soup. The meal was well-complemented by a selection of 31 wines by the glass. Yes, you read that correctly. I enjoyed a fine New Zealand Reisling. There’s also a daily vegetarian specialty. The restaurant makes an effort to use local ingredients and provides filtered drinking water rather than bottled.

Lobby Entertainment

Friday and Saturday nights enjoy live music (and dancing) in the lobby. Cover and or minimum charge may apply. There’s also special Sunday brunch in Lucia. Enjoy a cocktail or appetizer in the lobby as the relaxing end to the day.