The story of the Inn and Spa at Loretto in Santa Fe, New Mexico, begins centuries before the foundation for this iconic hotel was poured and even longer before the artists, writers and musicians that helped shape Santa Fe’s vibrant culture were born. Santa Fe was founded in 1610 and rotated through an occupation by Native American, Mexican and Spanish settlers; each helped create the groundwork for what Santa Fe would eventually become.
In the early 1850s, the new bishop of Santa Fe sent out a letter asking for help establishing an educational system in the new territory. A group of nuns known as the Sisters of Loretto answered the call and made the long trek through St. Louis and up the river to Independence, Missouri; they finally arrived in Santa Fe in 1852, where they established a thriving academy and chapel in less than a year after their arrival.
Years later, the Kirkpatrick family found the Loretto Academy and Chapel, which had been sitting abandoned for decades. The family fell in love with the heritage and breathed new life into both buildings, opening the Inn and Spa at Loretto and renovating the Loretto Chapel into a historic landmark and museum in 1975. The Inn and Spa at Loretto has been applauded as the first commercial building in Santa Fe to adopt a Pueblo Revival style of architecture, a style now known as Santa Fe.
“The history of our property is second to none,” said Lesley Escobar, special-events sales manager for the Inn and Spa at Loretto. “The fact that we share the same property as the famous Loretto Chapel is a conversation piece of its own. People love the history and the architecture of our property. They not only get to experience a certain level of luxury here, but they also feel that sense of belonging as they’re treated like family here, and that’s what keeps them coming back.”
The inn features 136 guest rooms, including five suites and Santa Fe’s only penthouse, and more than 12,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting and event space with room for 300 guests.
Meeting Space
The inn’s expansive meeting facilities encompass more than 12,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor space. The spaces include the 2,730-square-foot Zuni Ballroom for up to 240 guests, the 2,835-square-foot Chaco Ballroom for up to 200 guests, the Tesuque Ballroom for up to 150 guests, the Acoma Room for up to 100 guests, the Hopi Boardroom for up to 20 guests and an outdoor sculpture garden for up to 250 guests. Small groups can also rent the resort’s Penthouse Suite to host an intimate gathering of 10 to 75 guests among a series of five terraces, multiple gathering spaces, a formal dining area with seating for eight, a dramatic spiral staircase and wall-to-wall windows that offer 360-degree views of Santa Fe.
The Spa
A trip to the Inn and Spa at Loretto wouldn’t be complete without visiting the award-winning spa. Since its opening, the spa has consistently ranked on top-10 lists of almost every major magazine, and it’s easy to see why. The Spa at Loretto’s menu highlights a number of local treatments, with holistic experiences and signature aromatherapy blends that aid in portraying the true “Spirit of Loretto.” Beaded crystal sconces beckon guests into each of the seven spacious treatment rooms for sessions that include wide-ranging choices such as gentlemen’s facials, nourishing body wraps and sacred stone massages.
