Farewell to a Long Time Friend (VALLARTA TODAY)

Farewell to a Long Time Friend
Wednesday, June 16th, 2004

Compiled by Kristin Crawford

A grand goodbye was said to the Camino Real Hotel this past Friday evening as flamenco guitarist Paco Renteria lit up the stage with a final cultural performance and Vallarta big shots shed a tear over the recent sale of the prestigious and historic hotel. 

Camino Real, inaugurated December 5, 1969, opened its doors in Vallarta when the population of the city itself was only 15,000.  Part of a national chain of 20 hotels, Camino Real brought to the newborn town an example of professionalism and quality - an example which many Vallarta entrepreneurs have learned from and copied.

“Camino Real has been a ‘school of sort’ in the hotel industry,” commented Luis Reyes Brambila, Vallarta Opina Publisher.  “Many important figures in today’s tourism industry started and grew to be strong professionals at Camino Real.”  Brambila proved this true with a list of distinguished men and women, remembering specifically among the individuals Thierry Blouet who began at Camino Real as Chef at La Perla restaurant in 1989 and is now the renowned owner and chef of Café des Artistes and co-coordinator of Puerto Vallarta’s Gourmet Festival.

Camino Real’s strong reputation of excellence and beauty enticed politicians and Hollywood types to Vallarta – Bridgette Bardot, Charles Bronson, Rod Stewart, John Wayne, Kevin Costner, Anthony Quinn and ex-president Richard Nixon were among the many who enjoyed the comfort of a Camino Real stay. 

Learning and high-society hobnobbing were not the only significant activities that were taking place within the walls of the Camino Real, according to Brambila.  One of Vallarta’s top newspapers, the Vallarta Opina, has its roots in a Camino Real hotel room – planned and started there in 1977.

Camino Real and Puerto Vallarta grew up together, witnessing the influx of visitors and the growth of a tourist economy, but the ongoing relationship will soon come to an end. Camino Real will go by a new name and be directed by an American company as of the last day of June. This great change signifies the “end of an era full of accomplishments,” reflected Brambila.

The reminiscing came to a close, and Paco Renteria laid down his guitar, symbolic of the finality of Camino Real’s last days.  The finale spurred unending bouts of applause as guests filed out of the concert to make a final pina colada toast the health of Camino Real.