PRESS RELEASE - January 19, 2009

(Photo by Geri Hongeva)

(Photo by Geri Hongeva)

CONTACT: Rick Abasta, Media Representative
Phone: 928-871-6647
Email: rick@navajonationparks.org

The View Hotel opens for business in Monument Valley

MONUMENT VALLEY-It took over 40 years, but on Jan. 14, the dream of opening a hotel in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park was finally realized.

Tribal leaders, employees and other dignitaries gathered for a traditional Navajo blessing of the facility, which commenced the grand opening celebration. A banquet and dance concluded the festivities.

Artsco Inc., the company contracted by the Navajo Parks and Recreation Dept. to construct the hotel, footed the substantial investment in the $14 million construction cost.

Armanda Ortega-Gordon, owner of the View, said its construction was a dream for many.

“This project was talked about and dreamed about for a little over 45 years with no results,” Ortega-Gordon said. “Today, Artsco has so many people to thank, who have helped on this project.

“I can’t thank you all personally, but you know who you are and your help is greatly appreciated,” she said.

The View Hotel features 96 rooms, 90 of which face east, for an unimpeded view of the Mittens. The three-story structure overlooks the valley and was designed with environmentally conscious elements to prevent disturbing the natural scenery.

Bob Maze, an architect from Albuquerque, designed the state-of-the-art facility.

The hotel boasts three conference rooms, a fitness center and room amenities like flat screen TVs, Internet access, microwaves, refrigerators and coffeemakers. Guests also get to enjoy a private balcony facing the valley’s magnificent views.

Ray Russell, department manager for Navajo Parks and Recreation, said the hotel was a long time in coming. He said tedious negotiations, planning and actualization of their efforts was a happy occasion.

“We couldn’t have opened this new hotel without the hard work and effort from the staff,” Russell said. “We made the right selection when we chose Artsco to undertake this project.”

The Navajo Parks and Recreation coordinated their efforts with Artsco, the Navajo Nation Council Resources Committee, Economic Development Committee and Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President.

Aside from these tribal entities, the department also utilized assistance from the Arizona USDA Rural Development and El Paso Natural Gas. Other key players were NTUA and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. called the View a beautiful and fantastic structure that was indescribable.

“I want to wish the Ortegas much success. I’d like you to make a lot of money,” Shirley said. “Because when businesses on Navajo land do good, Navajo land does good.”

The $14 million facility secured additional funding from the USDA.

Eddie Browning, director of the Arizona USDA Rural Development, said they helped finance the construction efforts for the View.

“Today, I’m here to represent part of the financing,” Browning said.

Relating the mission of the USDA Rural Development, which is focused on community and economic development in Arizona, he said development of such a major project takes more than just money.

“It takes heart and it takes soul to build on a sacred location,” Browning said.

The heart and soul of negotiations for the new hotel fell squarely on the shoulders of Arvin Trujillo, director of the Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources.

A firm believer in long-range planning, Trujillo was happy to see the project come to fruition at last.

“You see the result of people who look at obstacles and say we can do it,” he said.

The years of negotiations and shuffling conceptual drawings and dialogues on how things should look was a long road filled with twists and obstacles, he said.

“I walk around today and the final product is much better than we dreamed,” Trujillo said. “This is something for all of us as leaders, and should be the model we should look at to say we can achieve whatever we dream.”

The View has become reality and magnifies the power of strategic planning, he noted.

“It shows the power of focus. I showed the power of having people like Ray Russell, Martin Begaye and Lynda French,” Trujillo said.

The 45-year-wait for the creation of a hotel in Monument Valley was because of a mountain of obstacles blocking progression. Little by little, the parks and recreation chipped away and cleared the path with help from tribal departments and entities.

The fight for water rights to the area was negotiated. The challenge of getting El Paso Gas to agree to right-of-way opportunities opened up. Once considered a pipedream, the View is now open for business.

“This wasn’t just through the efforts of one person, but it was through a collective effort of a number of people,” Trujillo said. “The division focuses on its vision, ‘Land Water, Power and Quality of Life.’

“When we bring land, water and power into a given area, we can change the quality of life,” he said.

Changing the quality of life for the Navajo people has been the challenge for the Navajo Nation Council, including the economic development committee.
Seeing the hotel finally open was a joyous occasion.

Committee chairman Lawrence Platero quipped, “Eat your heart out, Gouldings.”

He recounted the historical events taking place in Monument Valley, like the Winter Olympics Torch relay in 2002. Not to mention the scores of movies and commercials filmed in the valley.

“Something of this nature I understand cost in the area of $14 million,” Platero said. The other thing I’m glad to say is that this facility created 100 jobs for local Navajo people.”

The creation of jobs and other economic opportunities was a blessing for the Navajo people, one council delegate noted.

George Arthur, chairman of the resources committee, said thanks should be given to the Creator.

“You just need to look out there and know and realize there’s no man anywhere in the world that could create something like this,” Arthur said.

He lauded the efforts and perseverance of Armanda Ortega-Gordon, who never gave up on her dream of opening a business on the Navajo Nation.

“This was her third attempt, having been turned down the first two times,” Arthur said.

The third time was the charm for Ortega-Gordon, who ensured the project was constructed with a100 percent Native American workforce, 90 percent of which was Navajo.

“Out of that sits this magnificent structure, which correlates with this magnificent view,” Arthur said. “In the next few months we will finally have a place to house our visitors from abroad.”

Information: www.monumentvalleyview.com

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