CASE STUDY № 02

Hotel Willa.

Taos, NM · Casetta Hotels · Opening & brand development · 2025

Casetta's first step outside California — a Taos hotel whose brand had to belong to Northern New Mexico before it could sell it.

The challenge

An arts town with a long memory.

Taos holds its culture closely and greets outside development with healthy suspicion. Opening a boutique hotel there meant building a brand the community would claim as its own, in a market most travelers couldn't reach without a full day of driving.

The opening had to establish the hotel, honor the town, and generate demand for a destination many target guests had never considered.

What I did

A brand rooted in place, then carried to the world.

Brand development

Built Willa's identity around Northern New Mexico's art, land, and light — space and stillness alongside gallery shows and late dinners.

Cultural partnerships

Partnered with the Paseo Project and SIEMPRE Design so the hotel's programming came from the community rather than at it.

Access strategy

Aligned with JSX's seasonal Taos flights, turning a remote market into a walk-on, walk-off getaway from Los Angeles.

Press immersion

Hosted immersion trips with Modern Currency PR that put writers inside the town's rhythm instead of a fact sheet.

Pre-opening commercial strategy

Delivered pre-opening brand, pricing, and performance marketing strategy tied to ramp targets.

F&B positioning

Shaped the culinary narrative around Northern New Mexico flavors as a core reason to visit.

The outcomes

A remote opening that national press came to find.

Outcome ledgerHotel Willa
Opening ramp vs. forecastAbove
Town & Country feature — A Snob's Guide to Taos2025
The Hollywood Reporter destination feature2025
Destination halo — T+L America's Best Small Towns (Taos)2025
Destination access partnershipJSX
Pre-opening brand, pricing & performance strategy · Casetta Hotels
Press & recognition

Coverage earned, not bought.

Town & CountryThe Hollywood ReporterTravel + Leisure
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