Affeldt appointed to governor’s Economic Recovery Council
Hospitality entrepreneur and philanthropist Allan Affeldt, who owns the Plaza and La Castañeda hotels in Las Vegas, has been selected as one of 15 business and labor leaders from across New Mexico to advise Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on strategies for reopening businesses in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Lujan Grisham announced the creation of the New Mexico Economic Recovery Council last week during a virtual press conference streamed on Facebook and YouTube. According to the governor’s office, those selected to the council represent a broad swath of New Mexico’s business community, including representatives from tech industries, film, agriculture, tourism and hospitality.
“If we’re smart and patient about how we move forward, New Mexicans can show the rest of the country how it’s done,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement.
Affeldt told the Optic he was pleased to be a part of the council and praised the governor for her handling of the coronavirus pandemic in New Mexico.
“She’s been right on the facts. She’s been right on the timing. She’s been realistic about what’s necessary,” Affeldt said. “Now I think the governor is looking forward to the next challenge, which is how to get the economy working again.”
Affeldt said the newly-created council will hold a series of meetings, using videoconferencing software, to produce advisory plans to pass along to the governor and her staff.
“The governor is looking to have some broad representation,” Affeldt said. “From me, it’s hospitality and tourism. She’s looking for our advice for the steps she can take to be proactive to mitigate the damage, and to open up the economy in as safe, responsible and efficient a way as possible.”
According to a press release from the governor’s office, the path to reopening businesses in New Mexico will be “grounded in science, data and sound public health research, with regular input from the state’s public health authorities and the Medical Advisory Team.”
Affeldt said he’s seen a lot of positive results in Las Vegas and San Miguel County, and looks forward to working with city leaders to reopen businesses in town, and he hopes the state can adopt some of what’s working well in the area.
“I think our mayor and city council are doing a good job, especially since they just got the jobs,” Affeldt said. “I look forward to working with them and getting their recommendations so I can pass those along to the governor.”
Both the Plaza and La Castañeda have been able to retain several staff members throughout the statewide “stay at home” public health order, Affeldt said. Those efforts were aided in part by funding from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, secured locally through Community First Bank.
Affeldt said at his businesses, in order to keep people working, he’s shifted some employees from performing their typical duties, to working on projects with a greater need. It’s something he hopes can work for other area businesses as well.
“Right now we’re trying to find projects we can proceed with, and since we don’t need a lot of housekeeping and reception right now, that means construction and gardening. We have a number of projects that are underway now,” he said. “We hope that will be a good model for other businesses in Las Vegas.”
