El Portal Sedona Hotel is now a Certified Sustainable Business

El Portal Sedona Hotel is now a Certified Sustainable Business at the Conservationist/Bronze level from the Sustainability Alliance.

It’s easy to feel at home in El Portal Sedona Hotel. Owners Steve and Connie Segner have created a charming, healthy space to welcome guests and their dogs. The building is made from natural materials wherever possible. Recycled wood from a 200-year-old bridge trellis frames the windows. Floors are sandstone and white oak trellis wood. The reclaimed furnishings, collected by the Segners over decades, give every room an eclectic, inviting feel. The pet-friendly design means there is no carpeting to harbor allergens.

El Portal is extremely energy efficient. The adobe walls are 22 inches thick, with additional foam insulation for the walls and ceiling. Segner is testing a green roof on part of the building, and the results so far are excellent. The greenery keeps roof temperatures to 70 degrees, down from 180 degrees with the original material. He plans to extend the green roof to guest rooms in the future. The hotel is also efficient in other ways. Rather than using natural resources to build their own pool and gym, El Portal shares the facilities at Los Abrigados. LED lighting, newer kitchen appliances, and commercial laundry equipment all save energy. Water is conserved with low flow toilets and the option for guests to reuse their towels.

A water station in the lobby eliminates the need for single-use beverage containers. Guests receive a one-quart bottle at check-in that they refill throughout their stay. Breakfast dishes and room cups are washable to reduce waste, and the hotel participates in Straw Free Sedona.

El Portal is a small operation, which fosters a collaborative, family atmosphere among the staff. Team members manage their own hours and cover for each other when needed. Segner leads by example, inspecting rooms and making some of the repairs himself while providing real-time coaching as needed.

Community contribution is a core value for the business. They contribute to many local nonprofits and donate rooms for a variety of key arts events. Segner serves on the board of the Sedona Historical Society, Chamber Music Sedona, and Sedona Lodging Council, and is also active in other organizations. At present, he is focused on tackling the critical issue of workforce housing in the Sedona area.

El Portal helps guests explore the area in a responsible way. Segner recommends less-used trails to guests looking for a hike. He also donates to Sedona Trail Keepers and is helping to enhance other trail support programs. He contracts with a tour company to offer local experiences that educate visitors and help reduce cars on the road. In fact, Segner is so committed to getting people out of cars that he designed and created the Sedona History Walk (or A Walk through Time). It is a free, self-guided tour that highlights the people, places, and events that shaped the area’s vibrant history, and it entices people to walk from the hotel into Uptown.

By Darcy Hitchcock, Sustainability Alliance
darcy@sustainabilityallianceaz.org 928-554-5171

Contact:
Steve Segner
El Portal Sedona Hotel
info@elportalsedona.com
800.313.0017
www.elportalsedona.com

El Portal Sedona Hotel Showcases Landscape Painter Dawn Sutherland

Sutherland’s depictions of Sedona’s breathtaking scenery will be on display at El Portal for the October First Friday Art Walk.

On October 4, 2019, El Portal Sedona Hotel will present local landscape painter Dawn Sutherland, along with two other artists, as part of the Sedona Gallery Association’s First Friday in the Galleries Art Walk. The First Friday event, which is free and open to the public, is designed to help Sedona residents and visitors explore the city’s thriving arts scene, described by the New York Times as a “New West enclave” of artists and galleries. Held from 5-8 pm on the first Friday of each month, the Art Walk showcases both established and emerging artists representing a wide variety of mediums. Attendees of the October 4 event will enjoy Sutherland’s enchanting Southwestern landscape paintings amidst the charming setting of El Portal, an adobe-style architectural masterpiece located in the heart of the Sedona arts district.

A former teacher and counselor, Dawn Sutherland has been a painter since 2001. After moving from Wisconsin to Arizona in 2004, Sutherland became captivated by the state’s striking blue skies, intricate canyons, and distant horizons. Inspired by the raw beauty of nature, she prefers painting outdoors — or “en plain air” — as a way to capture the depth, definition, and feeling of the landscape. Many of Sutherland’s works depict the majestic red rock formations of Sedona, as well as scenes of the Grand Canyon. For the past five years, she has been invited to participate in the annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art, which features selected artists painting en Plein air on location at the Canyon for a week. Sutherland is a founding member of Arizona Plein Air Painters and is also a member of The Nature Conservancy, Grand Canyon Conservancy, Best Friends Animal Society and Morris Animal Foundation.

El Portal Sedona Hotel has been displaying a selection of Sutherland paintings since 2007. Located steps from the famed Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Shopping Center, El Portal is a AAA Four Diamond Hotel, a 12-suite boutique inn offering unpretentious luxury and personalized concierge services. Recognized as one of the most pet-friendly hotels in the country by Dogster Magazine and USA Today, El Portal never charges pet fees and greets all four-legged guests with a welcome basket. Upon entering El Portal, visitors — and art lovers in particular — will instantly notice the inn’s unique architecture and décor, which include building materials sourced from nature, handcrafted furniture, and an amazing art collection on the walls. As a champion of the local arts scene, owner Steve Segner has worked with the Sedona Chamber of Commerce to develop a walking tour guide of the city’s galleries in an effort to help residents and visitors alike discover what makes Sedona a world-class art destination.

To learn more about Dawn Sutherland and view samples of her paintings, visit https://dawnsutherlandfineart.com.
El Portal Sedona Hotel 1.800.313.0017, https://elportalsedona.com.

Crooked Figure Theatre Performs William Shakespeare’s “King Lear” at El Portal Sedona Hotel

El Portal Sedona Hotel is pleased to announce Crooked Figure Theatre’s return to Sedona July 26 and 27, 2019. Crooked Figure Theatre will perform William Shakespeare’s King Lear at El Portal Sedona Hotel where the actors will be moving and interacting with guests. The production will move through El Portal, asking audiences to accompany performers through the beautiful space. “We’re really planning to localize the play,” says Gutiérrez-Dennehy. “We’ll use both the beautiful great room and relaxing courtyard as performance spaces, and really pull the audience into the story as we go.”  William Shakespeare’s King Lear is the story of a diseased mind and heart that leads to the downfall of a kingdom.

Crooked Figure Theatre is a summer production company based in Northern Arizona University’s Department of Theatre. Crooked Figure Theatre marries direct, honest storytelling with experimentation and audience engagement. Their site-specific company tells both old and new stories in culturally relevant and imaginative ways, pushing the creative boundaries of what a theatre can be and the impact it can and should have on everyday lives. CFT is sponsored in part by Northern Arizona University Department of Theatre.

“Crooked Figure is focusing its work on representations of mental illness in Lear. We’re re-imagining one of the play’s characters as a voice in Lear’s brain that results from the sudden recognition that he has, possibly for the first time in his reign, made a grave error that destroys his family. The guilt and grief that result from this decision, and the depression that Lear falls into, create space within his mind for a growing disturbance. We’re excited to explore these contemporary issues of mental illness within Shakespeare’s classic story,” says director Gutiérrez-Dennehy. The performance features 12 talented actors, including Ben Alexander, CFT’s Resident Scenographer as Lear.

King Lear is 6:00 p.m. on July 26 and 27, 2019 at El Portal Sedona Hotel (95 Portal Lane, Sedona, AZ 86336). The production will be free of charge to the public. No reservations are needed; seating is first come, first served. Parking will be available at El Portal and in nearby lots, signage will direct guests to parking locations.

El Portal Sedona Hotel offers guests a luxurious lodging experience that exemplifies AAA’s Four Diamond quality standards in every aspect. With only twelve, amenity-filled suites, the entire property features unique architecture and decor that reflect its stunning Southwestern setting. Guests and their pets are welcomed with exceptional service at this architectural masterpiece in the heart of Sedona. Visit www.ElPortalSedona.com for more information, or call 1.800.313.0017.

Give an Inspired Gift this Holiday Season

Looking for an inspiring gift? Give your someone special a gift certificate to El Portal Sedona Hotel this holiday season. The boutique hotel inspires imagination, beauty, serenity, and more!

Now through November 30, 2017, for each gift certificate you purchase, of any amount, you will receive 10% off!  Just call 1.800.313.0017.

Behind the custom-made door of each suite, you will find museum quality Arts and Crafts furnishings. Each suite may include such features as an adobe corner fireplace with river rock stone, French doors, stencil designs, hand-painted detailing, stained glass ceiling panels or accents, tile and flagstone flooring, high-beamed ceilings of natural, organic juniper or burl logs, rich tile detailing and arched windows. Bathroom designs may include free-form granite counters, Jacuzzi tub, steam shower, and free standing claw foot tub. You will find luxurious linens, a hairdryer, iron and ironing board, and mini-fridge, in your air-conditioned suite. Outside the suites, guests can enjoy spectacular views, a private garden or sitting terrace, and our Greene & Green and Santa Fe suites each have a balcony.

At our pet friendly hotel, four-legged guests receive a welcome basket and there are no pet fees!

Call 1.800.313.0017 for the gift of inspiration!

 

 

El Portal Sedona Hotel’s Famous Robes

Are now available for purchase! Whether you are a guest, have been a guest, or just love our robes, call 1.800.313.0017 or come into the hotel to order.

A little about these comfy robes…They are absolutely the squishiest, coziest southwestern inspired saddle blanket robe / duster / trench coat / house coat you’ll ever find. They boast a Native American patterned, extra thick fleece.  The Sherpa collar & cuffs with blanket stitch trim add a touch of warmth and come in nice neutral color tones with large pockets at the hips. These gorgeous robes can be worn belted or not.

Sizing:
Measured flat. Allow about ½” for a comfortable fit.
Free bust (54″ total).
Free waist (52″ total).
Free hips (52″” total).
54″ long, measured down the center back.
22“ across the back, between the shoulders.
20″ from armpit to cuff.
By T.P. Saddleblanket Company

These are now available for sale! Imagine waking up and wrapping yourself in this cozy robe, conjuring sweet Sedona memories at El Portal Sedona Hotel! To have one of these amazing robes at your own home, call 1.800.313.0017.

El Portal Sedona Hotel Announces….

….the arrival of a new puppy! We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Dexter, a basset puppy, in the next two weeks.

As some of you know our Boomer sadly lost his battle with cancer earlier this summer. It has been a sad and lonesome couple of months. As one guest said, “It was so odd not to have Boomer to greet us when we walked through the doors. It just wasn’t the same.”

Dexter will be the little guy greeting you at the door in the next few weeks, and we are very excited for his arrival.

The luxury inn is a pet friendly Sedona hotel that offers guests free pet sitting services, a welcome treat for their pets, and no pet fees. El Portal is the first Sedona hotel welcoming pets at no additional charge.

Come see our newest addition! For reservations call 1.800.313.0017.