What I Learned After Opening a Hotel in Oaxaca (Actually… I opened three.)

Opening a hotel sounds romantic. And yes… it is.

But it’s also so much more than I ever imagined.

When I decided to start this project, I pictured beautiful rooms, happy guests, slow breakfasts, and meaningful conversations. And while all of that does exist, there are many things nobody tells you about… and those often become the most valuable parts of the journey.

Today, I want to share what I’ve truly learned through the process.

I learned that details are everything

It’s not the bed. It’s not the location.

It’s the way the colors on the wall make you feel embraced. It’s the flower pot in a corner that unexpectedly makes you smile. It’s the way the morning light enters the room. The silence during certain moments of the day. It’s a warm smile welcoming someone after a long journey.

I realized that the experience isn’t found in the big things, but in the invisible ones.

I learned that every guest arrives with a story

Some come to celebrate.Others come to rest. Some come to escape.

And without realizing it, your space becomes part of an important moment in their lives.

That completely changes the way you see what you do.

It’s no longer just “hospitality.”It becomes emotional responsibility.

I learned that my sensitivity is also a tool

I was born with a particular trait: I’m an HSP — a highly sensitive person.

That means certain things overwhelm me more easily: noise, strong smells or flavors, decision-making, constant stress, having too many things happening at once.

For a long time, I thought that was a weakness.

But opening this hotel helped me understand something different.

That same sensitivity also allows me to notice things other people might miss.

I can sense when someone needs peace and quiet. When someone wants to talk. When someone needs to feel cared for without having to ask.

I believe a big part of the experience we try to create here comes precisely from that.

From paying attention.From observing small details. From understanding emotions without them needing to be explained.

In that way, my sensitivity has helped me understand exactly how to design and prepare spaces so guests feel appreciated, comforted, and truly welcomed.

And while being an HSP can make everything feel more intense…it can also become a gift when transformed into empathy.

I learned to let go of control

As part of my HSP personality, I tend to want everything to be perfect. Always.

But a hotel is alive: something breaks, something gets delayed, something changes.

And I learned that what matters isn’t that everything goes perfectly…but how you respond when it doesn’t.

I learned that small can be incredibly powerful

Having only a few rooms isn’t a limitation.It’s a privilege.

It allows you to truly know, observe, and care.

To create something intimate, peaceful, and special.

And in a world that moves so fast, that becomes a luxury.

I learned that Oaxaca has its own rhythm

Nothing rushes here.

And at first, that can feel frustrating…until you realize that’s exactly the point.

Oaxaca isn’t a place you simply visit.It’s a place you experience.

And once you sync yourself with that rhythm, everything changes.

I learned more about myself than I expected

This project didn’t just build a space…it transformed me too.

It taught me patience. It taught me trust. It taught me to be present. It taught me to learn from others, and it taught me how to set boundaries.

And above all, it taught me that the things that truly matter can’t always be measured.

In the end…

A hotel isn’t walls. Or furniture. Or reservations.

It’s moments.

And if you do things well, those moments stay with people…long after they leave.

Maybe that’s why this place was designed more to be felt than simply stayed in.

And if you’re thinking about coming to Oaxaca,I hope you find that feeling here too.

Maria