The latest boutique hotel in the beautiful Caribbean town of Santa Marta is Casa de Isabella, a high-end hotel merging the city’s colonial architecture with modern interior design.
Owner Brian Sutcliffe fell in love with the Colombia’s oldest city when he and his family visited Santa Marta for the first time in 2008 and he decided to invest in a hotel that would meet up to the highest standards.
“I saw an opportunity. There were only poorly operated and terrible quality hotels in the historic center. I believe people want the real Colombia and do not stay in some all-inclusive isolated resort. People want to be able to walk out and stroll streets to visit restaurants and explore real Colombia and yet return to the luxuries they are accustomed too and expect from top tier hotels,” said Sutcliffe, a Wall Street veteran.
To fulfill his dream, the banker-turned-tourism provider spent a year finding the right property after which he hired architect Jorge Laborde to create the modern-colonial fusion both Sutcliffe and his architect had in mind.
“We had Jorge at the construction every day and spend immense amounts of time designing the build out to every exacting detail. We used purple heart woods from the Amazon in the beams, windows and doors of the newer area. We used original, 200-year-old doors from the mayor’s office which we restored in the original colonial area,” said Sutcliffe. “We also bought in carpenters and builders from Medellin for craftsmanship. Jorge designed many of the beds and furniture which our carpenters then created by hand using purple heart woods.”
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The artwork in Casa de Isabella was imported from around the world. “We have chandeliers from Istanbul, wall fabrics from India and Tibet which date over 100 years and paintings from Europe.
Our mosaic artist Laura Porter is from the USA. Because she fears flying, she designed all the mosaic art in North Carolina which we then shipped to Colombia. Each detail was thought out and discussed as we wanted this to meet International standards for quality.”
After the hotel was built and furnished, Sutcliffe contacted French cosmetics retailer L’Occitane for a review and to be allowed to offer the French’ products to the hotel’s clientele.
“They took many photos and examined our design which was then feted in France. L’Occitane is offered exclusively in 5 star hotels such as the Four Seasons thus their approval gave us the confidence that we did in fact create a hotel that meets the top international standards,” according to the hotel owner.
For the guests’ private entertainment, Casa de Isabella provides free movies on demand, thousands of radio stations from around the world and broadband internet access through the rooms’ television sets. “This hotel is about service. I hate having to pay for incidentals such as WiFi and movies at hotels. Our guests services such as international calling from the room are all included in the price of the room” according to Sutcliffe.
The hotel has two suites with private terraces that offer views of the Santa Marta bay and marina as well as private plunge pools and sofas to relax. “Probably the most romantic spot on Colombia’s Caribbean coast and a great anniversary retreat,” said Sutcliffe.
Casa de Isabella is located at Santa Marta’s Parque de los Novios, two blocks from the beach and in the heart of the colonial city center.