Cali, Colombia, Oct 31 (EFE).- Humberto Villegas’s motel, «Kiss Me,» was built as a «temple to making love.»
But by chance, this symbol of the city of Cali has become part of the largest biodiversity summit, COP16.
The mayor’s office expected between 12,000 and 15,000 delegates; in the end, 23,000 delegates were registered for the event.
This massive influx of participants over the past two weeks meant there was not enough accommodation for everyone, leading the government to find other alternatives. «Kiss Me,» alongside other motels in the city, has stepped up to fill the accommodation gap in Colombia’s third-largest city in a peculiar way.
The Chamber of Commerce in Cali has 166 motels registered, making it the Colombian city with the highest number of this type of establishment.
A welcoming group
Although Villegas does not specify how many guests with COP16 badges have arrived to experience some of the 200 themed rooms in the motel, he does highlight his favorite ones: including the polar suite, a jungle with a tiger, or spaces inspired by different regions and countries, including the Colombian departments of Pasto and the city of Cartagena, as well as Spanish, Panamanian and Egyptian themes.
Motels globally are a place to rest cheaply for a few hours. Still, in Colombia, they have a different connotation as a love hotel to rent for hours. Villegas assures that Cali «does not have the capacity to host a global event,» which is why it «overflowed» with so many people needing lodging.
As a result, the motels have «helped to provide the best possible accommodation for COP participants» so that they «feel at home.»
«We have been very helpful (…) we are doing our part,» he stressed, noting that motels offer a more economical, «social and everyday» alternative.
The prices of the lodgings range from 35,000 Colombian pesos (8 dollars) to 250,000 pesos (56 dollars).Oscar Guzman, executive president of Cotelco Valle del Cauca, estimated that the event will generate around 14.3 million dollars for the lodging sector.
A temple to making love
For Villegas, making love is a «sacred thing» and a «comforting» activity that should take place «in a pleasant environment, with colors from nature, surrounded by animals and variety.»
His aim is that the ambiance in the rooms «helps to create tenderness (…) to make love in a more romantic, beautiful and heartfelt way.»
According to Villegas, the COP16 guests asked for permission to take pictures because they «liked» the place.Villegas’ motel took years to complete, every nook and cranny decorated with statues, figurines, tiles, and mirrors, including a 17-metre replica of Venus de Milo.
Commitment to biodiversity
The motel owner considers himself a «defender of biodiversity» and said he would cooperate with COP16 «in any way possible.»
Villegas expressed concern about «climate change deniers» and warned of torrential rains, violent storms, extreme heat, and other unfavorable phenomena that he believes will become «a common pattern in the future.»
He hopes that in these last two days, «concrete agreements are reached to allow immediate action because climate change is here to stay.» In the meantime, he will continue to manage his temple to «making love.» EFE
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