WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren on Friday ensured that the final phase of construction of the Shonto La Quinta Hotel will be completed this summer.
The President approved an additional $3.4 million in ARPA funding to finish phase three construction of the 82-room hotel being built at the junction of U.S. 160 and Ariz. Route 98.
He told Michael Carnel, CEO of Medallion Hospitality, that he appreciated his employment of Navajos at his award-winning hotels in Gallup, N.M., Durango, Colo., and soon at the new Shonto location.
“Thank you for your heart and commitment and never forgetting where your roots are from, “President Nygren said. “It means a lot that you were groomed here on Navajo and you continue to advocate, fight for and do what you can for economic development and jobs.”
Mr. Carnel was born in Ganado and raised in Keams Canyon.
“Our roots run deep here,” he said. “It’s something that we know about. Now, jobs, jobs, jobs are the three most important things.”
President Nygren told him he likes to work with people who have a heart and commitment to move the Navajo people forward.
“You’ve shown that by employing our people,” he said. “Most people would flinch to build a hotel in Shonto but you didn’t flinch.”
Navajo Nation Council Delegate Herman Daniels, Jr., who represents Shonto, Tsah Bii Kin, Navajo Mountain and Oljato, acknowledged the President for getting projects like the hotel done to support employment in the remote community.
“You’re doing a lot for the Western Agency and the whole Navajo Nation,” he said.
The President welcomed Shonto Secretary-Treasurer Robert Black who helped shepherd the project to completion.
“You always have creative ideas to try to get things done with the Shonto governance,” he said. “I appreciate your leadership. Everything you do for that community really means a lot.”
Medallion Hospitality, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., has hotels in Gallup, N.M., Durango and Silt, Colo., and Kingman, Ariz.
It’s the recipient of two Torchbearer Award, IHG’s highest award for Guest Service Quality.
“We’re passionate about completing our project in Shonto,” Mr. Carnel said. “We were passionate when we started it, we were passionate about doing the construction, passionate about getting it finished and we’re passionate about doing the management.”
“We saw a lot of good things. Saw some things that needed to change and we wanted to try to bring our knowledge and our expertise to the Nation,” he said. “We think we can make a difference and we appreciate the opportunity.”
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