Observations from New Year's Eve - Part 2
11 years ago
Another wild and crazy New Year’s Eve celebration in the rocking town of Salians.....slam on the brakes! Not so fast. Many cities and towns throughout Ecuador would have looked upon Salinas last night with utter envy. The town was still lively...filled with fireworks, music and passion. However, this is Salinas...the resort capital of Ecuador. The town known to have put the “celebration” into the concept of coastal frolicking. By Salinas standards, last night was muted...listless...low-key. No great musical acts this year. A fireworks display that seemed to trump the USA variety only by a fraction, rather than the raucous explosions until dawn, for which Salinas has been best known. The streets more empty at 2 AM this year, than they were at 6 AM the prior year. In short...we rung in the New Year, less with a bang, than a whimper.
This was my 6th New Year in Salinas, despite being a full-time resident only for 3 of those years. I experienced part of last night, as in previous years, from the balcony-side vantage point of the Malecón. However, for the first time ever, I waded into the crowds, until well post midnight. I was beachside next to the flaming figurines known as “Año Viejos” (Old Years). I dodged mad firecracker attacks from the slightly inebriated. I listened to the deafening din of fireworks explosions, car horns blaring, shouts of friendship and the laughter of children. Through it all, from a beachside seat, to the Malecón balcony comfort, I couldn’t help but observe the relatively poor turn out and apparent lack of preparation and presentation this year. It paled in comparison to past years and was the third year in a row of declining turnout, for one of the two busiest days of the year, in Salinas. An answer...likely answers...must be found. It certainly brings an interesting final punctuation point to what will be our yearly Ecuador market analysis, available to our consulting services client base, in a week or two, As always, we will release a summary of some of those observations on this forum, within 6-7 months thereafter.
In any case, the early returns suggest several factors for the decline of the Salinas glitz on New Year’s Eve. While not an excessively alarming development, especially given the packed beaches of New Year’s Day, it is a point which bears consideration, concern and due note, as one plans their future in Ecuador. As an example, the level of dollar expenditures at local businesses from the New Year’s Day crowd, does not begin to match the revenue from the New Year’s Eve crowd, on a historical year-on-year basis. So, little comfort should be taken from the “morning after” affect. For those that swore that I could never write anything less than flattering about my beloved Salinas...there you have it. Will there be more? Only time and a wee bit of further data analysis will tell. Ultimately, the conclusion is clear...Salinas stands to be dethroned as the resort capital of Ecuador, if additional attention is not paid to the region.
As a side note - and proving that for every rule, there is an exception - I want to recognize a new Salinas establishment. By way of full disclosure, I have no business interest in the establishment, played no role in its property leasing, and have not been compensated in any capacity for the words I am about to write. However, pulling victory from the jaws of defeat...one place in Salinas rocked last night, like the Salinas of old, on New Year’s Eve. The energy was amazing and the place was packed. Run by the same folks that run the very successful Loft nightclub in Guayaquil, the Salinas location is aptly called, “Loft Salinas”. Not located on the premiere Malecón strip, but rather set back several blocks, within a stone’s throw of the Salinas Golf & Tennis Club, Loft Salinas offers a new style concept. Now, I don’t mean just “new style” for Salinas...or even Ecuador. It is a fairly new style model on a global basis. They have basically fuzed a hotel operation, with a restaurant, bar, night club and entertainment center, all in one. As the owner’s said to me, “It is a hotel for people who don’t really want to sleep. We are calling it a Festival Hotel concept” The parties are loud and go on into the dawn. This is not a place to stay for families...light sleepers...or business travellers. This is also not a place to stay for those on a budget. While the owners want to leave the “snob appeal” completely out of the equation, they are definitely targeting a more selective clientele, from the top-notch security, to the quality bands that play the venue, to the selection of drinks. If you are comfortable in Las Vegas...but wish you could bring Vegas into your hotel suite, this is the right place for you, dipping pool by the dance floor included. Off the beaten path..quirky and high-priced, the place merits a walk or drive off the beaten path. More a place to be discovered, then another run of the mill oceanfront haunt. Whether you are adventurous enough to spend the night, prefer to stop by for drinks, or wish to host a private and exclusive corporate function, Loft Salinas awaits. For my money, if I am looking for a neighborhood bar, to sit back and chat with friends, I am still heading down to Sin, in Salinas. However, if you want to splurge and gather a taste for the exotic...Loft Salinas is a very different venue, which could help modernize and define future entertainment in Salinas. After what I saw on New Year’s Eve, it couldn’t hurt the region.
Hector G. Quintana
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." -- James Madison
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