Aggrey Rwetsiba, a delegate from Uganda attending the UN’s biodiversity summit in Colombia, has found himself in a unique situation: staying in a motel typically used for romantic encounters, complete with rooms featuring sex swings and stripper poles. Due to a mix-up with his hotel reservation, Rwetsiba had to quickly find alternative accommodations like many other visitors to the Colombian city.
With traditional hotels fully booked, hourly rate motels like Motel Deseos became the saving grace for stranded delegates. Showing AFP around his room, Rwetsiba highlighted the big double bed, walk-in shower, and the unusual feature of a ceiling mirror. Some of his clothes were hanging on hangers in the shower area, while others were neatly folded in a small cubicle with doors leading inside the room and out to the hallway.
Rwetsiba expressed his surprise at the unique features of the motel, such as the ceiling mirror and the lack of wardrobes in the rooms. He also noted the unconventional placement of the wall socket next to the bed instead of by the table where he needed to charge his laptop.
Motel Deseos manager Diana Echeverry proudly gave a tour of the establishment, which had 40 rooms spread over two floors, with a designated wing for a group of COP16 delegates. The rooms in the motel featured amenities like Jacuzzis, “kama sutra” loungers, and dance poles, which had been temporarily removed to accommodate the summit guests.
Echeverry explained that the motel quickly adjusted its rates and services to accommodate the influx of delegates, offering a daily rate of 150,000 Colombian pesos (about $35) per night. Typically, room prices ranged from 65,000 to 100,000 pesos for three hours.
The biodiversity summit had a positive impact on Motel Deseos’ business, according to Echeverry. The increased occupancy during the summit days allowed the motel to better cater to its regular guests when the event concluded.
Overall, Rwetsiba and his Ugandan colleagues were pleased with their stay at Motel Deseos, finding the rooms to be spacious and comfortable. Despite the unconventional accommodations, they were content and happy with their experience.