Aggrey Rwetsiba, Ugandan delegate to the UN biodiversity summit in Colombia, is staying in unusual accommodation: a motel typically used for sex dates, with rooms equipped with swings and striptease poles.
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Like many delegates who arrived in the city of Cali, their hotel reservation fell through at the last minute and Rwetsiba had to change plans.
With traditional hotels bursting at the seams, motels came to the rescue.
While showing his room at the Deseos Motel, the delegate points out the large double bed, the walk-in shower and a curious element: a mirror on the ceiling.
Some of her clothes are hanging on hangers along the shower screen. Others are folded into a small passageway that runs through the wall and is usually used to discreetly pass drinks to lovers without disturbing them.
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Rooms in motels are usually rented for a few hours, and do not usually have closets.
“I don’t know if I understand what a motel should be, but I have seen some unique features. Like the ceiling mirror. “I had never seen him in a hotel.” says Rwetsiba.
Aggrey Rwetsiba, Ugandan delegate to the UN biodiversity summit.
Joaquin Sarmiento/ AFP
He was also surprised by the only outlet next to the bed, instead of next to the table, where he needs power for his laptop.
“The configuration is quite different”said. “I’ve never seen a hotel where every room has a parking lot.”each closed, with a private door that leads directly to the room.
To burst
The manager of Motel Deseos, Diana Echeverry, proudly showed AFP the facilities, with 40 rooms on two floors and a wing reserved for the 12 COP16 delegates staying there.
In the other, rooms feature amenities like Jacuzzis, “kamasutra” chairs, and dance poles.
“What we have done is adapt our establishment a little to be able to accommodate COP16 guests and foreigners”Echeverry assured AFP.
Contacted at short notice by local authorities, the motel quickly set a daily rate of 150,000 Colombian pesos (about $35) per night, and introduced a breakfast service.
Prices usually range between 65,000 and 100,000 pesos for three hours, equivalent to 15 and 23 dollars.
We also “removed the love swings, the love machines, the Kamasutra chairs and left the rooms without those types of elements,” said.
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The biodiversity summit has been good business, assured Echeverry. With these reservations, he has been able to “guarantee that the rooms are occupied during those days”well those that “They are available, now they rotate much more to be able to meet the demands of our regular guests”he adds.
The mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder, had told the press this week that the city’s hotels were “100%” full, as were houses, apartments and accommodations on Airbnb.
Initial estimates were that between 12,000 and 15,000 people would attend COP16, but in the end they were closer to 23,000 registered delegates, Eder said.
According to the local Chamber of Commerce, Cali is the city with the most motels in Colombia, with 166 registered. They carry names like “Kama Sutra”, “Cupid” and “Ecstasy”. Delighted with the amenities at Deseos Motel, Rwetsiba said he had also informed other colleagues, and that there were now five Ugandan delegates in rooms that were “more comfortable” than those in many traditional hotels. “It’s… spacious. That’s why we’re here. We’re not complaining,” he says with a big smile. “We are all happy.”
AFP
