Doubletree Hotel Opens In El Paso
By ABC-7’s Celina Avila
They say behind every successful man is a good woman.
And that is certainly the case with the latest downtown project…the Doubletree hotel.
Elma Carreto was involved in every decision with El Paso’s newest upscale hotel…including a massive remodeling project to start.
” I drove up the freeway, I looked at the building and I said ‘no way, no how’ and I said ‘no, no , no , no…’,” said Jim Scherr.
But that soon changed – thanks to a five-foot woman with a plan.
“My real-estate person, Elma Carreto, said ‘Yes, let’s do it’ and that meant ‘Jim you’re doing it.'”
For years, Carreto has been handling real-estate projects for local attorney and businessman Jim Scherr, but this hotel is by far the biggest.
“I’m very hands on and I like to be detail oriented…”
Carreto is credited for making every decision: “Everything from picking the top operators, managers, franchise, materials, furniture, furnishings, even the forks and spoons and the napkins they used.”
From the ball-room, gym and outdoor patio with a glass fire-pit.
Carreto even designed the carpet!
“Black, I’d like some browns, definitely some gold and a color that pops like a red,” said Carreto.
Carreto and Scherr say they travelled all over the world to bring the best to the 200 room hotel…including some important up-grades like granite counter-tops and a 42 inch tv in every room.
But they didn’t forget about our local talent: ” Half of all art in public space is from local artists,” said Carreto.
And while many attempted and failed, Carreto takes pride in having the vision and ambition to turn an eyesore into a gem in downtown El Paso…despite our current economy.
“If you have a good product, whether the demand is low or average or great it always it always goes back to your product and we’re all working hard to be the best we can be here in El Paso,” said Carreto.
The Double Tree has 43 employees.
Carreto tells us she has a five year plan and wants to develop more hotel projects…possibly another in El Paso!
