La Lola Experience
Role: Creative Project Manager and Co-Founder
Company: La Lola Experience
Project type: PM, Brand Strategy, and Impact
Tools: Adobe Creative Suite, photography, social media
Project Year: 2019 - 2020
Deliverables:
Exceeded booking targets — tripled event bookings within one year
Created a clear strategy to attract local and international clients
Launched 2 new services within 6 months
Objective:
Transform a historic hacienda into a self-sustaining cultural destination by blending history, gastronomy, and storytelling into an authentic experience. The primary goal was to attract a diverse range of visitors, cultivate interest in Ecuador's colonial heritage, and support local tourism.
About:
I co-founded La Lola Experience and led the full brand strategy, marketing, and experience design from concept to operation. Starting from an abandoned colonial hacienda outside Quito, we created a multi-sensory journey celebrating Ecuadorian history, art, and gastronomy, while working to preserve the hacienda's invaluable art collection and promote cultural appreciation.
Problem Space:
The main challenge was attracting customers to book events. The venue's remote location presented logistical difficulties, and establishing a presence in the local market proved harder than expected. Our success depended heavily on a robust marketing strategy to reach potential visitors and communicate the unique value of the experience.
Research:
The first thing I did was identify that the international market offered a more receptive audience. Travelers visiting the outskirts of Quito frequently passed near our venue, making it an ideal midpoint for day trips. International visitors showed greater enthusiasm for the hacienda's art collection and historical significance, engaging deeply with the immersive experience.
In contrast, I realized that the local market showed less interest in Ecuadorian heritage than anticipated, and this became the main challenge to solve. My efforts shifted toward designing strategies that would inspire local audiences to embrace the cultural and historical richness that La Lola Experience offered.
Approach:
This is the strategy I developed to increase bookings and build a stronger community of local clients without losing our international audience.
Targeted Experiences
Day Packages for Tourists: Offered international travelers a full estate tour and a specially crafted menu, positioning La Lola as a cultural midpoint for day trips
Full Experience by Reservation: Created a ten-course menu inspired by traditional Ecuadorian Andean Creole cuisine, available by reservation for an exclusive gastronomic journey
Strategic Partnerships
Partnered with tourism agencies and Ecuador's Ministry of Tourism to secure consistent bookings for groups of 8 or more, tripling event bookings within one year
Local Market Outreach
Invited Clave! magazine to experience La Lola, resulting in a four-page feature that sparked local engagement
Launched event-based experiences including live-music brunches with local food vendors to resonate with local audiences
Targeted local businesses to host team building activities, connecting employees with Ecuadorian culture and the history of the hacienda
Social Media & Influencer Campaigns
Produced visually engaging content and collaborated with influencers to build a digital community around La Lola's cultural appeal
Built an organic following strong enough that influencers began reaching out to us — seeking to visit the venue and promote it to their own audiences
Solution:
By combining targeted international partnerships with locally-focused events and media outreach, we successfully grew both audience segments simultaneously, establishing La Lola as a recognized cultural destination within one year.
Key Achievements
Transformed an abandoned hacienda into a fully operational cultural destination, launching 2 new services within 6 months of opening.
Exceeded booking targets — tripled event bookings within one year through partnerships with tourism agencies and Ecuador's Ministry of Tourism.
Secured a 4-page editorial feature in Clave! magazine, driving measurable local engagement.
Built an organic social media community with global reach, receiving inbound influencer partnership requests within 8 months of launch.
Improving my process:
One area for growth is expanding the variety of activities by further developing La Lola as a cultural and educational destination. Plans include engaging academic circles like art historians and schools, while hosting events like art talks and book clubs to attract intellectually curious visitors. Educational workshops on traditional crafts and seasonal cultural festivals would provide recurring, hands-on experiences, fostering a deeper connection with Ecuador's heritage and positioning La Lola as a vibrant cultural hub.
Closure
In early 2020, La Lola Experience was forced to close operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The health crisis brought all events and hospitality businesses to a halt, and with travel and gatherings suspended indefinitely, we made the difficult decision to close. At the time of closure, we had built a loyal client base, tripled our bookings, and established La Lola as a recognized cultural destination, a foundation we were proud of despite the circumstances.