Generating more than $200 million per year in sales, Santa Fe has become a premier art destination and the second-largest art market in the U.S. Santa Fe's 300 galleries and 16 museums has made it a mecca for collectors, artists and art enthusiasts since the late 1800s, and boasts Georgia O'Keeffe as a long-time resident.  Front entrance to Santa Fe's El Dorado Hotel & Spa

To play up that draw, the four-diamond Eldorado Hotel & Spa is launching a Meet the Artist program. The hotel will arrange, upon request, one-on-one meetings for artists with local sculptors, painters and photographers. Program rates start at $159 per night. For reservations or information, call 800-955-4455.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Val Kilmer and Jennifer Tilly are some of the celebrities who have stayed at the hotel. All 219 guest rooms include such amenities as a workstation with task light, high-speed Internet access, two overstuffed easy chairs paired with a reading lamp and tables, and a refrigerated mini-honor bar. Deluxe Rooms, in addition to offering more space, have a wood-burning Kiva fireplace and shared terrace. Junior and One-Bedroom Suites are also available, as well as a Presidential Suite (a good setting for a reception and cocktail party) with more than 1,500 square feet of interior space and a 2,200-square-foot penthouse patio with panoramic views. The Deluxe Rooms and Junior Suites with Fireplace on the fifth floor are the most requested accommodations, as they provide excellent mountain or sunset views. There are 25 connecting units for families and large parties. All rooms can be booked through the GDS. The property is pet friendly.

 Its art gallery

Popular with locals, the Eldorado Hotel & Spa's Old House Restaurant serves up contemporary global cuisine with a regional flare. Reservations are recommended and can be booked by agents. The Eldorado Court & Lounge offers a casual environment for breakfast and lunch, as well as evening drinks and entertainment.

The 4,300-square-foot Nidah Spa features seven treatment rooms and offers a variety of treatments, including the Signature Eldorado Spun Gold Massage, its most popular. The most-requested masseuse is Diane Jarvi, and the spa director is Wendy Katzman (505-995-4576, [email protected]).

The hotel also has 20,000 square feet of meeting and function space, a rooftop pool and whirlpool, and a business center. The Eldorado is a popular wedding venue, as its ballroom is the largest in Santa Fe and its facilities can host up to 600 participants.

The concierge can arrange everything from limousine airport transfers, luxury car rentals and a one-on-one session with the local Harley Davidson dealer for personalized motorcycle rentals to private viewings at Santa Fe's galleries and museums. For the Meet the Artist Program, contact Dachelle Burrows, Clefs d'Or concierge (505-995-4508, [email protected]). For VIP requests, agents can also contact General Manager Alfred Matter (505-995-4572, [email protected]).

Summer is peak season, especially during Spanish Market in July, the Santa Fe Opera season in July and August, Indian Market in August and the Wine and Chile Festival in September. Try to book at least a month in advance for those times. Slated for 2007 is a complete overhaul of the 219 guest rooms and all of its meeting facilities.