Support Hotel Mercurio's Staff in Crisis

Hotel Mercurio, one of the first gay hotels in Puerto Vallarta, has been a beloved institution for 22 years. Due to the unexpected conclusion of a long-running civil lawsuit, the hotel was recently closed leaving 25 employees without a job. Just as Puerto Vallarta's slow season is beginning. Many on staff had 20+ years of service. As mature workers, finding new jobs may be challenging for them.

Paul Crist, the owner of Hotel Mercurio, has been a huge supporter of the PV community, spearheading and consistently supporting HIV/AIDS services since 2003, supporting the local performing arts community, providing groceries throughout 2020 to thousands of families who lost employment during COVID, organizing public vaccination and other public health initiatives, and helping hundreds of local individuals who have come to him in need.

He ensured all of his staff was paid in full through the pandemic, when businesses were required to close. Even after opening, it was more than a year before tourism began to rebound and income returned to Vallarta businesses. Paul did not let a single employee go for lack of funds to pay them during all that time. He depleted savings and borrowed to take care of his staff. (unlike most local businesses, including the largest and most successful businesses), and with no assistance from the Mexican government, as was the case in the US and other countries. He has done all this and much more for the community over the years. He has now lost the hotel property, and has no funds and almost no assets. The only real asset was the hotel property, and that is now gone. His generosity has hit reality. His first priority is taking care of his employees during this very difficult time.

Casa Jojo Foundation, a registered nonprofit based in Texas, has agreed to act as the depository entity to accept contributions collected on this GoFundMe platform on behalf of the staff. We have identified a volunteer committee to ensure transparency of all donations, including 2 independent observers and Hotel Mercurio longtime manager, Gabriel Bojorquez, representing the staff. The committee will provide donors assurance that their contributions are used properly, exclusively to help the staff transition.

Funds from this campaign are not accessible, and will not pass through accounts controlled by Hotel Mercurio or Paul Crist.

Our community can come together to make a real difference for 25 valued staff and their families in very rough times.

Please be as generous as you can, and thank you for your consideration.