Moniqua Lane

Owner of The Downtown Clifton Hotel & The Citizen Hotel

A little bit about Moniqua…

A local business owner and Tucson native, Moniqua Lane is best known for her 2013 transformation of a residential complex in downtown Tucson into The Downtown Clifton Hotel, a Trip Advisor Traveler’s Choice award winning property. In 2019, Moniqua expanded the lodging component of the hotel and built the on-site Red Light Lounge, a food and cocktail destination. The Downtown Clifton has been recognized in major media publications including Travel and Leisure, NY Magazine, Thrillist, NY Times The Guardian and Arizona Highways. Moniqua is a frequently requested speaker about independent brand development within the hotel industry. Moniqua is a former lawyer by trade and training, and spent several years practicing law before transitioning into real estate development out of a desire to rehabilitate underutilized buildings throughout Tucson. She is also a Principal Founder and Partner in Tanzillo Construction company. She strives for deep authenticity in her projects to connect people to place. Moniqua’s mission is to authentically connect people to place, and her particular place is Southern Arizona. Moniqua loves Tucson, whole-heartedly and genuinely, and when guests stay with her, she wants them to be caught up in that love such that they want to come back again to visit Tucson. Her aim is to share with guests the stories, flavors, sights, sounds, and people of the borderlands region through highly personalized staff and community interactions, and to foster each guest’s personal experience with the food, drink, decor, attractions, and activities that make downtown Tucson and the Southern Arizona region unique and interesting.

Developer/Owner/Operator, The Downtown Clifton Hotel, Opened 2013

Conceptualized, branded, designed and built an independent, boutique lifestyle hotel; a value-add conversion from existing circa 1948 residential complex to 10-unit commercial lodging. Property has been profiled in several publications and was featured in the Discovery Network program (re)Motel as well as several music videos.
Development and oversight of facility expansion, including architecture and engineering, entitlement, contracting, construction and financing. In 2019, added 22 additional rooms and the onsite restaurant. Increased facility from 3,000 to 20,000 sq ft. and conceptualized, branded, designed and built the Red Light Lounge, a food and cocktail destination for hotel guests and area residents.

Developer/Owner/Operator, The Citizen Hotel, Opened 2022

Developed adaptive re-use plan and design to convert historic 1913 office building, formerly home to The Citizen Newspaper, into tenant occupied commercial wine cellar, high end cocktail lounge and 10-room boutique hotel branded around the Arizona wine experience. Property has been profiled in several magazines and was the film location for the second season of LOUD: Loving Opera, Understanding Diversity, documentary about BIPOC performers in the fine arts.
Oversight and management of architecture, engineering, entitlement, contracting and financing.

Developer/Operator, Arizona Hotel, Under Development

15 room historic hotel. Re-converting from apartments to Hermosillo inspired hotel with mixed use indoor/outdoor retail, restaurant and entertainment space.

Developer/Owner/Operator, Brannick Lodge at Mare Pasture, Under Development

20 casitas and dining and event facilities at the foothills of the Chiricahua Mountains in the heart of Southern Arizona’s wine country, featuring a winery and vineyards, hiking and horseback trails and camping.

Community and Industry Involvement