SAN ANTONIO — About 32,000 people stay at the Courtyard Marriott on the Riverwalk each year, but there's only one baby getting a free hotel stay for life.
On July 15, 2018, Laura Tettmann was born inside the hotel while her family was on vacation. Her parents, Ricardo Tettmann and Flavia Amorim, live in Dallas. They were showing their friends around San Antonio.
This weekend, they're back in the same room celebrating their daughter's belated birthday.
"It was very emotional for me," Amorim said. "It brought back all of the memories from that day."
Amorim remembers a 3 a.m. wake up call from contractions. At first, she didn't take them too seriously. But at 3:50 a.m., she woke up her husband. "I told him, 'you don't understand. It's really painful. I think the baby is coming," she said.
Amorim started packing her bags to head back home. She was in labor with their first child, Arthur, for about 7 hours, so she thought they would have a few hours before Laura arrived.
Her water broke just after 4 a.m.
Tettmann said at that point he called 9-1-1. Halfway through talking with the dispatcher, Laura decided she didn't want to wait any longer.
"I hung up the phone," Tettmann said. "I ran to the bathroom to wash my hands because the only thing I remembered was sanitize, because every doctor, every movie we watch, you see the doctor washing their hands."
Tettmann delivered his baby girl minutes before firefighters arrived.
"They were shocked," Tettmann said. "They couldn't believe she was already born!" He said they did a few quick tests before taking his wife and daughter to the hospital.
"It's amazing, but I don't want that to happen in my life ever again... just once in a lifetime," he said. "It was beautiful, but at the same time it's very scary."
Dinesh Rao is the general manager for the Courtyard Marriott on the Riverwalk. He said Laura is a member of the Marriott family now. "We got to be part of something so special," Rao said. "We can't wait to see baby Laura grow up right in front of our eyes."
Rao said they've invited the family to come back for Laura's birthday every summer. This year, along with her room, the staff surprised her with a cake and card.
"We just felt like we needed to honor this little miracle," Rao said. "We just want to celebrate with her. She will be part of this hotel as long as it exists."
Amorim said they plan to continue this tradition for many years to come. "This city has a special place in our hearts," she said.
Tettmann added that their little girl continues to surprise them. She started walking at 10 months old and already knows a few words.
They think she's going to love traveling when she grows up, just like her mom.
Rao said the hotel has been open for 10 years and this is the first time they've had something like this happen.
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