Ritz-Carlton Opening Three Resorts this Month

Ritz-Carlton will soon be able to offer travellers three more resorts to choose from for their winter vacationers. From the snow covered slopes of Lake Tahoe to the foothills of Arizona’s Tortolita Mountains, and across the Pacific to the beaches of southern Thailand, these new resorts are all scheduled to open this month.

Opening 9 December 2009, The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe, a $300 million slope-side project, offers ski-in, ski-out access in winter. The 170-room contemporary lodge design also includes 23 private Ritz-Carlton Residences and 25 Ritz-Carlton Destination Club Residences. Guests will be able to enjoy organic and regional dining at the resort’s signature restaurant, Manzanita, created by renowned San Francisco chef Traci Des Jardins.

The first new-build resort development in the Lake Tahoe area in decades, it is situated mid-mountain in the Northstar-at-Tahoe ski resort, with an inter-mountain gondola to offer ease of access to the slopes and the hotel. After a day of skiing, guests of The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe can rest and relax at the 17,000 square foot Highlands Spa, where treatments and therapies are themed around water and the woods.

Adjacent to the resort, The Ritz-Carlton Club, Lake Tahoe offers two to four bedroom fractional residences with mountain and valley views of the Sierra Nevada. The fractional ownership project prices range from the low $200,000s to more than $700,000 per interest.

Also in the western region of the United States, The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain welcomes its first guests on 18 December 2009. Nestled in the foothills of the dramatic Tortolita Mountains, the 250-room low rise resort is surrounded by thousands of majestic Saguaro cacti, ancient Petroglyphs left by the Hohokam Indians, and home to native wildlife living within the 850 acres of the environment northwest of Tucson, Arizona. To enjoy the serenity of the high Sonoran Desert at its very best, guests can select from a small group of secluded casitas overlooking Wild Burro Canyon.

Golfers will take to the greens of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, host of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. For outdoors types, more than 20 miles of clearly mapped trails by National Geographic will challenge their fitness and endurance skills. At the end of an active day, the Spa is a perfect respite for soothing treatments inspired by ancient Native American traditions. Diners will discover CORE Kitchen and Wine Bar featuring an open kitchen highlighting the culinary team, with 180 degree views overlooking the desert terrain. Chef de Cuisine, Joel Harrington brings his culinary talent from the award-winning Fearings Restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas.

And then on 22 December 2009, The Ritz-Carlton introduces its first of a select group of Reserve properties, which are a brand extension planned for unique destinations around the globe. At Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, in Krabi, Southern Thailand 54 villas and pavilions have been designed to embrace the serenity and magical features of the country. Guests enter the resort over a stepping-stone walkway that leads them to a wooden Thai pavilion situated on an island surrounded by thousands of gently flickering candles. The contemporary Thai style blends seamlessly with the canopy of forests and flowers amidst the dense vegetation. High aubergine walls and “hedges” made from indigenous trees add to the sense of being one with nature. Set on the shores of the Andaman Sea, guests of the resort can walk to the beach for an al fresco picnic. For the adventure seeker, elephant treks can transport guests to sites of ancient ruins, Buddhist temples, and undisturbed scenery.

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