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Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club And The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club Forge New Luxury Alliance

It has been announced today, October 25th, that two of the leading, equity based, luxury destination clubs, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club and Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club, have forged a new exchange opportunity for the benefit of their members. This strategic alliance presents members of both clubs with expanding destination opportunities that only these companies can provide. This affiliation marks a first for the destination club industry through The Lion & Crown Travel Co., LLC, the exclusive external exchange company for The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club.

The collaboration allows Ritz-Carlton Destination Club Members access to 17 Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club residences in North America's finest beach, mountain and golf destinations including Scottsdale, Ariz.; Lake Tahoe and La Quinta, Calif.; Snowmass-Aspen, Colo.; Kiawah Island, S.C.; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Sun Valley, Idaho; Jackson Hole, Wyo.; Deer Valley, Utah; Hawaii's Big Island; Turks & Caicos; Punta Mita, Puerto Aventuras, and Los Cabos, Mexico. In return, Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club Members are able to convert their nights for use at 10 Ritz-Carlton Destination Club locations in Aspen Highlands, Bachelor Gulch and Vail (Vail a future location), Colo.; St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.; Jupiter, Fla.; San Francisco and North Lake Tahoe, Calif.; Kapalua Bay in Maui and Kauai Lagoons, Hawaii; and Abaco, The Bahamas.

Tags: Abercrombie Kent, Abercrombie Kent Residence Club, Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, RitzCarlton, The Lion Crown Travel Company

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Luxury Hotels Make Comeback

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Demand for luxury hotels is ticking higher. Even though the broader hotel industry is likely to cope with depressed room rates this year, due to a combination of economic woes and an increase in capacity, the luxury sector could come back in 2010. Of course, – this sector cut rates by as much as 25 percent last year – but what's important is that the rich are looking for the good life again.

Occupancy is the real story of the luxury hotel recovery, though, with heads in beds expected to surge to as high as 59 percent, a strong gain over last year's 55 percent occupancy rate. In Europe, it could even reach 65 percent this year, with room rate recovery coming next year (at a 5 percent increase).

Bruce Siegel, director of sales and marketing at he Ritz-Carlton Naples Resorts in Florida said to Bloomberg News, "On the leisure side, we certainly are enjoying a rate premium year over year." Further, he continued, "Many guests from the U.S. Northeast with clear signs of exhaustion are arriving at our door." Overall room rates, including corporate bookings, are little changed, he said.

So, what are people looking for when they book rooms at the likes of the Ritz or the Four Seasons, often at $500 a night or more? Ocean views are a must, and guests will be paying more for rooms at the St. Regis, where butler service comes as part of the tab.

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Tags: butler, butlers, four seasons, hotel, hotels, luxury, luxury hotels, RitzCarlton, RitzCarltonHotel, st regis

Readers' Choice Award Nominees for Best in Winter Travel

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Best Caribbean Cruises
Each of finalists for the Readers' Choice for the Best Caribbean Cruse offers the ultimate in luxury. One features a ship that cost $800 million to build, measures 1,132 feet in length and is outfitted with the latest and most modern amenities, including a pool with a retractable dome. Another offers all-suite, all-balcony ships and the must inclusive ultra-luxury experience with everything included in the fare, including air, gratuities and unlimited shore excursions. The third nominee is perfect for anyone seeking an exclusive experience on a smaller ship while the fourth nominee bills itself as the world's best upper premium cruise line. Finally, there's a nominee known for the feng shui-inspired elegance of its ships as well as the rich cultural activities for its passengers.

Crystal Cruises
Cunard Cruise Lines
Oceania
Regent
Silversea

Best City Hotels
Nominees for Readers' Choice for Best City Hotel include one considered to be the most glamorous in all of London that has been the destination of choice by Kings and Queens alike, not to mention a smattering of Hollywood stars. Another, designed by world-renowned architect, I.M. Pei, rises high above Manhattan offering stunning views. The third nominee is a historic hotel that is only a few short steps away from the Champs-Elysées in Paris. Another nominee, also in Paris, is a breathtakingly beautiful property that was originally a palace commissioned by Louis XV. The final nominee is a tranquil, lush getaway amid gorgeous manicured gardens in Venice, accessible only by boat.

Claridge's, London
Four Seasons, New York
Four Seasons George V, Paris
Hotel Cipriani
Hôtel de Crillon, Paris

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Did Tom Clancy Pick Up A Huge Baltimore Condo?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Baltimore is buzzing over a big sale at the Ritz-Carlton Residences in Baltimore. A penthouse condo in the pricey project has sold for $12.6 million making it the largest condo deal at the project and in the city. Rumor has it that the buyer may be best selling author and part owner of the Orioles baseball team Tom Clancy. Clancy has created a suspense thriller empire that includes many books including the Jack Ryan series as well as a line of Clancy-branded video games.

The apartment is actually three combined penthouse units which equal nearly 12,000 square feet of space with four bedrooms, six balconies, a home theater and three semi-private elevators.

The announcement of the sale follows the recent news that a man had sued the developer of Baltimore's Ritz-Carlton Residences to get back the return of the nearly $1.1 million deposit he put down on three units there. In the suit he claimed that the representatives of the project's developers told him that he could buy the units at a special price and resell them without ever going through a closing. But on November 12, his lawyers filed a notice with the court that they are dismissing the case without prejudice. Sales have been slow at the project, since it opened in 2008, 22 out of 191 units have been sold.

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Tags: baltimore, celebrity real estate, CelebrityRealEstate, ritz carlton, RitzCarlton, tom clancy, TomClancy

4 Fabulous Hotels That Keep it Green

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Green

I have to confess that I have a lot of cynicism about hotels and their efforts to help the environment. There's hardly a hotel that I visit that doesn't give me the opportunity to save the earth by opting not to have my sheets and towels replaced, which does indeed save on water and detergent, but, I know it also saves the hotel serious dollars. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against win-win situations, I'm just not getting too many green good vibes if doing less laundry is the only earth-friendly step that a hotel takes.

In fairness, it's often hard for a guest to tell what a hotel is doing for the environment, because most of the heavy lifting comes behind the scenes -- in the hotel's construction, energy supplies and so on. Here are a few fabulous properties that are also doing right by the planet, in ways you might not recognize.

The Nines in Portland, Oregon. In the renovation of this hotel from its previous life as a department store, 90 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills for reuse or recycling. In addition, housekeeping employs green cleaning products and the hotel gets 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources including wind power and carbon offsets.
The Westin Riverfront Beaver Creek, Colorado: This hotel just received Silver LEED certification, and it's saving energy in a variety of ways, including a building control system that allows the front desk to adjust the temperature in guest rooms so unoccupied rooms aren't heated or cooled unnecessarily. The hotel also donated a 5 acre zone along the Eagle river as a permanent public open space.
The Ritz Carlton Highlands, North Lake Tahoe: This soon-to-open hotel was built with environmental factors in mind, from careful site planning designed to spare as many trees as possible, to the introduction of underground parking, which reduces the use of asphalt, allowing snow melt and rain to return to the water table. What's more, Northstar Resort, which the Ritz is a part of, is the first ski resort to be entirely LEED certified.
Harbor View, Martha's Vineyard. One of the most luxurious places to stay on Martha's Vineyard also has a serious commitment to the environment, from its use of low-flow plumbing, to energy efficient appliances, to an active recycling program that includes replacing the distribution of plastic water bottles with reusable water bottles and water stations.

Tags: blogactionday, green, green hotels, GreenHotels, harbor view, HarborView, hotels, marthas vineyard, MarthasVineyard, nines hotel, NinesHotel, ritz carlton, RitzCarlton, westin hotel, WestinHotel

Ritz-Carlton Atlanta Celebrates Its 25th With Redesigned Foyer, Lobby & Lounge

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Services

Ritz-Carlton Atlanta Celebrates Its 25th With Redesigned Foyer, Lobby & Lumen Lounge

The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta marked its 25th anniversary with a complete redesign of the entrance foyers, lobby, and lobby bar, now named Lumen, which features exotic, sophisticated edible cocktails, a Lumen signature cocktail, and art-themed cocktails.

The new interiors feature well-known, traditional elements transposed in an updated way, such as a Chippendale Mahogany sideboard refinished in a hand-applied gilded platinum tone; sheer shrouds wrapped around the hotel's crystal chandeliers; and accent chairs graced with damask patterns in oversized formats.

Lumen underwent a great change. The lounge, so named for its many light effects, now greets guests with crystal chandeliers that glow red at night; seven-foot tall custom settees covered in midnight blue mohair, complete with their beaded sconces; a bar cabinet that glows blue in the evening; mirror-polished, handspun metal tables custom-designed by Brad Oldham (brother to designer Todd); beaded corkscrew floor lamps; and a custom-designed, under-lit onyx-topped communal-styled table seating up to eight.

My friend Nancy is scheduled to speak at a meeting being held at this Ritz, and I can't wait to hear what she thinks of the new spaces. See the gallery for before and after shots.

Gallery: Ritz-Carlton Atlanta Redesigned Foyer, Lobby & Lumen Lounge

Tags: atlanta, hotels, redesign, ritz carlton, Ritz-Carlton, RitzCarlton, travel

Learn to Ski or Board in North Lake Tahoe this Winter

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Sports

Well, I might as well confess: I am not grace personified on the slopes. Forget snowboarding, my goal is (and has been) to navigate a green slope all by myself before I turn 40. If you're similarly situated -- and glare at impossibly skilled children as they schuss past you -- make your plans to visit North Lake Tahoe this winter. On December 12th-13th, it's the 10th Annual Learn to Ski and Board Weekend. It's a bargain at $25, and includes all-day beginner lift ticket, group lesson and gear rental at the area's nine resorts, including Alpine Meadows, Boreal Mountain Resort, Diamond Peak, Granlibakken, Homewood Mountain Resort, Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Squaw Valley USA and Sugar Bowl.

I had my annual ski lesson -- yes, only one a year, which may be why I've yet to really learn -- in South Lake Tahoe this year, at Heavenly, which was worth it for the view and the excellent lunch on the top and the itsy-bit of progress I made. If you need more incentive to visit the area this year, a new Ritz Carlton will be opening up at Northstar this season.

Tags: ritz carlton, ritz-carlton, RitzCarlton, skiing, tahoe

At The Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay, a Recession Special for Golfers

by Paul Rogers (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Sports

Pebble Beach will always reign supreme among California resorts, and deservedly so, but at $500 for a round of golf its rates aren't exactly recession-friendly. If you're looking for a more affordable golf getaway on the Pacific Coast, consider this: The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, an award-winning clifftop retreat 45 minutes south of San Francisco, is offering an unlimited stay-and-play package through year's end.

For a nightly rate of $399 for one player or $519 for two--a savings of $250–$500 per day--guests can play as many holes as they choose on the resort's two 18-hole courses. The Old Course, co-designed by Arnold Palmer, is an American parkland-style layout that finishes in dramatic fashion, with a par four that skirts the edge of a bluff. The newer Ocean Course, featuring more seaside holes and open expanses, draws its inspiration from the great windswept Scottish links; as testament to its character, it hosted a local qualifier for this year's U.S. Open.

In addition to golf, the special offer also includes complimentary valet parking and access to the hotel's spa, known for its co-ed Roman mineral bath.

Gallery: The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay

Tags: Golf, Half Moon Bay, HalfMoonBay, Ritz Carlton, RitzCarlton

Ritz-Carlton's "Peace of Mind" & "Reconnect" Vacation Packages

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Services

Summer will be here soon, and if you have not yet planned a vacation, now's the time. Here's an idea: The Ritz-Carlton, a name synonymous with luxury accommodations, just introduced two vacation packages made to create memories with "a selection of offerings that are not just about spending less, but experiencing more." The "Peace of Mind" or "Reconnect" packages are available in city and resort locations in the United States as well as abroad.

The Peace of Mind package includes accommodations, daily breakfast for two, Internet, local calls, parking and up to three complimentary nights The Ritz Kids special activities program is available for two youngsters. The Reconnect package includes accommodations and a credit to spend within the hotel. The range of value-added options are for travel between now and September 30, 2009.

Tags: package deals, PackageDeals, resorts, Ritz Carlton, Ritz-Carlton, RitzCarlton, travel, vacation

Escape to the Naples Ritz, Hide in the Spa and Go Green ... All at the Same Time

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spas, Green

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort – and its sister property, the Beach Resort – are making it easy to hide from the world for a few days this summer. And, I can tell you from experience, the twin Ritz properties are great places to hide. With the Spa Escape Package, you can be treated as you deserve (or, in my case, better), for a mere $259 a night ($299 at the Beach Resort).

The spa at the Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort services both Naples, FL properties. As part o this program, a stay at either hotel will get you a $200 spa credit, which includes both services and retail. You'll also pick up a $50 gift card for the properties' on-site stores.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa integrates organic and eco-friendly options to mitigate environmental impact without degrading the quality of the treatments provided. The Eco-Luxe Facial and Eco-Luxe Cocoon are conducted in the Eco-Room, which features soft materials made from organic cotton and bamboo and washed in a separate machine with fragrance-free and sulfate-free cleansers. The floor and chair are made from bamboo, and the massage table was crafted entirely from sustainable materials.

With domestic flights cheaper than ever (except when I'm flying, it seems), getting to Naples won't be painful, and JetBlue has countless flights into the area. And, the perks that come with the Spa Escape Package basically make the room free. I hit this spa last summer and might just make it an annual experience.

Tags: eco, eco-friendly, environment, environmental, environmentalism, environmentally friendly, environmentallyfriendly, florida, golf, green, green travel, GreenTravel, naples, resort, resorts, ritz, ritz carlton, ritz-carlton, RitzCarlton, spa, spa therapy, spa time, spa treatment, spa treatments, SpaTherapy, SpaTime, SpaTreatment, SpaTreatments

Ritz-Carlton Spa, Kapalua, Hawaii

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas, Cosmetics and Fragrance

Several months ago Ritz-Carlton finalized a $180 million transformation at its AAA Five-Diamond Kapalua, Hawaii, hotel with the opening of the 17,500-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Spa, Kapalua. The hotel, which has 463 fully-renovated guestrooms, including 107 Residential Suites, is located on the healing waters of Waihua, which the ancient Hawaiians believed was the most pure form of water.

The spa features 15 treatment rooms, with half opening to private outdoor shower gardens, and all with iPod docking stations with pre-programmed music selections and robe warmers. The spa also features two outdoor couples' hale (cabanas), men's and women's relaxation areas with the depiction of lava stone grotto areas, steam rooms, saunas, and whirlpools, and the only coed indoor/outdoor relaxation area in Hawaii with a whirlpool.

The Waihua concept is evidenced by wood panels carved with images of taro leaves and the dry stone river bed design in the entry. The walls are curved, representing water movement, with water walls in select areas. Guests walk through groves of tall bamboo, and Hawaiian artwork is present throughout the public corridors. Basalt stone floors are found in the treatment rooms, and the lockers are made with mahogany wood. Raw natural ingredients of spa treatments, including Hawaiian sea salt, kukui nuts, awapuhi, and ginger, have been placed in alcoves.

The spa offers a range of Hawaiian-based spa treatments, including authentic Lomilomi massage and Hawaiian healing treatments based on relaxation and rejuvenation. Guests may honor Kupuna Kahiko (ancient elders) from the Honokahua burial site by presenting an offering outside their treatment room.

Many of the spa treatments incorporate natural ingredients in the spa products such as pineapple, papaya, kukui oil, coconut, pumpkin, and blueberry. The spa features a range of innovative facials using Murad products and the natural lines of Naturopathica and Eminence, along with Intraceuticals Oxygen Infusions treatments. The spa also offers pregnancy massage treatments using Mama Mio products. The salon offers a full range of hair, manicure, pedicure, and waxing services; treatments for younger guests, such as a Choco Holic Pedicure; and packages for teenagers, including the Bring a Friend Package, which includes a 50-minute Lomilomi Massage or a 50-minute Ritz-Carlton Signature Facial, side by side, followed by a Fabulous Feet Pedicure.

My sister, Gina, and I were lucky enough to receive a basket with samples of some of the wonderful products used at the spa. To read our reviews, click on the continued link. Better yet, visit the spa! Make reservations for the hotel here.

Gallery: Ritz-Carlton Spa, Kapalua, Hawaii

Tags: Hawaii, natural products, NaturalProducts, ritz, ritz carlton, RitzCarlton, spa, spas

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Moscow's Luxurious Ritz-Carlton Offers $700 Breakfast

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

The fabulous Russian billionaires will have a new place to party in Moscow when the Ritz-Carlton opens up on July 1. The new Ritz-Carlton will be a $350 million, 334-room hotel with an imperial Russian facade.

The hotel includes Jeroboam he restaurant of three star Michelin chef Heinz Winkler. A separate wine room, Petrus, will be available for small groups to choose from the expansive wine and rare spirits collection such as a shot of Macallan Fine and Rare Collection vintage 1969 whisky for $400. The restaurant will serve the Tsar's Breakfast which costs $700 per person and includes a bottle of Crystal champagne, an omelet with Kobe beef steak, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and truffles, foie gras with caramelized apple and pain brioche, 56 grams of Beluga caviar with blinis, sour cream and quail eggs and more.

The rooftop bar is the O2 lounge which has a glass dome, black tile floor, red velvet cocoon chairs and white leather furnishings and will serve food by chef Seiji Kusano who whips us sushi creations such as a gourmet roll prepared with Beluga caviar and blue fin tuna, garnished with gold leaf. In the Lobby lounge, the vodka sommelier can help guests choose from a wide variety of vodkas. The hotel also includes a spa and fitness center for working off all that food and booze. They are offering a summer special through August with rooms starting at $385 (plus 18% VAT) which is nearly half of the usual price.

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Tags: hotel, luxury hotel, moscow, ritz carlton, RitzCarlton, russia, travel, vacation

Ritz-Carlton Meets Prada, in the Pines

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

Prada Beauty and the Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation have joined together to create a relaxing beauty experience on Lake Oconee, deep in the Georgia-native loblolly pines. In addition to the usual Ritz-Carlton luxuries like feather beds, private porches, and oversized marble & granite bathtubs, the "Prada in the Pines" package will get the additional benefits of Club access, a men's or women's Prada Fragrance, a Prada Exfoliant Visage Facial, and in-room champagne and truffles.

The package starts at $1,109 per evening and is available for a limited time, this spring through fall.

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Tags: facial, fragrance, hotel, prada, prada in the pines, PradaInThePines, relax, resort, Ritz, Ritz carlton, ritz-carlton, RitzCarlton, spa, travel

Ritz-Carlton New Orleans Reopens

by Matthew Collins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Planning to drop in on Brangelina in the Crescent City? Wondering where to stay? Well, good news is here. The Ritz-Carlton has reopened after a renovation to repair the damage caused by hurricane Katrina. The beautiful hotel was originally the Maison Blanche department store features a variety of restaurants and a lovely courtyard. After Katrina, the hotel closed and the entire HVAC system was replaced along with numerous other repairs and enhancements. While New Orleans might not be the safest city, if you desire to stay over, the Ritz-Carlton is a safe bet.

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Tags: ritz carlton, RitzCarlton

Watertower Place, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

If you are interested in being able to shop without ever leaving home you might want to check out this condo at Water Tower Place in Chicago. It is located above the Ritz Carlton hotel at 180 E. Pearson Street and has hotel services such as a concierge, receiving room clerk, service and 24/7 elevator operator, door staff and maintenance personnel. There is also an indoor parking facility, health club and indoor pool as well as catering options. The 11,000-square-foot duplex has amazing views over the city and has been finished with the finest luxury details. There are seven bedrooms total. This apartment is listed at $10.5 million. After the jump, bring the decorator, lose the chef.

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Tags: chicago, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, ritz carlton, RitzCarlton, water tower place

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