Daily Pampering: Join up at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Is it time for resort and luxury membership club to make a comeback? The new program from the Ritz-Carlton Orlando – the Grande Lakes Membership Club – takes a personal approach, rather than push the same caned programs to the many different people who write the same big checks. The baseline consists of the sort of top-shelf amenities you’d expect, but the programs are differentiated by level: platinum, golf, spa and social.

Depending on what you choose, you could pick up an Executive Suite and gain unlimited access to the 18-hole, par 72 Greg Norman signature golf course or 50-minute treatments or salon services at the spa are nice – and that’s per month! Everyone scores resort pool and tennis court access, concierge services and member social events.

If you prefer predictability in our annual vacation and like a certain level of treatment, this is the way to go.

Ritz-Carlton Naples speaks out over discrimination suit

by Melanie Nayer on

Luxury hotels aims to please everyone, but how far can guest requests go before they become offensive?

A British family who visited the Ritz-Carlton Resort in Naples in March requested they not be served by “people of color” or staff with “foreign accents,” according to a federal lawsuit filed this week. Now, the Florida beach resort is being sued by a current employee, Wadner Tranchant, who says the hotel approved the guest’s request, and that he was discriminated against because he was black.

I spoke briefly with Bruce Seigal, director of marketing for the Ritz-Carlton Resort of Naples, who reiterated the hotel’s no-tolerance policy when it comes to discrimination.

“We absolutely deny that Ritz-Carlton in any way condones discrimination in any form. We value our guests and employees and their diversity in all respects,” said Seigal. “We are in the process of reminding all of our employees of Ritz-Carlton’s strong non-discrimination policies.”

According to the lawsuit filed and obtained by ABC News, Tranchant seeks more than $75,000 in punitive and compensatory damages. As for the guests? Seigal tells me the guests in question were barred from the hotel and other Ritz-Carlton Hotels shortly after their stay ended, as information about their conduct and comments came to light.

Daily Pampering: Renovations at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago

by Melanie Nayer on

After two years and $25 million, the Ritz-Carlton Chicago is ready for its close-up.

The Ritz-Carlton Chicago (a Four Seasons Hotel) recently completed its latest restyling and is ready show off a new lobby, restaurant and bar, ballroom and presidential suite.

The Ritz-Carlton Chicago’s prime location at Water Tower Place sets the mood for unbridled extravagance. The 12th floor lobby was redesigned with deep woods and earth tones,and welcomes guests to a blend of contemporary and traditional design. A sky-lit fountain is centered in the room and thanks to its high-rise location, guests will have amazing views of the city before arriving in their guest rooms.

Located behind the lobby fountain is the new deca RESTAURANT + BAR, which infuses art deco design with brasserie-influenced cuisine. Executive Chef Mark Payne and his team offer a menu of classic items with inventive twists and the wine list offers over 40 wines served by the glass.

The stunning new 2,900-square-foot Presidential Suite is the grand dame of this hotel’s renovations. The re-imagined two-story Suite boasts a spiral staircase featuring new interiors and floor-to-ceiling two-story window views of Lake Michigan. It includes a kitchen, living, dining and study rooms, three full and two half baths. A media room, baby grand piano and Bose surround sound stereo system add to the decor. Amenities include a 24-hour personal assistant with in-room business center; transportation to and from the local airport via a Rolls Royce Phantom; and a daily in room 90 minute massage.

What’s not to love about this Chicago-style pampering?

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Daily Pampering: Carmenere wine bath in Chile

by Melanie Nayer on


This dose of pampering is not to be taken lightly. It can, however, produce some very intoxicating results.

Carmenere, one of Chile‘s finest grapes, is not only delicious to drink but it’s full of antioxidants that are beneficial to your health (in moderation). So, how do you consume the grape and reap the benefits? The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago, found a way to make a good thing even better.

The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago mixed with mineral water and oats with Camenere wine to produce a luxurious Carmenere Wine Bath. You’ll be surrounded by candles and offered a glass of Chile’s finest wine as you literally submerge yourself in a pink, frothy concoction. The results? Smoother, softer skin (and you’ll likely feel a bit more relaxed after that glass of wine, too).

The ultimate in Chilean pampering is put together by the Bath Butler, who arrives in your guestroom to prepare the Carmenere bath at your request.

Want more? Get your dose of Daily Pampering right here.

Hotel Economics: Hotels plan growth as global economy recovers

by Melanie Nayer on

Is the hotel industry ready for a rebound? Based on the recent news of expansions and new properties from global hotel groups, it seems the hospitality industry is poised for a pristine few years.

InterContinental Hotel Group is continuing on its quest to keep the title of ‘world’s largest hotel operator’, recently announcing a global expansion that would increase the amount of its hotel rooms around the world by nearly one-third in the next three to four years. InterContinental, which owns various hotel brands including Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge and Candlewood Suites, currently operates more than 4,400 hotels and has 1,400 more in the pipeline, the majority of which will open in Europe.

The hotel group’s expansion means more hotels, but also more jobs. More than 100,000 jobs worldwide will be created in the InterContinental family. In the UK, where InterContinental plans to set up at least 36 new hotels, the hotel will hire an additional 3,500 employees to service the new properties, according to a statement from the hotel company in The Scotsman. In addition, the paper reports the InterContinental is putting plans in place for Scotland’s first five-star InterContinental-branded hotel.

InterContinental’s expansion isn’t the first we’ve heard about. JW Marriott announced plans to build 40 hotels in India by 2013; Kimpton and Hyatt are opening various hotels throughout the U.S. and earlier this year, Ritz-Carlton President Simon Cooper gave us some insight into new hotels emerging in Asia and the Middle East. But the question remains: can the hotels sell the rooms? According to a recent study of hotel room prices in Europe from trivago, more rooms are already selling for increased rates, which means more travelers are loosening their purse strings.The study shows the average price of hotels in Europe has increased 12 percent from March to April 2010, the highest point since October 2009.

What’s this mean for hotels? The travel industry stays afloat due to basic supply-and-demand principles. Based on these numbers, the demand for hotel rooms has risen causing hotel operators to raise their rates – a good sign for a rebounding economy.



Trivago reports that most European cities have experienced price growths of 10 to 20 percent, and in popular tourist destination cities such as Rome, Barcelona and Istanbul, prices rose by as much as 42 percent. Additionally, occupancy in the three- and four-star hotels – which make up the majority of the properties in the InterContinental Hotel Group – rose 2.7 percent in Scotland, against increases of 3.8 percent in regional UK, 3.7 percent in England and 9 percent in Wales.

If the numbers continue to increase across the pond, the InterContinental and other hotel groups could be right on target with their global expansions.