Holiday Celebrations From Coast-to-Coast Offer Families Fun Wonder and Unique Merriment at The Ritz-Carlton

CHEVY CHASE, Md., Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. invites guests young – and young at heart -- to establish fun new traditions with extraordinary seasonal offerings.  Properties from the Atlantic Ocean across to the Pacific beckon families to discover unparalleled merriment, while also embracing the true spirit of giving though charitable events.

Fire & Ice at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation, Georgia
No visit to this year-round lakeside Georgian resort is complete without ending each evening by the fire pit roasting s'mores.  Now through February 24, 2013, The Lodge creates a dreamy 5,000-square-foot ice skating rink in the Pavilion. Healthy winter exercise and fun are accompanied by hot cocoa or hot apple cider. Skating is complimentary for resort guests; non-resort guests' price per session is $30 for children 12 and under; $40 for adults (includes skates).

A truly memorable way to explore the scenic beauty of The Lodge's lakeside setting is on Santa's Segway – each adorned with seasonal decorations, lights and antlers. $135 per rider for 90 minutes, limited availability. Riders must be 12 years or older. The excursion is available daily through December 28 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. by reservation.

Pirates Find Endless Treasures at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida   
The S.S. Amelia, a spectacular gingerbread pirate ship, has docked in the Lobby for the holiday season. Made from more than 1,200 pounds of sugar, 3,000 eggs, the S.S. Amelia serves as a festive backdrop for countless holiday memories. The ship departs December 28.

Share a private bedtime story with a buccaneer bearing treats and treasure during our nightly pirate tuck-ins. Milk and cookies are delivered to your room, while Pirate Luis Aury, Princess Amelia and our "mascot," Amelia's  Treasure (a six-year-old blue and gold macaw), read a pirate story and surprise your child with a keepsake treasure chest full of goodies. Tuck-ins are scheduled every half-hour, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. each evening. $50 per child. 24-hour advance reservations are requested.

Surfers Heal at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, California
A unique collection of surfboards will be auctioned off during The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel's Fifth Annual Holiday Surfboard Auction to benefit Surfers Healing, an organization that introduces children with autism and their families to the therapeutic properties of surfing. The auction highlights surfboards from surf legends, talented artists, celebrities and renowned musicians. Commitments for this year's auction include signed boards from Laird Hamilton, Donavon Frankenreiter, Mark Healy, Taylor Knox, and Josh Kerr, as well boards by Roy Gonzalez, Paul Bond and Damien Fulton. The boards will be displayed at the resort through December 31, 2012. Bids may be made at:
www.biddingforgood.com/surfershealing. 

Whether staying over the holidays or simply gathering with loved ones at one of our properties to experience the enchantment of the season, the Ladies and Gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company are committed to providing magical moments for all those whom step through our doors.  For additional details on offerings across the globe, please visit www.ritzcarlton.com.

About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC   
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 80 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. More than 30 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, an award that originated in 1987. Its purpose is to promote the awareness of quality excellence, recognize quality achievements of companies and publicize successful quality strategies. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company won the award in 1992 and 1999. For more information, or reservations, contact a travel professional, call toll free in the U.S. 1-800-241-3333, or visit the company web site at www.ritzcarlton.com. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR).

SOURCE The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.