The Ritz-Carlton Follows The Footsteps Of Marco Polo And Opens In Almaty, On The Old Silk Road

ALMATY, Kazakhstan, Nov. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Timeless luxury arrived in Almaty, Kazakhstan when The Ritz-Carlton opened its first hotel in the country. The most highly anticipated hotel in Central Asia was unveiled by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. and international real estate developer Capital Partners.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131104/PH09928 )

The new 145-room luxury hotel offers unsurpassed levels of elegance and is the latest collaboration between Capital Partners and The Ritz-Carlton, following their successful partnership with The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow. The hotel sits atop the 37 storey Esentai Tower, one of the tallest buildings in Central Asia. With Club and Suite accommodations and more than 10,000 square feet of meeting facilities, it is part of the Capital Partners' Esentai Park development, which also includes an extensive shopping mall and residential complexes.

"We are delighted to bring The Ritz-Carlton brand to Kazakhstan. Almaty is a key gateway city for our customers and this hotel complements the portfolio of Ritz-Carlton properties around the globe beautifully," Herve Humler, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton said. "Almaty is a dynamic city attracting visitors from all over the world and we are excited to be here."

Burak Oymen, co-founder of Capital Partners, said, "We are delighted to be partnering with Ritz-Carlton once again to bring their prestigious hotel brand to Almaty.

"Capital Partners invests in and develops projects around the world, but our roots are firmly in Almaty and our continuing investment here demonstrates our commitment and belief in the strength of the real estate market in this great city.  This opening of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Almaty is yet another milestone in the history of our firm in providing the city of Almaty with world class infrastructure, in this particular case for discerning travellers, professionals and residents."

Mr. Oymen added: "We are also pleased to announce The Ritz-Carlton Residences on the upper floors of the Tower. Residents in these units will not only have the best views in the city, but will also enjoy all the fantastic amenities of the hotel with the privacy and benefits of personal ownership."

Almaty, formerly the capital city of Kazakhstan, is the Republic's largest city and an important cultural and commercial centre. Located between the Bolshaya and Malaya rivers, Almaty was formerly one of the transit stations on the Silk Road and is now a vibrant business destination.

The city is located in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau in the southeast of Kazakhstan where the mountains provide a stunning backdrop to the city's skyline. Almaty is fast becoming a world-class shopping destination for visitors with the opening of luxury stores including Gucci and Fendi in the neighbouring Esentai Mall.

Almaty, which literally means 'city of apple trees' also offers exceptional natural beauty in surrounding land including Charyn Canyon, Big Almaty Lake and the Ile-Alatau National Park – a spectacular and diverse natural area containing 300 species of animals and birds, including the snow leopard, Central-Asian lynx and the Tean-Shan brown bear.

About The Ritz-Carlton 
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 83 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. (NASDAQ:MAR).

About Capital Partners 
Capital Partners is a leading real estate developer operating in the world's most exciting new markets.  Experiencing phenomenal growth since its beginnings in Kazakhstan in 2001, Capital Partners now has offices in Almaty, Moscow, Istanbul and Abu Dhabi.

The company has led landmark projects and partnered with renowned international firms to bring an unprecedented level of quality to real estate in these markets through projects of international significance. 

Its major projects in Kazakhstan have redefined Almaty as the financial and cultural heart of Central Asia.

In Russia, Capital Partners developed The Ritz-Carlton hotel, Metropolis – a mixed-use, large scale office and retail complex, and Pushkino Logistics Park, the first warehouse development of international quality in the Russian market.

Capital Partners sets the highest standards in recognizing and realizing globally competitive real estate projects in the CIS, South Eastern Europe.

For further information visit www.capitalpartners.ws

SOURCE The Ritz-Carlton