The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. And Jean-Michel Cousteau Launch Ritz Kids At Hotels And Resorts Around The World

CHEVY CHASE, Md., Dec. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., announced today the launch of new, exclusive Ritz Kids children's programming through an expanded partnership with Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society.

The Ritz-Carlton aims to delight their youngest guests by making memories that last well beyond their hotel stays. Ritz Kids is an engaging and immersive experience that builds upon the adventures of travel that children will always treasure at 84 hotels from Hawaii to Kazakhstan.

"We are very excited to continue our highly successful relationship with a unique individual whose entire life has been spent dedicated to preservation of the environment, with particular attention to marine conservation and education," said Herve Humler, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

The new global brand standard for children's programming includes robust activities for resorts, in addition to multiple touch points for children at city and urban properties. The refined luxury experience for young guests aged four to 12 provides a differentiated program which engages children to explore the world around them. 

"The fun and exciting activities appeal to a child's innate love of discovery and sense of curiosity.  All kids start out as scientists, constantly asking 'Why? What's that? How does it work?'   I have spent my life exploring the natural wonders of the world, seeking to understand how our planet works and how we can better protect it," said Jean-Michel Cousteau.

"Ritz Kids is offering something no other hotel company has before – globally consistent, immersive programming that builds upon the adventures of travel your child will always treasure.  These experiences will be remembered long after their stay," he added.

The content of the Ritz Kids programming was created by Ocean Futures Society exclusively for The Ritz-Carlton. The environmental expertise of Ocean Futures Society allows The Ritz-Carlton to craft fascinating experiences that are based on four key pillars: 

• Water: Emphasizing the importance of sea life and health.
• Land: Encouraging exploration and discovery.
• Environmental Responsibility: Promoting the environmental health of our planet for the future.
• Culture:  Exposing young minds to a variety of art forms, including music, local customs and history, as well as cuisine.

Whether at a city or a resort destination, children will be exposed to an array of environmentally focused experiences that foster interaction with the world in which they live. The content created by naturalists is as diverse as the natural world around us and is tailored specifically to intrigue and thrill bright young minds. Every family-friendly Ritz-Carlton hotel around the world incorporates Ritz Kids touch points for children throughout their stay.  Specifically, Ritz-Carlton resorts offer an array of exciting adventures, each rooted in one of the key pillars, designed to engage dialogue, spark curiosity and draw wonder from each hotel's dynamic culture and locale. Examples include searching for indigenous birds in the wild, exploring gardens for Food Fun, playing games to learn about various types of fish, exploring how fish are different from people and learning about local cultures, myths and legends.

Jean-Michel Cousteau and The Ritz-Carlton have also introduced Ambassadors of the Environment eco-travel programs at resorts in Kapalua, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas and Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve which include an environmental and cultural education center with excursions for all ages led by expert naturalists.

About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 84 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 Ocean Futures Society
Ocean Futures Society (OFS) is a non-profit organization with the motto, "Protect the ocean and you protect yourself." The mission of OFS is to explore our global ocean, inspiring and educating people throughout the world to act responsibly for its protection, documenting the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the ocean's vital importance to the survival of all life on our planet. OFS is based in Santa Barbara, CA, USA with offices in Paris; Lucca, Italy; and Sao Paulo, Brazil. For more information, visit www.oceanfutures.org.

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