The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. Tops J.D. Power and Associates Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study for Luxury Hotel Brands for Third Consecutive Year

CHEVY CHASE, Md., July 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. has once again ranked highest in the luxury brand segment, for an impressive third year in a row by J.D. Power and Associates in their 2012 North America Guest Satisfaction Index Study.

"It is a tribute to our ladies and gentlemen that they continue to make guest satisfaction their first priority," Said Herve Humler, President and Chief Operations Officer for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. "The results speak for themselves, and we are all proud to be recognized by J.D. Power and Associates in their 2012 Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study with such outstanding results, leading our competitors in the luxury set consecutively for the past three years. To achieve the highest ranking in Customer Satisfaction is a commitment of our service philosophy to exceed our guests needs and expectations," Humler continued.

Currently with 79 hotels and resorts in their corporate portfolio, The Ritz-Carlton recently announced plans to add new locations in 35 destinations from Vietnam to Morocco.  This more than $2 billion investment by entrepreneurs will bring the number of award winning properties to over 100 by the year 2016.  The most recent openings, May 28, were the additions of The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa in Okinawa, Japan; The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal in Canada.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company achieved an increased score in 2012, resulting in the renowned lifestyle brand leading every category – both within the luxury segment and through the entire study. This year's survey included a new "Opinion of Staff" category, in which the hotel company dominated the competitive set as well. The 2012 North American Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study is based on responses gathered between June 2011 and May 2012 from more than 61,300 guests from Canada and the United States who stayed in a hotel in North America between May 2011 and May 2012.  Now in its 16th year, the study measures overall hotel guest satisfaction across seven hotel segments including luxury, upper upscale, upscale, mid-scale full service, mid-scale limited service, economy budget and extended stay, Seven key measures are examined within each segment to determine overall satisfaction, reservations, check-in / check-out, guest room, food and beverage, hotel services, hotel facilities and costs/fees.

About J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, California, J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training, web intelligence and customer satisfaction. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on travel ratings, car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 79 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 which recognizes outstanding customer service. For more information, or reservations, contact a travel professional, call toll free in the U.S. 1-800-241-3333, or visit the company website 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.