The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company Unveils The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

TOKYO, May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has confirmed The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto will officially open its doors on February 7, 2014, and unveiled the first images of the luxury urban resort that pays homage to the region's cultural heritage. It also officially announced the appointment of Mr Yuji Tanaka as the General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto enjoys an excellent strategic location as an urban resort on the Kamogawa River, Nijho Ohashi, close to Kyoto's popular downtown areas including Gion and Kawaramachi-dori, the city's retail and entertainment district. The hotel's guestrooms will offer views of the river and the Higashiyama Mountains.

While in keeping with the traditions and cultural sensitivity of Kyoto, The Ritz-Carlton will be a subtle and inspired juxtaposition of modernity and respect for Japanese tradition, incorporating the work of internationally famous Japanese design houses such as Spin Studio. The architects and designers have gone to great lengths to preserve the traditional Meiji house and courtyard into the architectural structure of the building.

Featuring 136 guest rooms with an average size of 50 square meters for standard rooms, The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto will have some of the largest in the city. It will also feature four dining options, banquet and meeting rooms, as well as a spa and other recreational facilities.

Victor Clavell, Vice President – Asia Pacific for The Ritz-Carlton said: "Kyoto is one of Japan's cultural windows to the world and we are proud to unveil a property that is sensitive to the 1,000 years of history and make a contribution to the rejuvenation and growth of the tourism business in Japan."

Exceptionally rich in beauty, history, spirituality and culture, Kyoto draws 50 million visitors annually to experience the city and its 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. While many of these visitors are Japanese, there is real growth in the numbers of international visitors coming to the city, and Kyoto is now very much must-see destination for sophisticated global travelers who are attracted to the city for its quintessential Japanese experience.

Newly-appointed General Manager, Yuji Tanaka is a seasoned international hotelier with over 25 years of luxury hotel experience across the globe who will lead an experienced team of ladies and gentlemen to further strengthen The Ritz-Carlton position as a luxury leader in Japan. Prior to his current position, Tanaka was Hotel Manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo and Interim General Manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka. He has enjoyed over 15 years of leadership experience with luxury hotel groups in the United States and Japan.

"I am privileged to be entrusted with the leadership of this incredibly high-profile opening for The Ritz-Carlton which will complement the exceptional architecture and heritage of Kyoto. Our entry to the market will help to draw sophisticated global travelers who are attracted the city for a quintessentially Japanese experience."

About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 82 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.