The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles Opens

LOS ANGELES, April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The highly anticipated Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles opens on April 2, 2010 as the first luxury hotel of its caliber in Downtown Los Angeles. The opening of the hotel is the final piece of L.A. LIVE, the $2.5 billion sports, residential and entertainment district, which was inaugurated with the opening of STAPLES Center in 1999.

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"We are proud that The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles is a part of L.A. LIVE and the renaissance of Downtown Los Angeles," said General Manager Javier Cano.  "The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles provides another dimension to this exciting and active area, which is now a true destination for travelers and local residents."

Perched on the upper floors of the 54-story tower that it shares with sister hotel the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE and The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles has 123 well-appointed guestrooms, including 14 suites.  The 3,000 square-foot Ritz-Carlton Suite is the hotel's largest and boasts incredible northern and western views.  The luxurious suite includes a piano and entertainment room, media corner, lounge, kitchen and formal dining area.

Featuring elegant, contemporary decor by renowned Los Angeles firm, Barry Design, and some of the city's best views of Downtown L.A., the hotel provides guests with an exclusive retreat.  Designed by Gensler, the hotel and luxury condominium tower will be LEED-certified and is owned by Los Angeles-based AEG, developer of the four million square foot L.A. LIVE, and MacFarlane Partners.

The hotel is home to Downtown L.A.'s only full-service hotel spa, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, a luxurious, 8,000-square-foot sanctuary that is designed to reflect the glamour and excitement of Los Angeles in a calming yet sophisticated environment.  With nine treatment rooms, two customized aromatherapy steam rooms, cold plunge showers and two relaxation lounges, the Spa offers guests a true respite. The experience is further enhanced by iPod docking capability for each treatment table, which allows guests to have fully customizable music for their treatments.  Featuring the finest products available, the Spa offers services that range from The Ritz-Carlton Signature organic experiences in massage and skincare to results-oriented, cosmeceutical-grade skin care.  The "Champagne and Shimmer" theme of the Spa is highlighted with treatments that include the Glowing Gold Facial and the Champagne and Citrus Scrub.  

Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck brings WP24, his latest restaurant concept, to The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles.   Located on the 24th floor of the hotel, WP24 features refined Asian fare from a dining area with floor to ceiling windows providing  a stunning view of the Los Angeles skyline.  In addition to a spacious dining room and lounge, the restaurant offers a wine cave and two private dining rooms.

Guests can also take pleasure in the panoramic vistas of Downtown L.A. and surrounding Southern California from the 3,400-square-foot signature Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge on the 23rd floor.  In addition, guests can see the spectacular views from the 26th floor as they relax by the exclusive, private rooftop pool and bar.  Cabana and conversational seating arrangements allow guests to enjoy the outdoors both day and night.  For those interested in more active pursuits, a 2,000-square-foot fitness center on the 26th floor offers guests the opportunity to catch a productive workout while enjoying the cityscape.

The hotel also offers meeting and event planners the Gallery Collection, the most efficient meeting space in Downtown L.A., with nearly 100,000-square-feet of ballroom and meeting rooms.  With the size and flexibility of the event space, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles provides long-awaited support for the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Just steps away from STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, The GRAMMY® Museum and a variety of dining and other entertainment options, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles provides guests with an oasis from the activity of the city as well as the convenience of being seconds away from the heart of one of the most exciting parts of Los Angeles.  

L.A. LIVE is home to 13 restaurants and bars including Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, The Farm of Beverly Hills, Rosa Mexicano, Katsuya, ESPN Zone, Flemings Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, Rock 'N Fish and Trader Vic's.  The district also houses some of Los Angeles' most popular entertainment venues such as Club Nokia and Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge.  For more information on L.A. LIVE visit www.LALive.com.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 73 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 with future openings including Dubai International Financial Centre, United Arab Emirates; Shanghai, Pudong; and Hong Kong, Kowloon. 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 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.