The Ritz Carlton, A New Shanghai Location

The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, opened on June 21. As the luxury hotel brand’s second property in the city, and its seventh in China, the opening came with much fanfare including tweets from RC president Simon F. Cooper.

In case you are not following Simon F Cooper's twitter account: "I'm extremely proud to welcome our 7th hotel in #China into the portfolio. The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong." Can the Ritz-Carlton get any hipper? Really, how many corporations have their presidents tweeting their latest? So fab.

Located in Shanghai ifc, the prime real estate in Lujiazui financial trade zone, the hotel (and development) is the work of architect Cesar Pelli. The 285-room property occupies the top 18 floors of the Shanghai ifc South Tower. Opening during June's World Expo, the design and style of the hotel is contemporary, with hints of new interpretations of 1930’s Shanghai Art Deco. Instilled with a great sense of place, the hotel's guest rooms and restaurants embrace magnificent sweeping views over The Bund – the most intact collection of Art Deco architecture anywhere in the world.


You girls know I'm already and R-C fanatic but LOOK at these pictures! Next time I'm in China, I'm SO there.

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Eau So Yoga with Jimmy Barkan at The Ritz Carlton, Palm Beach

A sunrise over the ocean which seemed oddly directed at my very own balcony. Flocks of pelicans flying over head and then - this morning, a solitary duck. Chilled waterfalls of relief pouring into luxuriously sized hot tubs. Hot tubs filled with playful over sized rubber ducks. Chocolate Mocha cupcakes on the spa bar. Massages that start with healing spoonfuls of honey and end with a limber flip of the upper body over top of the knees and suddenly you are born anew. Eau So New.

I've just returned from Palm Beach where I rang in the month of May with The Ritz-Carlton's Eau so Yoga weekend. Daily 90-minute yoga sessions overlooking the ocean were taught by yoga legend Jimmy Barkan. Until the late 90's Jimmy was the only certified Bikram trainer and in the early part of this century he developed his own teaching style aptly named, the Barkan Method.

I've become a bit of a yoga fanatic over these last four short months and class with Jimmy invigorated my practice with a gentle (manual) hip rotation here and subtle "ring finger forward" in downward dog" cue there. I'm also quite certain my hips now operate like a lazy Susan - no longer hinged in any one direction. I have never experienced hip openers like Jimmy's.

You can visit Jimmy at his own (twenty eight year old) studio in Ft Lauderdale or at any of his teacher trainings. Meantime, Eau So Yoga will happen during various weekends through out the summer. (Next weekend!) Check for dates here.

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Services in this post were provided at no cost for editorial review.

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Looking Out on the Morning: Eau So Yoga Day One

After a healing massage yesterday (details to come) and a restorative nights sleep I stepped on to my balcony at 6:30 am and watched the sunrise light the passing clouds on fire as it rose over the elderly Atlantic. Palm Beach is an odd sign post of America's growing pains but here with in the courtyards of the Ritz-Carlton the sun rises, the pelicans fly over head and everything you could ever imagine that you need is at your fingertips. Highlights from yesterday were numerous. Sushi - as in the best I've ever had. Sushi-Joe is your place for spicy, melt-in-your-mouth lobster rolls. Massage at Eau Spa. My body has never before been touched and relieved in that way. And a self centered garden which oddly enough, left me relaxed enough to see how disenchanted I have become with my own self centered-ness.

Eau So Yoga starts at 8:30 am with ninety minute class from sought out instructor Jimmy Barkan. Like the clouds who where unknowingly transformed by the sun's reach for the aging east coast on this beautiful spring morning, I have a feeling I'm in for a transformation I could neither plan nor imagine. Such things are only in the mind of the world's most expert hospitality angels, the ladies and gentleman of the Ritz-Carlton.


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Some of the services (not the Lobster Rolls) mentioned in the post were provided at no cost for editorial review.

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Welcome The Ritz-Carlton L.A.!

On this, the first Friday of April 2010, Los Angeles fetes the opening of it's most esteemed (and LEED certified!) hotel, The Ritz-Carlton.

With all of the dignity that arrives on the shoulders of any Ritz-Carlton property, perhaps one of our nations dear, old, artistic centers might finally be wrest from the grip of celeb-starved paparazzi and legions of zombie-fied realty television alums. Or at least we now know where to go for a reprieve, while keeping our focus firmly on the city's artistic gems.

As the first luxury hotel of its caliber in Downtown Los Angeles and 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.

“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 décor 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.

We know exactly where to stay on our next trip to this angelic city. Enjoy!

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Where do you Yoga/Beach/Spa/Getaway?: The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas Edition

The Ritz-Carlton is claiming punch pin after punch pin on our dream yoga vacation map. We've heard great things about their St. Thomas location, it's Motion Studio and the complementary daily yoga class but let's be honest, you had me at...

Zumba at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas
In addition to introductory and intermediate yoga classes available to guests through out the week, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas now offers Zumba classes in the resort’s Motion Studio. Combining Latin rhythms with easy to follow moves, Zumba is an exhilarating program designed to energize, burn calories and inspire you to love your workout. Morning and afternoon classes are available throughout the week, and one class per day is included complimentary with the resort fee. Our instructor tailors the music selections to blend hip hop, Greek, Arabic, salsa and a number of other styles to create an hour-long class that has become the most popular fitness class at the resort.

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Where do you Yoga/Beach/Spa/Getaway?

Our lives get complicated and we go to Yoga. Because on the mat, everything is simple.

In fact we go to yoga no matter what but this week we've decided it's time. Time to get away. To a place where we only ever have to use one of three required verbal ques for all of our communications.

1)"Yes, I would like a complimentary smoothie."

2)"Could you tie up my Bikini before I go for a swim?"

3) "Is it time for ocean view yoga yet?"

Today we looked into the Ritz Carlton Puerto Rico where the Spa Director IS the Yoga Instructor. We think this will require even less effort to get our needs met and LOOK at these pictures!!! I took one of the most intense yoga classes of my LIFE at the Ritz Carlton Georgetown (and you know, the Ritz, is well, the Ritz. So EVERYTHING tends toward AMAZING) In shopping for this vacation specifically, we are looking deeply into the theory behind the yoga program and or spa treatments. We've shared some of what we learned about The R-C Puerto Rico and their yoga program below.

Yoga Practice
Hatha Yoga Practice for all levels of experience. Classes include centering, breath-work (pranayama), warm-ups, postures (asanans), relaxation, and closing meditation. You are guided to move at your own pace, honoring your body's needs in each and every movement. Improve strength, endurance, and flexibility. Develop physical, mental, and emotional balance. Practice is based on loving-kindness, compassion, self-acceptance, and non-judgment.

Increase Energy – Reduce Stress Wellness Consultation
Tap Into Your Unlimited Source of Perfect Health and Well-being. Ayurveda (Science of Life), Yoga’s sister science, is a system based on natural healing through strengthening the body, mind and spirit and allowing the body's own natural healing mechanisms to work to their fullest potential. The daily routine is called the Dinacharya. This daily routine is one of the best things we can do to stay in balance, prevent disease and is considered a stronger healing force than any other curative medicine. The reason for this is that the healthy and happy state is the most natural state.

Kimberly Rossi, 500 RYT
Kimberly has been teaching fitness for over 18 years in leading health clubs and recognized spas across the US and in Europe . Her expertise has been working with all levels of experience, making things easy to follow, safe, and comfortable for the beginner, and leading those with experience to their edge, creating a deeper, more meaningful practice. She is a 500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and a Certified Yoga Teacher and Ayurvedic Consultant by Kripalu Center for Health. She is currently the Spa Director for The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan

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Mother Nature Fetes Opening of The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe

One wonders how The Ritz-Carlton could charm mother nature into a perfectly timed winter storm complete with a remarkable 30 inches descending on the peaks of Northern California to fete the location's grand opening. If you have been charmed, as I have, by one of the R-C's 71 illustrious properties - you know the answer is, easily. Mother Nature and mortal lovers of beauty and refinement alike adore the Ritz-Carlton.

Following five years of design, construction and development phases, The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe opened mid-mountain in Northstar-at-Tahoe resort this week. “This is truly a first of its kind experience for North Lake Tahoe” said Allen Highfield, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton resort. “It has been incredibly exciting to see the final details fall into place, the training of the Ladies and Gentlemen and their enthusiasm to welcome our first guests.” The Ritz-Carlton has created over 350 jobs this year in Northern California, providing highly respected hospitality jobs and excellent training.

Simon F. Cooper, President and Chief Operating Officer for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. personally joined Allen Highfield for the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon and the welcoming of the first guest. “Lake Tahoe has always been a destination known for its pristine natural beauty and skiing, now it will also be known as home to a world-class resort,” said Cooper. “The arrival of our brand and the opening of The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe further enhances the guest‘s service experience at Northstar-at-Tahoe.”

The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe is the first new-build resort development in the Lake Tahoe area in decades. Anticipated to be the premier Northern California contemporary mountain retreat, the $300 million project, situated mid-mountain in the Northstar-at-Tahoe ski area will feature ski-in, ski-out access with mountain concierge services.

The Highlands Spa is a 17,000 square foot spa and fitness center with treatments and therapies themed around water and the woods. The new Highlands Gondola also opens today and will connect guests between the nearby Village-at-Northstar and The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe resort. Perched slope-side within a 15 minute drive of both Lake Tahoe and the historic town of Truckee, the year-round destination includes 170 guest rooms, 23 private Ritz-Carlton Residences and 25 Ritz-Carlton Destination Club residences. Sign. Me. Up. Enjoy!

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The Ritz-Carlton's New Eco-conscious Charlotte Location

After falling head over heals for their Georgetown location, I've become completely distracted with the current directions of The Ritz Carlton. Today they've headed south and green with the launch of their newest location, designed to achieve LEED® Gold certification, in the heart of Charlotte’s thriving uptown district (corporate home to the likes of Bank of America, Wachovia, and likely the highest number of Bank SVPs per capita in the U.S.)
The sleekly contemporary, environmentally-friendly hotel features 146 technologically-advanced guest rooms, a 13,000 square-foot penthouse Wellness Center with Aqua Lounge and saline-treated swimming pool, a street-side BLT Steak restaurant, and more than 12,000 square-feet of meeting space utilizing recycled aluminum conference tables, on-property purified and bottled water, and green meetings as a standard. The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte is the first Ritz-Carlton hotel in the Carolinas, the 73rd Ritz-Carlton property worldwide, and the first domestic new Ritz-Carlton hotel to be unveiled in 2009. The Lobby Lounge offers sustainable organic cuisine; signature martinis, cocktails, wines, coffees and flavored iced teas; complimentary wireless Internet access; and boarding pass kiosk. Is there anything they haven't thought of?

A green roof vegetated with 18,000 plants insulating the building, slowing rain runoff and cooling the air through evaporation of water from leaves Select employee uniforms made of fabric derived from regenerated plastic bottles An in-house water purification and container system that will divert 73,000 plastic bottles from landfills, save more than 104 barrels of oil, eliminate nearly 49 tons of CO2 emissions and save almost 605,000,000 BTUs of electricity each year A state-of-the-art air transfer system which circulates outside air into guest rooms at 60 cubic-feet per minute A hotel Bike Valet, featuring 150 bicycle parking spaces, complimentary Trek Bikes for hotel guests to use, and bicycle maintenance and safety training for hotel staff Complimentary parking for Hybrid vehicles Complimentary weekday morning guest transportation via Hybrid vehicle

Frequent-Traveler Conveniences The Nook -- complimentary private offices for guests, offering computers, printers, office supplies, teleconferencing, wireless Internet, and copy/fax access Travel Lite, eliminating the hassle of having to pack toiletry essentials in TSA-approved plastic bags for airline carry-on purposes. With Travel Lite, hotel guests may pre-select from a menu of nominally-priced daily grooming essentials to be delivered to the room upon check-in Desktop-on-Demand, the technology version of Room Service. Guests may have printers, disks, phone chargers, surge protectors, cables, keyboards and office supplies delivered to their rooms, which are already pre-outfitted with business essentials and electronic jack-packs Guests who stay a minimum of four nights per month may enjoy Luggage-Less Travel, checking in their clothing and personal items and leaving them at the hotel at the end of each stay. Their items will be held for them until their next arrival or, for an optional added charge, their clothing can be cleaned and preferred personal toiletries replenished
The Wellness Center Aqua Lounge with saline-treated swimming pool and whirlpool, plus floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views of the Charlotte skyline Four treatment rooms with private shower, floor-to-ceiling windows, Tempur-Pedic® memory foam mattresses and all-organic products Specialties: Green Your Body Eco-Treatment, Lunch-Break Re-Nourish experience, Drift to Sleep for the sleep-deprived, Techno-Stress Relief for computer and PDA overuse, facials, massages, skin treatments Fitness Center, movement studio, yoga/Pilates classes Dining
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The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown: Where Washington D.C. Culture Resides

There is something intangibly magnificent about The Ritz-Carlton's boutique hotel in Georgetown. Writers (yes, I'd like to be one someday) have a long standing tradition of taking up residence in hotel lobbies to do their best work. The Roosevelt Hotel in New York played nurse maid to more than one great American novel by keeping their creators well nourished with a diet of seemingly endless inspiration arriving through the revolving doors of it's Madison Avenue entrance.

Housed on the high banks of the Potomac river, Ritz's hip boutique hotel in Georgetown was in fact an old Native American campsite where the area's American Indians retreated during the 4,500 years leading up to the first settlers' arrival. More recently it was home to 19th century working class families before finally being converted into the local incinerator. Beneath the current incarnation's centrally located, refurbished staircase you can view the arrowheads, tea cup dolls, and apothecary bottles these geographic ancestors left behind. This is the stuff that makes for good writing.

The intersection of cultural inspirations ancient and modern, a cozy fireplace, and whispers of a hot chocolate bar in colder seasons and I began to wonder...why hadn't I set up shop (or at least laptop) there sooner? By the end of the DC Beauty Tour, suspecting that my two year exclusive declaration of the W Lobby as my creative home was drawing to a close, I summoned up all my courage to ask the one final important question. "Yes." (Fellow aspiring writers and laptop-totting bohemians take note) there is in fact free wireless in the lobby. Actually there are also two macs for guest use on the way. This, my friends is no longer your grandpa's Ritz-Carlton.

With French-certified organic facials being preformed in the subterranean spa, the area's hottest Budokon Yoga instructor on call, and the spirits of eras gone by mingling in the lobby, my creative center (and that of hip, youthful DC society) has, simply put - shifted. If you see me there this winter be sure to say hello and join me for a cup of hot chocolate. Until then, enjoy!

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A Silver Anniversary Facial at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

Girls, I am so in love with the Ritz Carlton these days. So much so that while I lay here sick with a fever, in bed, and bored to death of rest, orange juice, and tiger balm, all I can do is look at these pictures of The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel and read about it's 25th Anniversary on August 27, 2009. In honor of this milestone, The Ritz-Carlton Spa has developed a "Silver Facial."

Designed for all skin types, it cleanses, tones and exfoliates for softer and smoother skin while regulating skin temperature, providing natural cooling, improving blood circulation and imparting a luminating glow to the skin.

“We are excited about the resort’s Silver Anniversary and are thrilled to be able to offer this unique facial as a way to celebrate,” says Spa Director Amelia Winfrey. “Like all of our therapies, the Silver Facial is designed to nurture the body and mind and provide a return to balance.”

The silver lining on the silver facial? The resort sits on a 150-foot bluff with panoramic white-water views of the Pacific Ocean and two-miles of sandy beach. The facial is $195 for 60 minutes or $265 for 90 minutes. Enjoy!

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