The Ritz-Carlton Brings a Touch of Luxury to Tropical China With the Opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Sanya

CHEVY CHASE, MD--(Marketwire - May 01, 2008) - Luxury living is put
firmly on the map today in China's tropical Hainan Island province
with the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Sanya. Combining stylish hotel
room accommodation and luxurious private villas with eight dining
experiences, a world-class spa and designer brand shopping, the
resort confirms Sanya as the next tourist 'hot-spot' Asian
destination.
 
"We are delighted to be able to bring the first true luxury resort
hotel to China to complement our city destinations on the mainland.
Sanya is a beautiful, paradise island offering visitors perfect white
sandy beaches, stunning mountains, rain forest, mangrove reserves and
year-round sunshine," explained Simon F. Cooper, president and chief
operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.
 
"We have no doubt that Sanya has the potential to be a resort island
of true international appeal, attracting visitors from all over the
world, whether they are visiting the island for business or pleasure.
It really is a hidden gem and the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Sanya
helps to put this destination on the map for discerning luxury
travelers."
 
The hotel's 450 rooms include 33 pool villas, each with their own
private butlers, in addition to 21 luxury suites. Being nestled
between the pristine white sand beach of Yalong Bay on one side and a
mangrove reserve on the other, views from all guest rooms are
breathtaking. Each of the 33 one-, two-, and three-bedroom private
pool villas are tastefully and sensitively furnished with a large
outside deck, double and single sun loungers for lazy days and
evenings, and intimate infinity pools which merge with the horizon.
 
The property is designed by WAT&G Design and draws influence and
inspiration from the classic building design of Beijing's Summer
Palace, with high pitched ceilings, dark rich wood, intricate
carvings and mosaic detailing, coupled with grand water features and
opulent furnishings. Merging seamlessly with this Asian graciousness
is a Western modernity, coupled with The Ritz-Carlton outstanding
level of commitment to service and guest satisfaction. This all adds
up to a great sense of place with immaculate detailing and service.
 
All hotel guests enjoy spacious guest rooms measuring more than
645-square feet, oversized private balconies and marble-tiled
five-fixture bathrooms with rain shower and stand-alone bath tub. The
room amenities include plush Frette terry robes, flat panel
high-definition LCD televisions, in-room cappuccino/coffee/tea
makers, and iPOD docking stations.
 
Guests staying in the 66 Club rooms and suites, located in an
exclusive wing and accessible by private keycard, will also enjoy a
personalised concierge service and a private ocean view Club Lounge
serving all-day complimentary gourmet food and beverage on the sixth
floor of the hotel.
 
The hotel's Lagoon guest rooms will have the added luxury of a
private Jacuzzi and steps down to one of the resort's lagoon swimming
pools. Here guests can choose a leisurely swim in the water or sit
pool-side and enjoy a daily selection of the hotel's signature
coconut-based cocktails or healthy vitamin drink boosters.
 
The culinary shell at The Ritz-Carlton, Sanya is an odyssey of unique
dining experiences that follows the principles of S.P.I.C.E: simple,
pure, innovative, consistent and engaging. 'Fresh8,' the resort's
all-day dining restaurant, has eight show kitchens to delight guests,
while 'Sophia' offers southern Italian cuisine in a stylish and
contemporary setting. 'Pearl' showcases the very best in new
Cantonese cooking, and for those who enjoy a more casually luxurious
experience, 'Sand' is an al fresco dining option right on the beach
featuring fresh seafood and barbecues. 'Scene,' 'Zig' and 'Cube' also
offer guests a great selection of drinks and snacks in luxurious
settings in the resort.
 
The ESPA at The Ritz-Carlton, Sanya will be the biggest Ritz-Carlton
spa in the region offering 24 private treatment rooms -- six of which
are private spa suites. The spa will feature cool mist showers, jade
steam showers, outdoor vitality pools with jets, plus a number of
relaxation and fitness studios making it an unrivalled retreat for
those in need of pampering. ESPA treatments are a marriage of ancient
Eastern philosophies and the latest relaxation and rejuvenation
techniques. Signature treatments will use advanced natural skin-care
products and will be performed by fully qualified and trained ESPA
therapists.
 
A designer on-site boutique shopping arcade with five of the world's
top brands: Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tod's, Paul & Shark
and Zegna is a first for Sanya and is ideal for visitors wanting to
mix shopping with sun worshiping. Discreetly located at lobby level,
the stylish arcade blends in with the remaining hotel architecture
and all retail outlets are open daily.
 
Other resort facilities include four swimming pools, a full-service
fitness centre, tennis courts, Ritz Kids®, an on-site florist, and
business, technology and babysitting services.
 
For meetings, conferences and special social events, The
Ritz-Carlton, Sanya provides 18,300-square feet of flexible space,
including a 9,800-square foot ballroom that is divisible by four,
along with an additional nine meeting rooms. The resort is just 40
minutes from Sanya Phoenix International Airport, so it is very
convenient for meetings and incentive groups flying to the island.
 
Opening prices to stay in a one-bedroom private pool villa begin at
USD$650 per night, while Lagoon rooms are priced from USD$330 and The
Ritz-Carlton Club Rooms from USD$385.
 
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. of Chevy Chase, Md., (U.S.A.)
currently operates 71 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the
Middle East and Africa. Over 30 projects are under development around
the globe with future openings including Shenzhen and Rancho Mirage.
The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the
prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which recognized
outstanding customer service.
 
For more information or reservations please contact your travel
professional, The Ritz-Carlton U.S. toll free reservations at 1 (800)
241-3333, The Ritz-Carlton, Sanya at (86 898) 8898 8888 or email
rcsy.reservation@ritzcarlton.com. Please visit www.ritzcarlton.com
for more information. 
 
 
Contact:
Vivian Deuschl
Corporate Vice President, Public Relations
4445 Willard Avenue, Suite 800
Chevy Chase, Md. 20815
Tel: (703) 941-6225
Fax: (703) 941-7492
Cell: (202) 255-5786
Email: vivian.deuschl@ritzcarlton.com