The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

One of only a handful of resorts in Florida with both a beach and golf course, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island also features tennis, horseback riding, fine dining, a world-class spa, and views of the Atlantic Ocean from every guest room balcony. The eightstory, U-shaped hotel crowns 13 acres of courtyards, gardens, and dunes on Amelia Island, just 32 miles northeast of Jacksonville.

For groups, the resort practices its brand of AA Five Diamond Award–winning hospitality in more than 35,000 square feet of meeting space and at an array of outdoor venues. An expert culinary team, conference managers, technicians, and destination services orchestrate everything to perfection, from small business meetings to gala corporate events. The $22.1-million Talbot Ballroom will add more than 11,000 square feet of meeting space in the fall of 2009, making the hotel one of the largest conference venues in the region.

The resort rests on Amelia Island, the southernmost in a chain of barrier islands. The wild beauty of sand dunes, palms, and native oaks combines with inspiration from the nearby community of Fernandina Beach, where national landmark status preserves an atmosphere of carefree Victorian charm. Guests of The Ritz-Carlton soak up a sense of place not only at the beach and golf course but also in the 444 guest rooms, four restaurants and lounges, and through such signature spa treatments as Heaven in a Hammock.

Meetings Within Reach

Start	End	Rooms	Rate
3/28/10	4/05/10	Please inquire
5/07/10	5/10/10	Please inquire
6/27/10	7/08/10	Please inquire

Posted Nov 7, 2009 by KevinDonahue
Subscribe - RSS Feed AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. - October 29, 2009 - For the fifth consecutive year, the readers of Conde Nast Traveler have named The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island one of the Top Resorts in the Mainland U.S. The oceanfront hotel was the second-ranked resort in Florida and the only property from the Northeast region of the state to make the list.

The annual awards reflect the results of the 2009 Readers' Choice survey, completed by more than 25,000 travelers from around the world. The top resorts were selected based on criteria including activities and facilities, food and dining, location, overall design, rooms and service. The winners are featured in the November issue of the monthly travel publication, on news stands now.

"Despite a challenging year for the travel industry, and the economy as a whole, we continue to provide the exceptional service and amenities that have become synonymous with our resort," said general manager Katharine Monahan. "This unwavering commitment to the Ritz-Carlton experience has allowed us to exceed the expectations of our guests time and again, as proven by their ongoing support of our property."

The latest recognition by Conde Nast Traveler adds to a growing list of critical accolades received in 2009. Earlier this year, Travel + Leisure honored The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island as one of the "500 Greatest Hotels in the United States" and "Best Hotels for Families." The readers of Travel + Leisure also recognized the hotel in the annual World's Best Awards, placing the property on the list of "Top 50 Resorts in the U.S. and Canada" and naming The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Amelia Island as one of the "Top 25 Spas in the U.S. and Canada."

About The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is Northeast Florida's premiere oceanfront resort. Known for its unique natural beauty and warm Southern charm, the AAA Five Diamond luxury hotel is home to the award-winning restaurant, Salt, and The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Amelia Island, named one of the top spas in the world by the readers of Cond Nast Traveler. Featured amenities include three pools, on-site golf, a fitness center, children's recreation programs, a teen lounge, and 444 guest rooms with a private balcony and a view of the Atlantic coastline. For reservations, call The Ritz-Carlton toll-free at (800) 241-3333 or visit [url]www.ritzcarlton.com/ameliaisland[/url].





For additional information about this press release contact:
Jennifer MacPhee
Director of Public Relations
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
4750 Amelia Island Parkway
Amelia Island, FL 32034
T: 904-321-5018
F: 904-277-1145
[email]jennifer.macphee@ritzcarlton.com[/email] Posted Jul 10, 2009 by Elite News Team
Subscribe - RSS Feed More than 16,000 industry peers believe the Ritz-Carlton associate
best represents the jobs and opportunity created by travel

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. - June 17, 2009 - Paco Saldaña, director of guest services at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, has been selected as the national "Face of Travel," the U.S. Travel Association announced today. More than 16,000 public votes were cast to recognize Saldaña as the individual who best represents the vitality and importance of travel in America. As the winner, Saldaña will serve as an official industry spokesperson, sharing his message with media, policymakers and other stakeholders.

On his first day as travel ambassador, Saldaña will participate in a morning press conference at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., followed by a series of meetings with members of Congress on Capitol Hill and a group of officials at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

"Paco is a great representative of the 7.7 million Americans whose jobs depend on travel," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "As a front-line worker whose family depends on the success of this industry, Paco is uniquely capable of addressing the consequences of the downturn, and the benefits of increasing travel to and within the United States."

Saldaña joined The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island as a server attendant in 1996, a year after emigrating from Mexico City to the United States. He quickly learned English and achieved a variety of leadership positions at the hotel, earning his U.S. citizenship along the way.

"I came to this country in search of the American dream, and as an employee of The Ritz-Carlton, I've been given the opportunity to achieve it," said Saldaña. "But like millions of others working in the travel industry, these aspirations will be cut short if we continue to suffer from a downturn in business."

The U.S. Travel Association launched the "Faces of Travel" contest in April, in response to the ongoing criticism of corporate meetings and events. Hundreds of tourism employees submitted brief videos illustrating the impact of business travel on themselves and their communities. An expert panel narrowed the submissions to a list of six finalists, with the final decision made via an online vote at http://www.meetingsmeanbusiness.com/.

"All of our ladies and gentlemen are very proud of Paco," said Simon F. Cooper, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. "He represents the hopes and dreams of millions of hospitality workers around the world that a successful career is possible through hard work and dedication to serving our guests. He has seen, first-hand, how the cancellation of meetings and business travel has impacted his hotel and the local community. I am sure he will be a wonderful advocate for the travel industry with his own inspiring story." Posted Dec 9, 2008 by Elite News Team
Subscribe - RSS Feed Amelia Island, Fla. (July 18, 2008) " The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island has commenced construction on a $22.1 million ballroom addition, concluding a 14-year effort to increase the footprint of the oceanfront resort. Upon completion in the fall of 2009, the new facility will add 12,000 square feet of available meeting space to the property, making it one of the largest conference hotels in the region.

Shortly after we opened in 1991, it became clear that our long-term success would depend on an eventual expansion, said Katharine Monahan, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. This project is a critical component of our master plan to improve the guest experience, maintain relevance in an increasingly competitive marketplace, and provide continued value to our community.

Hotel executives believe the new ballroom, which will give the property 35,000 total square feet of meeting space, will diversify and expand the existing client base by balancing large group business with social events. With two sizeable function areas and a variety of smaller breakout rooms, the hotel can attract conferences with greater space requirements, while increasing their share of lucrative destination wedding business.

The project was approved by hotel ownership, Host Hotels & Resorts, on June 30. PCL Construction Services, Inc., with past projects including expansions of the Orlando World Center Marriott and the Las Vegas Convention Center, was awarded the construction contract.

The ballroom addition will be built above an existing parking structure, resulting in minimal impact for hotel guests during the construction period. The exterior view of the property will be significantly altered to create a more dramatic sense of arrival. Initial construction began on July 14, with the removal of temporary meeting facilities and grounds preparation. Structural demolition and an official groundbreaking ceremony are scheduled for October.

The new ballroom is the latest development in the ongoing physical evolution of the resort. In 2006, the hotel constructed a 27,500 square foot full-service spa, underwent a complete renovation of Salt, the signature AAA Five Diamond restaurant, and opened the OurSpace teen zone. Future projects for 2009 and beyond include design updates for the hotel lobby and guest rooms, as well as a contemporary new look for employee uniforms.

About The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Located just off the coast of Northeast Florida on the southern-most sea island, the AAA Five Diamond Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is a natural destination for a memorable escape. Salt, the acclaimed signature restaurant, is one of only six AAA Five Diamond restaurants in the state. The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Amelia Island was named one of the top new spas in the world by Cond Nast Traveler. All 444 of the resorts guest rooms include private ocean view balconies, 24-hour in-room dining, marble baths, wireless internet access, twice-daily maid service and plush terry robes. For reservations, call The Ritz-Carlton toll-free at (800) 241-3333 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com

Contact: Jennifer MacPhee
Director of Public Relations
4750 Amelia Island Parkway
Amelia Island, FL 32034
Tel: (904) 321-5018, Fax: (904) 277-1145
Email: jennifer.macphee@ritzcarlton.com