NEWS
Contact: Gabrielle O’Boyle
Public Relations Manager
Gabrielle.oboyle@ritzcarlton.com
280 Vanderbilt Beach Road
Naples, Florida 34108
(239) 514-6017 (office)
RE-MASTERING AN ICONIC CLASSIC:
THE RITZ-CARLTON, NAPLES ANNOUNCES MULTI-MILLION
DOLLAR REFURBISHMENT
Resort poised to unveil a complete overhaul of all
450-guestrooms, suites, dining venues and more
Naples, Fla. (March 19, 2013) –The iconic five-diamond, five-star Ritz-Carlton, Naples is
announcing an unprecedented summer 2013 refurbishment, the first of its kind in the
resort’s 27-year history. This project will be one of the largest resort renovations within
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company’s portfolio. Refurbishments will include a complete
overhaul of all 450-guest rooms, suites, and corridors, three dinning outlets, Artisans the
“princess ballroom,” as well as various structural, mechanical and engineering upgrades
throughout the property.
During the expansive two-month project, set to commence on July 24, 2013, the resort
will not be accepting any guests, a first in its history. While the resort is being remastered its sister property, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, located just 10 minutes down the
road, will be open and fully operational. Guests staying at the Golf Resort will have beach
access via the complimentary resort shuttle to Vanderbilt Beach, with full Ritz-Carlton
beach services and amenities as well as beachfront dining at Gumbo Limbo restaurant.
“The decision to cease operations for the first time in the resort’s 27-year history is a true
testament to our ongoing commitment to product and service excellence,” said Edward V.
Staros, Vice President, Managing Director of The Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples and one of
the original founders of The Ritz-Carlton brand. “Our goal was to avoid any guest
inconvenience during this timeframe.” “When we reopen our doors on October 1, we look
forward to delivering on this commitment by continuing to provide a world renowned level
of luxury coupled with all the modern amenities expected by today’s global traveler.”
Interior designers, Wimberly Interiors are responsible for the new guest rooms, which will
resemble a luxurious, residential beach home. The effect will bring the beauty of Naples
indoors, with warm blues, greens and greys inspired by the Gulf of Mexico and its
surrounding landscape. The Ritz-Carlton’s sophistication will play into the design with
clean lines and upscale fabrics that will appeal to both traditional and modern tastes.
On the culinary front, three of the resort’s restaurants will be fully re-mastered by New
York-based design agency Blue Plate. The Sushi Bar, to be rebranded The Bar, will get an
extended balcony, providing additional outdoor seating with Gulf of Mexico and sunset
views. The Bar interior will be divided to allow for cozier areas while also creating an open
space ideal for small events and entertainment. The lounge menu will be revamped to
include sushi, small bites and creative cocktails.
The Terrace will reopen as Terrazza, an Italian eatery serving three meals a day. A new
glass atrium with fully retractable doors will provide a seaside café feel with indoor and
outdoor seating. The popular breakfast buffet will remain, but Terrazza’s new menu and
design will make it a hot spot where guests and local residents alike will enjoy a casual
lunch or Italian dinner.
The Grill steakhouse and specialty restaurant will continue as a classic establishment with
new contemporary accents to the furnishings and décor. Refreshing the fabrics and
updating. The Grill’s mahogany touches on the walls and floors will remain. The
restaurant’s selections of dry-aged beef, fresh seafood and collection of international wines
will remain untouched.
The Ritz-Carlton Naples is a favorite wedding destination and as such the resort’s Artisans
“princess ballroom” will be brightened with soft silvers, whites and light greys to resemble
an elegant jewel box. Taking a cue from diamond wedding bands, new chandeliers will be
added to the space and a restructuring to areas of the floor plan will help to expand the
room while enhancing access to the resort’s numerous outdoor event venues.
This re-mastering coupled with the investments over the past ten years including a new
lobby and lobby concept “Bites” as well as enhancements to other public spaces including
20,000 square feet of meeting space, demonstrates The Ritz-Carlton’s continued
commitment to its guests and staff while ensuring that the resort’s reputation for worldclass product and service excellence is enhanced.
This iconic re-mastering will solidify the resort’s position as the social center of Naples, the
destination that the resort helped to enhance when the hotel opened to much fanfare 27years ago. The transformation will be unveiled on October 1, 2013, when the resort will
welcome its first guests following the re-opening.
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About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 81 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 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 website at
www.ritzcarlton.com. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marriott International,
Inc. (NYSE: MAR)
About The Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples:
Located on the pristine white sands of Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, the AAA Five Diamond, Forbes Five Star RitzCarlton, Naples appeals to today’s sophisticated traveler with an array of pampering amenities. With 450 guest
rooms and suites—all with stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico—the resort offers a variety of innovative dining
experiences, a luxurious, 51,000-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Spa®, two heated pools, a high-tech entertainment
lounge, an interactive environmental children’s program and a wide selection of beach activities and water sports.
Consistently, readers of Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler magazines rank The Ritz-Carlton, Naples beach
resort among the best in Florida, the U.S., and the world. Dec. 4, 2010, marked The Ritz-Carlton, Naples’ 25th
anniversary.
The AAA Five Diamond, Forbes Four Star Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples is renowned for its exceptional
personalized service, inventive cuisine and luxurious accommodations, with panoramic views of the adjacent Greg
Norman-designed Tiburón Golf Club. The 295-room Mediterranean-style resort, ranked as one of the top hotels in
the U.S. by U.S. New & World Report (2012), is home to a pair of 18-hole signature Greg Norman golf courses at
Tiburón and is home to the annual PGA TOUR Franklin Templeton Shootout, hosted in December. The Tiburón Golf
Course complex is complete with the with the PGA TOURAcademy, recognized as one of the top academies in the
country and the TaylorMade Performance Lab which unites the golfer and fitter with advanced technology to
create the ultimate club fitting experience. January 4, 2012, marked the 10th anniversary of The Ritz-Carlton Golf
Resort, Naples.