Spas in the News
The
Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte at Bank of America Center to open this October as First
Leed-Built Ritz-Carlton Hotel
147-room
property will emphasize life in balance and protecting nature within the city
- Bi-level Wellness Center a key feature
CHARLOTTE, NC. May 28, 2009 – The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte
at Bank of America Center is scheduled to open this October in the heart of dynamic
Uptown, bringing The Ritz-Carlton brand to the fast-growing Carolinas market and
becoming the first LEED-built hotel for The Ritz-Carlton and for the city of Charlotte.
The contemporary 147-room hotel is set in a sleek 18-story
building designed to attain LEED Gold environmental certification from the Green
Building Council, which certifies new buildings based on sustainability, water
efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental
quality, and innovation and design. The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte at Bank of America
Center has been built to provide a supremely comfortable yet environmentally-mindful
travel experience, seamlessly integrating green and sustainable practices with
the rigorous standards of The Ritz-Carlton brand. The new Ritz-Carlton will be
an eco-focused rarity among top-tier city hotels.
Guest
rooms at The Ritz-Carlton begin at 506 square feet and offer uniquely upgraded
air quality, thanks to a state-of-the-art air transfer system that efficiently
circulates large amounts of outside air into rooms and suites. Further energizing
its green commitment, the hotel will utilize a sophisticated Natura Water Purification
System, diverting 73,000 plastic bottles from landfills, saving more than 104
barrels of oil, eliminating nearly 49 tons of CO2 emissions and saving almost
605,000,000 BTUs of electricity each year.
A
highly-reflective roof vegetated with living plants and aggressive water conservation
and recycling programs will support the new Ritz-Carlton property’s commitment
to its surroundings, while select staff will wear stylish, custom-designed uniforms
made of fabric derived from regenerated plastic bottle materials. Among the hotel’s
sustainable practices, complimentary hybrid-vehicle transportation will be provided
to guests wishing to visit destinations within the I-277 loop on weekday mornings,
while 150 guest bicycle storage spaces will encourage non-motorized enjoyment
of the vibrant city of Charlotte. The hotel’s bike valet team will store
and service guests’ two-wheelers and provide complimentary local bike usage,
and guests driving hybrid cars will receive complimentary parking on-site.
The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte at Bank of America Center will
feature a 13,000-square-foot, bi-level penthouse Wellness Center–a special
rarity among urban properties. The Wellness Center’s philosophy is embodied
in its selection of natural eco-based treatments, 100% organic and vegan products
and a menu of services designed to lend precious balance to life on the road.
The Center offers four treatment rooms, two vitality lounges, a movement studio,
fully-equipped fitness center, whirlpool and indoor saline-treated swimming pool.
Dining enthusiasts will experience
a variety of in-hotel organic and sustainable options, including the Lobby Lounge’s
regional culinary choices and its array of signature martinis, cocktails, wines,
coffees and flavored ice teas. A street-side BLT Steak will further highlight
the dining experience, offering prime cuts of beef, fresh seafood, a wide variety
of tempting side dishes, and classic American dessert favorites. BLT, or Bistro
Laurent Tourondel, is the personal stamp of acclaimed chef and restaurateur Laurent
Tourondel, named 2007 Restaurateur of the Year by Bon Apptit magazine.
More than 12,000 square-feet of contemporary meeting space
can accommodate up to 480 dinner guests at the hotel, with green meetings to be
a standard. Offering nine function rooms, the property’s meeting, wedding
and event space utilizes visually stunning yet environmentally-mindful interior
design, as well as low-emitting organic components and materials seldom found
in such quarters.
From recycled aluminum
meeting room tables, recycled leather furniture and sustainable mahogany and sapele
wood, to regionally-indigenous Tennessee Blue Eyes granite and curated local and
regional art, the hotel interior will offer a striking look at the beauty of next-generation
hotel eco-design. These components will be highlighted to interested guests by
the hotel’s Environmental Steward, a key member of the concierge team and
director of the property’s own Environmental Education Center.
The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte at Bank of America Center enjoys
a strategic Uptown setting that puts restaurants, shopping, businesses, sports,
entertainment and cultural attractions within an easy five-minute walk of the
property. The city’s acclaimed EpiCentre, Founders Hall, Charlotte Convention
Center and NASCAR Hall of Fame (scheduled to open next year) lie within moments
of the hotel’s front door, and the property is just seven miles from Charlotte
Douglas International Airport (CLT), offering non-stop access to and from 134
destinations. The airport is served by eight major U.S. airlines, seven regional
U.S. carriers and multiple international airlines. Additionally, the city of Charlotte
itself is served both by Amtrak and by a convenient local light rail and trolley
system.
Pre-opening information about
The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte at Bank of America Center is available at 704.547.2244.
Guest reservations will be accepted beginning this summer on www.ritzcarlton.com,
at 800.241.3333, or through a travel professional.
