Press Release: The Ritz-Carlton Chicago
October 3, 2000
CHICAGO, IL -- For the second consecutive year and fourth time in seven years, The Ritz-Carlton Chicago (A Four
Seasons Hotel) has been named ``Best Hotel In North America'' by readers of Conde Nast Traveler.
Ritz-Carlton Chicago General Manager Tom Kelly accepted the honor at the Conde Nast Traveler 2000 Annual Readers'
Choice Awards held in Las Vegas.
The luxury hotel ranks #1 in service in North America and #3 in the World and was also named ``Best Hotel In North
America'' in 1999, 1996 and 1994. The hotel also ranked #1 in service among all hotels in the Western Hemisphere
in 1999.
In addition, The Ritz-Carlton Chicago was just named ``One Of The 25 Best Places To Work In Chicago'' by Chicago
Magazine, featured in the October issue.
Conde Nast Traveler's Annual Readers' Choice Awards are recognized as the predominant international benchmark of
travel service. For the 13th year, the magazine tabulated surveys from over 25,000 readers -- making it the largest
private poll of consumer attitudes in the United States.
Hotels were also judged on the quality of their service, guestrooms, food/restaurants, design/layout and activities/facilities.
``We are just delighted,'' says Tom Kelly, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton Chicago. ``Our guests demand a service-rich
environment and, with this honor, they have confirmed that it is what we are providing.''
Employees are happy, too. Of more than 300 companies polled in Chicago, The Ritz-Carlton Chicago and its sister
property, The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, were the only hotels selected as ``One Of The Top 25 Places To Work In
Chicago'' by Chicago magazine for their excellence in employee training and development, work-life balance, benefits
and compensation.
Additional hotel honors include: AAA Five Diamond Award for 20 consecutive years (longer than any other hotel in
Chicago); ``Four Stars'' from Chicago Tribune (The Dining Room); 1998 James Beard ``Best Midwest Chef'' (Dining
Room Chef Sarah Stegner); Captain of the U.S. Pastry Team for the 2001 World Pastry Cup in Lyon, France (Executive
Pastry Chef En-Ming Hsu).
The Ritz-Carlton Chicago recently completed a multimillion-dollar renovation of its 435 guestrooms and suites,
including the new Presidential Suite, which underwent a $300,000 enhancement. In addition, a new 30th Premier Floor
of rooms and suites was introduced, featuring enhanced services like complimentary wardrobe pressing on arrival,
personalized ``in residence'' stationery and Bulgari amenities.
The luxury property has introduced many innovative programs and services to answer the needs of its discerning
guests. They range from a ``Compcierge'' who is available 24-hours-a-day to assist with MIS issues, to ``Allergy-Sensitive''
guestrooms designed for travelers with allergic sensitivities. In addition, an ``I Need It Now'' Program enables
guests to receive commonly misplaced travel essentials (toothbrush, contact lens case, etc.), compliments of the
hotel.
Opened in 1975, the 435-room Ritz-Carlton Chicago is set atop Water Tower Place, high above prestigious North Michigan
Avenue, steps from Oak Street Beach, and Chicago's bustling cultural community.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is the world's leading operator of luxury hotels and currently manages 48 properties
in 20 countries, including The Ritz-Carlton Chicago. Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence opened May
1, 2000 as the company's first property in the Middle East. Additionally, Four Seasons second vacation ownership
development, Four Seasons Resort Club Scottsdale at Troon North, opened its first phase in April 2000. Other hotels
poised to enter the market in 2000 include Dublin, Ireland; and Caracas, Venezuela. 1999 marked the opening of
properties in Las Vegas, Nevada; Punta Mita, Mexico, with a vacation ownership development opening in 2001; London
at Canary Wharf, England; Paris, France; and Scottsdale, Arizona. While most hotels bear the respective names of
Four Seasons or Regent, some do not, including The Ritz-Carlton in Chicago and The Pierre New York. Four Seasons
Hotels Inc. (NYSE: FS) is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FS and the Toronto Stock
Exchange under the ticker symbol FSH. Information on the company can be accessed through the Four Seasons web site
at www.fourseasons.com . Or, go directly to The Ritz-Carlton Chicago (A
Four Seasons Hotel) website at www.fourseasons.com/chicagorc
.
SOURCE: The Ritz-Carlton Chicago