The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club is currently refurbishing two of it's most luxurious winter destinations -- Aspen Highlands and Bachelor Gulch. Scheduled for completion by mid November, both locations remain open for Member occupancy.
Aspen Highlands was the first location in The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club portfolio and offers 73 residences adjacent to the Maroon Bells and Snowmass Wilderness areas, providing Members with an unparalleled view of Mother Nature. Bachelor Gulch offers Members a true Rocky Mountain feel, with 54 residences and membership included at Zach’s Cabin, a private on-mountain lodge. Both properties offer ski-in, ski-out access.

“With these refurbishments, we look forward to welcoming new and returning Members to the freshly revamped residences during the upcoming ski season,” said Bob Phillips, senior vice president and chief customer officer for The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club. “We strive to offer a balance of the ‘comforts of home’ coupled with the luxuries Members have come to expect from The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club.”

Phillips continued, “Additionally we would like to thank the condominium owners’ association board members for their leadership and direction on these refurbishments.”

Introduced in 1999, the exclusive Club provides Members and their families with a lifetime of luxury vacation experiences and the renowned services of The Ritz-Carlton. The first two locations within the brand were Aspen Highlands, Colo. and St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. The Ritz-Carlton Club, St. Thomas recently completed a comprehensive refurbishment of 81 of the two- and three-bedroom Caribbean-influenced residences. Now the Aspen Highlands location is undergoing a hard and soft goods overhaul in The Club’s Elkhorn and Trailhead Lodge buildings, having finished a lobby and common area refurbishment last year. The Bachelor Gulch location is also implementing an elegant soft goods refurbishment of all its 54 ski-in, ski-out residences.

In Aspen Highlands, the design firm, Daroff Designs from Philadelphia, Pa. is executing the “mountain elegant” design concept utilizing furnishings of heirloom quality, while also buying “green” through the purchase of low volatile organic compounds (VOC) paint from the Sherwin Williams environmental line. Environmentally friendly furnishings will include sustainable woods, natural finishes and fabrics, as well as reclaimed products. Each residence will have one-of-a-kind hand-spun Persian rugs; custom, Colorado Buffalo leather sleeper sofas; original, seasonal oil paintings; as well as 52- and 40-inch Sony Bravia flat screen televisions. Following this refurbishment, the renovation of the White River Lodge building is targeted for Fall 2010.

Refurbishments are underway at The Ritz-Carlton Club, Bachelor Gulch with design direction from The Ranch House Interiors Group based in Boulder, Colo. The redecoration focuses on using natural elements and the colors and textures of the Rocky Mountain region, including 100 percent wool, hand-tufted area rugs and the use of Moore & Giles leather on new living room lounge chairs, fireplace benches and bar stools. Furnishings include cotton chenille sleeper sofas and hypo-allergenic down pillows while Sherwin Williams low volatile organic compounds (VOC) paint is being used throughout the residences and the corridors. New carpet in all residence bedrooms as well as new Brinton’s wool/nylon blend carpet in the corridors is also being integrated. Red, green, golden and rust tones are incorporated into the design to reflect the seasonal changes of trees and other natural plant life in the area. Other designs within the residences reflect the surrounding geographic location demonstrating the different layers of the skyline and the natural flowers found mountainside.

About The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club
Combining innovative membership options for luxury travel around the world with the legendary services of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club offers an inspirational vacation lifestyle tailored to each Member’s needs and expectations. This year, on its 10th anniversary, The Club not only underwent a brand evolution, but was also awarded Robb Report’s “Best of the Best” distinction. For information, please visit www.ritzcarltondestinationclub.com. The Club can also be found on Facebook and Twitter (@RitzCarltonClub).