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First eco-conscious hotel of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company opened in North Carolina
The eco-conscious Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, designed to achieve LEED Gold certification and provide a slate of new conveniences for frequent travelers, opened 1 October 2009 in the heart of Charlotte’s thriving uptown district. The sleekly contemporary, environmentally-friendly hotel features 146 technologically-advanced guest rooms, a 1,200 square meter/13,000 square-foot penthouse Wellness Center with Aqua Lounge and saline-treated swimming pool, a street-side BLT Steak restaurant, and more than 1,114 square meters/12,000 square-feet of meeting space utilizing recycled aluminum conference tables, on-property purified and bottled water, and green meetings as a standard. The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte is the first Ritz-Carlton hotel in the Carolinas, the 73rd Ritz-Carlton property worldwide, and the first domestic new Ritz-Carlton hotel to be unveiled in 2009.

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte features these highlights:
Environmentally-Focused Operation and Design
- A green roof vegetated with 18,000 plants insulating the building, slowing rain runoff and cooling the air through evaporation of water from leaves
- Select employee uniforms made of fabric derived from regenerated plastic bottles
- An in-house water purification and container system that will divert 73,000 plastic bottles from landfills, save more than 104 barrels of oil, eliminate nearly 49 tons of CO2 emissions and save almost 605,000,000 BTUs of electricity each year
- A state-of-the-art air transfer system which circulates outside air into guest rooms at 60 cubic-feet per minute
- A hotel Bike Valet, featuring 150 bicycle parking spaces, complimentary Trek Bikes for hotel guests to use, and bicycle maintenance and safety training for hotel staff
- Complimentary parking for Hybrid vehicles
- Complimentary weekday morning guest transportation via Hybrid vehicle
- Members of the hotel’s Education Center for Sustainable Practices will highlight green features for guests. Also planned is a sustainable guest speaker series and environmental outreach programs for students of all ages.

Frequent-Traveler Conveniences
- The Nook - complimentary private offices for guests, offering computers, printers, office supplies, teleconferencing, wireless Internet, and copy/fax access
- Travel Lite, eliminating the hassle of having to pack toiletry essentials in TSA-approved plastic bags for airline carry-on purposes. With Travel Lite, hotel guests may pre-select from a menu of nominally-priced daily grooming essentials to be delivered to the room upon check-in
- Desktop-on-Demand, the technology version of Room Service. Guests may have printers, disks, phone chargers, surge protectors, cables, keyboards and office supplies delivered to their rooms, which are already pre-outfitted with business essentials and electronic jack-packs
- Guests who stay a minimum of four nights per month may enjoy Luggage-Less Travel, checking in their clothing and personal items and leaving them at the hotel at the end of each stay. Their items will be held for them until their next arrival or, for an optional added charge, their clothing can be cleaned and preferred personal toiletries replenished

The bi-level penthouse Wellness Center is 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 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 further highlights 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 Appetit magazine.

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte 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. Theodore Koumelis - Monday, October 12, 2009