BEAVER CREEK, CO--(Marketwired - Jan 9, 2014) - Fresh from a multi-phased, multi-million dollar renovation, The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch unveiled its new resort experiences for guests visiting this winter season. "We've reinvented much of the resort experience at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch for this coming winter and beyond," said Abdullah Vural, general manager for the resort. "With new guest rooms, the opening of Buffalos and the new Bachelors Lounge, our guests will have new ways to explore the best ski-in, ski-out experience in North America," he continued. Comprehensive renovations at the Beaver Creek resort, now complete, also refreshed the Bachelor Gulch Spa, Great Room, Club Level Lounge, meeting and event space, opened new retail space and expanded and enhanced the ski valet experience.

Ski season at the Beaver Creek resort started on November 27, and was welcomed with excellent snow conditions. The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch was the first ski resort hotel opened by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C, over eleven years ago and quickly set the standard for ski-in, ski-out experiences. With the new renovations, offerings and services, the resort is transformed for the winter 2013-14 ski season -- continuing the evolution of one of the iconic resorts in The Ritz-Carlton brand.

The resort's vibrant new look embraces the rich heritage of "parkitecture," a design style inspired by the great mountain lodges of the National Park System in the Western US, with rustic lodge pole pine beams and stone fireplaces, newly invigorated with sophisticated furnishings and contemporary paintings. The Great Room retains the rustic charm the resort is renowned for, while creating a new ambience of modern mountain elegance. The same approach was employed to enhance all 180 guest rooms and suites. The new guest room color scheme takes inspiration from the famous Colorado blue skies. The resulting design embraces the natural and alpine elements both inside and outside the room, while refreshing them with a lighter palette of pale blues, sage greens, vibrant golds and soft creams. Local foliage and aspen trees are featured in the new artwork created by Colorado artists, which helps define the sense of place. The carpet design in the guest rooms relates to the location and is based on a cracked ice concept, while the wall covering is a contemporary interpretation of red rock. The warmth and richness of the fine-crafted woodwork and stone fireplace traditions combine gracefully with the fresh design and new elements to create a modern yet rustic feel. 

NEW RESTAURANT, BUFFALOS, OPENS
The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch opened its newest signature Beaver Creek restaurant on December 8 -- Buffalos, featuring a seasonal, ingredient-driven menu highlighting an open kitchen headed by Executive Chef, Fabien Biraud. "Guests will be able to see all the action inside the kitchen," said Chef Biraud commenting on the new restaurant concept. "With the new Buffalos restaurant, I started from scratch creating both new and classically inspired dishes with Colorado Bison, which added some adventure to the menus throughout the day," he continued. From the open kitchen, the culinary team creates an authentic Colorado experience with bold, flavorful menus sourced from the purest ingredients found in the Rocky Mountain region. Organic, sustainable, free-range and gluten-free selections are available and highlighted on each menu for discerning guests. 

Bison once roamed free on the Colorado plains and recently made an amazing comeback on menus as a leaner, healthier alternative to beef. Buffalos showcases signature, grass-fed buffalo and bison specialties throughout the day as part of the broader menu offerings. During breakfast for example, guests will enjoy Buffalo Steak and Eggs or selections from the Market Table daily, while at lunch the ever-popular Bison Burger or Bison Chili for skiers who want a quick bite before getting back on the slopes. A Bison Steak Salad offers a lighter lunch alternative as bison is a good choice for health conscious meat eaters. More substantial entrees, like a Bison Rib-Eye anchors the dinner menu, while a Bison Tartare offers an innovative interpretation of a classic appetizer. In the bar, a Colorado-crafted draught and bottled beer program highlights some of the finest brews from around the state. Beer pairings with signature dishes tableside and bar-side recommendations for beer adventurers anticipate guests' thirst and connoisseurship during lunch, dinner and into the evening. Buffalos specialty handcrafted cocktail menu embraces the essence of mixology by infusing spirits with local ingredients to create unique cocktails like the Bourbon Wildflower and the Colorado-ita, a twist on a margarita.

NEW BACHELORS LOUNGE OPENS
 Bachelors Lounge opened inside The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch on December 8 and is an exclusive lounge in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Adult guests can relax and unwind with the finest of company and enjoy a finely imported cigar outside along with signature spirits and a Sommelier-crafted wine list from around the world. The bartenders, sommeliers and mixologists will create pairings for guests between cigars, spirits, beer or wine. The sultry, contemporary indoor lounge with modern fireplace seats guests to experience handcrafted cocktails, signature spirits and light dining, and an outdoor covered and heated seating area serves as a smoking lounge around a fireplace. Bachelors Lounge will accommodate year-round seating in a warm, relaxed setting. Seating outside provides stunning vistas and views of the surrounding mountains and forest, while inside guests may warm themselves by the modern gas fireplace. Live music will be performed on select nights with a classics singer and baby grand piano played on weekend nights. In addition to a selection of fine imported cigars, the restaurant offers a hookah experience with loose tobacco in flavors such as Passion Fruit, Pumpkin Spice, Vanilla, Rose and Orange-Pineapple. Guests are encouraged to combine an assortment of aromas while enjoying the custom made hookahs. 

EXPANSION OF SKIING AND SKI VALET SERVICES
The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch is the premier ski-in, ski-out experience in North America, located mid-mountain on Beaver Creek Resort in Colorado. As part of that experience, the resort pioneered Ski Valet services over a decade ago -- where valets assist guests in putting on their boots and laying their skis on the snow. New for the winter 2013-14 ski season, the resort has expanded its ski valet services in a covered outdoor area just steps from the Bachelor Gulch Express Lift. Ski valets assist guests seated on wooden benches, and help them put on their boots amongst gas heating towers and fire pits. Boots are warmed in an indoor staging area and brought to guests upon arrival. Guests are escorted to the snow, where they find their skis or snowboards awaiting them on the snow, ready to click in and ski or slide to the turning Bachelor Gulch Express chairlift. Guests departing from or returning to the Colorado ski resort are offered complimentary hot chocolate or cider to warm them from their ski day on Beaver Creek Mountain. 

Also, new this season, alpine retailer Gorsuch, opened a retail apparel and gift shop on the fourth floor adjacent to the lobby, as well as a ski and snowboard equipment rental location on the fifth floor. Gorsuch rents the finest ski equipment available with exclusive brands from around the world. The new in-room boot fitting service is available for Club Level Guests, anticipating the needs of families for a private fitting experience. An iPad equipped Boot Fitter will arrive to greet guests with a rolling equipment cart of sample skis, snowboards and boots as part of the custom service.

SPAGO BACHELOR GULCH OFFERS NEW MENUS FOR WINTER
 The Forbes Four-Star, Spago Bachelor Gulch is the Colorado outpost of The Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group and his legendary Beverly Hills restaurant. Chef de Cuisine Jared Montarbo creates imaginative, seasonal American cuisine with global accents and influences. The interior was designed by restaurant designer Tony Chi, who weaved rustic and modern elements and materials together with the traditional log and stone features of the Great Room. The Spago Bar has been refreshed with new bar stools as part of the resort renovation.

The menu features Spago's classics from over the years -- Handmade Agnolotti with seasonal fillings and Steamed Striped Bass, Hong Kong style. New signature dishes locally inspired by the surrounding environment have also been created like the "Chinois Style" Colorado Lamb Chops. A chef's multi-course tasting menu is also available nightly with wine pairings by Sommelier, Jason Hunter. For winter, the Spago bar is the place to see-and-be-seen for Apres Ski shaking classic and handcrafted cocktails, and serving a sommelier-crafted selection of wines by the glass and beers. (Lunch and dinner menus available) 

BACHELOR GULCH SPA AT THE RITZ-CARLTON: RE-FRESHED AND REJUVENATED
 As part of the comprehensive renovations to The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, The Bachelor Gulch spa was refreshed with updated treatment rooms and men's and women's relaxation areas. The signature experience in the Beaver Creek spa is centered around the Men's and Women's rock-lined grottos featuring steam, sauna, hot and cold plunge area and a co-ed rock-lined Grotto with waterfall. New featured treatments for winter include the Oxygen Facial, reparative for the face from the harshness of the mountain environment. The new Winter Escape Day Package includes a choice of signature massage or facial, 60-minutes or signature scrub (Vichy or Hydro Tub) 75-minutes, also a choice of one salon treatment -- either signature manicure or pedicure, 50-minutes and a light lunch with glass of champagne and valet parking. Favorite treatments include the Hot Toddy for the Body scrub and Hot Herbal Poultice. Mountain Spa Mornings is a complete wellness experience combining a morning snowshoe tour, yoga and massage. The Bachelor Gulch Spa is consistently rated one of the best spa experiences in the United States. 

For more information or to make reservations at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, contact a travel professional, call (800) 241-3333 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/BachelorGulch. Connect with us at www.facebook.com/RitzCarltonBachelorGulch. 

About The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
 The grand lodge architectural style of The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch exudes authentic Rocky Mountain luxury and captures the essence of the surrounding national forest. Consistently touted by Travel & Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler as one of North America's top hotels, the year-round destination resort offers limitless outdoor adventure, including unparalleled ski-in/ski-out access on Beaver Creek Mountain and preferred tee times at the private Red Sky Golf Club, which includes two 18-hole championship courses designed by the renowned Tom Fazio and Greg Norman. After a day of activity, The Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch is the ideal place to relax and rejuvenate. The soothing Forbes Four-Star, 21,000 square-foot spa and fitness center features 19 treatment rooms, a co-ed rock-lined grotto with lazy-river hot tub, an integrated wellness program, and both Pilates and yoga studios. Designed by world-renowned hospitality designer Tony Chi, Spago by Wolfgang Puck opened at the resort in late 2007 as the only Colorado outpost of his legendary Beverly Hills restaurant. All four-legged guests are welcomed to 'Bachelor's Pack' -- helmed by the hotel's resident canine ambassador, Saint Bernard 'Bachelor' -- with a host of premium services and amenities. 

About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.
 The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 85 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, an award that originated in 1987. Its purpose is to promote the awareness of quality excellence, recognize quality achievements of companies and publicize successful quality strategies. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company won the award in 1992 and 1999. 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).