Property Profile - The The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

You know you’re in for a comfy stay when a resort calls its lobby area the Living Room.

While the West has no shortage of mountain resorts, properties that can deliver top-notch service and amenities while making guests feel like they’re in a cozy home away from home are a bit harder to come by. The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, the first resort of its caliber in the region, pulls that combination off effortlessly.

"You can come here and be in a Ritz-Carlton and feel comfortable in ski boots," says Heather Allison, director of sales and marketing for the property. "We position ourselves as a luxury mountain resort but with an unpretentious, very relaxed environment."

The laid-back luxury begins the moment you enter the magnificent, multilevel Living Room with its plush and inviting seating areas and bars, and is carried through to every aspect of the resort, including the meeting facilities, dining venues, spa and outdoor pool and deck, not to mention the year-round outdoor activity program, complemented by a mountain concierge service with ski "valets."

The ski-in, ski-out property, featuring 170 posh guest units and a grand lodge design, is set mid-mountain at Northstar-at-Tahoe in the middle of the lush forest, and it is the first-ever LEED-certified Ritz-Carlton resort. Whether you’re gazing through floor-to-ceiling windows next to the 55-foot-high granite fireplace in the Living Room, relaxing in the outdoor Jacuzzi overlooking the mountains or heading out on the slopes right from the outdoor deck, there is always a feeling that you are one with nature while having every amenity imaginable at your disposal. The seamless integration with the surroundings has been a big hit with planners, according to Allison.

"It’s one of the most magnificent settings in the West, and it’s the architecture of the resort and how it was designed to blend with the natural environment—with the stone and the wood," Allison says. "The mountain is suitable to skiers of all levels, which is one of most advantageous things for groups, and in summer there’s a wide variety of outdoor venues and activities, and we have the lake, which is unique to the Tahoe area."

During winter, groups can take advantage of distinctive features such as a reception on the mountain concierge level upon arrival, giving attendees a chance to get fitted for skis and set up lessons they may need so they can just hit the slopes the next day. Northstar can also coordinate group ski and snowboard programs such as mini Olympics and relay races, as well as biathlon programs and cross-country and telemark ski lessons with former Olympians, according to Allison. Snowmobiling and snowshoeing are among the other winter activities available.

In summer, the mountain concierge can set up group activities including kayaking and boating on Lake Tahoe, golfing, fly-fishing, hiking and biking. The property also works with Thunderbird Lodge, which Allison says is a standout for waterfront events.

Another plus for groups is the inter-mountain gondola that runs between the resort and the Village at Northstar, providing either a unique resort arrival experience for groups or leisure-time diversions with its many boutique shops and restaurants.

Yet attendees might find it hard to pull themselves away from the on-property dining choices.

"We have an extraordinary culinary talent here," Allison says.

A definite highlight of the resort is its signature restaurant, Manzanita, where celebrity chef Traci Des Jardins dishes out delectable seasonal creations such as red wine-braised short ribs and halibut with truffle onion jus. The restaurant has a dual-sided fireplace and a private dining area for group functions.

The property features 15,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space. Indoor options have all the high-tech bells and whistles, and all venues prominently feature the majestic natural beauty of the area, whether groups are gathering in ballrooms with wrap-around outdoor balconies, a slope-side outdoor terrace with a fireplace or private sites nestled in the forest.

The Highlands Spa is another option for after-hours events or for attendees to enjoy during downtime, with its luxuriously invigorating and relaxing massages, wraps and facials.

"The spa has been a critical component of the experience for both leisure [travelers] and groups," Allison says. "We find that groups might have a half-day on their own where they can ski or go to the spa. There is a cabin area down in the spa that is perfect for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and we have the adults-only pool that can be used for a private reception."

Since opening in December 2009, the resort’s key group segments have been corporate, association and incentive, according to Allison.

With its proximity to San Francisco, roughly three hours away by car, Allison says the resort is working with its sister properties in San Francisco and Half Moon Bay to promote The Ritz-Carltons of Northern California for combination trips that allow guests to experience the coast, the city and the mountains.

"We haven’t had a group that has met at all three properties yet, but it would work particularly well with incentives," she says.

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