Legendary Ritz Paris Reopens With Phenomenal Value-Added Benefits Exclusively For Virtuoso® Travelers

NEW YORK, June 6, 2016 /CNW/ -- Virtuoso®, the international network specializing in luxury and experiential travel, is pleased to offer travelers a tempting reason to visit Paris in 2016. The iconic Ritz Paris reopens its doors today, and travelers who reserve their stay through Virtuoso will exclusively receive a generous offering of complimentary benefits:

• Round-trip limo airport transfers with VIP greeting at the airplane door and express customs service
• No set check-in and check-out time
• Room upgrade guaranteed at time of booking
• Signature breakfast for two in the restaurant L'Espadon
• Fiber optic internet

The 117-year-old landmark closed in 2012 for a top-to-bottom restoration by celebrated architect and designer Thierry W. Despont. The grand hotel now features a 50-50 ratio of suites to rooms; a renovated Bar Hemingway, dedicated to the novelist and frequent guest; the world's first and only Chanel Spa; and a tunnel from the parking facility to the hotel for private VIP entrances. Behind the walls, the latest in technology has been added throughout the hotel while great care has been taken to ensure that "the Ritz will always be the Ritz."

"The luxury travel world has been eagerly awaiting the rebirth of this iconic legend," said Albert Herrera, Virtuoso's senior vice president of Global Product Partnerships. "Ritz Paris' impeccable reputation, fabled history, and exceptional guest offerings represent deluxe hospitality at its finest. Virtuoso is honored to help reintroduce this grande dame and demonstrate why now is the time to visit Paris."

Located on Place Vendôme in the heart of Paris, Ritz Paris reopens with 142 accommodations, an impressive 71 of which are suites. Fifteen suites are named in honor of famed hotel guests, including Ernest Hemingway, the Duke of Winsor, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Coco Chanel, who resided at the Ritz Paris for 34 years. Accommodations are furnished with museum-quality antiques that have been expertly restored, and bathrooms offer TVs, heated floors, plus a separate shower and bath. Two lush gardens span a city block, providing hotel guests with an oasis in the city's center. A retractable roof and heated floors enable guests to dine on the terrace year round.

The property offers three restaurants and three bars, including L'Espadon for a gastronomic experience under the direction of Chef Nicolas Sale; a magnetic gathering and dining spot called Bar Vendome; a new informal bistro named the Ritz Bar; the beloved Bar Hemingway; and the Salon Proust, a new lobby feature with book-lined walls and afternoon tea service. The two-story Ritz Club, renovated extensively, is the world's only spa with an area dedicated to the Chanel art of skincare. Guests will enjoy a neoclassic indoor swimming pool, hammam and sauna, and state-of-the-art fitness facilities.

A Virtuoso preferred partner for more than two decades, Ritz Paris now joins the select roster of hotels in the prestigious Preview program, which provides clients of Virtuoso travel advisors with advantages they can't receive elsewhere. In return, Virtuoso provides Preview hotels unparalleled support prior to their public opening, including networking opportunities, advisor training, and sales and marketing initiatives. Preview is part of Virtuoso's renowned Hotels & Resorts Program, which includes 1,100 of the globe's finest properties in 100 countries.

To reserve a stay at Ritz Paris through a Virtuoso travel advisor, visit www.virtuoso.com. 

About Virtuoso
Virtuoso® is the leading international travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 390 agency members with more than 11,400 elite travel advisors in nearly 40 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with 1,700 of the world's best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. More than (U.S.) $15.5 billion in annual travel sales makes Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com.

About Ritz Paris 
A former 18th-century mansion overlooking the Place Vendôme, the Ritz Paris opened its doors in 1898. César Ritz, a visionary hotelier, dreamed of founding his own luxury hotel where the greats of this world would feel at home. The privacy and glamour of the Ritz Paris immediately made it a gathering place for royalty, artists and writers, first among them Marcel Proust and Ernest Hemingway. Never closed until the beginning of an unprecedented restoration in 2012, the Ritz Paris will reopen in March 2016 with newly created spaces, high-tech comfort and a renewed commitment to its timeless style. For more information, visit ritzparis.com.

SOURCE Virtuoso