Ritz Carlton Hotel Company example essay topic

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has achieved so much fame in their marketplace that they have attained what is referred to as "The Ritz Mystique". Among the grand hotels of the world, The Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts are famous for luxury, spectacular surroundings and legendary service. They have gained this title with dedication and award-winning hotels that reflect the 100 years of tradition that stand behind them. Discovering the fascinating history of Ritz-Carlton hotels, illustrates their commitment on relentless training to improve their quality in service and their strategy.

Ritz-Carlton has achieved a Gold Standard of value and philosophy by which they operate. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. originates with the 1983 purchase of The Ritz-Carlton, Boston by William B. Johnson, and the purchase of rights to The Ritz-Carlton name. The standards of service, dining and facilities of this Boston landmark serve as a benchmark for all Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts worldwide. In 1927, Edward N. Wyner, a local Boston real estate developer, was asked to build a world-class hotel. Wyner agreed because he knew The Ritz-Carlton name would secure immediate success.

He received permission from The Ritz-Carlton Investing Company and the Paris Ritz for use of the name and set out to create luxury in the heart of Boston. Edward Wyner died in 1961. However, the Ritz legacy endured with Charles Ritz, son of Cesar Ritz, who was an active board member of The Ritz-Carlton until his death in 1977. In 1983, Blakely sold the hotel and the rights to The Ritz-Carlton name to William B. Johnson, who established The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

The company has grown a collection of the finest hotels around the world since. Several of these hotels are historic landmarks, following a commitment of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company to preserving architecturally important buildings. One of these examples is The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa. As a famous Pasadena landmark for nearly 100 years, the Huntington Hotel went through many owners and stages to get where they are today. The hotel was finished with its final rebuilding and renovating stages and reopened as The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel in March 1991. Originally the hotel was constructed in 1906 and opened in February 1907 as the Hotel Wentworth.

Financial problems and a disappointing first season forced the Hotel Wentworth to go out of business. Railroad tycoon and art collector Henry Huntington purchased the Hotel Wentworth in 1911, renaming it the Huntington Hotel. Huntington hired prominent Los Angeles architect Myron Hunt to redesign the main building and grounds. It reopened in 1914, transformed into a beautiful winter resort.

The 'golden years' ended with the stock market crash and the Great Depression of the late 1920's and early 1930's. However, by the end of the 1930's, the hotel was back on solid ground. When World War II began, all reservations were cancelled and the hotel was rented to the Army for $3,000 a month. Following the war, the Huntington's fortune turned upwards once again. In 1954, Stephen Royce sold the hotel to the Sheraton Corporation, remaining as general manager until his retirement in 1969.

The hotel continued operating until 1985 when it was forced to close because of its inability to meet earthquake structural standards. After a two and a half year major renovation, the hotel reopened in March 1991 as The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel, combining the hotel's tradition of grace and elegance with The Ritz-Carlton reputation for quality service. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is considered the premier worldwide provider of luxury travel and hospitality products and service. A study by the Cornell School of Hotel Administration and McGill University named The Ritz-Carlton as the overall "Best Practices" champion in the hotel industry.

This study undertook a survey of 13,400 managers in the lodging industry and is regarded as the most comprehensive, objective, and valid study to date..