The highly anticipated Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe, situated mid-mountain at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, opens its doors to guests today, welcoming the first resort of a luxury hotelier to the Lake Tahoe area.

Following five years of concept, construction and development phases, The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe is a contemporary mountain lodge nestled mid-mountain at Northstar-at-Tahoe resort. Its spectacular location, combined with incredible architecture and amenities, and the Ritz-Carlton luxury experience, offer vacationers a one of a kind mountain experience.

Simon F. Cooper, President and Chief Operating Officer for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company,  L.L.C. personally joined Allen Highfield for the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon and the welcoming of the first guest.  

“Lake Tahoe has always been a destination known for its pristine natural beauty and skiing, now it will also be known as home to a world-class resort,” said Cooper. “The arrival of our brand and the opening of The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe further enhances the guest‘s service experience at Northstar-at-Tahoe.”

The Ritz-Carlton has created over 350 jobs this year in Northern California, providing highly respected training and opportunity.

The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe is the first new-build resort development in the Lake Tahoe area in decades. The property includes 170 guest rooms, 23 private Ritz-Carlton Residences and 25 Ritz-Carlton Club fractional ownership residences. Anticipated to be the premier Northern California contemporary mountain retreat, the $300 million project, features ski-in, ski-out access with mountain concierge services, as well as several amenities and facilities open to the public.

Manzanita, the resort’s signature restaurant has been created by San Francisco’s James Beard Award Winning chef Traci Des Jardins, and the Highlands Spa is a 17,000 square foot spa and fitness center with treatments and therapies themed around water and the woods. The new Highlands Gondola will also be open  connecting guests between the nearby Village-at-Northstar and The Ritz-Carlton Highlands.