CHENGDU, CHINA - Sept. 12, 2013 - The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu today announced that its highly-anticipated grand opening is scheduled for Oct. 9. The luxury hotel, towering above Tianfu Square in the city's center, will be The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.'s ninth in China; its 19th in Asia Pacific and its 81st globally as well as being the second Ritz-Carlton hotel owned by China's R&F Properties.

The October grand opening is the culmination of a year-long campaign for excellence. In March 2013 Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu General Manager Chris Clark led a team of senior executives in a nation-wide talent search to attract the "top one percent" of service professionals. As a result, the hotel received over 10,000 applications for employment and inducted 1,200 individuals into The Ritz-Carlton's unique "STAR" interview process. Today, the 450 ladies and gentlemen who achieved top honors throughout the rigorous selection and training regimen stand ready to inspire each new guest with legendary personal service.

This commitment to excellence demonstrated in Chengdu lies at the core of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.'s identity. To date, it is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award since that accolade's inception in 1987; the company has also earned acclaim as one of only 40 J.D. Power Customer Service Champions in 2011; The Ritz-Carlton is recognized regionally as a "Best Employer" for 2013 by Aon Hewitt.

True to this pedigree, The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu was named "Most Anticipated New Hotel" at both the China Hotel Starlight Awards and the China MICE Golden Chair Awards in April 2013—fully six months in advance of its opening date.

The grand opening of a Ritz-Carlton hotel follows a 10-day countdown to the occasion involving the arrival of senior executives—including President and Chief Operations Officer Herve Humler—and a contingent of 100 expert Ritz-Carlton trainers from around the world. These final 10 days see the hotel brought to perfect readiness as the group performs an exhaustive inspection to ensure that each new hotel upholds The Ritz-Carlton's sterling reputation for excellence.

"The Ritz-Carlton hotel does not believe in 'Soft Opening's, we believe the very First guest who walks through our door, receives impeccable service and be able to enjoy all the hotel facilities," says Mr. Clark. "We pride ourselves on our ability to deliver seamless, comprehensive and personalized experiences from day one."

Overlooking the city's central Tianfu Square, The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu offers travelers an ideal base from which to explore Chengdu's cultural and culinary wealth as well as the vast, emerging potential of Western China's dynamic economies. With guest rooms from the 28th to the 41st floor, this 353-room luxury hotel features unmatched views of downtown Chengdu paired with the comfort, privacy and personalized service offered by Ritz-Carlton hotels the world over. Guest rooms include walk-in closets, 5-fixture bathroom's featuring paired sinks, a bathtub, an enclosed shower, and a TOTO intelligent toilet. 113 Ritz-Carlton Club Level rooms and 55 suites feature 800-thread-count linens, personal Butler service and a host of thoughtful accoutrements.

The luxury Chengdu hotel offers memorable and diverse dining opportunities at each of its four restaurants and bars. Its Li Xuan Chinese Restaurant specializes in Cantonese and local Sichuanese creations; SPICES, an all-day dining restaurant, features classics of the Italian, Japanese, Southeast Asian and Chinese cuisines prepared at live cooking stations; The Lobby Lounge hosts a traditional English Afternoon Tea in addition to a sophisticated menu of classic cocktails while the stylish FLAIR lounge serves fresh sushi and Asian-inspired tapas indoors and on an outdoor patio to the accompaniment of a live DJ. Meeting spaces include a Grand Ballroom, Junior Ballroom and seven additional meeting rooms totaling 1,700 square meters of function space. Guests will find relaxation and wellness on the 23rd floor with the full-floor luxury Ritz-Carlton SPA, an indoor swimming pool with underwater music and Fitness Center with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment.

About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 80 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 web site at www.ritzcarlton.com. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR).

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Contact: Michele Lv

Director of Public Relations

michele.lv@ritzcarlton.com

(86 28) 8359 9602