(NORTH LAKE TAHOE, California/Nevada) � Returning visitors might not recognize North Lake Tahoe. In the last few years, the region has undergone a transformation to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars in property and facility renovations, as well as the addition of the lake�s first-ever, five-star property, making North Lake Tahoe one of the country�s premier resort destinations.

One of the area�s most significant properties in the works is the Ritz Carlton Highlands, which broke ground in 2006 and will be Lake Tahoe�s first five-star caliber hotel. The 172-room upscale property, situated mid-mountain at Northstar-at-Tahoe in Truckee, is scheduled to open in 2009 with extensive meeting space and conference facilities.

The historic Crystal Bay casino core is poised for a significant transformation, with plans that include a boutique hotel/casino surrounded by a pedestrian village of shops and restaurants, making the area more attractive to meeting and leisure travelers. Last June, developer Boulder Bay LLC, a partnership between International Supply Consortium, Shoreline Capital and the Scott Development Company, purchased the Tahoe Biltmore and the Crystal Bay Hotel along with a large swath of land in the Crystal Bay region for $37 million. Boulder Bay is in the process of hiring architects, site planners and designers to carry the project forward.

The historic Cal Neva Resort, Spa and Casino in Crystal Bay, which was once owned by Frank Sinatra and recently celebrated its 80th anniversary, is scheduled to undergo a $60 to $70 million restoration, including the addition of a new 10,000 square-foot spa. Historical elements of the project will be preserved, including the famous cabins that Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe once frequented, as well as the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Showroom (which seats 400) and Indian Room (which houses a granite fireplace separated by the California/Nevada Stateline and seats 250). Additional plans to the property include significant upgrades to water, sewer and fire systems.

The Resort at Squaw Creek, located in Olympic Valley, is still gleaming from a $55 million renovation, while the Village at Squaw added an additional 1,200 square-feet of meeting space last fall. The Incline Village-based Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort just completed a $2 million-remodel of its Lakeside Cottages, serving as the final phase of a $62-million complete property renovation (which included a 20,000 square-foot luxury spa).

The recently renovated Chateau, on the Championship Golf Course in Incline Village, boasts vaulted ceilings, stacked stone fireplaces, expansive deck and 4,500 square feet of meeting space. The North Lake Tahoe Conference Center is situated lakeside and continues to offer dramatic vistas of sandy beaches and glistening blue waters. The Squaw Valley Lodge and PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn are also home to improved rooms and meeting space.

Granlibakken Conference Center and Lodge, just outside of Tahoe City, opened its expanded Executive Lodge (perfect for board retreats) in June, bringing the resort�s total offerings to 16,000 square feet of conference space and nearly 190 rooms.

One of the area�s newest lodging properties (April 2006), the Cedar House Sport Hotel, is located in Truckee. The 42-room boutique inn boasts an organic design, combining a clever mixture of materials � steel beams, massive cedar logs, rusting corrugated steel, cedar siding and concrete floors. Strength, structure and environmental awareness are the themes permeating throughout the design. Described as embodying a �hip, contemporary, European style,� the property features a lobby with full bar, 12 designer suites, outdoor heated spa, meeting facilities and complimentary Wi-Fi service.

The North Lake Tahoe community is also getting a facelift. The new Heritage Plaza in Tahoe City now features picnic tables and amphitheatre-style seating with expansive vistas of the lake, ideal for coffee breaks and small meetings. The street-side plaza is adjacent to the historical Watson Cabin Museum and Commons Beach and was designed to bring the bustling beachfront events and activities into downtown. Businesses and organizations are also collaborating to bring a Main Street program to Kings Beach and neighboring North Lake Tahoe communities of Crystal Bay, Tahoe Vista and Carnelian Bay.

An easily accessible destination, North Lake Tahoe is 45 minutes from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, two hours from the Sacramento International Airport and a three-hour drive from California�s Bay Area. Numerous transportation options are available, including the new North Lake Tahoe Express. The 21-person shuttles (that can handle any sized group) stop at major lodging properties in the North Lake Tahoe and Truckee areas. The North Lake Tahoe Express runs daily from 3:30 a.m. to midnight.

North Lake Tahoe is a 45-minute drive from the Reno Tahoe International Airport, two hours from Sacramento International Airport and just over three hours from San Francisco International Airport. For lodging reservations, recreation and event details, call North Lake Tahoe at 1-877-949-3296 or visit www.GoTahoeNorth.com. Visitor information centers are located at 380 North Lake Boulevard in Tahoe City and 969 Tahoe Boulevard in Incline Village. The North Lake Tahoe Visitors Bureaus, Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, work together to promote North Lake Tahoe as a premier, year-round destination.

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Media Contact:
Pettit Gilwee
530-583-2138
Pettit@gilweepr.com