ORANJESTAD, Aruba — The debut of the Ritz-Carlton, Aruba on Nov. 22 marked the opening of the hotelier's 82nd property.
"This hotel sets the benchmark for luxury travel," Herve Humler, president and COO, said at the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. "We are committed to this island and to the community, and we pledge to create memories for our guests that last a lifetime."
Weeks before the first guests checked in at the 320-room property on the far end of Aruba's Palm Beach, Humler had met with the 450 newly hired Ritz employees, marking the first phase of the preopening countdown.
Close to 90% of the staff is Aruban, which Humler cited as a "further demonstration of our company's pledge to Aruba. Our biggest satisfaction is to see people grow and succeed."
In training sessions and to his audience on opening day, Humler emphasized that the Ritz-Carlton credo of service and excellence remains the company's key to success.
"The luxury traveler today wants experiences," Humler said. "We are not in the business to sell rooms but to deliver service and create memories."
He was flanked by Marriott International Chairman Bill Marriott, who pledged the hotel's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
"We applaud Aruba's initiatives in targeting the destination as the green gateway to the region," Marriott said.
Coinciding with the opening of the luxury resort, Marriott International announced several initiatives to promote sustainable tourism on the island, including the launch of an environmental curriculum in Aruba's primary schools.
The Aruba opening is but one in Ritz-Carlton's global expansion plan, which includes 20 hotel projects through 2016. When completed, the newbuilds will bring the total number of properties worldwide to 100 hotels and resorts.
"Our robust pipeline indicates a continued strong demand for our products and services," Humler said. "Across the globe, especially in Asia and the Middle East, we will be the undisputed top-tier luxury hospitality brand by 2016."
In the last 12 months, Ritz-Carlton opened the Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico; the Abu Dhabi hotel in the United Arab Emirates; and the brand's first hotel in Vienna.
Humler cut the ribbon on properties in Kazakhstan; in Bangalore, with its first hotel in India; in Tianjin and Chengdu, China; and announced plans for a Reserve property on Pearl Island, 45 miles south of Panama City.
Openings coming up include Kyoto, Japan; Morocco; Bali; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Oman; Vietnam; and Tunisia.
"There are more destinations where I still hope to see the Ritz flag fly, such as the great cities of Europe where we do not have a presence, two or three more properties in the Caribbean, in Mexico and South America," Humler said.
"If we are not in all the luxury destinations, our customers will go to another hotel," he said. "I want to keep our customers."
Follow Gay Nagle Myers on Twitter @gnmtravelweekly.