The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans- Business As Usual

Ritz-Carlton New Orleans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS

Contact: Char Thian, Director of Public Relations

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans

921 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112

Direct: (504) 670-2817 and Cell: (504) 913-4114

E-Mail: char.thian@ritzcarlton.com

THE RITZ-CARLTON, NEW ORLEANS: BUSINESS AS USUAL

NEW ORLEANS, La. – August 30, 2012 – The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans is operating in a business as usual capacity, accepting new reservations for arrival beginning Friday, August 31st. The hotel never lost power or any city services. A team of ladies and gentlemen stayed on-property to assist guests who had existing reservations at the hotel and could not leave the city due to the effects of the weather event.

The New Orleans tourism corridor is also operating in a business as usual capacity. In alignment with the our Marriott sister properties in the New Orleans market, we are releasing individual reservations from cancellation penalties for August 30, 2012 through September 3, 2012.

In 2006, a flood gate system was put in place to guard the hotel from any water intrusion and as a result, the hotel did not incur any flooding. Some rooms are out-of-service due to leaks from high winds that penetrated window seals in our 102-year old building. Our on-site property engineering team is currently addressing these issues and rooms will be placed back in inventory as soon as possible.

The ladies and gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans are concerned about the well-being of those affected by the storm and subsequent hurricane. Flooding remains an issue for Braithwaite, Louisiana (18 miles away), Slidell, Louisiana (30 miles away) and Grand Isle, Louisiana (109 miles away).

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is not open due to power issues. Flights are expected to resume tomorrow, August 31, 2012 but that is still yet to be determined. Neighboring restaurants, retail and tourism venues are reopening in advance of the Labor Day holiday weekend. The Southern Decadence festival will occur this weekend, bringing in an estimated $150M to the economy according to Mark Romig, President and CEO of the New Orleans Tourism and Marketing Corporation.

New Orleans Mayor Landrieu and Louisiana Governor Jindal have been in regular contact with President Obama, Secretary Napolitano, both of whom have committed to provide whatever the City needs. And, the Saints have promised the Mayor that they will win tonight’s game against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field. The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans is located at 921 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112.

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 with future openings which include The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong which will open as the highest hotel in the world. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which recognizes outstanding customer service. 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.