Ritz-Carlton Highlands Lake TahoeLake Tahoe, California

Upon completion in the fall of 2009, The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe will be one of the few true ski-in/ski-out luxury hotels in the world. Guests will be a gondola ride away from The Village at Northstar located adjacent to the hotel’s mountaintop location. The hotel will appeal to vacationers and business travelers alike with 11,000 square feet of meeting space, a 6,000 square foot ballroom, and a 20,000 square foot spa with Sierra views. The 170 guest rooms, 84 residences, and 78 deeded fractional residences will accommodate a variety of visitors and secure Lake Tahoe as a year round destination.

Hornberger + Worstell’s design pays tribute to the great mountain lodges originally built in the West at the turn of the century. The Great Room with its three-story high granite fireplace, captures the sophisticated yet rustic tenor of the building. The Ritz-Carlton Highlands will be one of the first five-star resorts to seek LEED certification. Some of the environmentally friendly features include underground parking instead of outdoor asphalt lots, recycled steel, and energy efficient heating and cooling systems.