Spa People in the News

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Dove Mountain Hires Samantha Malone-Telesford as First Spa Director

MARANA, Ariz. – Dec. 3, 2009 – Samantha Malone-Telesford, who has been with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company for six years, has been named the first spa director at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Dove Mountain.

The 17,000 square-foot spa, which embraces the enchanting habitat of the southern Arizona’s Tortolita Mountains, is scheduled to open in December. The spa’s treatments are designed around the balancing elements of wood, fire, earth and water honoring the indigenous outdoor Sonoran lifestyle.

Since 2007, Malone-Telesford has served as executive spa director at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, Nev., a Mobil Four-Star rated facility. Prior to that, she was the spa director at The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa in Pasadena, Calif., and at The Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall, Golf & Spa Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Malone-Telesford began her career as a cosmetologist in the United Kingdom over 20 years ago. In addition to her leadership within The Ritz-Carlton spas, she has been instrumental in the launch of spas on both Disney and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain spa’s offerings include 14 private treatment rooms, two esthetic rooms, a hydrotherapy room, one Vichy shower and two oversized suites, ideal for couples and friends. Massages, facials and body treatments are available, as are skin prescriptions, touch therapy, body remedy and water cures.

Also available are a full-service salon with two hair stations and three manicure stations and four pedicure chairs with views of the mountainside, as is a comprehensive fitness center. A co-ed relaxation lounge joins the two sides of the spa. At night, two built-in fire pits illuminate an outdoor terrace, ideal for partaking in the resort’s signature lunar massages and star gazing.

The spa’s boutique features a selection of luxury merchandise, appropriate to the desert environment, including spa apparel, candles, skin care and Sonoran mind and body wellness products.

The unique destination spa is part of The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, the largest and most comprehensive Ritz-Carlton project in the continental United States. Guests will enjoy the finest cuisine, prepared by world-class chefs, along with The Ritz-Carlton’s unparalleled sophistication and personalized service throughout its 850 acres.

For more information on The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Dove Mountain, visit www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/DoveMountain/Spa.

About The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain
Nestled in the high Sonoran Desert is an invigorating playground where the adventurous can explore the lush desert along the Tortolitas Mountains and majestic Saguaro forest. The 850-acre property features a 250 room hotel, Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, destination spa and luxury homes at The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. The resort also features adventure programming, world class hiking, and is home to the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championships each spring in its striking canyon setting. This is a place where adventure and a gracious spirit of hospitality come to life. For reservation information, please call 1-800-241-3333 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain.

About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 72 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 including Dubai International Financial Centre, United Arab Emirates; Dove Mountain, Tucson, Arizona; and Lake Tahoe, California. 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, please 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.