Bernardus Lodge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 7, 2010

The Best of the Best - Spas of America's Top 50 Spas of 2009

California, Arizona, Florida, New York and Hawaii top list of popular spa searches

(New York, New York) January 7, 2010 - The spa travel website, Spas of America, today announced their annual ranking of the Top 50 Spas of 2009, based on consumer traffic on their website. "From the red rocks of southern Utah, to the white sand beaches of Hawaii, this year's list is a unique collection of resort, hotel and destination Spa experiences" says Spas of America president Craig Oliver.

Topping the list for 2009 is the recently re-branded Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge in Ivins, Utah. Set amidst the remarkable red rocks of southwestern Utah, the Biggest Loser Resort is categorized as a "destination spa," offering an affordable, comprehensive health and fitness experience focusing on exercise, healthy nutrition and education.

Second place goes to the 100 Fountain Spa at the Pillar and Post set in charming Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Only minutes from Niagara Falls, The 100 Fountain Spa is a year-round destination offering a wide range of cultural, historical and recreational activities.

Rounding out the top three is The Homestead, situated in the scenic Allegheny Mountains of Virginia. Built in 1892, the Homestead Spa is one of America's most historic luxury spas, still fed by the original hot springs that have attracted travelers since the 1700s.

The complete list of all 50 spas can be viewed at:
[url]http://www.spasofamerica.com/lifestyle/wellness/top_50_spas_2009[/url]

Spas of America's Top 50 Spas of 2009 are ranked by unique page views generated by customers visiting the website throughout the year. Spas of America's audience is very targeted: 70% women; 80% US/Canada; 25-65 years (35-55 core); $75k-$250k HHI; leisure and business travelers; and health, wellness & lifestyle oriented. In addition to the U.S. and Canada, Spas of America draws spa travel consumers from Europe, Asia and South America. Over 750 spas are featured on the Spas of America website, and the Top 50 Spas of 2009 represents the top 7%.

The most popular searched regions in 2009 were California, Arizona, Florida, New York and Hawaii in the United States; and in Canada: Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. The most popular spa experiences were: Destination, Beach, Mineral, Desert, City, Ocean, Country and Wine.

About Spas of America

Launched in 2005, Spas of America is the largest spa travel website, showcasing over 700 of the best resort, hotel and destination spas around the world. Spas of America supports the growth of Spa & Wellness travel by providing consumers with a beautiful, clean, easy-to-use online experience. The website empowers customers to search for spas by map, name, keyword, experience or geographic region. Find Spas of America online at [url]http://www.spasofamerica.com[/url] and follow on Twitter at [url]http://twitter.com/spasofamerica[/url].

Carmel Valley, January 2010- BERNARDUS LODGE, THE SPA AT BERNARDUS LODGE and MARINUS RESTAURANT were honored with a 2010 Forbes Four Star Award by Forbes Travel Guide, formerly Mobil, in the first awards since the brand transfer from Mobil to Forbes was announced this fall. The list has defined the industry's highest standard for excellence in hospitality for over 50 years. As the originators of the prestigious star rating system, Forbes Travel Guide provides one of the most comprehensive evaluation systems of hotels, restaurants and spas in the world. Bernardus Lodge's review by Forbes Travel Guide's incognito experts can be found online at [url]www.forbestravelguide.com[/url].

"We are elated to be recognized with a Forbes Four Star rating by Forbes Travel Guide. Each day, we are dedicated to providing our guests with exceptional service and luxurious amenities throughout the resort," said Michael Oprish, General Manager of Bernardus Lodge.

"We're thrilled to have our brand join Forbes. The 2010 edition is the first under the Forbes Travel Guide banner and we look forward to a long and successful partnership with Forbes," said Shane O'Flaherty, President and CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, who noted that while the hospitality industry has been challenged this year, it has risen to the occasion. "With an unprecedented downturn in the economy this year, properties have taken steps to refine their processes to become more efficient. Yet, it is important to note that the employees of these same properties have remained as engaged and passionate as ever about providing the best guest experience that they can."

Forbes Travel Guide's ratings process is based on more than 750 standardized criteria for hotels, making it the most rigorous and comprehensive in the industry. The process begins with a facility inspection that considers every aspect of the property, including its overall cleanliness, condition and location. To achieve Forbes Travel Guide Four and Five Star status, properties must meet or exceed the bar-setting service standards, which are determined through an unannounced, undercover service evaluation by Forbes Travel Guide's expert inspectors.

ABOUT BERNARDUS LODGE

Bernardus Lodge offers 57 luxurious guestrooms in nine adobe-village style buildings along a terraced hillside. It sits in one of America's most scenic destinations: Carmel Valley, the sunny side of Carmel. Inspired by Bernardus Pon, creator of the Bernardus Winery and Vineyard, the Lodge combines exceptional epicurean experiences, presided over by celebrated chef Cal Stamenov, with gracious hospitality. The Lodge is 120 miles south of San Francisco and 330 miles north of Los Angeles. It is a 20-minute drive from the Monterey Peninsula and its wealth of attractions. For reservations and information, please contact Bernardus Lodge, 415 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley, California 93924; phone 1-888-648-9463; or visit its website at [url]www.bernardus.com[/url].


ABOUT FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE

Forbes Travel Guide, formerly Mobile Travel Guide, originator of the prestigious Mobile Star ratings and certifications, has provided the most comprehensive ratings and reviews of hotels, restaurants and spas since 1958. In October 2009, Mobil Travel Guide announced a strategic partnership with Forbes Media LLC. This exclusive licensing agreement between two industry leaders with more than 140 years of combined experience transfers the hospitality industry's premier star rating and travel guide brand from ExxonMobil to Forbes. Forbes Travel Guide has a team of expert inspectors who anonymously evaluate properties against rigorous and objective Proprietary standards, providing consumers the insight to make better-informed travel and leisure decisions.

[url]http://www.elitemeetings.com/property/bernardus-lodge/[/url]

[url]http://www.elitemeetings.com/property/bernardus-lodge/[/url]

Cal Stamenov has created an innovative culinary concept for Bernardus Lodge featuring California natural cuisine in the main dining room, Marinus at Bernardus Lodge. Wickets the bar and bistro, features bistro-style cuisine in a light and casual setting. Marinus has been honored with the Mobil four-star award for the past four years, and was also presented with Wine Spectator's highly coveted Grand Award since 2001.

Upon graduating from the California Culinary Academy, Stamenov began his career in 1982 at New York's famed Four Seasons restaurant. He is steeped in the European tradition of culinary artistry and has spent years in the most demanding kitchens of the world's most renowned chefs. His stellar credits include working with Alain Ducasse of the three-star Michelin restaurant, Louis XV at the Hotel de Paris, Monaco; Pierre Gagnaire in St. Etienne, France; Masa Koboiashi at Masa's Restaurant in San Francisco; Jean-Louis Palladin at Restaurant Jean-Louis in Washington D.C.; and Michel Richard at Citrus Restaurant. Stamenov worked as Executive Chef for the Highlands Inn in Carmel, and served as Chef de Cuisine of the highly regarded Domaine Chandon Restaurant in Napa Valley.

Marinus at Bernardus Lodge is a four-star restaurant that resembles an Old World wine country estate and is graced by a dramatic 12-foot wide European fireplace with a raised hearth, offering spectacular views of the garden, majestic pines and the nearby Santa Lucia mountain range. An inviting outdoor terrace and fireplace offers guests a relaxed and scenic setting. Stamenov has also created a series of unique cooking classes and food and wine weekend getaways offering guests the opportunity to experience and savor imaginative food accompanied by a selection of Bernardus wines. Participants learn to prepare traditional dishes and seasonal specialties unique to the restaurant and the area.

Cal's philosophy and style of cooking, is built on three central pillars: the relationship between food and terroir, the superiority of handcrafted, artisanal products over mass-produced, and the common sense of glorifying food when its flavor is at its peak. The Central Coast provides him with access to an inspiring range of ingredients whose essence and flavor is appreciable in every bite. These come to him by way of the relationships he has forged with growers, fisherman and foragers. He also has his own organic herb and vegetable gardens, and vineyards at Bernardus Lodge. With a treasure trove of impeccable products, Stamenov is able to cook with the seasons and rarely has to look further than his own backyard for inspiration.

http://www.elitemeetings.com/property/bernardus-lodge/

May 15, 2008 - Nestled in Californias beautiful Carmel Valley, Bernardus Lodge demonstrates on a daily basis that environmentally responsible practices are as natural and welcome as feather beds, award-winning cuisine, and a sumptuous spa. Bernardus Lodge, a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is proof that a hotel can be environmentally responsible, while it offers its guests luxurious accommodations, the finest services and an extraordinary location.

The Lodges many green initiatives include:

Energy Conservation

As more guests are concerned about the nations dependence on foreign oil and the impact of global climate change, Bernardus Lodge actively reduces its energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions with basic design strategies, like triple insulation in its walls and ceilings, technology choices like energy-conserving compact fluorescent and T-8 fluorescent lights throughout the property, and state-of-the-art building systems, including highly efficient heat pumps for guestroom heating and air conditioning systems, hot water re-circulation pumps, and even photo cells for the exterior lighting system. By installing electric starters on in-room fireplaces and changing our room preparation procedures, the Lodge reduced natural gas consumption between 2005 and 2007 by 15%.

Water Conservation

As drought continues to plague California and the western United States, Bernardus Lodge has significantly reduced its potable water consumption with features like low flow showerheads and toilets. An on-site wastewater treatment plant supplies water for the landscape irrigation, a feature emulated at many fine golf courses in the region. Between 2006 and 2008, Bernardus Lodge reduced its water consumption by 20%, or approximately 1.2 million gallons.

Healthy Superior Indoor Air Quality

Natural ventilation, efficient and filtered HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) systems, all non-smoking guestrooms and public areas, low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paints and stains used throughout the Lodge, and non-toxic cleaning supplies assure guests and staff of a healthy indoor environment.

Green Supplies

The products Bernardus Lodge uses"and chooses not to use"reduces its consumption of natural resources, provides a healthier indoor environment, supports local and environmentally-responsible vendors, and reduces the Lodges contribution to landfills. Some of these supplies include:

*Organic and sustainable food products and packaging.
*Organic and sustainable spa products and packaging.
*Organic and sustainable guestroom bath amenities.
*Soy-based ink on letterhead and printed materials.
*Non-toxic biodegradable cleaning products.
*Bernardus Lodge does not purchase Styrofoam or any product that comes in Styrofoam packaging which will not degrade in landfills for many centuries.

Locally Grown Organic Food

Our restaurants use local ingredients and nearby, naturally raised meats, and organic produce, including produce grown in our own kitchen gardens. Bernardus Lodge buys locally grown produce to support the local economy, to give its guests the freshest ingredients, and to reduce our greenhouse gas footprint. Foods that are shipped from hundreds of miles away are delivered by trucks which run on fossil fuels and generate significant carbon dioxide emissions.

Recycling and Waste Reduction

To reduce our consumption of the Earths precious natural resources and to lessen the amount of waste that we send to landfills, Bernardus Lodge has instituted several policies, including:

*We recycle paper, glass, plastic, batteries, and electronic waste such as old phones, stereos and computer components.
*We are placing recycling bins in each guestroom.
*Our Anti Junk Mail Initiative reduces paper waste by removing Bernardus Lodge from dozens of mailing lists.
*We return packaging to our vendors for re-use.
*We have on-site composting of kitchen waste. The fertilizer is then used on our gardens and landscaping.
*We recycle yard waste"leaves, grass clippings, etc."into mulch for use throughout our grounds.

About Bernardus Lodge

Bernardus Lodge offers 57 luxurious guestrooms in nine adobe-village style buildings along a terraced hillside. It sits in one of Americas most scenic destinations: Carmel Valley, the sunny side of Carmel. Inspired by Bernardus Pon, creator of the Bernardus Winery and Vineyard, the lodge combines exceptional epicurean experiences, presided over by celebrated chef Cal Stamenov, with gracious hospitality. The Lodge is 120 miles south of San Francisco and 330 miles north of Los Angeles. It is a 20-minute drive from the Monterey Peninsula and its wealth of attractions.