Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa

Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa invites groups to meet and play on 240 acres of palm trees, lakes, gardens, fountains, and desert sunshine. As if that weren't enough, the Spanish mission—style oasis lies directly across from The River, an upscale entertainment, dining, and retail complex in Rancho Mirage, California.

Planners find a meeting-friendly environment of over 41,000 square feet of conference facilities within easy walking distance of the 444 rooms and suites, golf, tennis, Splashtopia pool complex, and Spa Las Palmas. The meeting rooms include some of the largest, most flexible venues in the Palm Springs area. Linked by generous prefunction space, side-by-side ballrooms flank a stairway ascending to the 10,000-square-foot Starlight Terrace—pure magic for gala receptions under the desert sky. More intimate gatherings often opt for the Sunrise Terrace overlooking the golf course or one of the dozen hospitality suites on-site.

Service at the business center matches the dedication of the resort's catering, meeting, and audiovisual teams. Professional conference managers oversee every detail. The property's recreational options suggest limitless themes for parties, team building, and free-time activity, from Ted Robinson–designed golf to the tennis center with a 1,000-seat stadium and the spa for invigorating massage breaks or half-day escapes. Four new restaurants include the bluEmber, another touch of magic designed to epitomize the sun-drenched charm of the desert and the relaxed elegance of Southern California. There are no packages available at this time. There are no hot dates at this time. Posted 28 Oct, 2011 by Lucy Gonzalez Executive Chef Sean O’Connell Introduces an Array of Artisan Beers, Gastropub Eats and Inventive Bloody Mary Offerings RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (October 3, 2011) – Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa and Executive Chef Sean O’Connell unveil a fresh take on the resort’s signature bar and lounge, R Bar, debuting a gastropub concept complete with artisan beers, tasting plates of comfort food and an unexpected twist on Bloody Marys with 10 different styles. A reverse happy hour is also being rolled out, breathing new life into the desert night scene.

Chef O’Connell and team have transformed the resort’s popular lounge into a sophisticated pub with speakeasy elements serving craft-style beers from Stone Brewery, throwback artisan cocktails and a menu designed for sharing.

“We have been delighted with Chef O’Connell’s fresh take on all menus resort-wide since he joined the team earlier this year, and we are thrilled to present this new pub-style concept to resort guests and locals,” said General Manager April Shute. “The speakeasy approach to cocktails and the gastropub menu offers a unique experience and truly sets the resort apart from anything you’d expect to find in the desert.”

With a new focus on sourcing produce and ingredients as locally as possible, diners will be privy to a tapas menu featuring palate-pleasing mini-tacos (Smoked Eggplant, Mesquite Barbeque Duck or Achiote Chicken), Yellow Fin Tuna Lollipops, “Bloody Mary” Rock Shrimp Ceviche and Smoked Chicken Empanadas. For guests craving larger portions, mouth-watering entrees such as the California Striped Bass, Berkshire Pork Chops or Petaluma Chicken Breast and a selection of pub-inspired sandwiches including the Ultimate Grilled Cheese crafted with artisan cheeses fit the bill.

Resort guests and locals will also look forward to an extension of the 5-7 p.m. Happy Hour with a “Reverse Happy Hour” from 10 p.m. – 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

The design of the stylish R Bar exudes a classic Rat Pack vibe enhanced by sleek leather seating, dark woods and a welcoming bar. Three flat-screen TVs, a pool table and shuffleboard table add to the sporty sophistication of this handsome space, making it the perfect locale for sport-watching enthusiasts.

About Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
The 444-room Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa is classic Rancho Mirage re-imagined for the 21st-century traveler. The resort’s new offerings include stylish new guest rooms, the signature bluEmber restaurant, the stylish R Bar lounge, and Splashtopia, an exciting water playground complete with water slides, lazy river and sandy beach. The resort also features a 20,000-square-foot spa, a 27-hole Ted Robinson-designed golf course, a 25-court Peter Burwash International tennis center, four pools, and 41,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. For more information on Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, call (866) 423-1195 or visit www.rancholaspalmas.com.

About KSL Resorts
Founded in 1992, KSL Resorts manages eight time-honored resorts with outstanding recreational amenities including spa, golf, tennis and ski. Each is refined yet unpretentious, rich in legacy and genuine in service. The KSL Resorts portfolio of properties includes:
• Hotel del Coronado (San Diego, Calif.)
• Beach Village at The Del (San Diego, Calif.)
• La Costa Resort and Spa (Carlsbad, Calif.)
• Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa (Rancho Mirage, Calif.)
• Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa (Vail, Colo.)
• Barton Creek Resort & Spa (Austin, Texas)
• The Homestead (Hot Springs, Va.)
• Montelucia Resort & Spa (Scottsdale, Az.)

For more information, call (866) KSL-7727 or visit www.kslresorts.com.

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Media Contact: Heidi Baldwin/Kevinie Woo
Murphy O’Brien, Inc.
310-586-7129/310-586-7142
hbaldwin@murphyobrien.com/kwoo@murphyobrien.com Posted 28 Oct, 2011 by Lucy Gonzalez The Rancho Mirage Property Celebrates Leadership in Environmental Consciousness RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (June 30, 2011) – Affirming its commitment to bringing a new level of environmental consciousness to Palm Desert, Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa has earned the Green Seal Standard for Hotels & Lodging Properties – Bronze. As the only Green Seal-certified hotel in Coachella Valley, Rancho Las Palmas celebrates leadership in sustainability among California desert hotels.

“At Rancho Las Palmas, it is a top priority to conserve and protect our natural resources, especially within a desert environment,” said Cristina Cascio, rooms division director for Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa. “We are pleased to be a certified Green Seal property and will continue to prove our dedication to environmental stewardship.”

Sustainable highlights include:

Recycling Program
Per the Sustainable Purchasing Policy, all durable goods are re-used or donated at the end of its useful life. Rancho Las Palmas assesses the comparability, reliability and viability with respect to costs, quality and performance of all environmentally responsible goods and services. The comprehensive Sustainable Purchasing Policy covers purchasing, waste minimization, energy efficiency, freshwater conservation and hazardous substance management.

In addition, the property has recycling receptacles placed in common public areas as well as back-of-house to collect recyclable products and goods. The property also works with vendors to re-use packaging and shipping pallets. Shrink wrap is compacted and recycled and non-reused cardboard is bailed on site and recycled.

Energy Savings
Laundry is processed using an ozone system that uses cold water and fewer chemicals including minimal chlorine. There is also a policy to fill loads completely, which adds to efficiency of the cleaning cycle and fewer loads.

All guest rooms, the main lobby, meeting rooms and back-of-house have been retrofitted with compact fluorescent lamps/bulbs.

Climate-friendly Landscaping
Landscaping is outsourced to a local contractor who works with the Coachella Valley Water District’s “Lush and Efficient” program to identify climate appropriate landscaping.

Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products
The property has changed cleaning products to fully compliant ProClean suite products. The cleaning products are designed for the environment by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

About Green Seal
Founded in 1989, Green Seal provides science-based environmental certification standards that are credible, transparent, and essential in an increasingly educated and competitive marketplace. Its industry knowledge and standards help manufacturers, purchasers, service providers and end-users make responsible choices that positively impact business behavior and improve quality of life. For more information, visit www.greenseal.org.

About Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
The 444-room Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa is classic Rancho Mirage re-imagined for the 21st-century traveler. The resort’s new offerings include stylish new guest rooms, the signature bluEmber restaurant, the stylish R Bar lounge, and Splashtopia, an exciting water playground complete with water slides, lazy river and sandy beach. The resort also features a 20,000-square-foot spa, a 27-hole Ted Robinson-designed golf course, a 25-court Peter Burwash International tennis center, four pools, and 41,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. For more information on Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, call (866) 423-1195 or visit www.rancholaspalmas.com.

About KSL Resorts
Founded in 1992, KSL Resorts manages eight time-honored resorts with outstanding recreational amenities including spa, golf, tennis and ski. Each is refined yet unpretentious, rich in legacy and genuine in service. The KSL Resorts portfolio of properties includes:
• Hotel del Coronado (San Diego, Calif.)
• Beach Village at The Del (San Diego, Calif.)
• La Costa Resort and Spa (Carlsbad, Calif.)
• Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa (Rancho Mirage, Calif.)
• Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa (Vail, Colo.)
• Barton Creek Resort & Spa (Austin, Texas)
• The Homestead (Hot Springs, Va.)
• Montelucia Resort & Spa (Scottsdale, Az.)

For more information, call (866) KSL-7727 or visit www.kslresorts.com.

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Media Contact: Laura Millett/Heidi Baldwin
Murphy O’Brien, Inc.
310-586-7129
lmillett@murphyobrien.com
hbaldwin@murphyobrien.com Posted 28 Oct, 2011 by Lucy Gonzalez Former Executive Chef from Mandarin Oriental, Fontainebleau Resorts and Banyan Tree Resort Tapped to Lead Culinary Team RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (January 20, 2011) – International star Chef Sean O’Connell, with executive chef experience spanning the globe at some of the most impressive properties in the industry, has been appointed executive chef at Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa. In this role, O’Connell will lead the property’s 70-person kitchen staff and oversee the dining venues, including the resort’s signature restaurant, bluEmber, as well as R Bar, Splash Grill, Palms Café and Spa Café. O’Connell will also oversee the property’s banquet facilities.

An international chef, O’Connell brings his diverse culinary experience to the desert. First and foremost, Chef will take a new approach to the property’s current culinary offerings to provide a tour of the world through the palate, presenting guests unique experiences at each dining venue. O’Connell will incorporate indigenous ingredients of the region and introduce a Southwestern flare to the cuisine. He also plans to imbue the meeting experience with an immersion of international influences to the catering menu. Additionally, guests will enjoy the cool pools of the desert while sampling Mediterranean cuisine at Splash Grill. At bluEmber, Chef has added his signature dish: a miso-glazed Chilean sea bass, which is served with sesame-wilted spinach and sake-ginger broth.

“A chef of this caliber has created a stir among the entire property,” said April Shute, vice president and general manager of Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa. “We are excited for the culinary experiences that await our guests.”

O’Connell joins Rancho Las Palmas from his most recent position as executive chef at Sandals Emerald Bay. Prior to working in the Bahamas, O’Connell was the vice president of culinary operations at Fontainebleau Resorts, executive chef of the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, executive chef at The Banyan Tree Resort in Thailand, among other positions at luxury resorts around the world.

O’Connell cultivated his culinary skills at the American Culinary Federation at the Balsams Grand Resort in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire. He also completed apprenticeship training with National Maritime Union in San Francisco, California.

About Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
The 444-room Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa is classic Rancho Mirage re-imagined for the 21st-century traveler. The resort’s new offerings include stylish new guest rooms, the signature bluEmber restaurant, the stylish R Bar lounge, and Splashtopia, an exciting water playground complete with water slides, lazy river and sandy beach. The resort also features a 20,000-square-foot spa, a 27-hole Ted Robinson-designed golf course, a 25-court Peter Burwash International tennis center, four pools, and 41,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. For more information on Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, call (866) 423-1195 or visit www.rancholaspalmas.com.

About KSL Resorts
Founded in 1992, KSL Resorts manages eight time-honored resorts with outstanding recreational amenities including spa, golf, tennis and ski. Each is refined yet unpretentious, rich in legacy and genuine in service. The KSL Resorts portfolio of properties includes:
• Hotel del Coronado (San Diego, Calif.)
• Beach Village at The Del (San Diego, Calif.)
• La Costa Resort and Spa (Carlsbad, Calif.)
• Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa (Rancho Mirage, Calif.)
• Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa (Vail, Colo.)
• Barton Creek Resort & Spa (Austin, Texas)
• The Homestead (Hot Springs, Va.)
• Montelucia Resort & Spa (Scottsdale, Az.)

For more information, call (866) KSL-7727 or visit www.kslresorts.com.

# # #

Media Contact: Heidi Baldwin
Murphy O’Brien, Inc.
310-586-7129
hbaldwin@murphyobrien.com Posted 24 Nov, 2008 by Concierge Elite RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. " September 29, 2008 " Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa continues the evolution of desert cool with the debut of 18 newly redesigned suites that include two expansive Presidential Suites, eight Luxury Suites and eight Executive Suites. The suites are yet another step in the continuing transformation of this classic desert resort, which recently completed a $35 million renovation that included bluEmber restaurant, the stylish R Bar lounge, a new lobby, enhanced guest rooms, refurbished spa, an Internet marketplace and Splashtopia, an exciting water complex.

This area draws a discerning traveler who is seeking the latest in technology, design and comfort for their experience. Rancho Las Palmas continues to grow its legacy as one of the most desired properties in the area by providing the kind of experience these travelers expect, says Josh Herman, director of marketing.

Boasting lake and golf course views, the revamped suites feature richly carved woods, crown moldings and attractive French doors that open to outdoor patios. Each suite is outfitted with an elegant living space that includes a variety of plush seating options, 42 plasma TVs and expanded wet-bars. Bedrooms offer premium mattresses draped in plush down comforters with luxurious cotton linens and bathrooms feature slab granite counter tops and beautiful millwork cabinetry.