The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company added the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara to its portfolio. Recently acquired by Carey Watermark Investors and Carey Watermark Investors 2, the former Bacara Resort & Spa completed a multimillion-dollar renovation which included all 358 guestrooms and suites as well as enhancements to the resort’s six culinary venues.
“We are delighted to welcome this iconic property into The Ritz-Carlton portfolio of nearly 100 hotels around the globe,” Hervé Humler, president and COO of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, said in a statement. “The Ritz-Carlton’s world-class service, led by the resort’s fantastic Ladies and Gentlemen, together with the Bacara’s history, will make The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara a standout on this part of the California coast.”
Located on 78 acres of California coastline, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara offers direct beach access and three salt-water swimming pools, a 42,000-square-foot spa with 36 treatment rooms, a salon, fitness center and both indoor and outdoor event space. Six culinary venues, including Angel Oak, the resort’s signature restaurant, will be on offer. The property is minutes from the center of Santa Barbara, and the resort is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountain, with close proximity to the region’s vineyards
“We believe that the extensive, recently completed renovations and the Ritz-Carlton rebranding, in combination with our further investment in strategic property improvements and implementation of value-add operational enhancements, will increase overall profitability and reposition the property at the top of its competitive set within both the Santa Barbara and the luxury Southern California oceanfront resort markets," Michael Medzigian, CEO of Carey Watermark Investors, said in a statement. "In conjunction with the acquisition we are extremely pleased to continue to expand on our already important relationship with The Ritz-Carlton and Marriott International and to work in partnership with them in the conversion of the property to a best-in-class Ritz-Carlton resort that will continue to serve as an integral part of the local community.”
As a part of this conversion, additional investments are planned for resort enhancements to a variety of guest spaces, including meeting and event venues, the main lobby, food and beverage outlets, the fitness center, pools and the spa. The work will also include the construction of a new Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, a communal space where guests can connect and experience personalized services and amenities, including dedicated check-in and check-out, concierge service and daily culinary presentations.