By SUZANNE MARTA
The Ritz-Carlton Dallas opens Aug. 15, and officials are busy putting the finishing touches on the 218-room luxury hotel in Uptown.
It’ll be the Ritz’s first U.S. hotel opening in nearly four years.
For Dallas, it means having the only Ritz in the Lone Star state and gaining the attention of groups that regularly book the luxury brand for events.”It reinforces that Dallas is emerging as a top destination in the country, with a variety of options for visitors at every level,” said Phillip Jones, chief executive of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau.
On any given day, 600 workers are on site as crews install landscaping, complete punch lists and ready the hotel for guests.
“Each day, we turn a corner here,” said Roberto van Geenen, the Ritz’s general manager.
Furniture for the guest rooms began arriving in late May.
More than 100,000 items, such as silverware, goblets, pillows and four kinds of hangers were unpacked last week. Hair dryers, coffee makers and irons were all tested by hotel staff.
The 1,000 imported linen bags– which will be hung on each room door with the day’s newspaper – are still on their way.
This week, celebrity chef Dean Fearing and his team begin trial runs in his eponymous restaurant. Carpets in high-traffic areas will be laid. Murano glass chandeliers and artwork will be installed.
For employees, it’s a lot of details to make sure everything is in place in time for a photo shoot Thursday.
But it’s not all hard work. Someone has to test the spa treatments.
16,242: Pieces of silver-plated flatware by German manufacturer Hepp, including special forks and knives for fish entrees
12,000: Plush bathroom towels, including the large bath “sheet” style
5,183: Riedel crystal stemware in a half-dozen styles, so fine it must be hand-washed
4,000: Milk and dark chocolates (just the initial order) by France’s top-end chocolatier Valrhona for nightly turndown services
1,500: Pairs of terry cloth slippers for relaxing in the guest rooms
1,500: Banquet glasses in the Ritz’s trademark cobalt blue
800: Custom-designed porcelain chargers by Rosenthal
436: Imported wood luggage racks
284: Goose-and-duck down mattress tops, custom-made by Pacific Coast Feather
30: Brands of tequila for its two bars