The Key to Luxury: Mercedes and The Ritz-Carlton Sign Three-Year Marketing Agreement

MONTVALE, N.J., Oct. 28 -- Two luxury brands renowned for accommodating the discerning traveler have entered into a three-year marketing relationship. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. and Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) announced today that their marketing agreement launches with the introduction of a special "Key to Luxury" package in which eight of the luxury hotel's 29 U.S. locations will offer guests the use of 2003 Mercedes-Benz vehicles during their stays. The Key to Luxury package will be offered to guests beginning on November 1, 2002, launching initially at eight select Ritz-Carlton locations: Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne, Palm Beach, Naples, and Naples Golf Resort in Florida; Bachelor Gulch, Colorado; Laguna Niguel and Half Moon Bay, California. In Spring 2003, The Ritz-Carlton plans to offer the Key to Luxury package at other locations as well, including San Francisco and Boston. The package includes a deluxe guest room on The Ritz-Carlton Club level and rental of a 2003 Mercedes-Benz with unlimited mileage for the duration of the guest's stay, a full tank of gas each morning and overnight valet parking. Select 2003 Mercedes-Benz models available to guests include the all-new E-Class sedan, S-Class flagship sedan, SL500 roadster, and CLK coupe. The Bachelor Gulch location will offer 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class sports utility vehicles and G-Class wagons. "Many of The Ritz-Carlton guests are Mercedes-Benz owners," said Paul Halata, president and CEO of MBUSA. "Through this partnership, we can offer our customers the pleasure and comfort of driving a Mercedes even when they're away from home. For those guests who do not already own one of our vehicles, we think it will be the way to top off a very enjoyable stay." "This partnership is a perfect fit because both companies' customers share the same high expectation of service and quality," said Simon Cooper, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton. "We rarely enter into long-term marketing relationships, but in this case, we did not hesitate because of the incredible benefits to both our customers." In addition, select hotel locations will use Mercedes-Benz models for their in-house transportation, such as M-Class sports utility vehicles for the new Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch ski resort opening in November and S-Class luxury sedans at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Florida, a Mobil Five Star/AAA Five Diamond resort. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company manages 46 luxury hotels in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. For information or reservations call 1-800-241-3333, a travel professional, a hotel directly or access The Ritz-Carlton web site at http://www.ritzcarlton.com . Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered in Montvale, N.J., is responsible for the sales, service and marketing of Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. The company sold 206,638 vehicles in the U.S. during 2001, setting the highest sales volume ever in its history.