Highlights: The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix

•The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix is an ideal urban location in the upscale Camelback Corridor, across from Biltmore Fashion Park

•Well-trained staff knows how to pamper guests

•North-facing rooms have impressive mountain views

•Room service is flawless, tailored to the busy business traveler

•Impeccable attention to detail creates an unforgettable experience

Amenities: The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix

• 281 rooms, 11 story. Check-in 4pm, check-out Noon. High-speed Internet access, wireless Internet access. Restaurant, two bars. Fitness room. Outdoor pool. Airport transportation available. Business center. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix

The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix, has been a choice destination for business travelers since it opened its doors in 1988. Nestled in the midst of the Camelback Corridor -- the exclusive dining, shopping and financial district of Phoenix -- this hotel also appeals to leisure travelers on the weekends when business guests have departed. Located five minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and five minutes from downtown Phoenix, the hotel is a centrally-located base for a variety of activities. Unlike most of the Ritz-Carlton properties, this hotel does not participate in the Ritz Kids program. Consequently, it does not have many amenities for children, and may not be the best choice for a family vacation.

Couples in search of a romantic place to cuddle would be fine with the well-appointed, comfortable rooms, but the hotel doesn’t offer some of the luxuries commonly associated with romantic getaways, such as a on site full-service spa.

Service here has been honed to perfection. The well-trained staff is dressed in what might be considered hotel chic. This sartorial stylishness contributes to the first impression of the lobby as manor house. Rich, warm fabrics, crystal, wood, marble and classic oil paintings are softened by massive arrangements of fresh flowers. When I checked in on a 90-degree Fahrenheit day, I was offered a much-appreciated chilled towel. My bags were taken from my car, and I didn’t see them again until they arrived in my room. Outstanding service, along with the Ferraris, Porsches and Escalades parked in the hotel drive, says this is an uptown experience. A feeling of “Having Arrived” is pleasantly pervasive.

(+) Ideally located near shopping, businesses and restaurants
(-) Limited amenities for families with young children

Guest Services: The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix

From my initial phone call for reservations until I checked out, service at the Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix was seamless. The reservationist asked for my time of arrival to make sure my room would be ready. He explained the cancellation policy, offered to make dinner reservations and volunteered to send an e-mail confirmation. On arrival the valet and doorman both greeted me by name, as did front desk personnel. I received expert assistance when I plugged my laptop into the room’s high speed Internet service, for which there is a charge.

The "human snooze alarm" was a charming service I hadn’t experienced. When my wake-up call came right on time, the operator said, "This is your 6 am wake-up call. Can I call you back in 15 minutes?" Housekeeping immediately brought a requested toothbrush, but without toothpaste. The concierge also doubles as the gift shop attendant. When I asked for airport information, she seemed distracted. Although she had the correct information, she didn’t ask if I needed transportation. But she did know how long before flight time I should leave the hotel, and the hours of the shops in Biltmore Fashion Park across the street.

(+) Well-trained staff is attentive and knows how to pamper guests
(-) Concierge was busy multi tasking at times

Guest Rooms: The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix

The 11-story, 281-room hotel has 12 suites, with 17 premium rooms on the exclusive Club Level. The 11th floor is the Club Level, accessible only by elevator key. Rooms here are upgraded, and there are five food presentations daily.

My room was much like other Ritz-Carltons I’d visited, elegant and refined, with dark woods and rich colors. The closet was spacious and well-lighted, and a separate armoire had six large drawers. The bed had both goose down and non-allergenic foam pillows. The accent was on comfort. The room needed some updating, however. Carpeting was a bit worn, a piece of wallpaper was torn, and grout was missing behind the bathroom sink. The desk area was perfectly satisfactory for working on my laptop. Although elegantly designed with a white marble countertop and floor, the bathroom was small. With just one sink, it was not large enough for two people to get ready at the same time. Luxurious Trevie bath amenities are a nice touch, however. Even though the hotel is located on busy Camelback Road, soundproofing is excellent. I was never disturbed by street noises, or noises from within the hotel, despite the fact that a large group was booked there during my stay.

(+) Rooms are casually elegant, with a focus on comfort
(-) Bathrooms are small, not comfortable for two

Facilities & Activities: The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix

As a business hotel rather than a resort property, The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix, has a small swimming pool (sometimes crowded) and no full-service spa. The fitness center, open 24 hours, is small but has enough cardio and weight equipment to get a complete workout. It is staffed, but do not expect workout advice or much help with equipment. The locker room has a steam room and dry sauna, but no whirlpool. Small rooms near the fitness center accommodate scheduled treatments that include massages and facials.

The big leisure draw to the Phoenix-Scottsdale area is golf, and the hotel is more than happy to personalize a golf outing, arrange tee times and even manage a tournament for a group. More than 25 courses within 15 miles of the hotel include the nearby Arizona Biltmore Golf Club, the Raven at South Mountain, The Legacy Golf Club, Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale, and others. Hiking nearby mountains also is a popular pastime.

(+) 24-hour fitness center offers complete body workout, and numerous opportunities for golfing
(-) Small on-site pool and no full-service spa

Dining & Lounge: The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix

There is just one dining room in the Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix, the Mobil Three-Star Bistro 24, yet there are many marvelous restaurants within walking distance. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it’s called Bistro 24 for its location on the corner of 24th Street and Camelback Road, it has a feel of elegance without being intimidating. Dark woods and crisp white tablecloths, white china and heavy flatware, cushy banquettes and parquet floors create a continental/European bistro appeal. The dinner menu features classic French fare that includes Pot au Feu, Bouillabaisse and Salad Nicoise. Interesting choices on the breakfast menu included a smattering of more healthful fare such as egg-white omelets and a fresh fruit plate.

I was impressed by the French press coffee service. The one blight on the experience was an uncaring server. She offered no assistance with the menu and did not refill my juice glass. When she left the check, she did not ask if I wanted anything else. By observing other diners in this busy restaurant, it was obvious that this is the spot for power breakfasts, so apparently my server was just having a bad day.

I was sorry to miss afternoon tea, a civilized custom that often is underrated. This refined ritual is carried out in the lobby Tuesday through Saturday, with seatings at noon and 3 pm. Presented in the best British tradition, it includes finger sandwiches, scones and mini pastries.

Room service is available 24 hours a day, a decided boon for business travelers burning the midnight oil. I was impressed by the room service operator who knew the wine list and menu well. She even offered to create something not on the menu that I might be in the mood for. After I ordered, she called back with the chef’s suggestion for a salad dressing that might better complement my calorie-conscious meal. The room service waiter set a full table with a lovely yellow iris. It was not much different from dining in Bistro 24. This classy service made up for my meal being delivered 10 minutes late. Prompt tray pick-up completed a pleasurable experience.

(+) Room service is close to a fine dining experience
(-) Service in the hotel restaurant wasn’t as polished as other venues

Business Services: The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix

As would be expected, the Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix has a full-service, staffed business center where project assistance is available, or guests can use it as a self-service facility. The business-suited staff is genuinely helpful and knowledgeable with computers. They helped me use FedEx, and print a document from my own computer, with no problems.

This is a popular hotel for group meetings, with facilities for gatherings as small as 16 in the Executive Boardroom and up to 500 in the Grand Ballroom. Meeting and conference space includes 20,000 square feet of indoor space, plus outdoor patios and gazebos. The 1,860-square-foot Ritz-Carlton suite has two bedrooms, plus a separate living room and dining room, making it appropriate for small corporate meetings that require seating space and facilities for a group room service meal.

(+) Business facilities are top notch for small or large projects