RockResorts to Manage Hotel Jerome in Aspen

The already-intense rivalry between Vail Resorts and Aspen Skiing Company just ratcheted up a notch, as the former will take over management of an Aspen landmark that is on the National Register of Historic Place and a charter member of the Historic Hotels of America.

Elysian Worldwide, LLC and Lodging Capital Partners, LLC, both headquartered in Chicago, IL, recently announced that they have selected RockResorts International, LLC, to manage the operations of the 92-room Hotel Jerome in Aspen, CO, RockResorts, a luxury hotel company headquartered in Broomfield, CO, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. In addition to management of the luxury hotel, its five dining venues and its grand ballroom, RockResorts will help Elysian and Lodging Capital try to make the transition to their role as the historic hotel's owners as smooth as possible. RockResorts recently announced that Judson Hawk has been selected as the new general manager of the Hotel Jerome.

 The Hotel Jerome in Aspen, CO

Rich History, Present-day Charm

The Hotel Jerome was established in 1889 by Jerome Wheeler, co-owner of Macy's Department Store in New York, at a time when Aspen was enjoying a silver boom. Today, Hotel Jerome is a AAA Four Diamond property and a member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World, Virtuoso Collection and the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts Program. The hotel's amenities include twice-daily maid service, turn-down service, 24-hour in-room dining and concierge service, a fitness room, an outdoor heated pool and two Jacuzzis, as well as 7,500 square feet of private function space for up to 600.

The best room to book is the 875-square-foot Superior One-bedroom Suite, which has a spacious bedroom with king-size bed and sitting area, living room and complete dining area, as well as Jacuzzi tub and CD stereo.

The Century Room is a top-notch fine dining restaurant featuring American cuisine. During the summer, the Century Room moves outside to the Garden Terrace. Jacob's Corner offers breakfast essentials, soups, salads and sandwiches. The saloon-style J-bar is a favorite watering hole among Aspen's locals, while The Library is a cozy lounge.

The Hotel Jerome's travel agent liaison is Jennifer Barnhart, director of sales and marketing (970-920-1000 ext. 623, [email protected]).

RockResorts' collection includes The Lodge at Vail; The Pines Lodge in Beaver Creek, CO; The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in the Vail Valley; Keystone Lodge in Keystone, CO; and La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa in Santa Fe, NM. Future RockResorts include The Arrabelle at

Vail Square
(to open in December 2007), Eleven Biscayne Hotel & Spa in Miami (to open in 2009); and Rum Cay Resort Marina in Port Santa Maria, The Bahamas (to open in 2010).

The Chateau at Heavenly Village

The company has also been selected to operate The Chateau at HeavenlyVillage at the base of Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe, CA/NV. Construction of the redevelopment project has already broken ground and is expected to be completed in early winter 2009. The $420 million, 11.5-acre redevelopment will include two luxury condo-hotels, a 16,000-square-foot RockResorts Spa, 50,000-square-foot convention center with 21,000 square-foot pre-function area, 1.5-acre park and a collection of shops and restaurants. The Chateau at HeavenlyVillage is located at the California state line across from HeavenlyVillage and the Heavenly Gondola, adjacent to Harvey's Lake Tahoe Casino & Resort.

Elysian Worldwide's flagship, The Elysian Hotel and Private Residences—Chicago, is a 60-story, ultra-luxe, mixed-use tower to open in late 2008. Lodging Capital's portfolio includes the Four Seasons Austin, the Fairmont Orchid on Hawaii's BigIsland, the Wyland Waikiki and the historic Drake Hotel in Chicago, as well as another RockResorts managed property, the Snake River Lodge & Spa in Jackson Hole, WY. Visit www.vailresorts.com, www.rockresorts.com or www.lodgingcapital.com.