The Ritz-Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton name traces back to hotelier César Ritz, but the company operating under it today was built in Atlanta in 1983 and later folded into Marriott International, which now runs it as the top of a very large portfolio. What distinguishes it operationally is the Credo: a one-paragraph service philosophy every employee is required to know by heart, paired with a famous rule allowing any staff member to spend up to $2,000 to resolve a guest problem without asking a manager. Its Reserve sub-brand — tiny, ultra-private outposts like Dorado Beach — sits apart from the main flag entirely, built for guests who want Ritz-Carlton service without a Ritz-Carlton crowd.

Properties

110+ worldwide

Parent company

Marriott International

Signature

The Credo and the $2,000 rule