PR -- Northstar prepares for 2009-10 season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TRUCKEE, Calif. - Aug. 5, 2009 - In advance of the 2009-2010 winter season, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort is sharing an early look at the new offerings that will be available to visitors this winter. Highlights include the opening of Lake Tahoe's first five-star caliber hotel located slopeside at the resort, new lifts, learning programs and beginner teaching terrain.

"The variety of on-site lodging options, on-mountain terrain, and shopping and dining experiences available in the Village at Northstar were designed to provide our guests with the opportunity to reconnect with friends and family and create the personalized experiences they desire," said Julie Maurer, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort. "With the opening of The Ritz-Carlton Highlands hotel this winter, as well as new learning programs and the completion of on-mountain improvements that are designed to enhance the ski and snowboard experience, we look forward to continuing to offer our guests the boutique mountain resort experience that only Northstar Resort is offering in the Lake Tahoe region."

Situated at mid-mountain at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe will open on December 9, 2009 featuring ski-in, ski-out access, mountain valet services, Manzanita, the resort's signature restaurant created by renowned San Francisco celebrity chef Traci Des Jardins, and a 17,000 square foot spa and fitness center. The year-round destination includes 170 guest rooms, 23 private Ritz-Carlton Residences and 25 Ritz-Carlton Club fractional ownership units.

New Lifts Provide Ski-In, Ski-Out Hotel Access
The Highlands Gondola, a new fixed grip pulse gondola featuring 8-passenger cabins was erected this summer and will provide a direct connection between the Village at Northstar™ and The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe. The addition of this new lift brings the resort's lift count to 19.

The Bear Paw double lift accessing the resort's beginner teaching area has been replaced and realigned. The new fixed grip quad chairlift now provides ski-in, ski-out access to and from The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe from the mid-mountain area of Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort and greatly improves access to Northstar Resort's beginner teaching terrain.

New Teaching Programs and Terrain Offer Improved Experience

Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort's beginner teaching area has been expanded and redesigned to include more of the sculpted smart terrain™ that the resort has successfully demonstrated helps improve the learning curve for beginning skiers and snowboarders. This increase in terrain (three times the size of the previous teaching area), as well as a new ski trail providing access from The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe to the mid-mountain area of Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort brings the resort's ski trail count to 90, and its total skiable acreage to 3,000 acres.

New this year, the Burton Snowboard Academy will feature instruction for children under the age of 13. In addition, the Academy will introduce the Northstar Training Lab, a season-long development program that will follow a structured process that supports the foundations, skills and tactics that all riders need to become creative and push the limits of their riding and the sport.

Northstar Resort will also introduce a new Development Race Team Program that will feature almost 300 hours of ski training. The development race team program is suited for ages 5-18 and trains weekends and school holidays, all day, all season for just $1,199 ($4 per hour).
With the opening of The Ritz-Carlton Highlands hotel this winter, as well as new learning programs and the completion of on-mountain improvements that are designed to enhance the ski and snowboard experience, we look forward to continuing to offer our guests the boutique mountain resort experience that only Northstar Resort is offering in the Lake Tahoe region.

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