The Ritz-Carlton, LA Celebrates Emmys With Red Carpet-Ready Package

The 76^and The Emmy Awards are on September 15, and even those who weren’t nominated can now experience the glitz and glamour of an A-lister at The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, thanks to the host hotel’s luxurious new Red Carpet-Ready package.

The luxury hotel is known for treating every guest like an A-star, but has upped the ante with this two-night package, offering many of the exclusive amenities that celebrity guests get when they stay here.

When my best friend and fellow binge-watcher heard about this package, she decided it was tailor-made for us and whisked me away to LA for some mid-week pampering. We booked tickets on Amtrak out of San Diego (something an A-lister probably wouldn’t do) because we knew dealing with Southern California traffic would negate any self-care benefits of our trip.

Unlike the Emmy nominees, we packed only shorts, T-shirts, and a swimsuit for days spent poolside and in the spa, and our favorite Cozy Earth pajamas and slippers for nights spent in our suite enjoying an elevated TV dinner while binge-watching our favorite shows. The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles is certainly luxurious, but it’s also understated and unpretentious, and the perfect place to kick back in style.

In addition, the Red Carpet Ready package includes virtually everything you need for a VIP stay. Here’s what’s included:

Executive Suite Accommodations

A VIP favorite, the Executive Suite is like having a luxury apartment high above LA – complete with stunning views. It’s perfect for a girls’ getaway, as in addition to the massive bedroom, it has an even larger living/dining area with a surprisingly comfortable sleeper sofa. There are TVs in both rooms, as well as the master bathroom, so no one has to miss a minute of their favorite Emmy-nominated show. There’s also a separate dressing area in case you’re planning on actually hitting the red carpet. Best of all, there’s an additional half bathroom for everyone’s comfort and privacy.

The Club Lounge

If you stay in an Executive Suite you will have access to The Club Lounge, a great perk. Located on the 23^rd floor, with a sweeping view of LA, it is one of the best lounges I have ever experienced in a hotel. The food is excellent and plentiful and is served most of the day. Although simply called “Food & Beverage Presentations”, the program includes breakfast, light lunch, light snacks, hors d’oeuvres & cocktails and desserts & cordials, and you could easily eat all your meals here. Darius, one of the Club’s dedicated concierges, was so warm and welcoming, even packing us up with boxes of cookies for our train ride home while telling us hilarious stories about his personal experiences in LA.

The Emmy statues will be on display in the Club Lounge in September, but because we were there during the Olympics, we got to see pastry chef Francois Behuet’s dazzling Eiffel Tower made out of macarons, which looks absolutely stunning. It was a challenge to resist taking it apart one by one and popping it into our mouths. Because apparently we’re not the only ones who think so, there was a plate of fresh macarons nearby.

Masterclass chocolate sculpting

We were so excited to have a private lesson with Executive Pastry Chef Francois Behuet, who also happens to be a master chocolatier. He had everything set up for us when we got to the kitchen (including our own white chef jackets to keep!) and even though my boyfriend and I are by no means bakers, we definitely Are chocolate lovers, and he assured us that his goal was to set us up for success. As he helped us with our creations, he shared tips along with his own personal history, funny anecdotes, and a few hints about what he’s thinking for the amenities and centerpieces of this year’s Emmy Awards. Toward the end of our class, we asked for jobs as his assistants—something, he said, he hears from nearly every guest who takes this class.

Of all the items included in the Red Carpet Ready package, the chocolate sculpting class is the only one that you cannot purchase separately. It is a truly exclusive experience that makes the package so special.

The Spa

Spa treatments are a must for the awards show, and the Red Carpet-Ready package includes three: Red Carpet Radiance Facial, Champagne & Shimmer Body Treatment, Signature Manicure & Pedicure. My 80-minute facial was the best I’ve ever had, thanks to my esthetician, Tej, who gently worked wonders on my needy skin. Two weeks later, it’s still glowing, and I’m trying to figure out how to make regular trips to LA to maintain it.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa is an oasis in the city and a destination in itself. It smells so heavenly, you can feel your shoulders relax the moment you walk through the door, and there are so many inviting places to just lay back and relax, you’ll want to spend the whole day there. This package makes it possible.

Pampering at the pool

You never know who you’ll run into soaking up the sun (and panoramic views) on the loungers surrounding the hotel’s rooftop pool. Lounging poolside is so LA, but a cabana adds a touch of luxury to this signature experience. The Red Carpet Ready package gives you access to your own private cabana all day, so you can escape the Southern California sun for a while. Stretch out on the sofa and watch TV while you enjoy your personal mini-fridge stocked with cold water and soft drinks, fresh fruit, and a bottle of Veuve Yellow Label champagne.

If you’re visiting Thursday through Sunday, which we unfortunately weren’t, you can also experience the spa’s “Cool for the Summer” Wellness Cart, which moves around the pool area to offer a la carte mini-services like a 30-minute Sun Healer Mini-Facial and products like chilled eye and face masks. This is such a fun idea and worth visiting on one of those weekend days if you’re looking to pamper yourself.

VIP facilities

It’s always fun to receive a welcome box full of surprises, and this one was filled with goodies like a miniature award statuette and some of the most requested items by VIPs during awards season stays, including supplements and soothing teas to keep their throats and voices healthy. Our box included Erewhon Sea Moss Gummies and Sakara Detox Tea, along with bottles of Blake Lively’s Betty Buzz and various snacks.

We were so spoiled by our stay that we will be watching this year’s Emmy Awards ceremony as insiders. We will be checking out the nominees to see whose skin looks particularly gorgeous thanks to their Red Carpet Radiance Facial and who might have a touch of chocolate on their lips from Chef Francois’ sinful VIP amenities.