RANCHO SANTA FE, CA (February 21, 2012) – Rancho Valencia, Rancho Santa Fe’s 45-acre luxury resort, is pleased to announce Nicole Sharp and Tracy Schwartz as the newest members of its dynamic team.

Sharp brings more than 15 years of experience to her position as the Director of Marketing for the premier destination resort and spa in San Diego. Prior to joining Rancho Valencia, Sharp spent five years as the Senior Marketing Manager for Hilton Worldwide, where she implemented creative and successful marketing strategies for four San Diego Hilton family hotels, while creating key partnerships within the community. She has also held marketing and advertising roles with Sharp Mortgage Group and SpearHall Advertising and Public Relations.

“As we move forward with the resort’s $20 million renovation, we are thrilled to have Nicole on-board to oversee the property’s strategic marketing initiatives and our re-opening this summer,” said Simon Chen, Rancho Valencia General Manager. “Her impressive background, paired with her proven results and dedication to hospitality, make her the ideal addition to our team.”

Sharp’s arrival marks the partnership of the marketing efforts of both Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa and The Villas at Rancho Valencia coming together, which were previously managed as two separate entities. In this new role, Sharp will be responsible for repositioning the resort’s new enhanced image, while also overseeing all advertising, branding and public relations initiatives for both the resort and real estate components.

Rancho Valencia is proud to welcome Schwartz as Catering & Conference Sales Manager. Schwartz brings more than 10 years of experience in the hospitality, entertainment and wellness industries with previous roles at Cal-a-Vie, L’Auberge Del Mar, Wayne Foster Entertainment and The Chopra Center for Wellbeing.

“We are pleased to welcome Tracy to the Rancho Valencia team, “ said Brad Naucler, Director of Sales and Marketing at Rancho Valencia. “Her passion for delivering high caliber meetings, events and weddings, while exceeding guest expectations, will further elevate the catering and conference services department.”

As Catering & Conference Sales Manager, Schwartz will oversee many group initiatives including serving as the resort’s Director of Romance and delivering couples the ultimate wedding experience. At this post, Schwartz will ensure every couple has the wedding of their dreams by creating memorable experiences that will last a lifetime.

About Rancho Valencia
Since its opening in 1989, the award-winning Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa—Southern California’s only Relais Châteaux property— has garnered a reputation as one of Southern California’s most sough after luxury resorts. Spanning 45 lush acres of gardens, trails, olive groves, casitas and more, this Mediterranean inspired, all-suite property offers the finest accommodations, service and programming that San Diego has to offer. Among the property’s offerings are 49 luxuriously appointed guest villas with private terraces, a world-class spa, fine dining restaurant and award-winning tennis program. Rancho Valencia was recently ranked as the #7 resort in the country and #1 resort in California by U.S. News & World Report and won a 2012 Silver Sage Spa Award from Spa Magazine. In 2011, Rancho Valencia was listed among Conde Nast Travelers and Andrew Harpers Hideaways,  “World’s Best Resorts” lists, in addition to being named one of Travel + Leisure’s “Best 500 Hotels” and Tennis Magazine’s “#1 U.S. Tennis Resort” in 2010.