The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester to Offer Etiquette Classes For Today's Techno-Crazed Adolescents

Dec. 8, 2009 - PRLog -- Today’s typical adolescent may be a whiz when it comes to the Internet, texting, or utilizing Blackberries and cell phones, but is all of this technology slowly replacing his or her personal social skills?  Judith Ré, founder of the renowned Judith Ré Académie for Instruction in the Social Graces, believes it is, and now she’s bringing her Social Savvy® classes to The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester beginning on January 9, 2010.

Established in 1986, the Judith Ré Académie for Instruction in the Social Graces is geared toward children aged 8 to 12 with the goal of teaching children good manners, respect, responsibility, and sensitivity.  “Today’s adolescents are so used to communicating via the Internet, text messages and cell phones, that they are beginning to lose their edge in communicating face-to-face,” said Ms. Ré.  “This program is designed to provide young people with the necessary social skills that will create the building blocks for future success.”

A recognized author and expert on etiquette, she has directed programs in many major cities across the nation, including the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Boston.  She has also conducted seminars for thousands of participants over the past 23 years.

The four-hour Social Savvy® class, which includes lunch, begins with a “meet and greet” in the hotel’s lobby, where parents will meet with Ms. Ré and then leave their children for the program.  A brief tour of the hotel and discussion of its artwork is followed by classroom instruction in a private meeting room.  The program includes segments on flower arranging, table setting for three or seven courses, and an instructional lunch featuring American and Continental styles, finger foods, hot and spicy foods, passing food, dinner conversations and more.

After lunch, the group learns proper telephone etiquette, including taking messages and use of cell phones, writing and addressing  “thank you” notes, and making introductions, including the proper way to introduce a young person to an older person, a man to a woman, and visa versa.  The class ends back in the hotel lobby, where children meet their parents and discuss what they’ve learned.

“We are pleased and excited to be able to offer Judith Ré’s Social Savvy® class here,” said Jacqueline Sanders, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester. “We believe this is a great addition to our hotel and look forward to a continuous working relationship with her.”

The first Social Savvy® class is set for Saturday, January 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The maximum number in a group is 12 and pre-registration is required.   Additional classes will be held on the following Saturdays:  January 23, February 6 and February 20.  The cost is $150 per child, including lunch and gratuities.

For more information or reservations for Social Savvy® classes at The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, please call (914) 467-5817

Judith Ré is also the author of “Social Savvy®:  A Teenager’s Guide to Feeling Confident in Any Situation," which has gone through 14 printings over the course of more than a decade, and took her on a media tour for the book.   Ms. Ré attended private schools in New England and has participated in a national conference at the University of North Carolina on “Civility in the Workplace.”

She has been a guest on many national television shows such as “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show,” the Travel Channel, and CNN, and has been featured in “The New York Times,” “The Wall Street Journal,” “London Sunday Mail,”  “USA Today,” “Working Mother,” “Forbes,” “The Washington Post,”  “The Los Angeles Times,” “The Boston Globe,” “The Boston Herald,” “Newsweek” and more.

Ms. Ré also recently completed an extended engagement as a media spokesperson on cell phone etiquette for the Sprint Corporation.  She lives in Fairfield, Connecticut with her husband and two children and divides her time between Boston and New York.



ABOUT THE RITZ-CARLTON WESTCHESTER:
The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester is the area’s premier hotel and sets new standards for hotels in the market.  It features 146 luxury rooms, an award-winning spa with rooftop pool and state-of-the-art fitness center, a comfortably elegant Lounge, and 10,000 square feet of meeting and special event space, including a 500-person ballroom.  In addition, the hotel offers BLT Steak, located on the ground floor and Restaurant “42,” on the 42nd floor.  Set in the heart of the Hudson Valley, The Ritz-Carlton Westchester is just minutes from Manhattan, yet miles from the ordinary.  The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester immerses its guests in all the luxury and cultural heritage that is Westchester County, and offers a beautiful retreat for both business travelers and leisure guests.


ABOUT THE RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL COMPANY L.L.C.:
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. of Chevy Chase, Md., operates 73 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, The Middle East, and Africa. Over 30 projects are under development around the globe with future openings including Sanya, Dublin and Beijing. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldridge, National Quality Award, which recognized outstanding customer service.