IN CONVERSATION WITH ULRICH SAMIETZ, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CARMEL VALLEY RANCH
Contributor — Four Hundred by Design
Carmel Valley Ranch Managing Director Ulrich Samietz is renowned for his unwavering commitment to hospitality, mentorship of colleagues, and ability to foster a culture of teamwork. He has led luxury Hyatt resorts around the world over his 40+ years in the industry, including Park Hyatt Aviara, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, and Hyatt Regency Vancouver. A native of Gelnhausen, Germany, Ulrich found his passion for travel and hospitality during college while working in a hotel in Zurich, Switzerland.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RESORT’S SPIRIT IN JUST THREE WORDS?
Discovery. Adventure. Play.
WHAT STANDS OUT THE MOMENT GUESTS ARRIVE?
As guests enter our sprawling 500-acre property, looking up at the Santa Lucia Mountains and winding their way to The Lodge through our Pete Dye golf course, our Organic Garden, and our vineyards, what they feel is a sense of endless possibility. Whether they want to play, explore, indulge, or simply escape, the scale of this immense playground, and the limitless potential it represents, are immediately apparent.
WHAT WOULD AN IDEAL DAY LOOK LIKE AT YOUR RESORT?
For a family, it might be a day at our River Ranch activity center, splashing around in the pool before lunch, hitting the pickleball and tennis courts afterward, hanging around the fire pits in the evening—or all of the above. For a couple, it could be an invigorating hike together before a romantic picnic lunch and treatment for two at Spa Aiyana. The beauty of The Ranch is that there’s no ideal day: The perfect journey is entirely defined by each guest, because play is intensely personal.
WHAT ROOM CATEGORIES BEST DELIVERS THE FULL EXPERIENCE OF YOUR PROPERTY?
Every room at Carmel Valley Ranch is a suite, but the Live Oak Two-Bedroom Suite provides the ultimate experience. At 1,200 square feet and including a pair of spa-like oversized bathrooms, it’s a spacious corner suite with plenty of room to gather, make memories, and refuel after a long day of play—or prepare for more adventures ahead.
WHAT ROLE DOES WELLNESS PLAY IN YOUR OVERALL GUEST EXPERIENCE?
At The Ranch, we believe play, in all its forms, enhances body, mind, soul, and spirit. From treatments and rituals at Spa Aiyana to meals at Valley Kitchen featuring healthy ingredients grown right here in our Organic Garden, wellness is infused into every aspect of our resort. It’s a round on the golf course with friends. An invigorating match on the pickleball courts. It’s even a lazy afternoon spent gazing at the vineyards from an outdoor soaking tub on the balcony. Wellness means something different to everyone, and it means everything to us.
WHERE IS THE MOST INSTAGRAM-ABLE SHOT ON PROPERTY?
There are so many spots to choose from—the Hilltop Yoga Platform overlooking Robinson Canyon? Snively’s Ridge with a prime view of The Ranch? The swings you’ll find throughout the property? All are fantastic choices, but for my money, it’s Harvest Landing just after the harvest and before the pinot noir vines have shed their leaves. It’s an explosion of yellow, orange, and purple, awash in golden light at sunset.
HOW DOES DINING AT YOUR RESORT REFLECT YOUR LOCATION?
Dining at Carmel Valley Ranch doesn’t merely reflect our location; you might say that our cuisine springs from the land. Our culinary team takes the best from our Organic Garden, in-house Creamery, estate olive trees, and beehives to create dishes bursting with local flavor. We believe growing your ingredients is better than shopping for them—and the things we can’t grow or raise we source from trusted local producers whenever possible. Our guests can taste the difference, and with every bite they gain a deeper connection to this wild, wonderful valley.
WHAT MAKES GUESTS RETURN AGAIN AND AGAIN?
Our guests return because no two visits are the same—unless they want them to be. It’s the rare destination where coming back year after year can feel completely different year after year. 500 acres can’t be fully explored in a weekend, or even a week; nor can our vast array of programming and offerings for all ages. It means every stay has something new and fresh, even as favorites are revisited time and again. The nature of play changes as individuals do, and The Ranch is continually refining, always evolving.
WHAT’S ONE INSIDER TIP FOR FAMILIES AND ONE FOR COUPLES PLANNING THEIR STAY?
Families shouldn’t miss visiting The Herd! The “ranch” part of Carmel Valley Ranch isn't just a name—we have goats, chickens, alpacas, and more at our Hilltop Corral, and everyone loves meeting them. (That goes for kids and adults, by the way.)
Couples should make sure to book one of our suites with an outdoor soaking tub overlooking the vineyards. It’s true that every room at The Ranch is a suite, but it’s hard to beat cozying up outside together with a glass of California’s finest as the sun slowly sinks below the Santa Lucia Mountains.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THE FOUR HUNDRED MEMBER TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR RESORTS?
I think the best thing about Carmel Valley Ranch is that you don’t have to choose between luxury and fun. Our amenities and services are refined and elevated, but the vibe is playful and casual. It’s the kind of resort experience where you can eat an elegant garden-to-table meal in the evening, and the next morning meet the goats whose milk was used to produce the cheese in your appetizer. No two paths are alike on our 500-acre playground, which is why I find it endlessly interesting—and our guests do, too.