TRUCKEE, Calif. — Work at the mid-mountain Ritz Carlton Highlands is wrapping up in time for an announced Dec. 9 opening.

This hits the tail-end of the Ritz's fall 2009 goal for the $300 million, 170-room hotel, just in time for the holiday ski season. The new resort promises more than 250 new jobs for the Truckee-Tahoe region, with listings starting in September.

“We've already taken our first reservations, and we're seeing significant interest in the holiday season,” said Steven Holt, director of public relations for Ritz-Carlton Highlands.

In addition, Traci Des Jardins will open Manzanita, the resort's restaurant, Dec. 9, and the Ritz-Carlton Club will open Dec. 18.

The hotel and resort broke ground roughly three years ago, July 19, 2006, Holt said.

“From ground breaking through construction we've created roughly 400 jobs,” Holt said. “And now that we're opening we'll be able to hire 250 to 300 people — mostly local — in September and October.”

Holt said the Ritz is partnering with Northstar-at-Tahoe and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association to market the hotel and the region, and said they're expecting year-round business.

“We're built mid-mountain so we know we will have a lot of winter business but at the same time Tahoe in general is such a summer destination,” Holt said.