Barry Sternlicht, the former head of Starwood Hotels & Resorts and current chairman and CEO of the unrelated real estate investment firm, Starwood Capital Group, has announced the creation of yet another luxury hotel brand, this one to be called Baccarat Hotels & Resorts, which will complement Starwood Capital's other two brands, Crillon and 1 Hotels & Resorts. Starwood Capital calls the new brand "unmistakably unique" and each property will contain trappings one would expect from a luxury name like Baccarat. Property details are still rudimentary, but Starwood Capital says the hotels' rooms will be expansive and number between 80 and 250 per property. There will also be a residence component. Other features will include fine-dining options and services designed to shape personalized guest experiences. The first Baccarat project will be in Wailea, Hawaii and is expected to open in 2010. Other locations are to follow in the Caribbean, Europe and the Far East.
