MAY 9, 2008. Underscoring its commitment to custom-tailored guest experiences in the best addresses around the world, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts today announced the reopening of the brand's celebrated The St. Regis Washington, D.C. after an extensive 16-month-long renovation. The iconic hotel has been Washington's most desirable destination for royalty, statesmen, business magnates, politicians and celebrities since its opening in 1926. Desirably located two blocks from the White House, The St. Regis Washington, D.C., represents the ultimate expression of bespoke luxury and sophistication in the capital's thriving landscape.

"We are proud to unveil The St. Regis Washington, D.C., offering our global guests the iconic luxury, unmatched privilege and bespoke experiences for which the St. Regis brand is renowned," said Ross Klein, President of Starwood's Luxury Brands Group. "From D.C. to Deer Crest, Bangkok to Buenos Aires, St. Regis is going global offering custom-tailored guest experiences in the best addresses around the world."

Artfully designed by Sills Huniford, the restoration of St. Regis' iconic Washington, D.C. property includes a complete renovation of all guest rooms and public spaces, including the lobby, ballroom, fitness center and meeting rooms as well as a new landscape concept for the Astor Terrace (formerly the Crystal Terrace). The new layout was designed to meet the changing needs of the global St. Regis guest while embracing the legacy of the St. Regis brand. Formerly offering 193 guest rooms, the renovated property will feature 175 rooms, allowing for 11 additional, lavishly decorated suites.

Each guest room features signature St. Regis amenities including wireless internet, 32" LCD television, DVD player, Pratesi linens and Remède Spa products as well as bathrooms intricately detailed with mosaic tiles, rich woodwork and custom-designed brass fixtures. Guest rooms will also feature an innovative 15-inch LCD television, recessed behind the bathroom mirror, enabling images to be projected onto a screenless surface.

The hotel's outdoor Astor Terrace, a long coveted location for Washington's preeminent events, is the only exterior space of its kind in the city that can accommodate up to 200 people. The redesign of this space enhances the European ambiance of the original design.

Sills Huniford, known for the redesign of the acclaimed interiors of The St. Regis New York and for their work with such clients as Tina Turner and Vera Wang, have seamlessly blended classic and contemporary design for the new interiors of The St. Regis Washington, D.C. The result is a fresh, bright, modern aesthetic, incorporating bespoke furnishings comprised of distinctive materials. Guests will be delighted with the varied color palette and will find that while one guestroom boasts warm yellows and golds, the suite next door may be in a rich purple or even a deep blue. Each guest room was treated as a residential space, ensuring that guests felt as though they were at home when in residence at The St. Regis Washington, D.C. Billowing lavender sheers bring a serene hue into the lobby which creates a wonderfully luxurious and comfortable setting. The lobby boasts several seating areas where guests can enjoy coffee, hold an impromptu business meeting or meet friends for afternoon tea.

In celebration of the reopening of the hotel, The St. Regis Washington, D.C. has unveiled a series of rituals that speak to the storied history of the brand, including The Bloody Mary ritual which honors the creation of the Bloody Mary at The St. Regis New York. Guests will also enjoy the Champagne Ritual where every evening at 6:00 pm a different bottle of champagne is dramatically opened with a saber, and served to everyone in the lobby.

Following in the tradition of the legendary St. Regis New York, The St. Regis Washington, D.C. features the famed hallmarks of the St. Regis brand including the iconic St. Regis Butler Service, available to guests staying in the hotel's suites, bespoke guest experiences, and luxury accommodations tailored to global travelers. The St. Regis Butler Service offers unparalleled round-the-clock personal attention to every guest. Trained in the English tradition, the butlers provide ever-present yet unobtrusive service while anticipating guest needs and customizing each guest's stay according to his or her specific tastes and preferences. Additionally, the butlers will be equipped with wireless handheld devices so that all guests can email instructions from any location to their personal butler. St. Regis is the first hotel brand to institute this service.

The St. Regis Washington, D.C. is owned by Claret Capital, founded by Dómhnal Slattery in 2005. Claret Capital, a private investment firm based in Dublin, Ireland with offices in New York and Philadelphia, manages the assets of a small number of ultra high net worth individuals and families and has a global investment mandate. The firm has completed investments in the Private Equity, Real Estate, Alternative Capital Markets and a variety of business sectors. Claret Capital has also founded a number of new ventures including JetBird, Europe's first low-cost, on-demand private jet airline. JetBird has ordered 100 aircraft from Embraer and is the launch customer in Europe for the Phenom 100 very light jet. Claret Capital also founded Blue Ocean Wireless, a company focused on expanding communication capability in the merchant maritime sector. Blue Ocean Wireless provides, for the first time, GSM connectivity for seafarers in deep ocean water, where no other network exists.