Ritz-Carlton will introduce an exclusive new boutique resort brand - The Reserve, with the 2008 debut of Molasses Reef, a 125-room boutique hotel on the secluded island of West Caicos, in The Turks and Caicos Islands. 

Other select destinations around the world are under consideration for future The Reserve brand locations. "A departure for Ritz-Carlton and size and scope, The Reserve brand will feature signature, one-of-a-kind boutique resorts located in choice settings, each with a distinctive personality and sense of place, said Simon F. Cooper, president and chief operating officer. 

A refuge from the expected, The Reserve is for travelers seeking to discover a singular location and peerless resort that, through its design and services, has a distinctive personality that blends together the culture, history and heritage of its setting. The Reserve brand will be distinguished from other award-winning Ritz-Carlton resorts by offering guests' exotic, hand-selected "hideaway" destinations; a relaxed, casually elegant atmosphere; and an even greater level of individualized service through a higher staff to guest ratio. 

"With some of the most sublime, virgin beaches and brilliant azure water in the Caribbean, a 500-acre natural wildlife sanctuary, unspoiled natural beauty, and reachable only by boat, small plane or helicopter, West Caicos is a natural choice for the first ‘The Reserve' resort," said Cooper.  "For the first time in 100 years, West Caicos will open its shores to a new settlement - Molasses Reef, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.  Our guests will be among the first to discover this new destination in the Caribbean."  To ensure the island remains unspoiled, approximately 90 percent of the acreage will stay permanently undeveloped, preserving this sanctuary for generations to come.  

The design of each "The Reserve" resort will be individual and unique, with an exceptional sense of place that marries location and heritage. 

With a site-sensitive, eco-conscious design approach, Molasses Reef will feature groupings of low-density, intimate oceanfront cottages, spread over a half-mile of beach.  Designed by noted architect Scott Lee of SB Architects, Molasses Reef will combine barefoot luxury with minimal environmental impact, with spa bungalows, verdant garden courtyards, and secluded plunge pools winding throughout the resort grounds. 

The resort will also feature oceanfront Molasses Reef Island villas, private home sites, a full-service marina and other exclusive residential options for purchase by those who seek a Caribbean refuge reachable only by boat, small plane, or helicopter. Real estate prices begin at $2.7 million. Complete information on Molasses Reef, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is available at 649-941-7480.