Steven R. Goldman Joins Starwood Capital Group as CEO of its French Affiliate, Groupe du Louvre

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Sep 01, 2010, 07:00 ET

GREENWICH, Conn., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Starwood Capital Group today announced that Steven R. Goldman will be appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Du Louvre, one of Starwood Capital's portfolio investment holding companies based in France, where he will be permanently based. An industry veteran, Mr. Goldman has been involved in all aspects of hotel acquisitions, finance, development and operations for more than 27 years. At Groupe du Louvre, Mr. Goldman will be responsible for all aspects of the firm's holdings, which include Concorde Hotels and Louvre Hotels.

Mr. Goldman has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Sunstone Hotel Investors, a New York Stock Exchange listed company, and he has been head of Global Development for Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. Mr. Goldman also previously held senior management positions with the Walt Disney Company at their corporate headquarters in California. He received his Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and his MBA from the University of Chicago.

This appointment will mark Mr. Goldman's return to Starwood Capital Group. He was previously a partner in Starwood Capital's hotel acquisition and asset management group, and served as a Starwood Capital designated Trustee of Starwood Lodging Trust, the predecessor entity of Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Barry S. Sternlicht, Starwood Capital Group's Chairman and CEO, worked together with Mr. Goldman for more than 10 years during Mr. Goldman's tenure with Starwood Capital Group and Starwood Hotels.

Mr. Goldman will be replacing Richard Gomel in Paris, who has been CEO of the company since 2005. Mr. Gomel will remain involved in the activities of Groupe du Louvre as an active board member and will work closely with Mr. Goldman to ensure continuity. Mr. Gomel has returned to Starwood Capital's Greenwich, Connecticut offices as Managing Director overseeing hotel acquisitions.

About Groupe du Louvre

Groupe du Louvre is a private French company with four primary business activities – a luxury hotel business, a budget hotel business, a super majority controlling interest in Baccarat, SA, a crystal manufacturer, and an upscale perfumery house called Annick Goutal. Its budget hotel business is Louvre Hotels which is the 8th largest hotel chain in the world with more than 1000 hotels across over 40 countries through 7 brands including Golden Tulip, Campanile, Premiere Classe and Kyriad. Its luxury hotel business includes Concorde Hotels & Resorts with 27 hotels across 9 countries including world renowned hotels such as the Hotel de Crillon, the Hotel du Louvre and the Hotel Martinez.

About Starwood Capital Group

Starwood Capital Group is a private, U.S.-based investment firm with a core focus on global real estate. Since the group's inception in 1991, the firm, through its various funds, has invested more than $6 billion of equity capital, representing $21 billion in assets. Starwood Capital Group currently has approximately $16 billion of assets under management. Starwood Capital Group maintains offices in Greenwich, Atlanta, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and affiliated offices in London, Luxembourg, Mumbai and Tokyo. Starwood Capital Group has invested in nearly every class of real estate on a global basis, including office, retail, residential, senior housing, golf, hotels, resorts and industrial assets. Starwood Capital Group and its affiliates have successfully executed an investment strategy that includes building enterprises around core real estate portfolios in both the private and public markets.