Virtuoso® Names Baccarat Hotel & Residences As The 25th Hotel In Its Illustrious Preview Program

NEW YORK, April 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Luxury travel network Virtuoso® is celebrating a milestone – the addition of a 25^th property to its industry-leading Preview program – by welcoming one of the most anticipated luxury hotels in the world: Baccarat Hotel & Residences, located in New York City.  Since introducing Preview in 2010, Virtuoso has forged exclusive relationships with some of the world's best new hotels to ensure they open their doors with business on the books – crucial for any new property – and created a program so successful that it is now being replicated by other organizations.  Whether St. Regis Bahia Beach in Puerto Rico, which reported that Virtuoso accounted for 91 percent of revenue in its first three weeks, or Montage Deer Valley where Virtuoso advisors produced 34 percent of the hotel's revenue during its first five months of operation, or Mandarin Oriental, Paris which greeted a Virtuoso client as its very first guest, hotels wishing to ramp up sales are partnering with Virtuoso.

Virtuoso's Preview program is offered to hotels during their pre-opening phase and lasts through the first year of operation. During this time, the hotel benefits from Virtuoso's advisor education programs, marketing initiatives, and sales support. Clients of Virtuoso travel advisors receive special benefits at Preview properties that can include room upgrades, complimentary meals, airport transfers and spa treatments.  These value-added amenities are not available through any other channel, which means travelers reserving their stay through a Virtuoso advisor will experience Baccarat Hotel & Residences in the best possible way.

Starwood Capital Group, with Barry Sternlicht at the helm, is responsible for bringing this new level of luxury to New York.  The hotel and residences will reflect the heritage of artisans associated with Baccarat by translating this world-renowned brand into a hotel experience.  With a planned opening of December 2014, the timing coincides perfectly with Baccarat's 250^th anniversary.  And while Preview continues to grow each year, Virtuoso has selected this prestigious hotel as its 25^th addition to the program.

"The Baccarat brand is synonymous with luxury, making it an ideal choice for our network," says Albert Herrera, Virtuoso's senior vice president of global product partnerships. "Baccarat's commitment to excellence mirrors our own, and their attention to the most intricate detail is exquisite.  We are honored that they've chosen Virtuoso as their partner while launching their first hotel, and we are confident that Virtuoso clients will find this hotel a standout, which is no small feat in a city like New York where five-star hotels are the norm."

The Baccarat Hotel & Residences has one of the most prestigious addresses in New York City.  Located at 53^rd Street and Fifth Avenue, the 46-story hotel sits across from the Museum of Modern Art, and is just steps away from Rockefeller Center and Central Park.  Guests enjoy views of the New York City skyline from the property's 114 rooms and 26 suites.  The elegant crystal glassware for which Baccarat is so well known serves as inspiration for the team of accomplished designers who have set out to make the building appear to glow from the inside out, with floor-to-ceiling windows, custom bronze-work and a stunning chandelier shimmering through as a central focal point.

The hotel will include a spa, luxury fitness center and indoor pool.  The communal spaces include a Grand Salon and bar for social gathering that is adjacent to a garden terrace overlooking MOMA, as well as a sophisticated dining experience.

To be connected to a Virtuoso-affiliated travel advisor and reserve a stay at the Baccarat Hotel & Residences, contact Virtuoso at 855-570-3830 or visit www.virtuoso.com. 

About Virtuoso
Virtuoso^® is the industry's leading luxury travel network.  This by-invitation-only organization comprises 335 agencies with more than 7,200 elite travel specialists in 20 countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, as well as over 1,700 of the world's best travel providers and premier destinations.  The network's member agencies generate over $12.5 billion annually in travel sales, making the group the most powerful in the luxury travel segment.  Their relationships with the finest travel companies provide the network's affluent clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com. To view Virtuoso's latest videos, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/VirtuosoTraveler.   

SOURCE Virtuoso