Starwood Hotels & Resorts' brand St. Regis has debuted in the Caribbean with the opening of The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico.

The 483-acre (195.5 hectares) resort is located on a former coconut plantation, between the El Yunque rainforest and the Espiritu Santo River, and features - among other things - its own private bird sanctuary with Audubon's Gold Signature Sanctuary certification. Designed by architects Hill Glazier, the resort offers 139 guest rooms, including 35 suites with private terraces, as well as 25 private St. Regis Estate Homes. All the accommodation has been designed as low rise plantation-style buildings.

Facilities include the Fern signature restaurant, featuring a blend of both international and traditional Puerto Rican cuisine, and the 10,000sq ft (929sq m) Remède Spa. The latter provides seven treatment rooms, several with private outdoor terraces; relaxation areas; steam and sauna facilities; cold and hot plunge pools and a fitness centre. A comprehensive menu of both unique customised and results-oriented treatments is available. The resort also has a golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and operated by Troon Golf. Inside the clubhouse guests have access to the Molasses restaurant, a golf shop and a bar, in addition to men's and ladies' lounges and locker rooms. Outside is a full-size beachfront swimming pool and patio areas for dining and entertaining.

Following in the tradition of St. Regis founder John Jacob Astor IV - who commissioned a library for the brand's flagship The St. Regis New York in 1904 - The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort offers a modern spin on the concept by providing a curated library. This will include book selections from the likes of fashion designer Jason Wu, chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, jewelry designers Alexis Bittar and Temple St. Clair, and polo player Nacho Figueras. Elsewhere on the property are nearly 27,000sq ft (2,508sq m) of function space, including three outdoor lawn event spaces, the ocean-view Astor pavilion and the Astor Ballroom.