The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., LLC, will introduce a new brand, The Reserve, with the 2008 debut of Molasses Reef, a 125-room boutique hotel on West Caicos in The Turks and Caicos Islands.

The brand will feature boutique resorts that blend the culture, history, and heritage of their settings. It will be distinguished from other Ritz-Carlton resorts by offering exotic, “hideaway” destinations with a relaxed, casually elegant atmosphere and a higher staff-to-guest ratio.

Molasses Reef will be West Caicos' first new major settlement in 100 years, according to Ritz-Carlton. The property will feature a 500-acre natural wildlife sanctuary, and approximately 90 percent of the acreage will be permanently undeveloped. The settlement will be reachable only by boat, small plane, or helicopter.

Molasses Reef will offer low-density, oceanfront cottages spread over a half-mile of beach, and will aim for minimal environmental impact, with spa bungalows, garden courtyards, and secluded plunge pools throughout the grounds. The resort will also feature oceanfront villas, private homes, a full-service marina, and other residential options.