“The physical beauty of Telluride and the exclusivity of the location make us a natural match for Capella,” says Brian O’Neill of Telluride Properties, exclusive agent for Capella Telluride, the 148-unit hotel and residential property coming soon to the luxury hotel/resort brand’s first U.S. location.

Aimed at top-tier travelers and residential property owners, Capella’s mission is to set a new standard for personal service that pushes the bounds of traditional five-star hotels. Founded by the team responsible for the Ritz-Carlton brand, Capella will combine the benefits of fine boutique hotels, including superb architecture and interior design, privacy, individualized service and attention to detail with the amenities and activities offered by the world’s great luxury hotels and resorts.

“Capella is located in unique and dramatic locations, maybe the ones that are a little farther away, a little more exclusive, than the norm for luxury hotels,” explains O’Neill.

The name Capella comes from a double star in the constellation Auriga, one of the brightest in the night sky. The “double star” motif reflects the hotel’s focus on the intimate relationship between hotel and guest.

Capella announced this fall that Telluride’s Mountain Village would be its first American location, with a December 2008 opening. Capella will open resorts in a number of other locations worldwide over the next few years, including Sentosa Island, Singapore; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; and Castelmatyr, Ireland.

According to O’Neill, Capella redefines luxury hotels with “a new warmth and level of service.” “This is not just the great service that you’re used to in luxury hotels; Capella takes it to a whole new level,” he says. Capella founder Horst Schultz has said his staff operates “as if they have a sixth sense” in delivering a level of individualized service not possible in large luxury properties. The result: “You don’t have a care in the world.”

The Capella Telluride property offers a mix of 100 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom hotel condominiums priced from $510,000 to $1.75 million and 48 fully owned residential condominiums, priced from $1.75 to $5.5 million. The two, three and four-bedroom residences feature such amenities as top-of-the-line finishes, fireplaces, steam showers and bath fixtures; ultra-luxury kitchen appliances and equipment and exquisite imported stone and tile finishes.

Capella Telluride is located in the center of Mountain Village, in a prime ski-in/ski-out location, where guests and residents will enjoy the exclusive Capella lounge, spa, pool, fitness center, ski valet, multiple restaurants, entertainment venues, climate controlled parking, kids club and retail facilities.

Additional location amenities include an ice skating rink, a golf course, tennis courts and a rock- climbing wall.

The Capella brand was founded in 2005 by Schulze, who luxury-hotel background includes having guided the Ritz-Carlton Hotels as founding president, COO and vice chairman. The developer of Capella Telluride is RAL Companies & Affiliates LLC, a Manhattan-based developer of luxury apartment, condominium and resort communities in New York, Colorado, Texas and Maryland, headed by Telluride resident Robert Levine. RAL also developed The Inn at Lost Creek in Mountain Village.

“We’re honored that Telluride Properties has been selected as the exclusive agent for Capella Telluride,” said O’Neill. “There’s really a complementary match between Capella, RAL Developers and Telluride Properties. These are three firms that are considered innovative, sophisticated and extremely caring.”

To accommodate interest in Capella, Telluride Properties has opened a new sales office at The Inn at Lost Creek focusing specifically on Capella. While the development continues to take shape, visitors to the sales office can take a virtual tour of Capella Telluride, see samples of interior finishes and colors, and learn more about ownership opportunities. For more information, contact Telluride Properties at 970/728-8768.