Skift Take
As CEO of Starwood Capital, Sternlicht the longtime hotel king balances financial performance with social responsibility.
Power is not just about who holds the top job but who shapes the landscape, drives innovation, and sets the agenda for what comes next. With that in mind, we proudly present Skift’s Power Rankings — our list of the most powerful leaders in travel.
When Barry Sternlicht founded Starwood Capital Group in 1991, he raised about $20 million in assets. At last count, the group managed over $115 billion in assets.
Starwood founded the firm from scratch by purchasing the Doral Inn on Lexington Avenue in New York City. In 1994, Sternlicht started Starwood Lodging by merging some assets held by Starwood Capital Group’s funds. In 1995, Starwood Capital Group and Goldman Sachs acquired the Westin Hotel Company for $561 million. In 1998, ITT Corp, which owned She