W Hotels Worldwide announced plans to reinvigorate more than 10 of its hotel properties across North America within the next 18 months. The ambitious renovation schedule is focused on many of the W brand’s early hotels in key markets such as New York City, Seattle, Chicago, New Orleans, and Los Angeles, among others.

W Hotels Worldwide announced plans to reinvigorate more than 10 of its hotel properties across North America within the next 18 months. The renovations, which vary by hotel, are slated to include cutting-edge updates to public spaces, new signature bar and restaurant concepts, and stylish revamps to guestrooms, enhancing the W portfolio overall for both its jet set travelers and locals alike. The ambitious renovation schedule is focused on many of the W brand’s early hotels in key markets such as New York City, Seattle, Chicago, New Orleans, and Los Angeles, among others.

“When W Hotels launched in 1998, it quickly redefined the space and continued to transform the traditional hotel experience as we entered new markets across North America,” said Carlos Becil, Vice President of Brand Management, Starwood’s Luxury and Design Brands, North America division. “As W evolves from a U.S. phenomenon into a global design powerhouse, we are committed to fueling the innovation within our existing portfolio to create a consistent, cutting-edge experience for our guests.”

Charged with further connecting hotel design to local contextual insights, W Hotels has engaged some of the industry’s brightest rising visionaries to collaborate with the W brand’s award-winning design team to transform various spaces within each of the hotels. In particular, many of the renovations focus on the Living Room (W’s take on the traditional hotel lobby), which is a key element to the W experience, offering a place for guests to mix and mingle over cocktails and pulsating music. Upgrades to these public areas, as well as the debut of new bar and restaurant concepts, allow for W to enhance the overall guest experience while also drawing in locals.

Starwood and its ownership groups, including Host Hotels & Resorts, Rockpoint Group and Estein & Associates USA, have committed more than $100 million to the renovations, which include the following W Hotels:

• W New York – Union Square - Downtown meets uptown in the sharp new design aesthetic created by d-ash and Wilson Associates for W Union Square, which just underwent a renovation of all 270 guestrooms and corridors. Olives, the hotel’s popular Todd English restaurant, as well as its famed nightlife venue, Lilium (formerly Underbar), have also been revamped. The hotel’s Living Room is set to be updated by Krause + Sawyer early next year.
• W Seattle - Inspired by the feeling of a wharf, intermixed with a central “point of impact” that radiates outward, W Seattle recently unveiled a completely redesigned Living Room and bar area. Designed by Skylab Architecture, the hotel has also debuted the W brand’s signature restaurant concept, Trace, which focuses on conscious cuisine. The hotel has engaged Therese Virserius Design to renovate all of its meeting rooms later this year.
• W San Francisco - Earlier this year, the hotel unveiled an expanded Living Room and destination bar as well as the launch of Trace. Designed by noted San Francisco-based Stanley Saitowitz/Natoma Architects Inc., the new design drew inspiration from the fog and city grid of San Francisco.
• W New York - The W brand’s flagship property, W New York, opened in 1998 and has remained a hub of New York culture and nightlife ever since. The property’s state-of-the-art meeting rooms and Great Room received a facelift by d-ash earlier this year. These updates are to be followed by the unveiling of a Krause + Sawyer-designed Living Room bar in 2013.
• W Chicago – Lakeshore - Envisioned by Josh Held Design, the renovations are a nod to the ingenuity of Chicago and the tension between city and nature. Each of the 520 guestrooms will be renovated and characterized by faceted patterns, a bridge of light and energetic colors. The hotel’s public spaces, including the Living Room, Wave restaurant, Whiskey Sky (rooftop bar), the Welcome Desk and the hotel’s prime meeting space, Altitude (with 360 degree views of the city), will also be transformed to recall the strength, invention and industrialism of Chicago, for a final reveal in 2013.
• W New Orleans – French Quarter - The award-winning, intimate hotel is currently undergoing complete renovations of all guestrooms by nemaworkshop, who incorporated both jazz and tarot motifs in the design. Renovations on the first floor were revealed this past month, with the project due to be complete by mid-Summer. Led by Ti Martin of the Commander’s Palace Family of Restaurants, SoBou, the hotel’s new destination restaurant, will present an artful cocktail program paired with a next generation Creole dining experience.
• W San Diego - W San Diego has re-energized its Rooftop Bar with a bright, bold bonfire theme – including a playful sculpture of stacked beach chairs – as envisioned by Mr. Important Design of Oakland, California. Inspiration ignites in the newly imagined Living Room where vibrant colors collide and heat up the lounge atmosphere. In addition, the hotel’s meeting rooms have been expanded and renovated as the hotel debuts its new restaurant, kelvin – which features touches of Latin soul – this month.
• W Los Angeles – Westwood - This beloved celebrity hideaway, featuring all suite rooms, has also engaged Mr. Important Design to expand and re-define its Living Room, bar and public spaces. The renovations will result in a more cohesive union of the Living Room and bar, engaging secret spaces, additional high-tech meeting room options, and a dramatic entrance moment with a signature chandelier inspired by city of LA. The hotel’s signature restaurant and popular Backyard will also be reimagined in 2013.
• W Dallas - With the design narrative of “Big/Bold,” Mars Culture is redesigning the guestrooms with traditional Texas accents that marry the juxtaposition of masculine and the belle. Accents include lasso sculptures, rhinestone hardware, armadillo skin embellishments, and more.
• W New York – Times Square - W Times Square gives guests and locals a place to experience the electric energy of Times Square from a voyeuristic, tucked away space. The WOW and EWOW suites (W’s take on the Presidential Suite), perched high above it all, will each undergo full-scale renovations.
• W Montreal - Later this year, the hotel will begin renovating all of its guest rooms with a colorful new palette that also pays tribute to the historical architecture of Montreal.

With Panoramic Views of the Iconic 101 Tower, W Taipei Fuses the City’s Natural Surroundings with Its Urban Core.

W Hotels Worldwide opened the doors on Valentine’s day of its 39^thhotel globally, W Taipei, which is located in the buzzing central business district of Xinyi. The 405-room hotel has been designed by renowned architects G.A. Design International Ltd. of London and is encased in radiant glass. Rising 31 floors, W Taipei is the only hotel in the city with a panoramic vista of the iconic 101 Tower, one of the world’s tallest buildings. The opening of W Taipei coincides with the opening of W London – Leicester Square, which will be the W brand’s 40^th hotel globally (see yesterday’s post).

“W Taipei marks an important step in the global expansion of the W brand, in particular in Mainland China and the Taiwan region,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “W Taipei is sure to redefine the meaning of ‘hotel’ in Taipei and is well equipped to electrify the city.”

“We are thrilled with the opening of W Taipei today,” commented Qian Jin, Senior Vice President of Operations, China & Taiwan, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “W Taipei is the ultimate urban getaway in the middle of one of Asia’s hippest and most cosmopolitan cities. Without a doubt, W Taipei will be the venue of choice for discerning and style-conscious trendsetters – particularly those inspired by W brand’s unique mix of forward looking design and innovative style.”

Taipei Hotel Design Redefined

Upon arriving at W Taipei, guests will marvel at “The Chain” – made of the strongest stainless steel with a mirror finish – that symbolically anchors the energy of the W Taipei into the ground and is juxtaposed with a gigantic green wall filled with plants organically grown throughout Taiwan. W Taipei showcases a cutting-edge collection of design installations that bring to life the hotel’s design concept of “nature electrified.” For instance, an interactive light installation – entitled “To Light You Fade” created by rAndom International, a “W Hotels Designer of the Future ” – interacts with guests as they enter the building, by changing shape, look and feel in sync with its surroundings.

Sip, Mix and Indulge at W Taipei’s Bars and Restaurants

Taiwan’s newest scene, W Taipei will feature an eclectic assortment of signature restaurants and lounges. The Kitchen Table tantalizes with a broad menu of spicy and aromatic tandoor dishes, wood-fired pizzas, stylish salads, succulent seafood and grill dishes. Outside on the WET pool sky deck, al fresco dining means an urban barbecue overlooking Taipei’s Technicolor city lights. On the 31st floor, the W brand’s Cantonese restaurant, Yen, features a sleek bar for sipping as well as delicate dim sum, fresh seafood, signature soups, delicious desserts — and five private dining rooms for more intimate affairs. As the consulting chef of Yen, creative Chef Jereme Leung brings his innovative style of cooking and unique approach to contemporary Chinese cuisine.

Sanctuary of Serenity High above the Energy of Taipei

Guests at W Taipei may choose from 405 guestrooms and suites, designed as private sanctuaries inspired by nature with spectacular urban views. Overlooking the Yangmingshan mountain range that surrounds Taipei, guestrooms feature an interior balcony/play pad, a great place to relax in the serenity of the room amidst cosmopolitan Taipei, as well as warm-colored stones, burnished wood and lush, electrified floral carpeting contrasted with modern, subtle lighting inspired by Chinese lantern boxes. Designed with the international jet-setter in mind, all guestrooms boast the signature ultra-comfortable W Bed with its 350-thread count linens; a sleek, modern white work station with a leather ergonomic chair; state-of-the-art in-room technology including high-speed wired and wireless Internet access; flat-screen, 42-inch LCD televisions; Bose 2.1 sound systems; charging MP3 player docks; IP phone with voicemail; and a W Taipei’s signature W Zodiac Animal – a whimsical touch to the room.

W London, Located in the Heart of London’s Entertainment Scene, Celebrates the Dual Personality of the Brit.

W Hotels Worldwide today premieres its newest flagship hotel, W London – Leicester Square, the W brand’s 40^th hotel globally. Set in the epicentre of London’s entertainment scene, W London is situated on the corner of Leicester Square and Wardour Street, nestled between cultural Soho and the world famous square. The building, which was developed by Northern Irish property company McAleer & Rushe, stands 10-storeys tall and is veiled in translucent glass that will change colour according to the time of day, the ambience of the area or happenings within the hotel and city. The opening of W London marks a significant milestone in the W brand’s global expansion, coinciding with today’s opening of W Taipei.

“From New York City, the birthplace of W Hotels, to London – from Times Square to Leicester Square –, this iconic opening is sure to propel the W brand in its continued transformation into a global powerhouse.”

“London is an important gateway city globally, and the opening of W London has been highly anticipated by us all,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “From New York City, the birthplace of W Hotels, to London – from Times Square to Leicester Square –, this iconic opening is sure to propel the W brand in its continued transformation into a global powerhouse.”

Through W Hotels’ unique and distinctive programming, W London is set to become a new scene in the city for both guests and locals alike. The hotel features 192 guest rooms, including 17 suites, three WOW suites and one Extreme WOW suite as well as the UK’s first Spice Market, a signature restaurant by three Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, inspired by the vibrant street life of South East Asia and Wyld, a new take on the hotel bar scene run by London-based nightlife gurus, Ignite Group.

W London also features the signature W Lounge welcome experience, offering cocktails and bites with a twist on traditional English favourites; SWEAT^®, state-of-the-art fitness facility, offering rooftop views of Soho and beyond as well as exclusive images by photographer Marcel Van Der Vlugt; AWAY^® Spa with a focus on detox and refuel; a modern Screening Room with seating for 38; and W Studio Spaces that are dynamic enough to host a cocktail reception, board meeting or cosy dinner. All of this is supported by the W brand’s signatureWhatever/Whenever service philosophy, providing guests whatever they want – from a private fashion show to an insider tour of London’s alternative nightlife scene – whenever they want it, as long as it’s legal!

“We are thrilled to launch the W brand in the UK with the opening of W London,” said Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East (EAME). “After opening W hotels in Istanbul, Doha and Barcelona, the brand is on track to more than double its footprint over the next three years with further new hotels in prime destinations such as St. Petersburg, Paris and Milan.”

Design – Buttoned Up, Buttoned Down

Taking inspiration from its surroundings, the duality of British culture forms the basis for W London’s design concept – Savile Row meets Soho. Amsterdam based design team, Concrete, has crafted an interior to specifically suit the contemporary business and leisure traveller for work and for play. Within the hotel, an attitude of formal day turns quickly into informal night aided by classic design with a contemporary twist and nightlife accents.

W Lounge – Britishness Remixed

The W Lounge is a contemporary expression of British culture, reflecting the duality of the Englishman. The open fires and double-depth modern Chesterfield sofas are complemented by fine British food and drinks – traditional classics reworked with a modern touch. Serving breakfast, all day dining, afternoon tea and with a full service bar, the W Lounge is a perfect space for guests to spend all day and all night.

Wyld – Bringing Rock ‘n’ Roll back to Soho

Run by the Ignite Group, whose CEO is Matthew Hermer, and named after Sir John Wyld, a Victorian entrepreneur who specialised in outrageous large-scale entertainment projects, Wyld brings the wow factor back to central London’s hotel bar scene. The music and drinks have been inspired by Rock ‘n’ Roll London taking inspiration from Soho’s musical heritage and featuring a specially curated premium tequila selection, alongside a full service bar.

Spice Market – From New York to London

At W London, three Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten premieres the sister restaurant of the iconic Spice Market in New York’s Meatpacking District. The toast of the New York restaurant scene, Vongerichten has teamed up with Chef de Cuisine Tim Tolley to create bold and tantalising dishes, inspired by the street flavours of South East Asia. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, there are 34 seats downstairs available for dining, along with a cocktail lounge and sushi bar. The upstairs area can host 95 guests with an open kitchen and a private dining room that can accommodate up to 40 guests.

Guestrooms – London by Day and Night

W London’s guestrooms feature an innovative design with unexpected details, unique to W and never before showcased in a London hotel. This focuses on the changing needs and demands of guests and their desire for a more studio-inspired open space. The ‘studio living’ concept no longer recognises the bathroom and bedroom as two entirely separate areas, rather as spaces that flow into each other, though privacy still remains. This design spirit of ‘duality’ continues into the public spaces where huge floor-to-ceiling windows draw in light and frame the architecture of Soho behind them.

Screening Room – The Heart of London Film

Further enhancing W’s passion for entertainment, the 38-seater 3-D state-of-the-art Screening Room is just off the W Lounge, which allows guests to mix and mingle before taking in the newest flick. The screening room is used for exclusive private hire and is sure to become the hottest new venue for small scale premieres.

AWAY Spa – Relax and Detox

The hotel’s AWAY Spa offers a full range of treatments to help guests unwind and recover. Guests can indulge in body treatments, waxing, manicures, pedicures, brow and eyelash tinting and facials. AWAY Spa guests can also access SWEAT, state-of-the-art fitness facility, where guests can book a personal training session or use any of the equipment at their leisure.

W Hotels Worldwide will continue to showcase what’s new and next in design with the opening of six new W Hotels around the world in 2011.

Design has been at the forefront of W Hotels since the opening of the David Rockwell-designed W New York – the first ever W Hotel – more than 12 years ago and has evolved with more recent hotel openings by designers such as Patricia Urquiola (W Vieques), United Design (W Doha), and Ricardo Bofill (W Barcelona), among others. As a way to further fuel innovation in design, W Hotels has also forged unique design partnerships such as its “W Hotels Designers of the Future” award with Design Miami/Basel.

“Design has always been an integral part of the W brand,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader of W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “As W continues to transform into a global powerhouse, we have evolved our design approach to include contextual insights that lead to locally relevant designs bound together by W’s DNA.”

On track to reach more than 50 hotels by the end of 2012, W Hotels will, this year, open:

W Taipei (February 14, 2011) – GA Design International has created a “nature electrified” design concept that fuses the rural surroundings of Taipei with the vibrant, high voltage core of the city. W Hotels Designer of the Future winner Zigelbaum + Coelho has also been commissioned to create an interactive chandelier for the hotel.

W London Leicester Square (February 14, 2011) – Debuting as the 40th W Hotel globally, W London has been designed by renowned London architects Jestico + Whiles and Dutch interior design agency, Concrete. Veiled in translucent glass that will change color according to the time of day or happenings in the city or hotel, the 10-story hotel is sure to become the epicenter of entertainment. Interiors are based on the “dual personality” of the Englishman – buttoned-up by day and uninhibited and free-spirited by night.

W St. Petersburg (March 2011) – With architecture by Grigoriev + Partners and interior design by Milan-based Antonio Citterio and Partners, W St. Petersburg will be located in a historic building near the lavish Winter Palace, a new place to experience the white of night. Inspired by the jewel-tones and layers of a Fabergé Egg, the “hidden gem” design of the hotel will reveal surprises throughout the guest experience.

W Retreat Bali – Seminyak (March 2011) – For its latest Retreat experience, W Hotels has partnered with SCDA Design International and AB Concepts Hong Kong. An island marked by worship and celebration, the design of W Bali was inspired by the more than 20,000 temples that populate the Island – each with private inner courtyards and public outer courtyards that constantly “conceal and reveal,” introducing a new scene unseen.

W Paris – Opéra (December 2011) – Located steps from the world-famous Opéra Garnier, W Paris – Opéra has been designed by Rockwell Group Europe (“RGe”) and inspired by both the energy of New York City – W’s birthplace – and Paris as the “City of Light.” Sure to light up the refined district, W Paris will melt the somber traditions of the 1870s Haussman-era building in which it will be housed with a “spark” of modern radiance.

W Guangzhou (December 2011) – With architecture by Hong Kong-based Rocco Design and interiors by renowned Yabu Pushelberg, the design of W Guangzhou, located in the city’s buzzing Zhujiang district, has been inspired by the region’s ancient Kesi Tapestries. Throughout the hotel, guests will find themes around unraveling, mesh work and emerging patterns.

Inspired by these unique design personalities of W Hotels around the world, W has recently launched the Global Glam collection of exclusive designer fashion and accessories. An intrinsic expression of design, W Hotels is using Fashion to communicate its global growth. This week, during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, W will launch the fourth season of the Global Glam collection, reflecting the designs of W Taipei (opening February 14, 2011), W Austin (opened December 2010) and W Mexico City (undergoing renovation).

In 2010, W Hotels had an exciting presence at key international design weeks, kicking the year off by announcing a partnership with Design Miami/Basel, the most prominent and substantive forum for international design. The new alliance began at Salone del Mobile in Milan in April, when Design Miami/ Basel announced the “W Hotels Designers of the Future Award” recipients. The four winners of the first ever W-sponsored prize – Beta Tank, Graham Hudson, rAndom International and Zigelbaum + Coelho – debuted exclusive concepts for W Hotels at Art Basel Switzerland in June and then presented these works at various W Hotels across Europe throughout the year. The designers’ projects are also being integrated into soon to open W Hotels around the world. In September 2010, W was an official sponsor of Istanbul Design Week, hosting a Young Designer Competition and also displaying the innovative “W Hotels Designers of the Future” works within W Istanbul. Closing out 2010, W Hong Kong hosted a variety of special events, dinners and presentations during Hong Kong’s annual Business of Design Week in December.

W Austin and The Residences at W Austin, owned and developed by Stratus Properties and Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund II, has opened in the Texas capital as the W Hotels brand’s 38th property.

W Austin, located in the heart of Austin’s 2nd Street District and connected to a 3,000-capacity music and performance venue, is aiming for LEED certification.

“At W Austin, we proudly share our passion points of music, design and fashion with the city of Austin, and we know this synchronicity—combined with our unparalleled service—a will present a welcome, playful escape for residents and visitors alike,” says General Manager Drew McQuade.

Designed by Andersson-Wise Architects and Heather Plimmer of Stratus Properties, W Austin features 251 guestrooms and suites and 159 residences. The interior design attempts a playful juxtaposition of masculine and feminine throughout the space. Dark metallic tones are met with pops of vibrant reds, blues and layered fabrics, and the influence of Austin artists are prominent and prevalent. Surprises abound, from a guitar strap design around each bathroom mirror, to lacquer in Away Spa that feels more lounge than leisure.

“W Austin and the Residences at W Austin is a unique, mixed-use development that pairs a luxurious brand with a commitment to local authenticity,” says Beau Armstrong, CEO of Stratus Properties. “We are all so very excited about opening the hotel. This has been an incredible team effort and I’m very proud of what we have accomplished.”

Restaurant Trace offers “conscious cuisine” sourced by on-property “foragers.” Trace invites culinary enthusiasts to expect traceability of ingredients and experience W Austin’s commitment to sustainable, renewable and organic products. Dedicated to conscious cuisine, the restaurant team forages, farms, crafts and hunts the freshest ingredients, and presents them via regionally influenced themes. Forager Valerie Broussard works in tandem with Chef Paul Hargrove to source the freshest, highest quality products, and to cultivate strong partnerships with local and regional farmers, fishermen, artisanal producers and distributors of sustainable and organic food and beverage products.

The 3,138-sq.-ft. space includes a main dining room, private dining room, main bar and outdoor dining. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, Trace’s extensive menu features a variety of market snacks, small plates, large plates and daily fresh selections. Highlights include the winter’s green salad with heirloom vegetables and hazelnut vinaigrette; rabbit club sandwich with an apple curry mayonnaise on Texas toast; crispy pig head; beef duo including grilled ribeye, braised short rib, salsify, and wild mushrooms; and chicken breast with bacon, squash, Brussels sprouts and mustard jus.

In the Living Room, four distinct spaces create an intimate retreat of cozy corners, where guests can experience playful, authentically Austin libations and bites. Two sections showcase 8,000 vinyl records and a vintage McIntosh stereo, respectively. The space will serve as a vibrant backdrop for a series of W Happenings related to music and fashion, W’s core passion points.

W Austin features more than 10,500 sq. ft. of ultra-modern meeting and event space to accommodate a small gathering or a large group. The adjacent Austin City Limits Live venue, which seats up to 2,700 people, can also accommodate seated dinners for up to 600 guests, fashion shows, awards programs and other stylish soirees. W Austin is also the perfect destination for social happenings such as, weddings, bridal parties, or honeymoons.

Set on the North Shore of Thailand’s Famed Samui Island, W Retreat Koh Samui Brings a New Dimension of Modern Design and Contemporary Lifestyle to Thailand.

W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster and industry innovator, today opens the doors of W Retreat Koh SamuiW Retreat Koh Samui, the first W in Southeast Asia. An all-villa beachfront resort uniquely located at the peak of the north shore of Thailand’s famed Samui Island, W Koh Samui brings an alluring new dimension to Thailand through its location, forward-looking design, and vibrant contemporary lifestyle. The opening of W Koh Samui is also an important milestone as W Hotels continues to grow internationally, on track to more than double its global portfolio by 2012, reaching more than 50 hotels worldwide.

“W Retreat Koh Samui redefines the way we live and play. The day is dedicated to individual moments of relaxation and detox that will inspire you for a night of energy and celebration,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “We are delighted to have brought the W brand to Koh Samui, one of the coolest islands in Southeast Asia. W Koh Samui marks an important move in the global expansion of the W brand, and after W Maldives and W Vieques, it is our third Retreat worldwide.”

“W Retreat Koh Samui is another great example of our ideology in investing in a destination with a great site, product and the ideal brand to compliment it – certainly a perfect blend of lifestyle, entertainment, hospitality and commerce,” said Sunny Bajaj, Managing Director of Amburaya Hotels & Resorts. “We are confident that W Retreat Koh Samui will be a scintillating playground for the discerning leisure traveler and a fresh destination on the global stage of entertainment, music, fashion and culture for years to come.”

“Sa-Wow-de ka” to W Retreat Koh Samui

A modern paradise of vibrant foliage, unspoiled golden sand and warm island breezes, W Koh Samui offers panoramic sunrise and sunset views of the Gulf of Thailand from its exceptional beachfront location. The Retreat features 75 private villas equipped with modern lifestyle innovations, including a private pool, daybeds, an outdoor shower, Yamaha sound system, 46-inch plasma screen TV, wine refrigerator, and the signature W bed.

W Koh Samui’s signature services and amenities bring a new level of indulgence to a renowned Thai island. Exclusive experiences include W’s signature Whatever/Whenever® service philosophy, providing guests and residents with whatever they want – from a Champagne brunch on a deserted beach to an intimate sunset wedding on a stretch of Koh Samui’s glistening sand to an impromptu island-hopping excursion – whenever they want it, as long as it’s legal!

Koh Samui’s Spirit of Celebration Meets Modern, Cutting-Edge Design

Showcasing innovative architecture by MAPS Design Studio and interior design by Thailand-based design firm P49 Deesign, W Retreat Koh Samui – like Koh Samui itself –is an island within an island, a place that will “light up the night.” With a hill separating its own peninsula of land from the rest of Koh Samui, W Retreat Koh Samui offers an escape within an escape for guests and travelers who seek something extraordinary – a far cry from the everyday resorts nearby.

W Koh Samui has been designed as a modern paradise where the day is dedicated to individual moments in which guests can slip away from themselves and each other to refuel for what comes next. When night falls, the people and the Retreat come to life – nocturnal in nature like the W brand, full of energy and ready to mingle.

W’s signature W Lounge (W’s take on the traditional hotel lobby), a magnificent design, rich with stunning ocean vistas welcomes stylish island guests as they arrive at the retreat. Upon entry, guests will experience interactive digital floor projections that give way to an environment accented with off-white terrazzo floors, high ceilings clad in angular bleached wood veneer panels, large bookshelves and oversized lamps. A key element of the W Lounge is a water feature and relaxing area, inspired by the shape of a lotus flower.

Sip, Flirt and Indulge at W Lounge, WooBar, The Kitchen Table, and Namu

W’s signature W Lounge brings an irresistible new highlight to Koh Samui’s nightlife scene. Right next to the W Lounge is the breathtaking WOOBAR. Open on three sides and perched on the corner of a hillside, WooBar offers 270-degree views of the Gulf of Thailand and the surrounding hillside. Overlooking the bar on the mezzanine level is the DJ booth, perched high from a commanding point in WooBar. The unique design allows WooBar to transform from day to night, becoming the ultimate destination to wow guests with W’s dynamic programming in the form of unique W Happenings – lifestyle events reflecting W’s passion for music, design, fashion and film.

Guests of the Retreat may enjoy preferred dining reservations and seating at The Kitchen Table, which serves food from the heart, including freshly baked treats, gourmet pizzas and inspirational buffets, as well as at W Retreat Koh Samui’s signature restaurant, Namu. More than a Japanese restaurant, Namu creates the food of “Asia Tomorrow” and brings a modern reinvention of Asian ethnic cuisine styles for guests, from the menu to the design and the service concepts. Before dinner, guests may spice up their evenings with one of W Retreat Koh Samui’s signature cocktails at SIP while taking in the most spectacular sunset on the Edge of Wonderland.

Escape to aWay Spa and Indulge in the First Thaimazcal Treatment in Asia

Away® Spa, the signature spa at W Retreat Koh Samui, will whisk away guests and in-the-know locals into a playground of surprising sensations and signature treatments that detox, decompress, delight and refuel, while enveloped in an aura of peace, silent beauty and simple elegance. Unlike any other spa in Southeast Asia, Away® Spa is an exceptional wellness escape that features signature treatments including massages, facial and body treatments, manicures and pedicures, as well as a range of treatments incorporating local Thai influences – whether it be ingredients or massage techniques – in a cool and playful way. A masterpiece of modern design, Away® Spa comprises 576 square meters of indoor and outdoor spa treatment areas that allow for total privacy and complete renewal, as well as TONIC juice bar and the first “Thaimazcal” treatment facility. The first of its kind in Asia, the Thaimazcal treatment is unique and based on Mexican tribal rituals, using local Thai ingredients. Guests will also be able to enjoy the WET pool, SWEAT state-of-the-art fitness facility, water sports center and tennis court, Style Lab and much more.

Who wants to meet and celebrate?

The Great Room function area at W Retreat Koh Samui serves as an ideal island venue for weddings, business gatherings, creative meetings and so on. Creative in approach and innovative in design, the Great Room serves 60 people with the latest in meetings technology. With its location on the tropical wonderland of W Retreat Koh Samui, the Great Room is also expected to be one of the best venues in the world for WOW VOWS and wedding parties.

Starwood’s W hotel chain this month will add another name to its list of New York City hotels, following the loss of two hotels this spring.

The newest member of the club is the 58-story, 217-room W New York – Downtown, which is poised to check in its first guests on Aug. 16.

Expect to see power brokers wining and dining each other BLT Bar & Grill. The hotel’s bar scene will have both indoor and outdoor options, with a terrace that boasts magnificent city views.

So what’s it going to cost you? Rates start at $399 a night on weekends and $529 midweek.

The W near Wall Street is just one of the many new hotels open or about to open in Manhattan. The InterContinental Times Square opened this week, while Hyatt’s Andaz 5th Avenue – the more W-like of the two – opened last month. Back in April, two of Starwood’s five Manhattan hotels – the W The Court and W The Tuscany (now St Giles Hotels) – dropped the W name.

Starwood has sold its W New York-The Court and W New York-The Tuscany to London, UK, based St Giles Hotels. The Court and The Tuscany left the Starwood W Hotels system today and will be rebranded as St Giles Hotel – The Court and St Giles Hotel – The Tuscany respectively. The hotel’s new owner has agreed to honor all local negotiated rates previously signed by W New York-The Court and W New York-The Tuscany for confirmed reservations. W Hotels currently has four hotels in New York City and is planning on opening the W New York – Downtown, later this summer.

Meanwhile, Wyndham Hotels has opened the delayed Fashion 26, a luxury hotel in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood. The hotel is located across the street from the famous Fashion Institute of Technology, and set in one of New York’s trendiest districts. The hotel’s own accessories are created from fashion favorites including cutting room tables and camera lights, and the hallways will host a rotating art program, including some pieces from local New Yorkers and students at FIT. According to a press release from Wyndham, the hotel will feature luxury amenities including Frette linens, free wireless Internet and Gilchrist & Soames toiletries.

Over the course of the next three days, W Barcelona will highlight the W brand’s passion points of fashion, design, architecture, music and “B&F” (beverage & food) through a new event series called “W Premiere.”
Global jetsetters and local tastemakers alike will be immersed into a unique event that will provide them with an insider perspective to the city curated by the following W ambassadors: W’s recently announced Global Fashion Director, Amanda Ross; W’s Global Music Director, Michaelangelo L’Acqua; Michelin star Chef, Carles Abellan, who recently debuted his upscale Spanish restaurant Bravo24 at W Barcelona; Matt Hermer, Founder of The Ignite Group (and creative mind behind London’s Boujis nightclub and Barcelona’s Eclipse Bar on the 26^th floor of the hotel); and the hotel’s world-famed star architect Ricardo Bofil

“The Premiere Event of W Barcelona is not just a traditional opening of a new hotel, but rather the unique activation of the W brand’s passion points, brand partnerships and design concept. In its first six months, W Barcelona has already established itself as an architectural icon and an international lifestyle destination,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “This event is a showcase of the W brand promise to provide insider experiences in an authentic way.”

The W Premiere Event is a three-day Happening where guests will experience memorable moments including an acoustic performance by Bossa Nova legend Bebel Gilberto, a performance by the award-winning Spanish band We Are Standard, photography installations by legendary music photographer Mick Rock and the fashion-inspired work of Marcel Van Der Vlugt, design excursions led by Ricardo Bofill, a culinary immersion by avant-garde Chef Abellan, and cocktail indulgences led by Ignite Group.

Stylish champagne brand Veuve Clicquot and the fashion forward flip flop brand Havaianas who have become important brand partners for W Hotels and will be part of the W Premiere event at W Barcelona through a range of new installations.

“W Barcelona joins W Istanbul and W Doha Hotel & Residences as the third W Hotel in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and plays a critical role in the continued launch of the W brand with upcoming openings in London, Paris, and St. Petersburg,” said Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa, Middle East. “This opening event for W’s European flagship is a showcase of our focus on innovation and strengthening our leadership position in some of the region’s most sought after destinations.”

About W Barcelona

W Barcelona provides a contemporary lifestyle experience with a complete service offer. The hotel features 473 guest rooms, including 67 suites, two WOW suites and one Extreme WOW suite. W Barcelona offers guests Spain’s first Bliss® Spa; a signature restaurant by famed Michelin-Star rated and acclaimed Catalan Chef, Carles Abellan, featuring unparalleled views of the Barcelona shoreline; Eclipse, a glamorous rooftop bar with stunning vistas over the Mediterranean from London-based nightlife gurus, Ignite Group (the creative minds behind famed London nightclub, Boujis); the signature W lounge welcome experience featuring W BAR for cocktails and WAVE Restaurant; WET, a glamorous infinity-edged pool and bar, all surrounded by multiple sun terraces, inspiring exterior lounge decks, fully equipped cabanas, and one ultra-exclusive Extreme WOW Cabana with Jacuzzi and lounge deck. The hotel also features SWEAT state-of-the-art fitness facility outfitted with Technogym equipment featuring panoramic views of the Mediterranean, complemented by resident DJ sets to inspire high energy work out sessions. W Barcelona features spectacular public spaces with more than 2,500 square metres of ultra-modern meeting and event space, including a unique Great Room (W Hotels’ interpretation of a ballroom) with breathtaking, unobstructed sea views, making W Barcelona more than the ultimate insider escape but also an ideal hotel for special events, meetings and celebrations. All of these offerings are supported by the W brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever® service promise, providing guests whatever they want – from a private chartered yacht excursion along the Mediterranean coastline to an insider shopping spree from vintage Catalan fashions to the latest Spanish designers – whenever they want it (as long as it’s legal!).

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced that the Minneapolis-based Chambers has joined Le Méridien, the Paris-born hotel brand with an international presence of 105 hotels and resorts.

See the Le Meridien Chambers on stylehotelsweb

The addition of Chambers has increased the brand’s footprint to 10 hotels in North America. Opened in 2006 by prominent art collector Ralph Burnet, Chambers is considered one of the world’s top art hotels, featuring more than 250 original artworks by such noted artists as Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Gavin Turk. The hotel has been renamed Le Méridien Chambers Minneapolis.
“Le Méridien shares with its guests a passion for style, art, architecture, design, and cuisine, all focal points of Chambers and owner Ralph Burnet,” said Eva Ziegler, global brand leader, Le Méridien and W Hotels Worldwide. “Chambers will serve as a flagship for Le Méridien’s North American portfolio, and a perfect example of its new direction as a creative hub in vibrant cities around the world.”

“For the last year and a half, I’ve seen firsthand the benefits the Starwood organization brings to a hotel property,” said Burnet, referring to W Minneapolis – The Foshay, his other hotel property which opened in late 2008. “Le Méridien embraces contemporary art and cuisine the way that the W brand revels in fashion and music. Chambers is clearly all about great art, food and service – which makes this a tremendous fit.”

Le Méridien Chambers was designed for those individuals who recognize and are inspired by contemporary art and cuisine combined with great service. Behind the hotel’s distinctive mahogany double doors, guests are greeted with an eclectic mix of original, contemporary art by internationally renowned artists. Video monitors line the guestroom corridors with a constant display of award-winning video art, and during their stays, in-the-know guests take the stairs whenever possible to enjoy, Elemental, the five-story mural that runs the entire height of the hotel’s main stairwell. In the hotel’s Burnet Gallery, guests may purchase works by international, national and local artists.

Designed by Rockwell Group (Kodak Theatre, Nobu, among others), Le Méridien Chambers’ timeless, chic design provides an ideal backdrop to its contemporary art collection. The hotel wraps around Eden, an open-air, grotto-style lounge courtyard that is open year round and features a large, sleek, 10-foot square gas fire pit. During the winter months a portion of Eden transforms into, Ice Chamber, a 256-foot bar created from 12,000 pounds of crystal clear ice. A fifth floor lounge offers dramatic 360-degree vistas of the downtown Minneapolis skyline via floor-to-ceiling glass walls and a surrounding balcony. D’Amico Kitchen, the hotel’s restaurant offers critically acclaimed creative, contemporary Italian fare by the Twin Cities’ legendary restaurateurs, Larry and Richard D’Amico. Live streaming video of the restaurant’s behind-the-scenes activity is projected nightly on a massive screen on one of Eden’s courtyard walls.

Le Méridien Chambers features 60 guestrooms, including six suites and nine junior suites. All the guestrooms feature original artwork and are furnished with contemporary furniture, platform beds with custom mattresses and 400-thread-count, Egyptian cotton bed linens. Rooms are equipped with all the necessities that satisfy a contemporary lifestyle, including 42″ plasma TVs, complimentary high-speed and WI-FI Internet access, and iPod docking stations, alarm clocks. Spacious closets and wardrobes in each guestroom are ideal for long-term stays.

Since being acquired by Starwood in November 2005, Le Méridien has become known for creating a curated art-driven experience that engages its guests from the moment of arrival. Le Méridien’s newly introduced arrival experiences have been designed to transform the guest experience from functional and transactional to one that emotionally connects with guests and resets their minds, leaving the outside world behind for the world of Le Méridien brand.

Curated by international arts provocateur Jérôme Sans, Le Méridien’s cultural curator since 2006, and developed together with members of the LM100, Le Méridien’s family of cultural innovators, elements of Le Méridien’s arrival experience include: a Transitional Portal, which is a visual and audio “wall” of sound and art that engulfs each guest; Sensory Experience, illustrated through Le Méridien’s signature scent, sound and use of light; UNLOCK ART programme that includes an artist designed key card that offers access to the guestroom and to the hotel’s affiliated local arts organization; and lastly, the Elevated Experience, created especially for Le Méridien by French music composer and producer Henri Scars Struck that transforms the event of riding an elevator into an “elevating experience” through sound. In November 2009, Le Méridien arrival experience was awarded “Most Innovative Concept in the Upscale Hotel Industry” at the 10th annual Worldwide Hospitality Awards in Paris.

Le Méridien signature scent has been designed in collaboration with Le Labo founders and LM100 members Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roshi, while coffee is served throughout the day at the lobby bar as part of Le Méridien coffeehouse atmosphere. Guests of Le Méridien Chambers will notice that some of these Le Méridien brand elements will go into effect immediately, while others will be introduced over the coming months.

Located in the heart of the Twin Cities’ cultural, business and social scenes, Le Méridien Chambers is just a block from the center of the city’s business, financial and shopping districts. Patrons may stroll across the street to world-class theater and concerts at the historic Orpheum, Pantages and State Theatres. The critically acclaimed Guthrie Theatre, Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Institute of Arts are all within five minutes by taxi. Nightclubs, bars, restaurants and art galleries that fill the city’s Warehouse District are within easy walking distance.

See the Le Meridien Chambers on stylehotelsweb