NEW YORK, Jun 04, 2012 --W Hotels
Worldwide (NYSE: HOT) today 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.
For more information, please visit www.whotels.com
or www.facebook.com/whotels
Follow @WHotels on Twitter.
About W Hotels Worldwide
W Hotels is a contemporary, design-led lifestyle brand and the industry
innovator with 42 hotels and retreats, including 14 W-branded
residences, in the most vibrant cities and exotic destinations around
the world. Inspiring, iconic, innovative and influential, W Hotels
provides the ultimate in insider access, offering a unique mix of
cutting-edge design and passions around fashion, music and
entertainment. W Hotels offers a holistic lifestyle experience that is
integrated into the brand's sensibility through contemporary restaurant
concepts, glamorous entertainment experiences, stylish retail concepts,
signature spas and inspiring residences. With more than 13 years of
proven success, W Hotels is on track to reach more than 50 hotels by
the end of 2013. W Hotels have been announced for Guangzhou, Milan,
Shanghai, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Athens - Astir Palace, Muscat,
Mumbai, Dubai, and Santa Fe, Mexico, while upcoming W Retreats include
Verbier and Mexico's Riviera Maya. For more information, visit www.whotels.com. To live the W
Hotels lifestyle 24/7/365, visit www.wresidences.com.
(Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of federal securities regulations. Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and
involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual
results or events to differ materially from those anticipated at the
time the forward-looking statements are made. These risks and
uncertainties are presented in detail in our filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based
upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our
expectations will be attained or that results and events will not
materially differ. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.)
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