W Hotels Worldwide has announced plans for a new hotel on The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Scheduled to open in late 2009, W(R) Dubai-The Palm is W’s second hotel in Dubai and the third hotel in the Middle East following W Dubai-Festival City and W Doha.

Starwood has entered into an agreement with Al Sharq Investment, a wholly owned company of Mr. Ali bin Suleiman Al Shehri, who selected W to manage the iconic hotel project. W Dubai-The Palm will be an exciting addition to the brand’s growing international footprint in the world’s most exciting cities and emerging destinations, including hotels in Barcelona, Istanbul, Athens, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Koh Samui, Santiago, Dubai and Doha. These properties will follow the highly successful openings of W Retreat & Spa-Maldives, W Montreal, and W Mexico City, all award winning destinations.

Designed by Gensler, W Dubai-The Palm is located on the Crescent section of The Palm Jumeirah, off the Jumeirah coastline. Commonly referred to as the “eighth wonder of the world,” The Palm Jumeirah encompasses twelve square miles of land - in the shape of a palm tree - culled from seven million tons of rock and sand. Taking full advantage of the unique surrounding landscape, the hotel will offer 400 rooms with beach frontage and stunning views of The Palm, the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai skyline. As with the W brand’s existing hotels, W Dubai-The Palm will feature the W signature design elements, creating a destination within a destination.

“The Palm Jumeirah and its exclusive offshore city is one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken,” said Ross Klein, President of W Hotels Worldwide. “W Dubai-The Palm will offer our guests a truly distinct experience in one of the most vibrant and unique destinations in the world.”

“This project cements Starwood’s leadership as the premier operator in the Middle East,” said Roeland Vos, President of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East. “W Dubai-The Palm is another significant step in W’s global expansion and an important step for Starwood in offering our guests ever more unique experiences.”

“We are committed to delivering high-end, innovative developments and we believe that partnering with the W brand will provide a unique guest experience that will exceed even the most discerning traveler’s expectations,” said Steve Tight, CEO Al Sharq Investment.

W Dubai-The Palm will have approximately 400 rooms, including suites and the signature W Living Room experience, multiple restaurant outlets and a destination bar and spa and access to all of The Palm amenities including world class shopping on The Golden Mile and luxury boat marinas. Guests will indulge in the W signature beds with feather-top mattresses, 350 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and goose down comforters. Guests will also enjoy W’s Whatever/Whenever service commitment, the hotel’s 24-hour concierge that can provide whatever guests want (from a pair of running shoes to private jet service), whenever they want it.

W Montreal won Quebec’s Leading Hotel at this year’s World Travel Awards.
——-