W Hotels News
W Hotels to open Budapest property
W Hotels Worldwide is planning to debut the iconic W Hotels brand in Hungary with the opening of W Budapest. Located in the heart of the city at Andrassy Avenue, the hotel will be housed in the impressive Drechsler Palace which will be fully renovated to bring the brand’s cutting-edge, contemporary design to life.
W London – Leicester Square launches Mega Bar
Say goodbye to the generic mini bar with W London – Leicester Square’s Mega Bar, a luxurious in-room bar service complete with personal mixologist, sound system and disco ball; available exclusively to suite guests. Measuring 2.4m x 1.6m, the imposing Mega Bar will be wheeled into suites offering guests a unique cocktail experience they’ll never forget.
W Hotels opens first Las Vegas property
W Hotels Worldwide, now part of Marriott International, has opened its newest property in Las Vegas. W transformed a 289-room tower of SLS Las Vegas, providing guests an elevated hotel-within-a-hotel experience, located on the emerging north end of the Vegas Strip.
Starwood reveals plans for W Algarve
Starwood Hotels Worldwide, now part of Marriott International, has announced it will open W Algarve in 2018 on Portugal’s stunning sun-kissed Algarve coast. Developed in partnership with Nozul Algarve, the vibrant oceanfront oasis will overlook the breath-taking coastline and the beckoning waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
W Dubai – Al Habtoor City opens to guests
W Hotels Worldwide is debuting the W Dubai – Al Habtoor City, the brand’s first hotel in the Emirate. Owned by the Al Habtoor Group, the design-led lifestyle brand is set to shake up the destination with its rooftop W Lounge, pulsating WET pool deck and innovative fashion and music happenings. The opening marks the W brand’s second outpost in the Middle East, following the debut of W Doha in 2009.
W Edinburgh set for 2021 opening in Scotland
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced it will debut the W Hotels brand in Scotland with W Edinburgh. Opening in 2021 and set to reinvigorate the city’s traditional hospitality scene, the hotel will be part of TH Real Estate’s Edinburgh St James scheme, which is set to complete in 2020.
Breaking Travel News interview: Ignace Bauwens, Complex General Manager, Al Habtoor City, Dubai
Breaking Travel News editor Chris O’Toole here chats with Ignace Bauwens, Complex General Manager, The St Regis Dubai, W Dubai, and The Westin Dubai Al Habtoor City, about the major Starwood investment in the United Arab Emirates and what the three new properties will bring to the destination.
W Hotels prepares for Amsterdam debut
This September, W Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, will make its much arrival in the Dutch capital with W Amsterdam. The debut of the contemporary design-led lifestyle brand will ignite the city with its electrifying style, signature Whatever/Whenever service philosophy and a full calendar of exclusive W Happenings, showcasing what’s new and next in design, fashion and music.
W London – Leicester Square celebrates 20 years of Britpop
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the iconic Oasis Vs. Blur UK chart battle, W London – Leicester Square has teamed up with the original lady of Britpop Lauren Laverne to launch The Britpop Collection, a vinyl library available to guests through room service. Curated by radio presenter and former musician Lauren Laverne, The Britpop Collection features 40 handpicked vinyl records available for hotel guests to kick back and enjoy from the comfort of their room.
W Retreat & Spa - Maldives appoints new general manager
W Retreat & Spa - Maldives has announced the appointment of its new general manager, Mark O’Sullivan. A native of Ireland, O’Sullivan brings to the retreat over 17 years of experience providing strategic and inspirational leadership. Prior to joining Starwood, he also served with Hyatt, InterContinental, The Kensington Hotel and most recently served as the general manager at Vana Belle, A Luxury Collection Resort in Thailand.
General manager appointed ahead of W Amsterdam opening
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Igor Buercher as general manager for W Amsterdam hotel, as the iconic brand prepares to debut its unique style of modern luxury in the Dutch capital this autumn. Buercher has recently joined W Amsterdam from the landmark Sheraton Stockholm Hotel, where he has been General Manager since 2013, and brings with him a wealth of experience having been part of the Starwood team for the past 19 years.
W Doha launches SnapChat profile
W Doha Hotel & Residences, the first luxury lifestyle hotel in Qatar, recently launched a SnapChat account to reach global travellers and the local community with engaging content. The hotel is not only the first business in Qatar to start communicating with followers via the app, but also the first hotel to launch the platform globally.