Starwood Hotels & Resorts has confirmed the debut of W Hotels Worldwide in France with the highly-anticipated opening of W Paris - Opera. Owned by Barcelona-based Meridia Capital, the hotel is set inside a historic 1870s Haussman-era heritage building near Opera Garnier, Galeries Lafayette and Place Vendome in the eclectic, historic 9th Arrondissement in Paris.

W Hotels Worldwide has unveiled W Retreat & Spa - Vieques Island, the W brand’s 37th hotel globally and its first retreat within North America. The news was announced during CHTA’s Caribbean Marketplace in the Bahamas.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. today announced plans to open W Jakarta in 2015, marking the debut of W Hotels Worldwide in Jakarta and its second hotel in Indonesia after opening W Retreat & Spa Bali - Seminyak in 2011.

Known to many as the “Oscars of the travel industry”, World Travel Awards has announced it will host its 2011 Grand Final Gala Ceremony in Doha, Qatar on December 11th 2011. The glittering event will be staged at W Doha Hotel & Residences and is set to attract the most important decision-makers in global travel and tourism.

W Hotels Worldwide today announced the appointment of Jenné Lombardo, entrepreneur and style maven, as its new Global Fashion Director.

W Doha, the first footprint in the Middle East of the iconic luxury lifestyle brand, has received two prestigious awards as “Middle East Leading Hotel & Residences” and “Qatar’s Leading Meetings & Conference Hotel” at World Travel Awards 2011. World Travel Awards are the travel industry’s equivalent to the Oscars and seen as the biggest travel event of the year.