W Hotels Introduces W Sound Suites – Private Music Studios To Record & Relax

W Hotels Worldwide has debuted the first-ever W Sound Suite at W Bali – Seminyak. Additional studios in music meccas around the world will be unveiled later this year at W Hollywood, W Barcelona and W Seattle, with more to come.

This private music studio and writer’s room will be the place for professional recording artists, studio musicians and producers, in addition to hotel guests, to record in style while on the road.

“W has a long history of musicians staying, playing, and celebrating at our hotels,” said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “We know that inspiration can strike at any moment, so the W Sound Suite is today’s tech-savvy version of scribbling lyrics on a cocktail napkin. Bali, a vibrant and creative hub often called ‘the alternative Ibiza’, is the perfect setting for our first music studio, with Hollywood, Barcelona and Seattle to follow. After all, who can’t find inspiration in paradise?”

W Sound Suites are in part the brainchild of the W brand’s North American Music Director, DJ White Shadow, the Chicago-based producer best known for his work with Lady Gaga. He has been working with W to identify the best sound equipment and studio layout to ensure the suites are optimal for professional use.

“While traveling around the globe making music for the last decade, I’ve run into many challenges including costly studio rentals, the risk of disturbing other guests, and not being able to find a suitable place to listen to or create music,” said DJ White Shadow. “We dreamed up an environment for musicians to create that is convenient, stylish and functional. I’m thrilled to partner with the equally innovative team at W Hotels – there isn’t another brand that could bring this idea to life on such a global scale and in such an innovative way.”

The W brand’s longstanding global partner, Coca-Cola, has been instrumental in bringing the studios to life. Elements of the studio’s aesthetic, envisioned by Josh Held Design, pay tribute to Coca-Cola including the subtle integration of the Coca-Cola red and printed lyrics on the wall. Coca-Cola has used music to tell its brand story for over a century, bringing its campaigns into the pop culture lexicon. From distributing sheet music for family sing-a-longs in 1905, to “teaching the world to sing” in the 1971 Hilltop commercial, to the recent release of the song “Taste the Feeling” by Avicii and Conrad Sewell, music is ingrained in the core of the brand.

“Our partnership with W Sound Suites is an innovative way to help enable, inspire and refresh artists to create and connect over an ice-cold Coca-Cola,” said Joe Belliotti, Head of Global Music Marketing, Coca-Cola North America. “We’re excited to be a part of it!”

Beats of Paradise

The first W Sound Suite at W Bali offers a stylishly sound-proof space featuring a lounge big enough for a proper entourage. The main mixing room includes professional equipment from industry favorites Native Instruments, Pioneer and Moog, as well as a private vocal booth overlooking a tropical garden. To celebrate the launch, W Bali is hosting a new content series in collaboration with upcoming artists called ‘Sounding Off With…’. Monthly video vignettes will capture podcast-style conversations and provide a raw, real and rare peak into the life of a touring artist and their inspiration. LA-based electronic indie duo, Classixx, will kick off the series and throughout the year, W Bali plans to bring together unique musical talent from around the world to produce exclusive mixes, premiere new tracks and deliver intimate in-studio performances that will be available via The Angle, an online magazine celebrating life with a W slant.

W hotel guests can get in on the action by booking the W Sound Suite, which includes a private master class led by W Bali’s Music Curator Damian Saint. For the latest sounds to come out of W Sound Suites or to book your session, visit WRetreatBali.com/WSoundSuite

Source: www.luxurytravelmagazine.com
 

Travelore News: Marriott To Acquire Starwood Hotels & Resorts

Deal for $12.2 billion would create the world’s largest hotel company

By 

CRAIG KARMIN And

 

EZEQUIEL MINAYA, www.wsj.com

Marriott International Inc. said Monday that it has agreed to acquire Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. in a deal worth $12.2 billion that will create the world’s largest hotel company with more than a million rooms globally.

Under the terms, Marriott will forward 0.92 share along with $2 in cash for each Starwood share, for a total of $11.9 billion in stock and $340 million in cash. The transaction has a value of $72.08 a Starwood share.

Separately, Starwood shareholders will receive an additional $7.80 a share from the spinoff of the Starwood timeshare business and subsequent merger with Interval Leisure Group, which has an estimated value of about $1.3 billion.

The merger creates a portfolio with more than 5,500 hotels with 1.1 million rooms world-wide, the companies said in a news release. Shares of Marriott declined 2.1% in early trading, while Starwood stock fell 7.8% to $69.17.

Reports in October had indicated that Starwood was in merger talks with Hyatt HotelsCorp. Shares of Hyatt rose 2.8% on Monday.

In an interview, Marriott Chief Executive Arne Sorenson said his company first became interested in a deal in the spring when Starwood launched a review of its strategic alternatives, including a possible sale or merger. The interest intensified in the second half of October.

“We became more convinced about the advantages of size by combining the two companies together,” Mr. Sorenson said. “We thought that would bring more options for customers and create a bigger loyalty program. We’d have the ability to compete better, invest in technology and stay front and center with customers.”

The combined company will put together a total of 30 brands, though Mr. Sorenson said he thinks the brands will be kept, with “some marginal places where brands are brought together.”

Referring to the overall integration of the two hotel giants, Mr. Sorenson noted that “we’ll take it a step at a time. This is about pulling together two very strong platforms.” Describing complexity of combining the two companies, he noted that “we’ll have our hands full.”

Mr. Sorenson said the companies haven’t started the process of antitrust review yet, but he said Marriott has about 10% of the hotel rooms in the U.S., while Starwood has about 3% to 4%, so the combined company would be less than 15% of the U.S. hotel supply. He noted that in the U.S., the hotel business is a “highly competitive and dispersed industry.”

Mr. Sorenson said he liked Starwood’s marketing and mix of international properties. He noted they were first in the so-called lifestyle space and that the combined company would be “the strongest in the space.”

Historically, Starwood has been a strong performer in the high-end hotel market. The company has expanded overseas faster than its rivals; roughly half of its more than 350,000 rooms are outside the U.S. Its W brand is known for having a stylish, modern edge.

Marriott said it expects the move to add to its earnings by the second year, excluding transaction costs that are expected to total about $100 to $150 million. The deal is expected to close by the middle of 2016.

The agreement with Interval Leisure supplants Starwood’s earlier-announced plan to spin off the timeshare unit. Timeshare businesses were a onetime booming profit generator for hotel companies that petered out during the recession.

Free Valet Parking And 2 Signature Cocktails Now At W Hotels

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• 
  
• Expiration: 12-31-15
• Travel Dates: Through December 31, 2015.

Stay at one of Starwood's W Hotels and receive free valet parking plus two signature cocktails upon arrival. From now to the end of 2015, stay at select W locations in Los Angeles, South Beach, Montreal, Puerto Rico and more. Mention mention rate planWPLAYPKG.

For more information and reservations visit the W Hotels website.

• Travel Dates: Through December 31, 2015.
• Advance Purchase Requirements: May apply.
• Expiration: 12-31-15
• Minimum/Maximum Stay: May apply.
• Blackout Dates: May apply.
• Additional Fees: Additional fees may apply.
• Further Restrictions: Further restrictions may apply.
• 
  

Source: http://www.independenttraveler.com/

Starwood: Dual-Branded W And Element Hotel In Downtown Philadelphia Starts Construction

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide today announced the commencement of construction for its first-ever W and Element dual-branded hotel development, scheduled to open in the heart of downtown Philadelphia in early 2018. The 295-room W Philadelphia and 460-room Element Philadelphia will occupy a 51 story skyscraper located in the geographic center of the city’s business, arts and retail districts, and directly across from Philadelphia City Hall. Owned by Chestlen Development and developed by Vine Street Matthews Development, the highly-anticipated project will also boast panoramic city views and facilities include an outdoor pool bar and terrace, market-leading meeting and banquet facilities, exciting food and beverage outlets, and prime retail space along Chestnut Street.

“This exciting project will bring two popular Starwood brands to Philadelphia and provide much needed inventory to the City and Convention Center, attracting even more visitors and meetings business to our downtown,” said Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “The construction and operations of the new development will also have a significant economic impact on the City of Philadelphia and the surrounding region, creating numerous immediate and long-term jobs and generating substantial tax revenues.”

Brook Lenfest, Owner of Chestlen Development said, “This has been many years in the making and a true collaboration between ownership, our development partners, the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. We’re excited to deliver this iconic project to the downtown market.”

“We have actively pursued this market for some time and look forward to the upcoming debut of both W and Element in Philadelphia as part of this dual-branded development, which will increase Starwood’s total portfolio in the city to 12 hotels across seven of our nine world-class brands,” said Allison Reid, Senior Vice President of North American Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Our innovative W Hotels brand provides contemporary luxury and insider access in key urban and exotic destinations worldwide, while Element Hotels is an industry-leader in the eco-space, offering stylish, sustainable extended stay lodging. These two unique and highly differentiated brands will offer guests a new experience not currently available in the Philadelphia market.”

Combined the W Philadelphia and Element Philadelphia can operate jointly as a 755 room headquarters hotel ideal for conventions and group business due to its direct views as well as short walking distance from both Suburban Station and the Broad Street entrance to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Additionally, the property’s downtown location is proximate to leading city attractions such as the Avenue of the Arts, Independence Hall, Barnes Foundation, Liberty Bell, Mutter Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the galleries, restaurants and boutiques along Walnut Street, Chestnut Street and Rittenhouse Row. Less than 10 miles from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and one block from the re-designed Dilworth Plaza.

“The $786 million expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center has transformed it into the largest contiguous exhibit space in the Northeast and generated increased demand for high-caliber lodging within walking distance,” said Jack Ferguson, President and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. “These two new Starwood hotels will supply additional downtown room inventory in close proximity to Pennsylvania Convention Center, which will encourage large-scale new business to select Philadelphia as their convention destination."

Guests will enter W Philadelphia via the hotel’s distinct entrance on Chestnut Street. The ground-floor will feature a signature W Living Room (the W brand’s take on the traditional hotel lobby) with a full bar and VIP room and a 150-seat destination restaurant. In addition, the hotel will feature a 2,900 square foot spa, 1,400 square foot FIT gym, and 7,000 square foot WET outdoor terrace with a year-round heated outdoor pool and destination bar, and 45,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and event space for conventions, business meetings and social functions of all sizes. More than just a hotel brand, W Hotels is an innovative luxury lifestyle brand that connects global jetsetters and local tastemakers to the pulse of the next big thing. First introduced in 1998, W Hotels is a global design powerhouse with more than 46 hotels and retreats in the world’s most vibrant cities and exotic destinations.

The Element Philadelphia will feature a separate arrival lobby on Chestnut Street with elevator access to the main second floor lobby, which will feature a 1,400 square foot breakfast and lounge area, a 1,600 square foot fitness center and 560 square feet of branded meeting space. The hotel’s light-filled studios will offer a fluid design of modular furniture, fully equipped kitchens, and spa-inspired bathrooms will feature an invigorating rain shower and dual-flush toilet. Guests will be able to stay on the move with Element’s complimentary bikes to borrow program and enjoy the brand’s signature complimentary RISE breakfast and RELAX evening reception. On track to double its portfolio in the next two years, Element is the first major hotel brand to mandate that all properties pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for high-performance buildings. It’s recognized as an industry leader in the eco-space and offers travelers a fresh, reimagined interpretation of the extended stay hotel experience.