W South Beach

W South Beach adds to it's list of awards earned since the July 2009 opening.

Travel + Leisure - Ones to Watch - 2009
Cond Nast Traveler - Hot List - 2010
AAA Four Diamond Award - 2010
Travel + Leisure - World's Best Awards - T + L 500 List - 2010

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W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster and industry innovator, today unveils its latest insider escape with the grand opening of W South Beach and The Residences at W South Beach, the W brand's 31st hotel property. Owned and developed by Tristar Capital and RFR Realty and executed on behalf of ownership by Related of New York, W South Beach is located beachside in the burgeoning arts and entertainment district of Miami Beach. This oceanfront landmark is set to inspire jet set guests and locals alike with spectacular design that sets the stage for W's fully integrated contemporary lifestyle experience: 408 W-branded residences, including Ocean Suites, Beach Bungalows, and the signature Extreme WOW suite (W's reinterpretation of the Presidential suite); Wall, an exclusive bar and ultra-lounge operated in partnership with world-renowned Miami nightlife impresarios and restaurateurs; celebrity dining hotspot Mr. Chow; Soleà, the signature restaurant serving contemporary Mediterranean cuisine; Grove, a whimsical outdoor garden; Bliss®, New York's hottest spa, arriving in Miami for the first time; WET, with two alluring pools and stylish cabanas; more than 10,000 square feet of ultra-modern meeting and event space; SWEAT® state-of-the-art fitness center; basketball court; tennis court, and W Hotels The Store, the W brand's twist on the traditional hotel gift shop.

"W South Beach will serve as a flagship hotel for the W brand globally," said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. "The hotel will provide guests and locals alike with W's outstanding signature programming set in a stunning, cutting-edge design environment on the shores of one of the world's most glamorous and fashionable beaches."
"The launch of W South Beach marks a new era in Miami's glamorous history," said David Edelstein, principal of Tristar Capital, which owns the hotel along with RFR Realty. "Our vision was to develop a world-class hotel with a new standard of design and style that embraces the vibrant spirit of South Beach."

A Landmark on the Shores of Florida's Most Fashionable Beach
W South Beach is the product of renowned designers and artists, including architect Costas Kondylis in collaboration with NBWW & Associates, Anna Busta of Studio B Design, landscape designer Paula Hayes and twice Grammy-nominated photographer Danny Clinch. Together they have combined organic architectural elements with a contemporary design to create an iconic and high-end urban design ambiance that pays homage to the area's art deco heritage and offers guests an insider escape in the center of all the action.

Architect Costas Kondylis created a new landmark that recalls Miami's modern architectural legacy with its dynamic and whimsical façade. The unique design of the building positions rooms on a 25-degree angle, providing guests with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. The stunning W Living Room (W's take on the traditional hotel lobby), has been designed by Anna Busta and features dramatic artwork from noted collector Aby Rosen's private collection. Strongly influenced by art deco elements, the Living Room features sleek floors inlaid with bronze and wood with a terrazzo border and a row of white quartzite columns set against a soaring 120-foot-long marble wall. An eclectic yet sophisticated mix of furnishings create intimate conversation areas throughout the space, including tufted leather ottomans, sofas imported from Italy, velvet curtains in eggplant purple, modern white and gray sofas complemented by oversized, inlaid horn tables, armchairs covered in white pony or slate velvet and white pony rugs splashed with gold paint. A shimmering, 20-foot-high beaded curtain set off by glass walls ushers guests into the W Living Room Bar, offering views of WET pool deck and the hotel's lush garden known as the Grove.

Escape into the Grove by Celebrated Landscape Artist Paula Hayes
Developed by conceptual landscape artist Paula Hayes in collaboration with Anna Busta, the Grove was inspired by the many beautiful gardens found in the Provence region of France. Designed to transport guests into another world, this serene garden is an escape from the hustle and bustle of South Beach, featuring winding paths amongst the swamp lily and flowering grasses, lanterns from the late 19th Century, sheets of poetry suspended from sea grape trees and 1920s-era objects discovered in French flea markets.

Flirt, Sip and Mix from Dusk to Dawn at The Wall
Guests of The Wall ultra-lounge will experience the first partnership of Miami nightlife giants Nicola Siervo and Karim Masri, co-owners of celebrity-hangout Mokai and hotspot Quattro restaurant, and brothers Francis and Eric Milon, nightlife pioneers behind The Opium Group, which owns iconic South Beach venues Mansion, SET, Louis Bar-Lounge, Opium at The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Privé Las Vegas at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Miami's newest nightlife destination has been designed to entertain celebrities and jet setters alike from dusk to dawn, seducing and captivating guests throughout several spaces. Designed by Anna Busta, the ultra-lounge captivates guests with its seductive gold-and-black motif, including dark walls, a lacquered bar, Cappellini stools and a ceiling of fine copper mesh. The focal point of the space is a vintage gold sofa inspired by Le Corbusier, created exclusively for W South Beach.

Savor Legendary Chinese Cuisine at Mr. Chow Miami
Famed celebrity eatery Mr. Chow debuts in Miami on the ground floor of W South Beach. Mr. Chow Miami offers iconic dishes along with new and creative recipes prepared by Executive Chef Nick Du, a specialist in regional Chinese cuisines who is known as one of the best chefs in Beijing and throughout China. Designed by Michael Chow, the beautiful space includes his signature elements such as the stepped entrance that puts guests into the spotlight, modern screens and black lacquer furniture as well as unique elements including the 125-foot gold-leaf and Swarovski crystal chandelier designed by Chow himself. The expansive space, with seating for approximately 300 guests, includes outdoor seating that overlooks fashionable Collins Avenue. As part of Michael Chow's dedication to art, a known artist has been commissioned to develop an exclusive video animation that will be projected on the walls of the outside dining area.

Munch and Mingle at Soleá
Soleá, the second restaurant at W South Beach, offers contemporary Mediterranean cuisine in a stylish yet relaxed atmosphere. Chef Michael Gilligan has created a globally inspired menu that incorporates a Latin flare such as foie gras and goat cheese empanadas, sea scallop tiradito and sautéed langoustines with sherry, tomatoes and tarragon. Designed by Anna Busta, the 234-seat restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor dining overlooking the hotel's whimsical Grove garden.

Soleá features walnut floors throughout, two stunning wine walls, a VIP dining area, communal tables made from single slabs of fallen maple wood, oversized banquettes in rich chocolate brown leather, and glowing glass lanterns hanging on the walls and from the ceilings, creating intimate dining spaces throughout. Soleá is operated by nightlife and restaurant industry impresarios Nicola Siervo and Karim Masri of KNR Food Concepts (Sosta, Quattro).

Indulge at Miami's First Bliss® Spa
Bliss Spa boasts more than 7,000-square-feet of tension-fighting facilities at W South Beach. With a focus on waxing, skincare services, and manicures and pedicures, bliss south beach also provides massage and body treatments. Seven treatment rooms and bliss trademark touches such as rhythm & blues tunes, a retail beauty boutique, and the legendary brownie buffet, make bliss south beach the ultimate destination for stylish jet setters and spa and beauty-loving locals. W South Beach guests and residents also receive "BIP" (Bliss Important Person) status for priority reservations and exclusive in-room sampling. Additionally, all guests can enjoy sought after sink side bliss amenities in all guestrooms and suites.

Relax and Escape into a Stylish Personal Oasis
Residences and guestrooms at W South Beach range in size from 574 square-feet to more than 3,000 square-feet with nine-foot ceilings and expansive glass balconies that allow for unparalleled views of South Beach and the glistening Atlantic Ocean. As W's first all condo hotel, guestrooms offer contemporary, stylish living with soft shades of teal and white, a sleek floor made of white ceramic tiles with a wood grain finish, and floor-to-ceiling screens that delineate the living and sleeping areas. Modern Italian steel grey sofas are positioned strategically in front of the flat screen plasma televisions inviting guests to chill out before going out, while the photographs of legendary rock photographer Danny Clinch - works of artists ranging from Missy Elliot to Elvis Costello - adorn the walls in guestrooms as well as elevator landings throughout the property.

Oversized bathrooms feature Cippolino marble vanity countertops with black and gray veining, high-end chrome fixtures and spacious showers. For a true escape, select suites feature Japanese soaking tubs. Many of W South Beach's guestrooms feature an Asco stacked washer and dryer and a state-of-the-art kitchenette with a Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf range, stainless steel microwave, custom lacquered Italian cabinets with either granite or synthetic quartzite countertops, a deep sink basin and chrome fixtures. All guestrooms and suites feature the signature Munchie Box (W Hotels' re-interpretation of the traditional hotel Mini Bar) and state-of-the-art entertainment system which includes two plasma televisions, CD and DVD player and docking station for MP3 players, setting the stage for a night on the town or for winding down after a day at the beach.

The Residences at W South Beach offer owners a combination of stylish one, two, and three bedroom condominiums with all the signature W comforts, services and amenities available to hotel guests. Residences are still available and can be purchased by contacting the Welcome Center at 305-531-4449. In addition to W Hotels' signature services, W South Beach offers the W brand's signature Whatever/Whenever® service promise, providing both hotel guests and residents with whatever they want - from a personal shopping consultation at South Beach's most exclusive boutiques to private jet service from MIA - whenever they want it, as long as it's legal!

More than a hotel brand, W Hotels has established itself as an iconic contemporary lifestyle brand, offering guests unprecedented insider access to a world of "Wow" through leading-edge design, fashion, nightlife, celebrities, entertainment and other trendsetting activities. W Hotels has changed the hospitality landscape with a series of industry firsts in the past 10 years, including: the transformation of the hotel lobby into the W Living Room experience; the introduction of the W brand's signature Whatever/Whenever service promise as a vehicle to fulfill every guest's dreams, as long as its legal; extension of the lifestyle experience into retail through W Hotels the Store; the reinterpretation of the hotel mini-bar into the Munchie Box; and the reinvention of the presidential suite into W's "Extreme Wow" and "Wow" suites.

Jul. 2, 2009--South Florida's hottest place for nightlife got yet another bar Wednesday. Actually, make that six.

The new watering holes come as part of upscale chain W Hotels' new $500 million South Beach venture, which boasts beach views in every room, condos running as high as $8 million, and yes, half a dozen bars. "There's going to be a lot of drinking going on here," laughed Vanessa Poskanzer, spokeswoman for David Edelstein, W South Beach developer.

Part of conglomerate Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, W Hotels enters the crowded Miami Beach luxury market as the hospitality industry is reeling from the recession. Although Miami Beach hotels have fared better than those in some other sections of South Florida, May room occupancy rates still dropped 11.5 percent from last year, according to the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.

W Hotels officials said the South Beach location has sold out for weekends in July, fueled in part by a $382-per-night opening offer and a 20 percent summer discount for staycationing South Florida residents.

Rooms start at $359 a night for the Wonderful suite and grow pricier -- and more superlative -- from there. At the upper end, a cool $7,000 to $12,000 a night will score you a night at the Extreme WOW suite.

Even the cheapest prices dwarf the Beach's average daily room rate of $162.67, according to the visitors bureau's most recent figures.

The oceanfront property was funded as a condo-hotel, with all 408 units offered to individual owners. Poskanzer said that buyers have put down deposits on 325 -- or 80 percent -- of the units but she offered no projections of how many of those sales would close. She added that the closings have been "going very well" with six or eight contracts finalized per week.

Buyers in South Florida have been walking away from condo contracts in recent months as plummeting real estate values has made such investments less attractive.

Poskanzer said that buyers opted to keep 96 of them out of the hotel rental pool. That would leave 312 rooms available for guests.

Sales and Marketing Director Meire Ramos said that so far condo purchasers have been mostly male, attributing the gender imbalance to an abundance of fitness facilities, including a basketball court dubbed Swoosh and tennis courts named Swing. Other of the hotel's ubiquitous one-syllable monickers include SWEAT, the fitness center, and WET, its two pools.

Among the hotel's more unusual features are two Andy Warhol originals flanking the reception desk, blown-up original photo portraits of musicians on every floor (the 18th floor features Beyonce Knowles), and room doors that resemble bank vaults because, according to Ramos, "when you open the door, you unveil the treasure of South Beach."

Construction began on the hotel in January 2007, nearly a year before the recession started. But with multiyear construction, the hotel finds itself opening in a dramatically different economic climate.

"It's probably horrible timing, and they probably wouldn't have done it if they had known," said hotel consultant Scott Brush. "Two or three years ago, nobody was predicting a worldwide economic recession, so you've just got to make the best of it."

Even with the downturn, South Beach's mix of business and leisure travelers as well as the W brand's national following will aid the new hotel, said hotel industry analyst Scott Berman of PriceWaterHouse Coopers.

But in an ironic sign of the economic times, one of the luxury hotel's more sought-after amenities appealed not to the wealthy but to the unemployed.

The new hotel's staff positions drew 12,000 applicants, which, with only 400 spots available, meant an acceptance rate of only 3.33 percent. Poskanzer, the spokeswoman, said the hotel conducted 2,000 interviews before making its picks.