Doha, Qatar - March 11th, 2008 - As Starwood Group's W Doha Hotel & Residences gets ready to open in mid-2008, word is already abound of the exceptional levels of comfort and service that guests around the world have come to expect of the W brand. Positioned as the hotel for the young and the young at heart, the W Doha will boast stylish interiors that blend local tastes and contemporary design in perfect harmony. "The mission is not just to bring the W to Doha, but also to bring Doha to the W," said Mr. Safak Guvenc, General Manager of the W Doha Hotel & Residences.

Owned by J&A Jaidah, principals of J&A Jaidah Holdings, the W Doha is experimenting with a concept that is unique to Qatar. The first 15 floors of the strikingly beautiful building in West Bay are occupied by the W Hotel with its 291 rooms which include 31 suites, while the 14 floors above it are dedicated to 154 W luxury serviced residences.

A variety of rooms & suites are available for guests to choose from, ranging from the 240 cozy SPECTACULAR ROOMS measuring 42 sq m on floors 3 to 15, to the exclusive E WOW SUITE, a one-of-its-kind suite on the 15th floor boasting an extravagant 320 sq m of space, the finest Arabian Sea views, luxury furnishings and every technology accessory imaginable including a Bang & Olufsen Audio/Visual system with surround sound, a private meeting room, a pool table, private bar, massage rooms, an aquarium and an oversized bathroom. One of the highlights of the suite is the amazing master bedroom with the signature W king feather bed.

Other options include the 20 FABULOUS ROOMS located in the corners of floors 3 to 7 for an enhanced view, 16 W Suites offering luxurious modern design and state of the art technology including the BOSE Lifestyle audio system with surround sound, and 14 WOW Suites with 123 sq m of space and panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and, like the W Suites, luxury furnishings and state-of-the-art technology including a BOSE Lifestyle audio system with surround sound. Three reduced mobility rooms are also available, fully equipped to cater to the special needs of physically challenged individuals.

The W Hotel is built on the premise that there are guests who seek a balance of style and substance when they are traveling. So W has been built to not just be a place to stay, but to enjoy a whole experience, inspiring and indulging guests with refreshing personal touches and whimsical environs. Plush 400-thread-count sheets and 100% goose down comforters are standard in every room, as are soft velour and microfiber bathrobes in rooms and suites respectively. Each room has access to an extensive choice of movies, music and video programs on demand, played back on the superb music system, DVD player and LCD screen televisions that every room features.

Also spoiling guests are the fully stocked munchie boxes and variety of turndown amenities for every night of the week.

Technology is omnipresent, with all digital services but a mouse click away for guests to access. Guestrooms are fully wired, featuring the latest cutting-edge services such as WiFi internet access, high-speed laptop connectivity, iPod cradles and the most advanced in-room entertainment systems in the industry.

For the business traveler, W is where work is a pleasure. The WIRED business center is every business executive's dream, featuring seamless, high-speed connectivity and every Audio/Visual equipment and accessory that might conceivably be needed by traveling businessmen and executives. The distinctive sensory setup designed by W sets the mood perfectly, enhancing productivity and getting the creative juices flowing, and WISH WORKSHOPS are organized around mid-day to help guests avoid post-lunch stupor with light activities such as cooking, knitting or yoga.

Guests will be able to enjoy W's concept restaurants by world-renowned Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten - Market by Jean Georges and Spice Market, as well as the poolside Wahm Shisha Lounge, Thassos Café in the W's signature Living Room and the Crystal Lounge. Also at the disposal of W guests will be the fully equipped SWEAT fitness center, the BLISS spa, the WET pool and the luxury W the Store by Plum. Room service, or IN ROOM DINING as W calls it, will serve guests at any time of night or day, as will W's trademark 24-hour WHATEVER/WHENEVER service - a concierge that will arrange for whatever a guest requests - from his favorite cigar to a 300-foot yacht - whenever he requests it, as long as its legal.

"W is all about creating the WOW EXPERIENCE for guests," said Mr. Guvenc. "It's an approach that reflects W's core vision of delivering a unique stay to guests, encompassing first class service and an experience of the city through art, fashion, music, architecture and of course, hospitality."

-Ends- 

About W Hotels Worldwide
W Hotels is a global lifestyle brand with 21 properties in the most vibrant cities around the world. Inspiring and indulging its guests with thoughtful, refreshing and stylish experiences, signature restaurants, bars and destination spas, W has become the fastest growing luxury hotel brand in the world. Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design, comfort, and cultural influences from fashion to music to art and everything in between. W's first residential property, W Dallas-Victory, opened in June of 2006, and soon thereafter was named a Forbes Magazine "Top Business Hotel." W Residences, offering the W lifestyle at home, have been announced for Scottsdale (2008), Midtown Atlanta (2008), Fort Lauderdale (2008), Buckhead (2008), Hoboken (2008), Downtown Atlanta (2009), Downtown New York (2009), South Beach (2009), Phoenix (2009), Hollywood (2009), Philadelphia (2009), and Austin (2010). Internationally, W has announced plans for hotels in Istanbul (2008), Doha (2008), Hong Kong (2008), St. Petersburg (2008), Athens (2008), Santiago (2008), Milan (2008), Dubai-Festival City (2008), Shanghai (2009), Barcelona (2009), W Macao Studio City (2009), Guangzhou (2010), and Dubai-The Palm (2010). W's first Retreat & Spa, W Maldives, opened in September of 2006 and in March of 2007, received the prestigious Travel + Leisure Design Award for Best Resort.  W has plans to open Retreat & Spa hotels in Vieques (2008), Koh Samui (2008), and Verbier (2010), the latter of which will serve as W's first ski retreat. For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Four Points® by Sheraton, W®, Le Méridien® and the recently announced AloftSM and ElementSM Hotels. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com/pressclub 

 

© Press Release 2008