W Hotels Insider 05

W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak

i n s i d e r W Seoul – Walkerhill

W hotels bid a stylish welcome to the year of the snake by opening its first hotel in mainland china this march, W Guangzhou. set amid the buzzing pearl river New Town district, it has already established itself as a favorite hang-out of the city’s hip crowd.

W Singapore – Sentosa Cove also recently made a chic debut, with a super glam premiere last october.

Over in the swish surrounds of W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak, vips clinked glasses at an exclusive soiree for the hotel’s second anniversary as New York’s sandy Rivera got behind the decks for an electrified set.

Elsewhere, sleek city sanctuaries W bangkok and W Singapore – Sentosa Cove toasted Madonna with a photo exhibition of the queen of pop before she hit the big time. W Hong Kong, meanwhile, hosted the premiere of “Four Stories”, W Hotels Worldwide short film competition. It also got the party started at the city’s biggest music festival,

W Singapore – Sentosa Cove

W Singapore – Sentosa Cove

W Hong Kong

clockenflap, with Dj Angus on the decks and de la soul and the klaxons hitting the exclusive after show party at WooBar. Across the Taiwan Strait, the vibe was sub zero this winter at W Taipei as skaters flexed their blades on the hotel rooftop, where wet was transformed into ice rink chill. As the year of the snake unravels, W Happenings will continue to present the best in music, design and fashion.

GUANG ZHOU

Crossroads Remixed W GUANGZHOU Coolly positioned on the banks of the iconic Pearl River, W Guangzhou is the first W to hit mainland China following its stylish debut this March. Deftly reflecting the Southern China city’s modern transformation with cutting-edge architecture and contemporary interiors, this chic urban retreat sets the scene for a new level of modern luxury in Guangzhou.

W next in CHina

following the milestone opening of W Guangzhou, W hotels is now poised for serious expansion across china, with four hotels set to open next year, including one in the capital, W Beijing – Chang’An, and another situated along Shanghai’s most famous street, W Shanghai – the Bund. located in the capital of upand-coming Hunan in south central china, W Changsha is set to transform the landscape of this esteemed ancient city, while W Macao – Studio City will add a dash of cool to Macao’s glittering cotai Strip.

Mainland cool An installation by yabu pushelberg in the lounge area (left) and the entrance to the cocktail party of the media preview (right)

Located in the buzzing Pearl River New Town district — a chic hub of entertainment and design — W Guangzhou unleashes unrivalled access to some of China’s oldest cultural treasures, from the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees and the Shishi Sacred Heart Cathedral to sleek new architectural landmarks including the Canton Tower — China’s tallest tower at 600m — and the Guangzhou West Tower.

To set new heights for mainland creativity, W Guangzhou assembled a team of cuttingedge designers to develop the hotel’s design narrative, which reflects both the city’s ancient culture and innovative future. With its asymmetrical shape and sleek sheath of black glass punctuated by architectural cut-outs and bright glass highlights, the hotel exterior — designed by Rocco Yim — delivers a fitting silhouette to the city’s fast-expanding skyline. The interior is equally seductive, and showcases 317 guestrooms and suites by New York’s Yabu Pushelberg, plus other creative talking points from Glyph of Toronto, Hong Kong’s AFSO, A.N.D. of Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur’s DesignWilkes.

Inspired by the intricate Kesi tapestries of the region and Guangzhou’s storied history as a dynamic center of commerce and culture, the main interior spaces each feature unique design concepts that unite to reflect Guangzhou’s status as a historic city

Hello, China Above: UMA WANG PRESENTs GIFT TO BRIAN SEGRAVE, GENERAL MANAGER, W GUANGZHOU AND ARNAUD CHAMPENOIS, ASIA PACIFIC BRAND DIRECTOR, W HOTELS WORLDWIDE . Left: W Staff and VIPs at the media preview

in the midst of a modern evolution, with innovative installations, bold lighting and dynamic textures.

A three-storey Luminous WaterWall in the entrance of the hotel — a liquid mosaic of light, lines and color that evolve and collide — delivers a glittering welcome to W Guangzhou. Equally fabulous is a Yabu Pushelberg suspended nest framing one of WOOBAR’s lounge areas, which is supported by an elevated walkway and tethered above and below to create a chic space.

Another design focal point is the hotel’s destination bar, already a favorite with Guangzhou trendsetters. Architect and designer Kosaka of A.N.D. has devised a four-storey lit glass loft suspended from the

side of the hotel with optical fiber strings of light cascading down the inside of the glass, creating a pulsating effect of light and energy that mirrors the metropolitan vibe of the city.

W Guangzhou’s signature Chinese restaurant, Yan Yu, runs with the same contemporary theme with a fluorescent orchid-inspired space by DesignWilkes. With a creamy white palette underpinning the look, each private dining room is presented in a different shade from the orchid spectrum, and servers sashay from kitchen to dining room in colorful Sinoinspired silk uniforms of mandarin, fuchsia, lemon, lime and plum. This floral celebration is a fitting tribute to a sub-tropical metropolis frequently referred to as the flower city, a place that is perpetually in bloom.

Koh Samui Maldives Bali

street art at W Retreat Koh Samui New York street artist Alec Monopoly rocked up to W Retreat Koh Samui last December with his spray cans to provide some graffiti cool to the hotel’s lobby, welcome and beachfront areas. The hotel’s design narrative, ‘Light Up The Night’ and Van Gogh’s iconic Starry Night painting inspired the works at the welcome and beachfront area.

Enlivening the W Lounge wall, the most eye-catching mural features portraits of Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver, model Twiggy sporting Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup can dress, and DJ Monopoly.

When rapper Ludacris and actor Kevin Hart booked into the hotel last Christmas, the two both signed the work for added star power.

milin for W Retreat Koh Samui Designer Milin Yuvacharuskul, who founded luxe fashion label Milin in 2009, added a further dash of glamor to W Retreat Koh Samui with a sneak peek of her latest collection, Material Girl, Material World. Inspired by nocturnal energy of New York where the designer studied, and her experience at W Retreat Koh Samui, the designs coolly contrast vastly different textures, from stretchy body-con fabrics to delicate silk chiffon.

W Bangkok also teamed up with with Milin for an equally cool collaboration.

Neat Retreats: This page, CLockwise from left: W Maldives celebrates Chinese New Year; a still from the movie shot at W Maldives; DJ Angus; W Bali Turns 2.

Opposite page, Clockwise from top: Alec Monopoly’s street art for W Koh Samui; Lounging in The pool at W Koh Samui; Modelling Milin; Designer Milin yuvacharuskuli

Holiday LouderNYE party W Retreat & Spa Bali Second Anniversary W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak became the ultimate stop over for stylish fashionistas and sophisticated travelers this March when the hotel toasted its second birthday at the W Retreat & Spa Bali’s Second Anniversary Happening. The legendary beats of New York’s DJ Sandy Rivera provided the perfect party backdrop to the soiree, as did a bespoke installation by street artist Alec Monopoly that will be permanently housed at the hotel. Renowned for his urban art on the streets of New York, LA, London and Paris — which often features the Monopoly man — the artist created his masterpiece this February from the inspiring solace of the retreat. Local style magazines Fauve, The Yak and I-magazine delivered a sartorial note to the anniversary festivities.

Chinese New Year at W Retreat & Spa – Maldives W Retreat & Spa – Maldives rocked to a familiar beat as the retreat welcomed back Artistic Director and Resident DJ of W Hong Kong, Angus Wong, to perform over Chinese New Year this February. The lush private island retreat showcased DJ Angus performing under the moonlight beside an open fire pit at FIRE beach and spinning chill-out mixes for the sunset experience at SIP. DJ Angus also mixed up a storm at the Maldives’ only underground nightclub, 15BELOW.

W Maldives turned up the heat last New Year’s Eve as Danish DJ duo ENUR headlined the 2013 count down at the Holiday Louder-NYE party. Copenhagenbased dance producer DJ Rune RK and brother Johannes Torpe scored a major hit with a fresh version of the Rune track Calabria — featuring reggae vocalist and fellow Dane Natasja Saad — that continues to pack dance floors globally.

four stories Filmed on location at W Retreat & Spa – Maldives The Mirror Between Us directed

by Kahlil Joseph is one of four cuttingedge shorts from the W Hotels Worldwide Four Stories series. Shot through with a dream-like quality, the 12-minute-long film tells the story of two young women, both survivors of an LA earthquake, who find hope within the pristine Maldivian landscape and stylish, idyllic ambience of the hotel.

Check it out at: whotels.com/fourstories

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singapore bangkok

pop photography Clockwise from top: Alec Monopoly spray paints a portrait and poses with Nick Heath; General manager W Bangkok and Richard Corman; singer gene kasidit; The exterior of heritage house; Alec with a finished portrait; guests at woobar in front of alec’s work

MADONNA PHOTO RETROSPECTIVE W Hotels and Glaceau Vitaminwater grant exclusive insider access to never before seen photos of music and fashion icon Madonna. Through the use of street artists, they showcase what’s New/Next as they refresh Madonna 1980’s cool with à la mode street art representative of a 24/7 attitude.

To pay tribute to the Queen of Pop, W Hotels showcased an exclusive traveling multi-media retrospective, Madonna: A Transformational Exhibition, which features never-before-seen images of the star before she became a chart-topping star in the early ‘80s.

Presented in partnership with Glaceau Vitaminwater and exhibition curators Rock Paper Photo, the global photo tour made stop-offs at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove and W Bangkok in Asia this winter, where it debuted images of the singer’s 1980s iconic street style by Richard Corman alongside early black and white images of Madonna’s live performances

by George DuBose. For added wow, New York City street artist Alec Monopoly transformed the photos live using his distinct graffiti style at each stop along the worldwide tour, which also took in Mexico City, Paris and New York.

Madonna first met Corman in 1982 in New York City, where her look incorporated tousled blond curls, heavy kohl eyeliner, ripped denim and plenty of statement accessories, from bandanas to studded belts and bangles. A year later, she had released her first self-titled album and become a global phenomenon — and intimate, spontaneous images like the ones Corman captured of Madonna hanging out in her neighborhood on the Lower East Side simply wouldn’t have been possible. .

At the launch in the two Asian hotels, guests mingled over Madonna-inspired Glaceau Vitaminwater cocktails and bar bites while the specially curated Madonna Madness mix ensured revelers got into the Madonna groove. Those who rocked up to the show could also take a piece of Madonna home with them by snapping up a limited edition shot.

WITH SPECIAL GRAFFITI ARTIST PERFORMANCE BY ALEC MONOPOLY. MUSIC BY EIKO (TOKYO) AND GENE KASIDIT (BANGKOK)

ISLAND GLAMOUR UNLEASHED

Singa pore

W Singapore – Sentosa Cove premiered ‘Island Glamour Unleashed’ to more than 1,000 stylish vips in celebration of its recent opening on sentosa island. Guests were wowed by a global line-up of DJs, performance acts, music and fashion curated by local insiders and W Hotels Global Music Director Michaelangelo L’Acqua.

The event welcomed a who’s who of Singapore, including local celebrities, influencers, tastemakers and hip individuals, including Kit Chan, Zoe Tay, Andrej Pejic, Stephanie Carrington, Jaymee Ong and Dominic Lau. Trendsetter Lau, E! News Asia anchor, Channel [V] International, VJ and host of Star Movies’ VIP Access, flew in specially for the W Singapore premiere.

He said, “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. I literally came here from the airport just to be here this evening.

And for good reason because every time W puts on an event, it’s second to none and the hottest ticket in town.”

‘Island Glamour Unleashed’ fused all of the elements that define W Hotels globally as the innovator and industry leader by showcasing the latest in design, fashion and music. Brit DJ/music producer Mark Ronson also rocked up to make his Singapore debut at the hip premiere following an electrifying opening set featuring the Wrecking Orchestra Dance Crew and Michaelangelo L’acqua.

The 2012 W Hotels & burn studios DJ Lab artists also converged at W Singapore for the super-glam premiere. The international lineup included Victor Kurc (Brazil), Posso (USA), Gio Vanhoutte (Korea), Aline Magnier (Berlin), Dogus Cabakcor (Turkey) and London Beats (UK).

Ronson, who is celebrated for his genredefying mixes, said, “I’ve been DJing at W Hotels since I can’t really remember.

I recall those parties that Randy Darvis threw in New York like, 12 years ago so I have a long story history with W. I love staying there and it’s great.

They always treat me well.”

The freshest fashion trends from local up-and-coming fashion designers took o the runway at a high octane fashion show, featuring works of Chelsea ScottBlackhall from label Dzojchen and Priscilla Shanmugam from label Ong Shunmugam.

Design was defined by Singapore-based designers Studio Juju – winners of the 2011 W Hotels Designers of the Future Award – who showcased their award winning creation, The Tent.

Singapore Swing: Clockwise from top: W Singapore Grand Premiere Opening Speech, Mark Ronson and Kit Chan; Mark Ronson Hits the Decks; Andrej Pejic and Sophie Sumner at the Premiere Party; Dominic Lau; W Singapore Artistic Director Mr Has, W Hong Kong Artistic Director Angus Wong, Posso Girl Marylouise Pels and Vitor Kurc at the W Lounge; STEPHANE FABREGOUL, GENERAL MANAGER W SINGAPORE AND ZOEY TAY

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taipei 01

Winter CHILL Taiwan’s hip crowd saluted the Winter season with some festive ice skating at W Taipei’s Electrify at CHILL party, which saw WET, the outdoor pool on level 10, transformed into a cool ice rink.

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03 Inspired by the chic winter wonderland vibe at CHILL at W Los Angeles – Westwood and W New York Downtown, guests skated in view of Taipei’s WET bar with hip Xinyi district as their backdrop at the invite-only launch party last December.

The skating soiree ignited all three of W’s passion points — design, fashion and music — with models sashaying down a cool wintry runway built on top of the customdesigned hybrid rink to the exhilirating soundscapes of W Hotels and Burn Studio DJ Lab DJ Dogus.

Brands on show at the first W Hotels’ fashion preview on ice in Asia included Givenchy, Thom Browne, Jill Sander, Peter Pillotto, Mary Katrantzou and Moncler Gamme Blue/Rouge, while a shimmering light show and dazzling skating performances switched the focus back to the ice rink.

When not carving up the ice and sharpening their icy pirouettes, guests sipped signature cocktails from W properties in Asia Pacific including the Formosa Cosmo by W Taipei, Strawberry Champagne Martini

by W Bali, Chatuchak Ice Tea by W Bangkok and Above the Clouds by W Seoul.

The Electrify at CHILL launch also presented two cool winners with the chance to experience the wow factor at the newly-opened W Singapore – Sentosa Cove and W Bangkok. Post launch, Taipei carried on skating at CHILL until 20 January.

04 winter wonder: 01 the spotlight hits the icy runway

02 models on ice 03 Frosty cocktails from absolut

04 DJ Dogus 05 r evelers hit the dance floor 06 Chill at W Taipei

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01 stylish Seoul: 01 2013 S/S SEOUL FASHION WEEK

02 W Seoul – Walkerhill

03 celebs at the opening party

04 posso girls and Dj Gio at W Lounge

05 dj Gigi Barocco

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Seoul fashion week In a nod to its sartorial spirit, W Hotels Worldwide was the main sponsor of 2013 S/S Seoul Fashion Week, the most prominent fashion event in the region, for the first time in 2012. Since its launch five years ago, Seoul Fashion Week has become a firm fixture on the fashion circuit, providing a platform for industry innovation and growth. The event’s invitation list includes the most stylish and talked-about names in fashion, from celebrities and designers to industry moguls and the media elite. After the Seoul Fashion Week Official Opening Party was held at WooBar, trendsetters mingled at the exclusive W Lounge in between shows.

The W Lounge also showcased the hottest new sounds from W Seoul including DJ GIO, a rising talent from W Hotels’ and Burn Studios DJ Lab. Recognized as an industry innovator within the worlds of fashion, music, and design, W Hotels’ passion for fashion is expressed through synergies with industry partners and W Happening, an innovative incubator project in partnership with the Council of Fashion Designers of America. In Asia, W Hotels relishes its unique relationship with ELLE Fashion Week Bangkok, and now Seoul Fashion Week as the main sponsor in Korea. “W Hotels has been a long time friend and supporter of fashion, and we are very proud to partner with Seoul Fashion Week and continue our support,” said Arnaud Champenois, Asia Pacific Brand Director, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien.

Party louder W Seoul - Walkerhill celebrated Christmas and New Year in style with top international DJs last December, with the Christmas Eve Party headlined by DJ Filip Riva, who was behind the decks until 4am. With his own unique sound characterized by a mix-up of different house styles, DJ Filip ensured WOOBar was the place to be in Seoul on Christmas Eve. Similarly, the New Year’s Eve Party with DJ Gigi Barocco fired up partygoers with a mesmerizing mix of electro pop until the early hours. W guests stepped into the spotlight for an unforgettable countdown to 2013 while sipping on W holiday louder cocktails.

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what’s new in hong kong

In a cinematic bid to uncover what’s new/next from the world of film, W Hotels Worldwide collaborated with Intel on the “Four Stories” film series, which presented four aspiring filmmakers with a platform for global exposure.

AND THE AWARD GOES TO…

A film for the future: THE PACKED-OUT PREMIERE OF ‘MODERN/LOVE’; LONDON SPINNERS HORSE MEAR DISCO PLAY AT THE FILM PREMIERE; LEAD ACTRESS NAOMI SCOTT WITH TAIWANESE DIRECTOR DOZE NIU; AND SUPERMODEL ANA.R (right)

Curated by renowned movie director and screenwriter Roman Coppola and his award-winning production company The Directors Bureau, the four winning screenplays were selected from almost 1,000 submissions and developed into 10-minute short films by some of today’s most talented young directors, with casts comprising the next big box office names. The four shorts were shot on location at some of W Hotels’ most cuttingedge and exotic locations including W Retreat & Spa Maldives, W Doha Hotel & Residences, W Mexico City and W Washington DC. A further four W Hotels — including W Hong Kong — premiered the series of shorts last December.

The screenplays were selected by a panel including Coppola, actor Michael Pitt, W Hotels’ global music director Michaelangelo L’Acqua, and chief marketing officer at Intel Deborah Conrad. For added cinema cool, Coppola also shot an original short, the vampire tale ‘Die Again Dead One’ starring Jason Schwartzman for the series.

‘Modern/Love’, shot on location at W Doha Hotel & Residences, was selected to premiere at W Hong Kong’s WOOBAR, where everyone got to make a movie star entrance via a nine foot velvet curtain. An exclusive prequel shot for the movie, shared on the hotel’s social media channels, created buzz and built the suspense for the evening’s climax, the premiere.

Post-screening, ‘Modern/Love’ lead actress Naomi Scott revealed her movie inspirations in a Q+A session alongside Taiwanese Director Doze Niu. An after-party, with an electrifying set by London band Horse Meat Disco, wrapped things up.

Watch the original films and go behind the scenes at: whotels.com/fourstories

groundbreaking design: creatives attending Business of design week were inspired by W Hong’s design narrative

Design uncovered

Along with music and fashion, design is one of W’s passion points. Given the strong design narrative inside the hotel, it came as no surprise that W Hong Kong was the official media hotelfor Business of Design Week (BODW) — Asia’s leading annual event on design innovation and brands — last December.

W design teams work tirelessly to create a design narrative that combines local contextual insights with the W DNA. W Hong Kong is a prime example, with distinctive art installations to highlight its “Enchanted Forest” concept. By the lifts, a Rapunzel video art piece

by Jennifer Steinkamp delivers a burst of flower power to the forest narrative, while on the hotel rooftop at WET, a mosaic wall featuring more than 20,000 Bisazza tiles designed by Fabio Ongarato delivers a naturalistic backdrop to this sky-high spot.

Designs from W Hotels Worldwide were displayed on an 8-foot background to designers during BODW. To deliver a greater understanding of the W creative process, W Hong Kong also hosted an insider hotel tour and media dinner, introducing Hong Kong’s Enchanted Forest concept.

The design effect continued at KITCHEN, where award-winning Pastry Chef Andrea Bonaffini took guests on a sensory gastronomic journey with a “Dine to Design” dessert corner that reflected the art, design and fashion elements of BODW. Instead of merely drinking strawberry sauce, guests used syringes to inject the sauce into the Strawberry Injection Dessert and enhance the culinary experience. DJ Angus even created some sonic mixes with BODW in mind.

Eat in Style, Dine in Design. W Hong Kong mixed BODW’s iconic design elements and its culinary treats into one “Dine to Design” dessert corner, where guests could mix and mingle amongst the funloving environment of KITCHEN.

remix at Clockenflap

W Hong Kong teamed up with local music and arts festival Clockenflap to deliver what’s new/next in music with W Hotels & burn Studios DJ Lab Artists behind the decks at the event last December.

Those turntabling under the W banner at the festival were Artistic Director of W Singapore – Sentosa Cove DJ Hasnor Sidik (aka Mr. Has), Artistic Director of W Hong Kong DJ Angus Wong and 2012 W Hotels’ and burn studios DJ Lab Artist, Germany’s Aline Magnier.

As the festival wound down, revelers headed over to the Clockenflap aftershow at WOOBAR, where DJ Aline, DJ Angus and DJ Mr. Has delivered the sonic backdrop once more as US hip hop legends De La Soul and British Indie rockers the Klaxons mingled with guests. Award-winning mixologist and WOOBAR manager Joao Rodrigues mixed up a series of Clockenflap-inspired cocktails and shots named after the stages at the festival. hong kong rocks: At the Clockenflap aftershow; W DJ’s on stage; De La soul mingled at the aftershow

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