As my colleague Deidre Woollard noted the other day, Istanbul has become something of a hotspot for foriegn brands. In addition to the Christian Dior boutique she wrote about, Marc Jacobs, Chloé, Bottega Veneta and Jimmy Choo have all recently opened shops in the Besiktas district, aka the SoHo of Istanbul. The centerpiece of the neighborhood is undoubtedly Starwood's new W Istanbul (which she mentioned as well). This is the first European outpost for W, the fastest growing luxury hotel brand in the world with 22 properties and 18 more in development. Here's a tour of the hip new hotel which W constructed out of a row of beautiful 1870s townhouses. The W Istanbul features 134 luxurious guest rooms including 26 suites -- many with their own private gardens, terraces and cabanas -- a branch of chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's New York hotspot Spice Market, a sexy Sip Lounge bar, and a signature spa. It also boasts spectacular views of the Bosphorus, the renowned waterway between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara.

[via UrbanDaddy]

The beautiful and historic city of Istanbul seems to be suddenly becoming a hot spot for travel and shopping, not just for those looking for a historical experience but for those looking for the latest stores and hotels. The International Herald Tribune recently did a story on the rise of shopping malls in the Turkish town. Income is rising in Turkey and malls are attracting shoppers by offering newness and one-stop shopping, food and entertainment. Foreign retailers are starting to move in as well. WWD reports that the Christian Dior boutique at the Istinye Park shopping complex is thriving. Although the general economic environment is worsening, Turkish retail is very appealing to foreign investors.

One foreign brand making a move in Istanbul is W Hotels Worldwide which will mark its entry into Europe with the grand opening of W Istanbul. The W Istanbul is the centerpiece of the Ottoman Row Houses. W Istanbul features 134 guest rooms, including 26 suites, Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Spice Market restaurant, and a signature spa. The rooms include private gardens, terraces and cabanas and are designed in a blend of modern and Turkish design.The project complex in which W Istanbul is located includes luxury residences and retail shops which will offer global luxury brands.

Spa living comes to Hollywood in the form of the W Hollywood Hotel & Residences. The newest Bliss Spa will be located at the new complex and will be a 4,800 square foot indulgence with seven treatment rooms, a retail beauty boutique, a nail lounge for manicures and pedicures and Bliss trademarks like a a signature menu of tension taming treatments, rhythm and blues tunes and legendary brownie buffet. Residents of the W Hollywood will have the benefit of in-home services and perks like priority booking.

The W Hollywood will have 300 rooms and 150 W Residences, a signature restaurant, a rooftop bar and pool, a PURE nightclub, fitness center, business center, concierge services and a real Hollywood detail, an outdoor silver screen for viewing movies. Owners will receive VIP access throughout the hotel. Prices range from $800,000-$8 million+ and opening is scheduled for October 2009. Check out Curbed LA for pictures of the construction.

The W hotel brand is taking on an old Minneapolis landmark for their latest Midwest hotel. The Foshay Tower is a striking 447-foot Art Deco tower. The W Hotel will transform the Foshay into a hotel with 229 guest rooms, including 18 suites. The tower will also be home to a signature restaurant, skybar lounge, fitness center, meeting space and a destination bar. The new Foshay will preserve many of the building's original design details such as Italian marble, terrazzo floors, ornamental bronze and a massive, gold and silver-plated lobby ceiling. Because they don't have a whole building to create, this W hotel has a pretty fast turnaround, and it is set to open in late 2008. The W hotel isn't the first luxury hotel to take over an older building in Minneapolis. In May, the Twin Cities' first Westin hotel opened in the Farmers & Mechanics Bank building at 88 S. Sixth St. in downtown Minneapolis.

The latest W Hotel will be located in St. Petersburg, Russia. The W St. Petersburg will be along the Neva River on Voznesensky Prospect, between St. Isaac's Square and the Admiralty. The hotel will be designed by s Antonio Citterio & Partners and l feature W's signature design element such as the W Living Room. The hotel will also have a restaurant and a rooftop bar with views of the city. It will have around 135 rooms and should open in mid 2008.

The latest hotel chain to colonize the Maldive Islands is the W. It's a perfect fit, chic hotels for islands that have become a default luxury spot. The W Maldives Retreat and Spa is located on the island of Fesdu, in the North Ari Atoll and features 78 private villas–each with its own plunge pool and sundeck as well as six restaurants and cocktail bars. There is even a grotto bar, 15 Below which is located 15 feet below the island surface as well as Fire, a barbecue restaurant, Sip, a cocktail bar, and Wet, a pool bar. The villas include 46 over-water retreats, 28 bi-level beach retreats, three two-bedroom retreats with oversized infinity plunge pools; and one two-bedroom that includes an oversized infinity-edge plunge pool, wraparound sundeck, and panoramic views of the Indian Ocean.

It's not all just relaxing and eating you can also dive, take a variety of classes, enjoy a gym with views of the Indian ocean or take a seaside yoga class. Bliss isn't cheap, the over-water rooms will run you over $1,000 per night.

Beginning this week, W Hotels is relaunching its Whatever/Whenever campaign. The hotels will offer five brand new services in addition to the existing "Whatever/Whenever" button on hotel phones that would allow a guest to make a request easily. The new services are:

Text messaging, which the hotels will use to alert guests when their rooms are ready, a package has arrived, etc. Guests can also text reservations and other requests to the hotel, which will pay for all W-related texts on guests' phone bills.

Wake up call options including inspirational messages and calls to cell phones, rather than room phones

A pillow menu, with three different pillow types for optimum comfort

Door-to-door package and luggage delivery, so guests don't have to travel with their bags in airports or anywhere else

Take-along prepared meals, specifically for guests who will be flying, since so many airlines have eliminated meal service. They will also print boarding passes and supply their own small version of an in-flight magazine for entertainment.

 

The W Hotel chain will become part of the Dubai hotel boom. The W Dubai Festival City will be a 350-room luxury hotel at Dubai Festival City, the 'city-within-a-city' being built on the banks of Dubai Creek. It will be  the first W hotel in the Middle East. Dubai Festival City is an area that will include waterfront homes, office, cafes, clubs and restaurants. The hotel will have loft suites, restaurants, and a Bliss spa. The W Dubai Festival City is scheduled to open in 2008 and will be at the heart of the 'Marsa al Khor' (Harbour of the Creek) development.

[via Hotel Chatter]

Buy a drink, win a diamond. That's the premise behind the Diamond Sapphire Martini being offered at the NineThirty Restaurant, located inside the W Hotel Los Angeles. From now until Valentine's Day anyone who orders the martini has a chance to win a one-carat diamond pendant from Kraiko Diamonds valued at $10,000. The martini includes strawberry liqueur, gin and cranberry juice topped with a fresh strawberry and basil leaf. The drink costs $14 and you can order as many as you want. The winner will be chosen at a randomly selected date and time during the dates of the promotion and will receive the diamond immediately.