If only this one had been open in January when millions rushing to D.C. to witness President Obama's Inauguration were faced with sold-out hotels left and right. In what marks another milestone in the global expansion of the W Hotel brand, the W Hotel in Washington, D.C opened this past Thursday with a giant bash. It was a jam-packed party full of the town's political elite, including Presidential Aide Reggie Love and the President's personal secretary Katie Johnson, as well as celebs like Emmy Rossum who flocked to hear an intimate performance by John Legend. In an event that brought Versailles to Washington, the party was full of Marie Antoinette models sporting powdered wigs and opera glasses while guests sipped on pink cocktails and munched on cotton candy.

The new W Hotel, the 25th to open in North America, takes over the historic Hotel Washington, which opened in 1917. The new design incorporates the 1920s Beaux Arts architecture of the original building with the edgy designs of Dianna Wong whose, L.A.-based firm transformed all of the interiors. Wong gathered artwork symbolizing "old Washington," which she sprinkled among her more modern designs including a digital fireplace, crackled paint, deconstructed fixtures, and new chandeliers complimenting the original 1920s light fixtures. Her theme throughout the hotel is "pinstripes and lace," to appeal to both the masculine and feminine powers of Washington.

As the city's closest hotel to the White House, the location features unparalleled views of our nation's monuments, and can expect to attract an abundance of stately guests from around the world, and perhaps a national scandal or two.

W turned the famed rooftop, where for decades politicos have converged to drink and deliberate, into a modern cocktail lounge, with a menu provided by cocktail king Sasha Petraske of Milk & Honey and Little Branch. The cocktails can also be ordered in the Living Room, W's design of the traditional hotel lobby. Dining options include the J&G Steakhouse and Wine Bar from Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.The W Washington D.C. has 317 guestrooms in total, including 23 Marvelous suites. The W's interpretation of the traditional Presidential Suite, the "pinstripes and lace" Extreme WOW suite, is an exact symbol of the new design influence quickly arriving in our nation's capital.

Famed French chef Alain Ducasse will open his first restaurant in the Caribbean at the new W Retreat & Spa: Vieques Island this November, called "miX on the beach." At the eatery (above) Ducasse will offer a sophisticated menu, exploring "colorful Latino Caribbean flavors with an artful French twist and refreshing dishes that highlight only the finest ingredients from land and sea, expertly prepared and creatively presented." Both indoor and outdoor dining will be available with impressive ocean views on all sides. The first W Retreat & Spa in the Caribbean, the resort is located just off the Southeast coast of Puerto Rico on the peaceful 55-acre island of Vieques. In addition to miX on the beach, Ducasse's team will also manage the entire food and beverage program for the resort.

W Hotels has opened their 31st property, the W South Beach and The Residences at W South Beach in the arts and entertainment district of Miami Beach. The development includes 408 W-branded residences with Ocean Suites, Beach Bungalows, and the Extreme WOW suite (W's version of the Presidential suite). Among the food and drink destinations at the property are Wall, a bar and lounge, Spanish restaurant Solea and the celebrity favorite Mr. Chow. The hotel also bring the popular Bliss spa to Miami.

The $500 million hotel was designed by architect Costas Kondylis. The W's Living Room (aka the lobby) was designed by Anna Busta with artwork from collector Aby Rosen's private collection. The art is showcased in an environment with tufted leather ottomans, velvet curtains in eggplant purple, modern white and gray sofas, armchairs covered in white pony or slate velvet and white pony rugs splashed with gold paint. A 20-foot-high beaded curtain set off by glass walls marks the way into the W Living Room Bar with views of the pool deck and garden. If you book by July 20 the hotel is offering rates from $269 per night for stays July 16 – October 12. The Miami Herald reported earlier this month that the South Beach location has sold out for weekends in July even though the prices are higher than many other hotels in the area.

Another W Hotel is in trouble. We've heard of troubles facing the W in Phoenix but now the W San Diego has a battle of its own ahead. Yesterday Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc. announced that will default on the June mortgage payment for the property. The real estate investment trust cited the travel downturn as well as the opening of other luxury hotels in the area as a reason for being unable to make the payments. Sunstone had sought lower interest rates and made the decision that, like many people in the U.S., it was underwater in its mortgage. So the investors are doing the corporate version of jingle mail and returning it to the lenders. The company says that the property which it purchased for $96 million in 2006 is worth less now. Right now the hotel has a $65 million, fixed-rate commercial mortgage-backed securities loan with a 6.14 percent interest rate due at the start of the year in 2018. This works out to more than $250,000 in debt per room.

A statement from the company says that it ""maintains more than adequate liquidity to support or repay this mortgage" but believes that turning it over to the lenders is in the best interests of stockholders. Sunstone Hotel has said that it may make the same move with selected other mortgaged hotels in its portfolios. It also owns properties under the Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Fairmont brands. The W San Diego remains open.

What is going on in Scottsdale, Arizona? The popular warm weather destination has had its second announcement of a major resort facing foreclosure in just a few weeks. The 293-room InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa, which just opened last fall headed toward foreclosure and scheduled for disposition on April 28. It follows the W Scottsdale which was hit with a foreclosure notice a few weeks ago.

The owners of the Montelucia are, according to GlobeSt.com having troubles with a $185 million mortgage held by Eurohypo AG of Germany. The article quotes a local analyst who says that Phoenix is leading the nation in a drop in hotel occupancy rates. There is concern that other new projects which were also conceived during the boom time of 2006 could now be vulnerable. Some of these projects have loans coming due this year and next year and may have trouble finding refinancing. Both the W Scottsdale and the Montelucia are still open for business.

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.