NEW YORK – July 26, 2016 – W Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), today announced the completion of its highly anticipated $18 million renovation of W Seattle. Inspired by the hotel’s dynamic Pacific Northwest location, all 415 guest rooms and nine stylish suites have been transformed, completing the multi-phase renovation that included the hotel’s signature Living Room (the W brand’s take on the traditional hotel lobby), Trace restaurant and state of the art meeting spaces. Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., owners of W Seattle, partnered with design firm Krause + Sawyer, along with the award-winning design team from W Hotels to reimagine the hotel.
In a nod to the city’s reputation as one of the defining music capitals of the world, the W brand also recently announced that W Seattle will soon be home to the first W Sound Suite in North America, a private music studio and writer’s room for professional recording artists, studio musicians, as well as hotel guests, to record in style while on the road.
“W Seattle is an iconic part of the city’s social scene; a place for guests to relax and enjoy the W brand’s signature cocktail culture and somewhere for locals to let their hair down,” said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “Along with commitments from our ownership groups, the renovation of W Seattle is part of an overall W brand strategy to continue investing in our North American portfolio. Demand for the W brand in the US and abroad is as hot as ever.”
Naturally Connected
Inspired by the destination’s timeless beauty, W Seattle is naturally connected to the city’s burgeoning business empires of tech, music, design and more, which sit alongside the lush wilderness that the Emerald City is renowned for. Serving as the setting where backpacks and briefcases mix and mingle, the hotel’s innovative design mirrors the duality of this cosmopolitan center. Upon entry, grand wooden ‘lodge poles’ (inspired by the Northwest’s Native American culture) and tree-ring flooring (a nod to the city’s logging industry), greet guests alongside a DJ booth crafted from an airplane turbine, which illustrates Seattle’s aviation history.
Newly reimagined guestrooms evoke a sense of the ultimate ‘urban lodge’ through design that captures the innovative spirit of Seattle. The color palette is derived from the blue hues of Seattle, with pops of purple, teal and yellow gold incorporated into a grey canvas inspired by the city’s infamously moody skies. The focal point of each room is the headboard ‘Lodge Wall’, connecting creative design to nature through stacked wood beams backlit by LED lights.
The spirit of the great outdoors is contrasted against elements inspired by the city’s iconic grunge music scene. The rooms feature plaid accent pillows and a Pendleton pattern reflected in the silver, white and gray Mylar wallpaper created exclusively for the guest rooms. Details mimicking Seattle’s storied aviation history influenced materials and finishes – polished, aerodynamic shapes for wall and desk lighting, as well as the design of the desk chair. The throw blanket pattern comes from a Boeing 747 model kit on scale, and a pillow with a jet image punctuates each bed.
“From the moment our guests enter our Living Room to the moment they head upstairs they will be struck with a design that exceeds expectations and connects them to the roots of what the Emerald City has to offer,” said Richard Hill, General Manager, W Seattle.
Each room and suite features signature W amenities including: Bluetooth-enabled TV, access to high-speed WiFi, the Bliss® Spa sinkside six bath amenities, the signature W Hotels Bed and the brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever® service, which provides guests whatever they want, whenever they want it.
“The inspiration for the rooms and suites of W Seattle is shaped by the juxtaposition of Seattle culture and outdoor recreation,” added Kajsa Krause, Principal, Krause + Sawyer. “Before we took on the design, we spent time observing the lifestyle of the city. We could see that Seattleites are naturally connected to their region, with a close relationship between urban and rural. We wanted W Seattle’s design to mirror the city’s widespread tech innovation, yet make deference to the area’s inherent beauty.”
