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W HOTELS WORLDWIDE DEBUTS W BANGKOK,
UNVEILING A ‘HIDDEN GEM’ IN THE HEART OF THE CITY
Set in the Vibrant Central Business District, W Bangkok Introduces Cutting-edge Design,
Dynamic Energy, and Whatever/Whenever Service to the Bustling Thai Capital
BANGKOK – December 10, 2012 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today
announced the highly anticipated opening of W Bangkok, located in the Thai Capital’s vibrant commercial
district. Owned by an affiliate of Golden Land Plc. Ltd., Thailand’s leading property development firm, and
Istithmar World, an investment arm of Dubai World, W Bangkok is set in prestigious Embassy Row at the
intersection of Sathorn and Narathiwas Roads with easy access to the city’s elevated rail system (Skytrain).
A hidden gem amongst the city’s modern skyscrapers, ancient temples and neon lights, W Bangkok’s unique
and distinctive design melds the city’s deep-rooted Thai heritage with its modern Western influences.
“Like New York City, where W draws its inspiration, Bangkok is a true 24/7 city with a passion for great
design, stylish fashion and dynamic entertainment,” said Paul James, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels, St.
Regis, and The Luxury Collection. “W Bangkok, with its iconic design, buzzing bars and restaurants and
Whatever/Whenever service, will bring a new style of modern luxury to this vibrant capital city.”
“W Bangkok is certain to become an iconic landmark, a true reflection of Bangkok’s East-meets-West
heritage in a transforming modern city,” said Stephen Ho, President, Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels &
Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “With its vision to provide what’s new and next, W Bangkok will set a new scene in
Bangkok, adding a new destination and more reasons to visit this dynamic city.”
W Bangkok is Thailand’s first urban W Hotel, following the 2010 opening of W Retreat & Spa Koh Samui.
The hotel marks the 44th W Hotel globally and the eighth W Hotel in the Asia Pacific region.
“Bangkok is a global hub for jetsetters, business people, fashionistas, and more. W Bangkok is a perfect
match with this energetic city and the colorful vibrancy of its people and rich culture, adding to the beauty of
the mix between old and new,” said Chris Delaney, Chairman of Golden Land Plc. Ltd. “The opening of W
Bangkok marks a new era of hospitality in the Thai capital, taking the industry to new heights of luxury,
entertainment, and service.”
Unveiling the City’s Hidden Gem
W Bangkok combines a 31-floor contemporary glass tower with a century-old, European-inspired building
that formerly housed the Russian Embassy and will reopen in the spring of 2013 as The Mansion. A team of
local and international designers and architects, including Palmer & Turner Architects, Soda Thailand and
New York’s Avroko, developed a striking design that captures the traditional and modern elements of
Bangkok.
The base of the new, modern hotel tower has been designed as a theatrical backdrop to the historic Mansion,
including vibrant illumination that changes from day to night. The interiors of the hotel evoke the colorful,
sparkling glass tiles commonly found in Thai temples and palaces, while Thai-inspired installations add a
layer of mystery and reveal throughout the hotel. A large-scale spiral staircase connects the W Lounge (the
W brand’s reinterpretation of the traditional hotel lobby) to the hotel’s Great Room, with a floor to ceiling
light installation covered in glossy, jewel-encrusted materials as the centerpiece. Collecting and amplifying
rays of light, the installation represents the collision of Bangkok’s modern skyline, ancient temples and
shimmering bijous.
W Bangkok houses 407 guestrooms and suites in the two distinct buildings, including 10 Marvelous Suites,
four Duplex Suites, a Wow Suite and the W brand’s signature Extreme Wow Suite. Guestrooms have been
designed in gold, blue or magenta jewel tones by floor, with a high contrast of ambient and direct lighting,
colored glass panels and accessories to create mystique and illumination. Each guestroom has been fitted
with custom designed chrome furniture, padded platform beds, and state-of-the-art in-room technology,
including high-speed wired and wireless Internet access; flat-screen 40-inch LED televisions; and jack pack
stations with a sound bar system and docking station for audio and video players.
A New Scene Sets the Scene in Bangkok
W Bangkok offers a new scene in the city through the signature bars and destination restaurants found
throughout the hotel. The W Lounge serves creative cocktails by a team of mixologists, who have redefined
the classics and also brought in special recipes originally created at W Hotels from Los Angeles to London,
Paris to Hong Kong. The W Lounge also features the hotel’s signature cocktails, A Night in Bangkok and the
complex Chatuchak Iced Tea.
Located on the ground floor and within the W Lounge, WOOBAR provides the perfect venue to mix and
mingle with guests and locals alike. WOOBAR offers light snacks, such as Shucked Oysters and Caviar by
Kaviari and Manchego Sweetcorn Balls, which are perfectly paired with artesian cocktails. At sunset,
WOOBAR provides a vibrant backdrop for the lineup of energetic DJs spinning original beats and danceworthy tracks. Secluded, semi-private areas are available for intimate occasions and private celebrations.
Located on the second floor, The Kitchen Table, the W brand’s signature modern bistro, combines exciting
and uncomplicated flavors with enticing presentation. The dramatically illuminated restaurant features an
interactive experience with an open kitchen catering to a range of tastes from around the region. Adjacent to
The Kitchen Table, The Kitchen Pantry is a contemporary casual eatery, offering international drinks and
house-made small bites from fine chocolates to sandwiches and quiches. For more relaxing moments, the
sixth floor WET deck offers a poolside spot to socialize, sip and nibble under Bangkok’s sultry sky.
W Bangkok offers more than 1000 square meters of meeting and event space, featuring seven meeting rooms
and a stunning outdoor space outfitted with adaptable conference furniture and state-of-the-art audio/visual
equipment. The hotel’s one-of-a-kind 425-square-meter theater-style Great Room boasts nine-meter ceilings
outfitted with shades of LED lighting for sparkling and electrifying occasions.
In addition to offering the W brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever® service philosophy, W Bangkok also
features SWEAT state-of-the-art fitness center, AWAY Spa, WIRED Business Center and W Hotels The
Store.
For up-to-the-minute information on W Bangkok, please visit www.whotels.com/bangkok or
www.facebook.com/wbangkok.
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About W Hotels Worldwide
W Hotels is a contemporary, design-led lifestyle brand and the industry innovator with 44 hotels and retreats, including
15 W-branded residences, in the most vibrant cities and exotic destinations around the world. Inspiring, iconic,
innovative and influential, W Hotels provides the ultimate in insider access, offering a unique mix of cutting-edge
design and passions around fashion, music and entertainment. W Hotels offers a holistic lifestyle experience that is
integrated into the brand’s sensibility through contemporary restaurant concepts, glamorous entertainment experiences,
stylish retail concepts, signature spas and inspiring residences. With more than 14 years of proven success, W Hotels is
on track to reach 60 hotels by the end of 2015. W Hotels have been announced for Guangzhou, Milan, Shanghai,
Beijing, Bogota, Abu Dhabi, Mumbai, Dubai, Jakarta, Panama, Muscat, and Sante Fe, Mexico, while upcoming W
Retreats include Verbier, Goa, and Mexico’s Riviera Maya. For more information, visit www.whotels.com. To live the
W Hotels lifestyle 24/7/365, visit www.wresidences.com. Follow @WHotels on Twitter.
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,128
properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood
Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following
internationally renowned brands: St Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four
Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry's
leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room
stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. 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.
About Istithmar World, investment arm of Dubai World
Istithmar World is a subsidiary of Dubai World, one of the largest holding companies in the world and Dubai's flag
bearer in global investments. As a holding company, Dubai World manages and supervises a diversified portfolio of
businesses and projects for the Government of Dubai and works towards making Dubai a leading hub for global trade
and commerce. Istithmar World is a premier investment company with a broad international portfolio across North
America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Our activities span a variety of verticals, ranging from consumer,
industrial and financial services to hotels and commercial property. Istithmar World is headquartered in Dubai, with
offices in New York, London and Cape Town. Forms of investment include majority and minority stakes, joint
ventures, listed equities and debt securities and are determined based on the most optimal way to participate in each
investment. For more information please visit www.istithmarworld.com
About Golden Land Development PLC
Golden Land Property Development PLC was established in 1978 to operate the business of property development. The
Company was listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on 29th March, 1994 and converted from a private limited
company into a public limited company on 17th June, 1994. Golden Land is the gold standard for property development
in Thailand. From landmark commercial, hospitality and mixed-use developments in the heart of Bangkok’s CBD to
defining, highly desirable statements in residential living, each new project is viewed as a chance to elevate our
enviable level of excellence, exceed the expectations of our customers, and create lasting value for our shareholders.
The Golden Land hallmark comprises quality, integrity, precision and knowledge. Each of these values buttresses a
growing portfolio of leading-edge properties distinguished by peerless locations, exceptional style and uncommon
attention to detail. They underpin our unique position as Thailand’s emerging leader in city-centre development and
avatar of smart business. We move towards tomorrow with confidence and a clear vision: to build upon our golden
heritage to create a new vision of Bangkok and beyond. For more information please visit www.goldenlandplc.com