W Hotels Worldwide Unveils the Ultimate Global Glam Experience with the W Brand's 10th Season at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

By: W Hotels Worldwide | 0 Shares 126 Reads

W Hotels VIP Backstage Lounge Whisks Celebrities, VIPs and Fashion Week Notables on a Whimsical Worldwide Tour Offering an Insider Sneak Peek into Three New W Destinations: W Hong Kong, W Doha, and W Retreat & Spa-Vieques Island

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marking its 10th consecutive season as a major sponsor of New York Fashion Week, W Hotels Worldwide returns to Bryant Park with another unique and stylish backstage experience. Hailed as the most exclusive spot for VIPs to mix, mingle and chill out, W Hotels VIP Backstage Lounge has hosted an A-list roster of celebrities, designers and fashion week notables. In celebration of W Hotels' global growth, this season, the W Hotels VIP Backstage Lounge has been transformed into a Global Glam portal to worldwide Wow, featuring an exclusive sneak peek of the signature designs of three new W Hotels: W Hong Kong, W Doha, and W Retreat & Spa-Vieques Island.

"Style, design and innovation are central to the W Hotels experience," said Phil McAveety, Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. "This year, we proudly mark our 10th season at New York Fashion Week, while celebrating the W Brand's global growth as we showcase the designs of these three spectacular new W Hotels."

Envisioned by renowned design firm ICRAVE and executed by RHIA Building Group, the W Hotels VIP Backstage Lounge transports fashionistas on a whimsical worldwide tour of W Hong Kong, W Doha, and W Retreat & Spa-Vieques Island. Interactive panels wrap around the lounge's walls, opening to reveal LG plasma screens, giving guests a glimpse of the W Brand's exotic new destinations. While jet setting through W Hotels' portal of global glam, Fashion Week journalists and VIP guests can stay WIRED between shows. W Hotels VIP Backstage Lounge offers members of the media and guests who need to get connected with the ultimate place to retreat backstage, featuring free Wi-Fi access and the opportunity to view live feeds of the runway shows. Fashionistas looking to kick up their heels can lounge on Chiasso's plush seating while sipping on signature cocktails.

From the NESPRESSO Morning Coffee Bar, botanicals by Ovando New York, to sampling by Bliss(R) Spa Squad, exciting experiences await every guest of the W Hotels VIP Backstage Lounge. Tricks and treats inspired by W Hotels' signature munchie box will be available including Popchips(TM), Pop Rocks, W Hotels Etch-A-Sketches, and Jimmyjane INDULGENCES Pocket Pleasure set. Fashion-lovers craving a chocolate fix are invited to sample exotic designer chocolate from New Zealand's Bloomsbery & Co., including their whimsical "Bochox" bars, a tantalizing treat for the senses. To keep fashionable foodies satisfied all week long, guests can indulge in mini-sliders from Pop Burger, globally-inspired dishes by Chef Michael Wurster of ICON, and healthy delights from Chef Kevin Harry of Heartbeat.

As the day turns to night, W Hotels VIP Backstage Lounge will dim its lights to become Fashion Week's ultimate nightlife destination. Complete with a full service bar and raised DJ booth featuring DJ Jimmy, guests will be given exclusively created W Hotels Kaleidoscope Glasses, which provide a more colorful perspective, and W Hotels Camera Kaleidoscopes, which transform photographs into mirrored, multi-faceted images. Champagne from Veuve Clicquot and the Rande Gerber Midnight Bar Collection will be flowing as guests groove to tracks from W Hotels' newest CD, The Sound of Wonderlust: W Hotels Worldwide Tour.

Catwalk for a Cause

This season, W Hotels once again offers its always-in-demand Catwalk Package for jet setting fashionistas who want the ultimate fashion week experience. Each Catwalk Package includes: two stylish cocktails in the W Living Room, two VIP tickets to a runway show of their choice, two VIP passes to the W Hotels VIP Backstage Lounge, a late 3PM checkout, a Triple Oxygen Mask from Bliss(R), and a Fabulous Suite at W New York. A portion of proceeds from the sale of each package will benefit Dress for Success, the international organization dedicated to helping women achieve economic independence by providing professional attire for interviews and career development tools and support. Rates start at $879. For more information, visit www.whotels.com/catwalk.

About W Hotels Worldwide

W Hotels is a global lifestyle brand with 23 properties in the most vibrant cities around the world. Inspiring and indulging its guests with thoughtful, refreshing and stylish experiences, signature restaurants, bars and destination spas, W has become the fastest growing luxury hotel brand in the world. Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design, comfort, and cultural influences from fashion and design to music and art and everything in between. The W brand's first residential property, W Dallas-Victory, opened in June of 2006, and soon thereafter was named a Forbes Magazine "Top Business Hotel." In North America and Latin America, W Hotels have been announced in Austin, Downtown Atlanta, Buckhead Atlanta, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Hoboken, Hollywood, Huntington Beach, Minneapolis, Downtown New York, Santiago, Scottsdale, South Beach, and Washington, D.C. In Europe, W Hotels have been announced in Athens, Barcelona, Milan, London - Leicester Square, Manchester and St. Petersburg. In Asia, W has announced properties in Bangkok, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macao-Studio City, Shanghai and Yokohama. In Africa and the Middle East, W has announced properties in Amman, Doha, Dubai-Festival City, Dubai-The Palm and Marrakech. W's first Retreat & Spa, W Maldives, opened in September of 2006. In 2007, W Maldives received the prestigious Travel + Leisure Design Award for Best Resort. The W brand has plans to open Retreat & Spa hotels in Bali, Koh Samui, Vieques Island and Verbier, the latter of which will serve as W's first ski retreat. For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

SOURCE: Starwood Hotels & Resorts

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