W Hotels Unveils Design Concept for W Retreat Koh Samui (Thailand)
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W Hotels Unveils Design Concept for W Retreat Koh Samui (Thailand)
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Category: Asia Pacific - Thailand
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2010-06-08
Stylish and Modern Design of First W Hotel in Southeast Asia Reflects Dual Nature of Koh Samui, Where the Day is Dedicated to Relaxing and the Night for Celebrating
W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster and industry innovator, today unveiled the eagerly anticipated design concept for its first W Hotel in Southeast Asia and its third Retreat worldwide, W Retreat Koh Samui, which is expected to debut in August 2010 on the renowned Thai island destination of Koh Samui.
W Retreat Koh Samui brings an alluring vision of cutting-edge design, global lifestyle, modern luxuries and a new dimension of indulgence and extravagance to Thailand. An all-villa beachfront resort caressed by lush foliage, unspoiled golden sand and warm island breezes, W Koh Samui Retreat offers panoramic sunrise and sunset views of the Gulf of Thailand from its exceptional beachfront location.
“Given the energy, style and wild popularity of the island, Koh Samui represents a wonderful next destination for W Hotels and is a great brand fit as W continues to transform from a New York phenomenon to a global powerhouse,” said Coetzer Deysel, general manager of W Retreat Koh Samui. “Our shared passions, along with Thailand’s unique culture and its spirit of celebration, have ignited the inspiration for the W Retreat Koh Samui design concept.”
Showcasing innovative architecture by MAPS Design Studio and interior design by Thailand-based design firm P49 Deesign, W Retreat Koh Samui – like Koh Samui itself – really is an island within an island, a place where nightlife shines, dedicated to celebration. It exists as its own source of energy and life, almost apart from the rest of the world. With a hill separating its own peninsula of land from the rest of Koh Samui, W Retreat Koh Samui offers an escape within an escape for guests and travelers who seek something extraordinary – a far cry from the everyday resorts nearby.
“W Retreat Koh Samui has been designed as a modern paradise where the day is dedicated to individual moments in which guests can slip away from themselves and each other to refuel for what comes next,” commented Carl Almeida, partner of P49 Deesign. “When night falls, the people and the Retreat come to life – nocturnal in nature like the W brand, full of energy and ready to mingle.”
The Retreat will feature 75 private villas equipped with modern lifestyle innovations, including a private pool, daybeds, outdoor shower, Yamaha sound system, 46-inch LCD TV, wine refrigerator, and the signature W bed.
W Retreat Koh Samui will be a scintillating playground for the discerning leisure traveler and a fresh destination on the international party circuit. W’s signature W Lounge, a magnificent lounge rich with stunning ocean vistas will welcome stylish island guests and bring an irresistible new highlight to Koh Samui’s nightlife scene. Upon entry, guests will experience interactive digital floor projections that give way to an environment accented with off-white terrazzo floors, high ceilings clad in angular bleached wood veneer panels, large bookshelves and oversized lamps. A key element of the W Lounge will be a water feature and relaxing area designed based on the shape of a lotus flower, reflecting the blossom of a lotus.
Another key element of the W experience is its breathtaking WooBar. Open on three sides and perched on the corner of a hillside, offering 270-degree views of the Gulf of Thailand and the surrounding hillside, the WooBar has been created from large pieces of raw-cut local quarry stone, which also comprises the backing wall. Overlooking the bar on the mezzanine level is the DJ booth, perched high from a commanding point in the WooBar, which also features a striking, two-story high wine cellar. The unique design allows the WooBar to transform from day to night – to become the ultimate destination to wow guests with W’s dynamic programming in the form of unique W Happenings – lifestyle events reflecting W’s passion for music, design, fashion and film.
Guests of the Retreat will be able to enjoy preferred dining reservations and seating at The Kitchen Table, which will serve food from the heart, including freshly baked treats, gourmet pizzas and inspirational buffets. Set in a circular space with great views of the sea, the Kitchen Table features an open kitchen, a chef’s table made from a single piece of raw wood, and floors of white terrazzo intermixed with bleach tabak wood. Natural light shines through the round shaped ceiling, covered by the water from the lotus shaped pond in the W Lounge above, creating a shimmering and glimmering atmosphere in The Kitchen Table. Dramatic high-back sofas, floor-to-ceiling curtains and daybed-style booth and table seating also define the space. The outside terrace beckons guests to enjoy extraordinary al fresco dining.
At W Retreat Koh Samui’s signature Japanese restaurant, Namu, guests may luxuriate in an intimate dining experience, resplendent with green glass rods evoking bamboo, an amazing spiral ceiling, subdued lighting, outdoor dining, an open kitchen, a polished concrete floor with pebble inlay, and an opulent water feature that surrounds the restaurant, creating the effect of floating on water. Stepping outside, guests can relax on lounge sofas and dine under the stars surrounded by the Gulf of Thailand.
Before dinner, guests may spice up their evenings with one of W Retreat Koh Samui’s signature cocktails at the see-and-be-seen lounge, Sip. After entering via a series of stepping stones over water, guests will be met with a series of unique settings, including the bar, outdoor dining area and private daybeds. Framed by floors of polished concrete and sand and a ceiling lining of raw-cut bamboo poles, Sip features columns shaded in wood and lime color; a bar made from concrete with a green glass rod façade resembling bamboo; wall panels made of wood-textured concrete; oversized lighting and a large stainless steel and wood feature element above the bar counter. Select seats are made from resin, which appear to be frosted during the day but glow in different colors to suit the mood at night.
aWay Spa, the signature spa at W Retreat Koh Samui, will offer guests and in-the-know locals an exceptional wellness escape with signature treatments including massages, facial and body treatments, manicures and pedicures, as well as a range of treatments incorporating local Thai influences in a cool and playful way. Bordered by white terrazzo floors and bleached wood walls, aWay Spa will also be a masterpiece of modern design, comprising spa villas, TONIC juice bar and the first “Thaimazcal” treatment facility – a domed space with pebble flooring and raw-rock seating. The first of its kind in Asia, the Thaimazcal treatment is based on Mexican tribal rituals, using local Thai ingredients.
Guests will also be able to enjoy the WET pool, SWEAT state-of-the-art fitness facility, water sports center and tennis court, Style Lab and much more. Located adjacent to the spa, SWEAT offers natural lighting, a graphic wall in striking color, a natural weave ceiling and LCD televisions.
The Great Room function area at W Retreat Koh Samui will serve as an ideal island venue for business gatherings, creative meetings and so on. Creative in approach and innovative in design, the Great Room includes a pre-function space and 120 square meters of space for serving up to 60 people with the latest in meetings technology. Located adjacent to the Living Room, the Great Room radiates with a ceiling resembling tree branches and natural light streaming through a glass wall that faces an outdoor Zen garden. The Great Room’s pre-function area provides an ideal welcoming point, ideal for cocktails.
Located adjacent to W Retreat Koh Samui will be The Residences at W Retreat Koh Samui, featuring 17 secluded beachfront villas ranging from three to five bedrooms and from 1,000 to 2,752 square meters. Each residence offers a modern tropical Zen style with exotic touches, and each offers full access to the benefits, services and amenities of W Koh Samui.
W Retreat Koh Samui and The Residences at W Retreat Koh Samui is a joint venture of Amburaya Hotels & Resorts and Istithmar World. Amburaya Properties is a vibrant Thai-based developer bringing new and innovative lifestyle-oriented accommodations and residential developments to new and well-established destinations. The company currently has properties in Bangkok, Pattaya, Koh Samui, and India and continues to look for opportunities to grow its portfolio within Thailand and the region. Istithmar World is one of the world’s largest privately held real estate developers, with a portfolio of developments that includes The Palm trilogy, among others.
For reservations and more information, please visit www.whotels.com/kohsamui.
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