Double the presence for W in Asia

On the heels of recent W Hotel openings in Singapore and Bangkok, W Hotels Worldwide has announced plans to more than double its Asian presence by the end of 2018, offering global jetsetters nearly 20 W Hotels and Retreats in nine countries in the region. More than half of the W brand’s global pipeline is slated for Asia Pacific, including the first W Hotel in mainland China opening in Guangzhou later this month, followed by other China openings in Beijing, Shanghai, Changsha, and Suzhou over the next five years. Additional W Hotels have been announced in India, Indonesia and Malaysia. “Asia is a rapidly growing market, long known for exemplary, traditional service in hospitality,”said Paul James, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide, St. Regis, and The Luxury Collection. “With each new W Hotel opening, we are able to reinvent the luxury hotel landscape, offering cutting-edge design, whatever/whenever service, and insider access to what’s new and next for both our guests and locals alike.”The W brand first entered Asia in 2004 with the opening of W Seoul – Walkerhill. Since then, W Hotels has strengthened its presence in the region with eight hotels and retreats in seven countries, including properties in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Maldives, and Hong Kong. (http://www.whotels.com)