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W Hotels Worldwide Showcases its Passion for Design in Hong Kong

2009-12-04 08:32 1611

Reinforcing its positioning as an industry innovator and design leader, W Hong Kong signs pacts with Business of Design Week and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Biennale to create insider experiences for the design industry elite and W brand's jet setting guests

HONG KONG, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel industry innovator and the contemporary lifestyle hotel brand that is currently transforming into a global powerhouse, announced today the signing of two significant sponsorship agreements that reinforce the brand's commitment to engaging all that is now and wow within the areas of design, fashion and lifestyle. W Hong Kong will serve as the Official Media Hotel of Asia's largest design conference -- Business of Design Week (BODW) -- and as the Official Hospitality Partner of the first Hong Kong-Shenzhen Biennale (BYOB). The events will run in Hong Kong from December 2 - 5 and December 3 - February 19, 2010, respectively.

(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/200807290935.jpg )

These two partnerships with W Hong Kong include official programming for visiting international media and the world's foremost designers, architects and industry elite. Furthermore, W Hong Kong will also partner with Diesel to create a Biennale-supported fashion-design driven pop-up space within the W Hong Kong that will showcase how fashion and design constantly intersect to remain at the leading edge of what's next in style. A high-profile "W Happening" with Diesel launch event in partnership with American Express, followed by bi-weekly cocktail happenings and a special room package focusing on retail partnerships with exclusive discounts for American Express cardholders will round off the programming.

One of the most significant events on the international design calendar, Business of Design Week is Asia's leading conference dedicated to design, innovation and brands, bringing the best of the global design world to Hong Kong. Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien has been invited to present a talk during the Main Forum on December 4 entitled "W Hotels: The Contemporary Lifestyle Brand."

"W brand's partnership here in Hong Kong with BODW and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Biennale is another milestone in 2009 that showcases W's passion for design and fashion," said Ziegler. "As W is transforming from a US phenomenon into a global powerhouse, growing from 35 hotels to more than 50 hotels by 2011, including significant growth in Asia Pacific in the years to come, these high profile initiatives are key to communicate what the W brand is and what W Hotels stand for globally."

In partnership with American Express, W Hotels, this past year, has launched a series of initiatives that showcase the W brand's passion for design and fashion, including its first concept Extreme Wow Suite (W hotel's version of the presidential hotel suite) by Patrick Jouin in Sao Paulo; a pop up brand experience room with leading-edge entertainment and design programming during Paris Fashion Week; a VIP Backstage Lounge for its 11th season at New York Fashion Week; five exclusive fashion collections that were inspired by five different new hotels designs, including W Hong Kong; and now the W brand will travel to Asia with these two design-led partnerships in anticipation of a range of significant openings in 2010.

William To, Project Director of Hong Kong Design Centre, said, "We are thrilled to be aligned with the vibrant, design-oriented W Hotel as our Official Media Hotel throughout Business of Design Week 2009. The success of W Hotel is one of the best examples of interplay between design and businesses, which is the key message we want to put across at BODW. We welcome all of the media from the greater China region and abroad in December, the month filled with design-inspired activities in Hong Kong which continues to increase its presence as a design hub in Asia, both a result of and a testament to the success of BODW and our strategic partners."

Supported by the Home Affairs Bureau HKSAR Government, organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, the Hong Kong Institute of Planners and the Hong Kong designers Association, this year's Hong Kong Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale theme is entitled, "City Mobilization: BRING YOUR OWN BIENNALE" will be situated just outside W Hong Kong's doors and will be the first ever cultural installation on the site of the West Kowloon Cultural District. Attracting the likes of global powerhouses Shigeru Ban Architects and Diller Scofido + Renfro, the biennale is one of the most important events in the global cultural calendar. As Official Hospitality Partner, W will play host to numerous off-site events as well as cater official events on the biennale site.

"BYOB -- Bring Your Own Biennale -- calls for all designers, architects and citizens to creatively participate in this unique bi-city biennale concept," remarked Marisa Yiu - Chief Curator of the 2009 HK-SZ Bi City Biennale. "The site of West Kowloon will be filled with 46,000 square metres of exhibitions and events, showcasing an open platform composed of inventive works and thought-provoking installations, workshops and performances that aim to engage the public in rethinking the society they are an integral part of."

"We are very pleased to support W Hotels' initiatives in support of the design world in Asia," said Kenneth Lee, Vice President and Head of Consumer Card Products and Marketing, Hong Kong of American Express International, Inc. "W Hotels has been a long-term partner of American Express around the world and we look forward to a successful staging of Business of Design Week and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Biennale at W Hong Kong. As a supporting organization of these two events, American Express will also offer exclusive privileges for our cardmembers to enjoy special room packages as well as exclusive cardmember event at the W Hong Kong."

About W Hotels Worldwide(R)

W Hotels is an innovative contemporary lifestyle brand and the hotel category buster with 35 hotels and retreats in the most vibrant cities and exotic destinations around the world. Inspiring, iconic, innovative and influential, W Hotels provides the ultimate in insider access to a world of "Wow." Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative 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 nightlife experiences, and signature spas. With 10 years of proven success, W Hotels is on track to double its footprint by 2011. W Hotels and W Retreats have been announced for Downtown New York, Hollywood, London, Paris, St. Petersburg, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Bali, Vieques Island, Koh Samui, and Verbier, among other international destinations. For more information, visit http://www.whotels.com .

About W Hotels The Store

W Hotels The Store is a trendsetting collection of retail boutiques located in W Hotel properties around the world -- a complete reinvention of the traditional hotel gift shop. W Hotels The Store offers a special selection of hard to find trend-setting items for men, women, kids, and baby, showcasing a variety of unique and limited edition designer apparel, jewelry, fashion accessories, handbags, shoes, beauty products, home and design items, and other stylish gifts. There are currently 15 W Hotels The Store locations: W Chicago - Lakeshore; W Chicago - City Center; W New York; W New York-Times Square; W San Diego; W Dallas-Victory; W Scottsdale; W Atlanta-Midtown; W Mexico City; W Seoul; W Hoboken; W Hong Kong; W Doha; W Fort Lauderdale; W South Beach. Many items are also available at www.whotelsthestore.com and through the WISH catalogue.

Source: Starwood Hotels and Resorts
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