W Hotels Worldwide Set To Shake Up The Indian Hospitality Scene With The Opening Of W Goa

NEW YORK, March 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR), today announced the opening of W Goa, located on the internationally renowned Vagator Beach. Poised to redefine the Indian luxury hotel scene in the way that only W Hotels can, the highly anticipated debut marks the brand's 50^th hotel worldwide, bringing the category disruptor one door closer to reaching 75 hotels by 2020.

"It's hard to imagine a more perfect setting for our newest W Escape than Goa, with its electrifying nightlife, vibrant fashion scene, and colorful culture," said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. "As our first location in India, this highly anticipated debut from the W brand promises to be unlike any other hotel in India, combining the bold design and dynamic lifestyle programming that W is known for with a uniquely Goan-twist."

Renowned today as a beachside playground for Bollywood stars and world-travelers alike, Goa has always marched to a beat all its own.  For centuries, it has emitted an irresistible siren song, attracting global nomads in search of progress, enlightenment and adventure. A mecca for the alternative, the area has witnessed vast changes in the influx of visitors over the past decades, from hippies in search of paradise, to New Age devotees, followed by purveyors of psytrance, and the yogaphiles and Burning Man disciples of today.

Situated between the verdant jungle and the stunning coastline of Vagator Beach, W Goa features 160 vibrant guestrooms, including Villas, Chalets, a Marvelous Suite and an Extreme WOW Villa (the brand's take on the Presidential Suite). A one hour flight from Mumbai and a 90-minute drive from Goa International Airport, this W Escape overlooks the Arabian Sea and spans 25 acres of exotic sandy beach set against the backdrop of a 500-year old Portuguese Fort.

"With a rich natural environment intertwined with its strong cultural roots and eclectic scene, Goa remains a favorite destination for the Indian community; while at the same time continuing to garner international spotlight," said Rajeev Meenon, Chief Operating Officer, Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC), Marriott International. "W Goa is set to inject a fresh vibe into the local hospitality scene with the brand's game-changing style, modern guestrooms, amplified entertainment, and innovative cocktails– all infused with the irresistible mystique of Goa."

Kaleidoscopic Design
Imagined by interior design house Design Wilkes and architects Eco-ID, W Goa combines the rustic and dramatic landscape of Goa with an exuberant spirit that is unique to W Hotels. The grand entrance features huge, unframed doors that are perpetually open and adorned with art by Goan artist Subodh Kerkar, representing the lunar phases and a nod to Goa's full moon party culture. Just steps away, behind the reception pods adorned with simmering white Capize shells, is a massive street art mural by Indian artist M. Narayan featuring gutsy, raw imagery that celebrates the melting pot culture of Goa, as well as the spectrum of color one can see through divine meditation.

For the interiors, the team at Design Wilkes celebrated the local and foreign cultures of Goa, incorporating rich colors and fabrics across the hotel. Each guestroom is drenched in a psychedelic look and feel with trippy hues of purples and blues creating a kaleidoscopic melding of color throughout. Many fixtures – from foggy metal closet doors to the "beaten" metal drawers in the bathroom – are purposefully designed so that guests cannot clearly see themselves, but rather just their shape and movements. Each guestroom features a chandelier that looks as though the lights are melting from the ceiling, and each bathroom features a mirror adorned with the shape of the Bodhi Leaf which is often associated with enlightenment.

Detox. Retox. Repeat
Nestled in a subterranean space, the hotel's Spa by Clarins boasts 14,000 square feet of total relaxation, with each detail inspired by the great baths of Pompeii and a labyrinth of corridors leading to private rooms. The spa includes an Oxygen room, eight treatment rooms, a heated vitality pool, steam room and sauna.  Other amenities of the hotel include a FIT gym and an outdoor WET pool deck.  The brand's iconic Whatever/Whenever® service delivers guests whatever they want, whenever they want it, often facilitated by the W Insider, who shares with guests the inside scoop on what's new/ next in Goa.

W Goa's destination restaurant, Spice Traders, offers Pan Asian epicurean flavors amplified with sumptuous ocean views and al fresco dining. The Kitchen Table, an all-day restaurant, serves popular local classics and modern interpretations of international favorites. The WET deck bar refuels guests with healthy snacks and delicious cocktails, while the Living Room and WOOBAR transform from comfortable hangout by day, to buzzing lounge by night. And finally, Rock Pool, poised to become the next big party destination in Goa, set high upon a cliff with the ocean crashing below, blending bohemian vibes with sunset beats for the ultimate in late night revelry.

Show Up. Show Off. Show Stop.
Soon to also be an ideal venue for weddings and other memorable events, W Goa will feature approximately 50,000 square feet of function space and meeting rooms, scheduled to open by the end of 2017, which will be fully equipped with world class audio-visual facilities to set the stage for lively and vivid presentations. The sprawling 4,160 square feet Great Room will raise the celebratory bar on a grand scale accompanied by two Studios of 440 and 540 square feet each. Already open, the lushly landscaped Horizon covers 4,500 square feet of oceanfront area for atmospheric outdoor festivities. And an additional outdoor venue, Backyard, boasts 5,800 square feet of lush green landscape that sits just below the iconic Chapora Fort.

"Goa is not just a place - it's a state of mind," said TJ Joulak, General Manager, W Goa. "Travelers from around the world are drawn to Goa's irresistible siren song, to delight in Goa's spirited scenes and rich fusion of global cultures.  This energy comes to life at W Goa, where the brand's passions for fashion, design and music fuel an intoxicating energy that renders each stay an unpredictable, exhilarating trip."

For more information, please visit W-Goa.com.

About W Goa
Situated on Vagator Beach in the northern part of Goa, W Goa draws inspiration from the state's rich history as a mecca for the alternative, one steeped in a vibrant culture that includes an influx of visitors from hippies in search of paradise, New Age devotees, purveyors of psytrance and yogaphiles from around the globe. W Goa captures the rustic and dramatic landscape of Goa as well as its cosmopolitan, multi-cultural vibe, injecting Vagator with the exuberant spirit uniquely known to W Hotels. W Goa offers 160 stylish and spacious guestrooms, chalets and villas discreetly spread out across the private coastal setting with breathtaking views of the sea.

About W Hotels Worldwide
Born from the bold attitude and 24/7 culture of New York City, W Hotels has disrupted and redefined the hospitality scene for nearly two decades. Trailblazing its way around the globe, W is on track to reach 75 hotels by 2020, defying expectations and breaking the norms of traditional luxury wherever the iconic W sign lands. With a mission to fuel guests' lust for life, W ignites an obsessive desire to soak it in, live it up and hit repeat. The brand's provocative design, iconic Whatever/Whenever service and buzzing Living Rooms create an experience that is often copied but never matched. Innovative, inspiring and infectious, W Hotels' super-charged energy celebrates guests' endless appetite to discover what's new/next in each destination, to see more, feel more, go longer, stay later. 

W Hotels Worldwide participates in the industry's award-winning loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest®, where members can link accounts with Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer.  For more information on W Hotels, visit whotels.com/theangle or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is the world's largest hotel company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with nearly 6,000 properties in 120 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts. The company's 30 leading brands include: Bulgari®, The Ritz-Carlton® and The Ritz-Carlton Reserve®, St. Regis®, W®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, The Luxury Collection®, Marriott Hotels®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Renaissance® Hotels, Sheraton®, Delta Hotels by Marriott^SM, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Tribute Portfolio™, Design Hotels™, Gaylord Hotels®, Courtyard®, Four Points® by Sheraton, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, Residence Inn®, TownePlace Suites®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Aloft®, Element®, Moxy® Hotels, and Protea Hotels by Marriott®. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com and @MarriottIntl.

Note on Forward-Looking Statements: The statement about the expected size of the W hotels portfolio by 2020 is a "forward-looking statement" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, not a historical fact, and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including supply and demand changes for hotel rooms; competitive conditions in the lodging industry; relationships with clients and property owners; the availability of capital to finance hotel growth; and other risk factors identified in the most recent annual report on Form 10-K that Marriott International, Inc. has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by that statement. That statement is made as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE W Hotels Worldwide