At the International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin this week, Starwood announced its continued expansion in Europe with a record 18 organic hotel openings in 2015 and more than 30 hotels under development and expected to open in the next five years.
Starwood will be launching the Tribute Portfolio brand in France, diversifying its brand footprint in Italy and expanding its mid-market brands in the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Russia and Turkey.
The W Tel Aviv - Jaffa, set inside a 19th century heritage building, will bring the W lifestyle to the revitalised ancient port neighbourhood of Jaffa, Israel. The hotel is being designed by British architect John Pawson along with Ramy Gill Architects and Urban Designers, who has also designed the new Jaffa port. Leisure facilities at the W Tel Aviv - Jaffa include an Away Spa, Sweat fitness centre, and a an outdoor Wet pool deck.
Starwood’s Tribute Portfolio will make a double debut in France in March with Le Metropolitan and Le Dokhan’s, both located in the upmarket 16th Arrondissement of Paris, within easy reach of landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Avenue des Champs-Elysées.
Designed by French architect Francois Champsaur, Le Metropolitan will feature an elegant, modern aesthetic in a traditional 19th Century Haussmann-style building. The hotel, due to open 1 April, will also include a wellness centre, and rooms will feature a soothing colour palette complemented by hardwood floors, local artwork and views over the city.
Originally conceived as a private townhouse, Le Dokhan retains the feeling of an intimate Parisian residence. The hotel’s interior design was crafted by local designer Frederic Mechiche, who stayed true to the property’s neo-classical style. A treasure trove of antiques, the hotel features an original Louis Vuitton lift cabin, hand-painted friezes, custom-made fabrics and works of art by Picasso, Klee and Matisse. Le Dokhan’s is also home to the city’s very first Champagne bar, where guests can still choose from more than 200 different varieties of premium champagne.
“We are honored to be the first boutique hotels in Paris to join the Tribute Portfolio brand. Our family has been in the industry for three generations, and we share Starwood’s passion for excellence in the art of hospitality,” said Stéphane and Pascal Dokhan, owners of Le Metropolitan and Le Dokhan’s.
The Westin brand has two openings planned in Europe this year:
The Westin Hamburg, located atop the new Elbe Philharmonic Hall on the banks of the river Elbe, and The Westin La Quinta Golf & Spa Resort, a conversion in the sun-drenched Golf Valley near Marbella.
Starwood will also continue to grow and refresh Le Méridien brand’s European portfolio. The contemporary lifestyle brand will re-enter Italy by the end of this year with Le Méridien Visconti Rome, which is located in the Prati district near the Vatican, following a conversion and extensive renovation. Furthermore, this year, the brand will complete the renovation of its first and flagship property, Le Méridien Etoile in Paris, alongside the transformation of lobby spaces in Le Méridien hotels in Vienna and Hamburg into lively ‘Le Méridien Hubs.’
