The W Hollywood Hotel & Residences opened in true Hollywood style January 29, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel of ABC's “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” while the exclusive, invitation-only crowd was serenaded by crooner Robin Thicke. Located at the historic intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine, this $350 million complex, developed by Gatehouse Capital and owned in a joint venture of HEI Hotels & Resorts and Gatehouse Capital in affiliation with the Los Angeles MTA, offers W’s jet-setting guests and Hollywood locals a contemporary lifestyle experience.
“The opening of W Hollywood marks the completion of a 10-year journey for Gatehouse Capital and our partners, and we are proud to introduce this stunning, modern, and truly sustainable property,” said Marty Collins, president and CEO of Dallas-based Gatehouse Capital, developer of the W Hollywood Hotel & Residences. “We have paired an iconic brand to an iconic intersection in a city that is a global destination recognized the world over, and in doing so, ushered in a second Golden Age that will redefine and revitalize modern Hollywood.”
Collins was joined at the opening celebration by a host of Texans, including his wife, Josy Cooner-Collins of Scott+Cooner; restaurateur Alberto Lombardi and wife Vivian; artist/designer Brad Oldham and wife Christy Coltrin; and Jeff Cohen, Gatehouse Capital COO, and wife Kimberly Cohen.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa noted that many people expressed doubts about this ambitious project… a $350 million hotel, 143 luxury residences, a spa, nightclub, and restaurant at the heart of a mixed-use development on the MTA line. Detractors said it would never get off the ground, but Collins didn’t give up.
“W Hollywood is a crown jewel for our development partnership, and offers a truly unique location that is a perfect blend of lifestyle, entertainment, hospitality and commerce,” said Clark Hanrattie, Chief Investment Officer for HEI Hotels & Resorts. “We are confidant that W Hollywood will be the flashpoint of entertainment, art, fashion, culture and music on a global stage for years to come.”
In fact, W Hollywood wasted no time making its mark on the social scene as it hosted EMI/Capital Records' post-Grammy party Janurary 31, which included celebs Katy Perry and Russell Brand; Lady Antebellum; Cypress Hill; Dave Navarro; Taryn Manning; Herbie Hancock; Joel Madden; Benji Madden; Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan, Slash; Kimberly Caldwell and Jerry Cantrell among others.
“Just as New York, the birthplace of W Hotels, is the fashion capital of the world, Hollywood is the global epicenter of entertainment, and together, fashion and entertainment make up W’s core passions,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “W Hollywood is set to serve as a global flagship for the W brand.”
Dedicated to contributing to a green-conscious community and a cleaner environment, W Hollywood is registered for LEED®-Silver certification and is also the largest property registered for LEED® certification in Southern California, combining eco-conscious construction and access to public transportation with the incorporation of a LA Metro Red Line Station at the property with stylish design, dramatic views, modern art and premium services.
With top architecture firm HKS Architects, interior designers designstudio Ltd., interior architecture firm Daly Genik Architects and landscape architect Rios Clementi Hale Studios at the helm, this team of world-class design professionals offered inspired interpretations from the idea of a new Hollywood glamour.
W Hollywood guests receive star-studded treatment as they walk the plush “red carpet” to the Welcome Desk and signature W Living Room. Guests, residents and LA insiders can sip and socialize on the adjoining outdoor terrace and ground-floor lounge, featuring black tufted leather sofas, lounge chairs and a decadent backlit lobby bar crafted of glowing onyx. Punctuating the contemporary W Living Room, is a spectacular spiral staircase of white marble set against the backdrop of a curved bronze mosaic wall and a striking chandelier cascading from the gilded ceiling above.
W Hollywood offers 305 guest rooms and suites featuring W's signature beds with a feather-top mattress, 350 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, goose down comforters and a fully stocked Munchie Box (W’s twist on the hotel Mini Bar). The Residences at W Hollywood offers 143 luxury one, two and three bedroom units, ranging in price from $500,000 to $7 million. Of those, 43 are already under contract.
Residence owners have access to W Hollywood’s modern amenities as well as preferred dining reservations and seating at the hotel’s signature restaurant, nightclub, and lounges; Welcome Ambassadors and round the clock security; two WET® pools, including the private W Residences pool; WHEELS valet service; SWEAT® state-of-the-art fitness facility; and W’s signature Whatever/Whenever service promise, residents whatever they want – from front row seats at the world-famous Kodak Theatre to a private shopping excursion on Melrose Avenue – whenever they want it. For information on The Residences at W Hollywood, call 323-469-8800.
The 6,000 square foot Bliss Spa is the first in Hollywood. Seven treatments rooms and bliss trademark touches such as rhythm & blues tunes, a retail beauty boutique, and the legendary brownie buffet, make Bliss Hollywood the ultimate destination for stylish jet setters and spa and beauty-loving locals. W Hollywood guests and residents receive “Bliss Important Person” status for priority reservations, exclusive in-room sampling, and sink-side amenities in all guestrooms and suites.
W Hollywood also features substantial modern retail space, 10,000 square feet of meeting, banquet and pre-function space, and 15,000 square feet of ultra-modern event space, including The Great Room (W’s take on the grand ballroom). W Hollywood’s full service business center, WIRED, is also open 24 hours a day.
W Hollywood Hotel & Residences is located at 6250 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, California. For more information or to make a reservation, go to www.whotels.com/hollywood. W Hotels is an innovative contemporary lifestyle brand and the hotel category buster with 36 hotels and retreats in the most vibrant cities and exotic destinations around the world. 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, London, Paris, St. Petersburg, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Bali, Vieques Island, Koh Samui, and Verbier, among other international destinations. For more information, visit www.whotels.com.
Founded in 1995, Gatehouse Capital is a national real estate investment and development firm based in Dallas, Texas. Currently engaging in the development and redevelopment of mixed-use properties involving upscale hotels in high barrier, urban and technology markets, Gatehouse has a reputation for both elevating brands and being elevated by brands. By partnering with industry leaders and visionaries throughout its collective team, Gatehouse revalidates its core mission: to deliver extraordinary developments in every send, beginning with economic return. www.gatehousecapital.com
