W insider - August 2015

I N S I D E R

W RETREAT KOH SAMUI

W RETREAT & SPA – MALDIVES

ECO CHIC WHETHER IT’S PUTTING THE PLANET FIRST WITH ECO-FRIENDLY DESIGN, OR STIMULATING THE NEXT GEN OF DESIGNERS WITH INSPIRATION TRIPS, W’S GOT IT WRAPPED UP. STYLISH SUSTAINABILITY? CHECK. WE’VE TEAMED UP WITH FUNKY LIFESTYLE BRAND EKOCYCLE FROM WILL.I.AM AND COCA-COLA. ROAD TEST EKOCYCLE SHEETS AND OUR MOBILE CHARGER & ACCESSORY VALET (MCAV) ON YOUR NEXT STAY, SWISH IN-ROOM ITEMS BOTH PARTLY CREATED FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES. WE’VE ALSO INVITED LOCAL TALENTS TO JOIN OUR ECO QUEST: AT W HONG KONG, GREEN PROJECT “ECO IS THE NEW BLACK” SAW THE LAUNCH OF ECO SOCKS IN COLLABORATION WITH LEGENDS SOCKS HONG KONG AND KONZEPP, PLUS ARTISTS YOLANDE PARRY AND HUGHIE DOHERTY. OVER AT W TAIPEI, WE’RE ALSO EMBRACING ECO WITH THE SWEET AWARD, SIX ROOFTOP BEEHIVES BUZZING WITH OUR NEWEST RESIDENTS. THE FIRST URBAN BEEKEEPING PROJECT IN TAIWAN GIVES US HOME-GROWN HONEY FOR OUR BEES KNEES COCKTAIL AND HONEY CHEESECAKE. ANOTHER GREEN INITIATIVE IS THE TAHIR SULTAN’S LOCAL COMMUNITY PROJECT WITH W RETREAT & SPA – MALDIVES. SUSTAINABILITY HAS MOVED UP A NOTCH IN THE KITCHENS OF W MALDIVES, TOO, WITH OVERWATER RESTAURANT FISH SERVING UP IMAGANITIVE MENUS USING LOCAL INGREDIENTS.

WILL.I.AM AT W NEW YORK

NIK WANG AT W SINGAPORE – SENTOSA COVE

W NEW YORK – DOWNTOWN ALEXA CHUNG AT W LONDON – LEICESTER SQUARE

Trendsetters ushered in the Year of the Sheep and raised a glass to celebrate the opening of W Beijing Chang’an as the ROCK THE EMPIRE GLOBAL TOUR stormed into New York and London over Chinese New Year. Curated to celebrate the arrival of the first W hotel in the Chinese capital, burlesque queen DITA VON TEESE was the tour’s main attraction, leaving guests hot under the collar with a red hot cabaret show in a gilded birdcage, a nod to China’s centuries-long love affair with bird keeping. Post-Chinese New Year, the tour stopped off at W Hotels in San Francisco, Hong Kong and Singapore, with its final destination W Beijing Chang’an.

W SINGAPORE – SENTOSA COVE

MEDIANOCHE AT W SINGAPORE – SENTOSA COVE

ROCK THE EMPIRE GLOBAL TOUR AT W HONG KONG

W LONDON - LEICESTER SQUARE

DITA VON TEESE, STAR ATTRACTION OF ROCK THE EMPIRE GLOBAL TOUR

A NEW SCENE IN BEIJING

DITA VON TEESE PERFORMING AT W BEIJING – CHANG’AN

FASHION SHOW BY RISING CHINESE STAR VEGA ZASHI WANG WITH VOCALS FROM HELEN FENG

Steps away from the Forbidden City in bustling downtown, W BEIJING – CHANG’AN has delivered a dash of cool to the Chinese capital with its inimitable mix of high style and modern glamor. To salute the opening of its newest Asia property, an electrifying premiere featuring a sultry cabaret act from DITA VON TEESE wowed local and international trendsetters, with the burlesque queen donning an elaborate gold costume for a provocative performance. The night kicked off with a traffic-stopping fashion show from fashion designer VEGA ZAISHI WANG — one of Beijing’s brightest sartorial hopes — who set the catwalk on fire with her east-meets-west aesthetic that mixed up Chinese and British culture. Music and fashion later collided at this sexy soiree, with HELEN FENG, singer from Beijing psych rock band NOVA HEART, providing the sonic backdrop as models strutted down the runway. In keeping with the avant-garde theme of this stylish eve, US duo THE DOLLS spun a sonic collision of live violin and DJ remixes for revelers. The party then headed to the hotel’s happening club lounge, X25, where France’s DJ GILDAS and UK indietronica rock band IS TROPICAL delivered a heady mix of dancefloor-friendly tunes.

THE DOLLS

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YOGA IN PARADISE

W MALDIVES DELIVERS A BLISSED-OUT BACKDROP TO A YOGA GETAWAY As I trip out of my beach villa, the sky is as black as the two coffees I’ve just downed.

I needed to kick-start my way to—apologies to the meditative purists out there — a yoga session. At sunrise. On a boat. In the middle of the Indian Ocean.This is good for me, I murmur to myself walking along a sandy trail lined with palm trees and dense bougainvillea that leads to the dock.

It’s the start of a four-day yoga getaway at W RETREAT & SPA – MALDIVES WITH TARA STILES, an affable, thirty-something American who specializes in contorting her limbs into inexplicable pretzels—sorry, smoothly stretching into yoga postures— and gently coercing others to do the same.

With books on Amazon, web-based instructional videos, a line of Reebok yoga wear and a popular flagship studio in New York City, not to mention 71,000 Instagram followers, she’s her own brand. In person, Tara is a mix of guru and cheerleader.

Her mantra is, “Make your own rules.” What I know about yoga, not to mention what I can

do on a yoga mat, is pretty much limited to, well, showing up. No matter. As the sweep of sky brightens, our group of a dozen churns out into the North Ari Atoll, an azure paint box of ocean at the top final sprinkling of coral reefs that make up the Maldives.

The epitome of laid-back, Tara eases our class into a series of stretches and poses.

“Concentrate on your breathing,” she insists.

“If you can breathe, you can practice yoga.”

Before long, I’m convinced that this is how yoga classes should be: we’re out on open water, the sun is breaking through a few clouds on the landless horizon and there’s even a gentle breeze to cool our exertions.

That’s when it hits me: we’re a YouTube video for healthy living. Adopting the “make your own rules” philosophy that Tara touts, our retreat is an extended, when-inparadise version of what she normally does back in her Manhattan studio. That means six yoga sessions at sunrise and sunset. It means yoga on a dock, yoga on a boat, yoga at a spa, yoga in a W villa and yoga on an island home only to a few palm trees.

After the first session, I can’t say I’m sold on yoga, but will admit to being ravenous for a healthy dinner. That night, Tara has teamed up with W chef Paul Lewis at Fish, and an endless series of light bites and energizing smoothies mixes well with some expertly paired wines. (Make your own rules.)

Diet is a part of this yoga business, which I’m beginning to think is more a way of life than an hour’s commitment every day or two (see, I was listening!). My favorite session takes place on an island. We’re on a secluded beach, a stand of palm trees behind us, facing the sun sinking into the Indian Ocean. It’s a postcard moment, with the only sounds being Tara’s soothing instructions and gently lapping waves.

Jean-Louis Ripoche, the general manager at W Maldives wows us all with his crow pose.

The sun is gone but the stars come out. The next morning, I miss the last class because I’ve got a floatplane to catch. But I walk to that departure knowing I’ll explore yoga more. I’ve only just begun to learn to breathe.

TARA LEADING A YOGA CLASS AT THE EXTREME WOW OCEAN HAVEN AND KILLER CUISINE ON THE WAVES

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SONGKRAN SPLASH AWAY POOL PARTY AT W BANGKOK CELEBRITY DJ POUPEE AT W BANGKOK

SUMMER SHOCKWAVE

As the weather hots up, revelers are plunging into summer with W’S SHOCK WAVE summer pool parties at W’s legendary WET Decks.

W RETREAT KOH SAMUI will host its very first SPF 2015 Shockwave with tech house spinner James Zabiela as the main guest DJ on August 1. W SINGAPORE – SENTOSA COVE will continue its monthly series with a special SG 50 theme on August 2 in collaboration with the city’s hottest nightspot, ZOUK. With an all-local DJ line up of Zouk residents, this native night will be complemented by sublime Singaporean nibbles. Over in the North Ari Atoll, W RETREAT & SPA MALDIVES kicked off its Shock Wave every Thursday from May with resident DJ Silky at the Ocean’s Haven Deck. W RETREAT & SPA BALI – SEMINYAK saw the return of its annual SPF 2015 SHOCK WAVE with James Zabiela and house DJ Sebastian Leger behind the decks this July. W Taipei’s music curator Sona set the sonic scene for its Shock Wave event in May, with an after party at WOOBAR headlined by master remix DJ Tom Swoon and genre-blending house from Hook N Sling.

W SINGAPORE – SENTOSA COVE

CRUISIN’ THE WAVES Cannes, Saint Tropez, Monaco… exclusive marinas, fleets of super yachts and their well-heeled passengers are gratifyingly glam, which is why W SINGAPORE – SENTOSA COVE was the official hotel partner at the SINGAPORE YACHT SHOW for the third year running this April. Held at the award-winning ONE°15 MARINA CLUB, this exclusive event not only showcased world-class yachts but also a coveted range of celebrated brands including supercars, watches and jewelry. Having secured its position as the place to be for networking opportunities before and after the show, W Singapore – Sentosa Cove’s unique position adjacent to QUAYSIDE ISLE enabled guests to discreetly retreat from the show for private meetings. The show’s official launch party was also held at W Singapore, as was a black tie gala dinner and the official after party.

SIP FLIRT

NOBODY DOES COCKTAILS QUITE LIKE W HOTELS. SAVOR SOME SIGNATURE SIPS FROM OUR MIXOLOGISTS

MARGARITA MYRITA

JING STYLE

GLOWING 15BELOW

Location: W Seoul – Walkerhill The mix: Olmeca Altos Plata, Cointreau, grapefruit, agave syrup, white sugar The low-down: To satisfy the palates of discerning Seoul trendsetters, W Seoul has invented an innovative cocktail service, ‘Margarita Myrita’, so cocktail lovers can design their own margarita based on what tickles their tastebuds. Cocktail sippers can get creative by picking their base, citrus flavor and even the frost on the rim, plus how the ice is served.

They can even name their own margarita and keep the recipe.

To make this sip even more special, a W mixologist serves the drink on coaster featuring a handwritten ‘Thank you’ note.

Location: W Beijing – Chang’an The mix: Cachaça, Erguotou, raspberry liqueur, cranberry juice, lime juice, sugar syrup, brown sugar, soda water The low-down: The signature cocktail of the “Rock the Empire” International Premiere tour in celebration of W Beijing’s opening earlier this year, Jing Style proved an instant hit with trendsetters. Inspired by the imperial heritage of Beijing, it incorporates Erguotou, a potent Beijing liquor that dates back to the golden era of Chinese liquor making. It’s mixed with raspberry liqueur and cranberry juice to create the iconic red of China.

Its sweet berry flavor and mint leaf garnish add a metropolitan vibe to W Beijing’s signature sip.

Location: W Retreat & Spa – Maldives The mix: Dry gin, elderflower cordial, sweet and sour mix, homemade glowing ice cube, tonic water The low-down: Curated by Vikas Kumar, the new B&F Director and also master of mixology, the Glowing 15Below is one of the most popular signature cocktails at the iconic retreat. Inspired by the glowing stars of the Maldives and its fluorescent plankton, this fabulous cocktail will light up your entire night.

Locals and visitors like haunt this underground night club to see and be seen and discover what’s new and next in mixology and music.

THE COVE ROYALE

BORITOS MO-HEE-TOE

Location: W Singapore – Sentosa Cove The mix: Fords Gin, Mancino Bianco Ambrato vermouth, Champagne, HUM botanical, passion fruit and lemongrass, maple and yuzu pearls The low-down: What makes this cocktail so sippable is its premium ingredients: the #1 rated Gin in the World by The Spirit Journal, Fords Gin was created by UK mixologist Simon Ford. Redefining the artisan Italian vermouth category, the Mancino Bianco Ambrato is made by mixologist Giancarlo Mancino.

Location: W Retreat Koh Samui The mix: Gold rum, chili, fresh sugarcane juice, lime, tabasco, honey, soda and mint leaves The low-down: Combining the flavors of Thailand and Mexico and their mutual love of spice, Boritos Mo-Hee-Toe mixes gold rum with squeezed-toorder sugarcane, fresh limes, chili and mint for a bold, intense yet refreshing cocktail that’s got a kick like a mule.

TERRACOTTA WARRIORS POTION

KINTAMANI ESPRESSO MARTINI

Location: W Guangzhou The mix: Hennessy VSOP Cognac, apricot brandy, banana liqueur, orange & Angostura bitters, clove & cinnamon smoke The low-down: A very special concoction to satisfy the most demanding of tastebuds, this smokin’ cocktail also looks the part. The inherent fragrance of cinnamon and cloves is enhanced by using wood chips to create a powerful sensory experience. Finished with a delicate hit of banana and apricot, the final flourish to this potent potion is a dash of bitters.

Location: W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak The mix: Coffee liqeur, premium vodka and a shot of coffee from Arabica beans grown in Kintamani, Bali The low-down: Kintamani is a Bali don’t-miss, offering a cool panorama of Batur Lake and one of the isle’s active volcanoes.

Grown at 900m above sea level, Arabica beans flourish in the fertile soil of Kintamani producing beans with a sweet aroma of roasted nut, brown sugar and caramel. “Cocktail culture at W Bali not only offers a fun twist on mixology but also a sustainable and authentic mix to the guests,” says Andreas Bergel, B&F Director at W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak.

DETOX MAR-TEA-NI

POMELO DELIGHT

FOREVER PINK (SAI MAI)

Location: W Taipei The mix: Green Tea-infused Belvedere Vodka, Grand Marnier, orange juice, yuzu juice, honey, Sprite The low-down: Overdone it a bit recently? Then order up a W Taipei’s Detox Mar-tea-ni, which, with the chlorophylls from the green tea, vitamin from the orange and yuzu juice, and glucose from the honey, means you can feel almost virtuous while you sip.

Alternatively order up a Bees Knees, which also features honey from W Taipei’s rooftop beehives.

Location: W Hong Kong The mix: Pomelo, ginger beer, mint leaves, scoop of ice, scoop of lime sherbet The low-down: To reflect the fun and fresh vibe of summer, W Hong Kong’s KITCHEN has mixed up the perfect drink – Pomelo Delight. Blending extract of tropical citrus fruit pomelo with ginger beer and mint leaves, it delivers a drink that’s both refreshing and juicy.

Together with scoops of ice and lime sherbet it’s an alluring antidote to the summer heat.

Cheers!

Location: W Bangkok The mix: Apple infused vodka peach schnapps, apple juice, lime, melon-flavored cotton candy The low-down: The essence of Thailand in liquid form, Sai Mai – also known as Forever Pink – has become an Instagram hit.

Thanks to its photogenic status.

The cotton candy melts in the drink, and guests refer to it as the best selfie prop ever.

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WED LIKE A CELEB

Want a wedding fit for the pages of a fashion mag? At W HONG KONG, blissful brides and gorgeous grooms get behind the lens for a celeb-style photoshoot posing by fantastical art pieces and the dramatic mosaic wall at WET on the 76th floor. Fashion plates can then say “I do” amid the hurray of guests in the Great Room, which is adorned with three Chinese knot chandeliers and electrifying lighting effects for a radiant red carpet moment. Pre-ceremony, brides can prepare to look the best they ever have with a bridal shower at BLISS SPA while grooms can grab their besties for a rock star post-wedding-party at WOOBAR, where a private VIP room awaits.

SUNKISSED CELEBRATION

Ditch the formal dress and stiff reception for a barefoot beachside ceremony and first kiss overlooking the Indian Ocean at W RETREAT & SPA BALI – SEMINYAK. Catering for up to 20 of your nearest and dearest, The Yes, Yes, Yes package includes a two-night stay in a Marvelous One Bedroom Pool Villa, hair-do & makeup for the bride and 90-minute massage for bride and groom at the AWAY SPA, plus an hour’s free flow of beer, juices, wine and mineral water for up to 20. Most importantly, there’s two bottles of Champagne for toasting. Inviting more friends and fam to share your big moment? Then choose the FOREVER AFTER package for up to 30 guests, which includes all of the above plus a one-night stay in a Spectacular Ocean Facing Retreat.

A BLISSED-OUT WEDDING AT W RETREAT & SPA BALI – SEMINYAK

MARVELOUS ONE BEDROOM POOL VILLA AT W RETREAT & SPA BALI – SEMINYAK

CFDA FASHION INCUBATOR ORLEY AT W HONG KONG

WHAT’S NEW/NEXT IN FASHION

SWEET SEOUL From the vintage grandeur of Beijing to the frenetic neon-lit streets of Hong Kong, there was much to inspire designers on our series of Fashion Incubator trips organised with the COUNCIL OF FASHION DESIGNERS OF AMERICA (CFDA). Menswear brand ORLEY, which comprises siblings Matthew, Alex and Samantha, got among the skyscrapers of the world’s most vertical city, while accessories talent SARAH LAW and womenswear designer MISHA NONOO sought inspiration in Beijing’s exhilarating mix of old and new.

Cool down this summer at W Seoul – Walkerhill’s W MARKET ICE, a signature buffetstyle dessert happening at WOOBAR, where cutting-edge culinary creations are set to electrify taste buds. Order up a lentil crepe filled with apple, pineapple and mixed nuts, nibble hand-made macaroons and sample signature delights such as Passion Fruit Pudding and Pistachio Red Currant Mousse.

Best of all is the Woobingsu collection, the shaved ice dessert bar, where dessert fiends can dig into the Original Milk Woobingsu with red bean paste, Yogurt Berry Woobingsu, and Mango Woobingsu with coconut wafer and hand-made W macaroons. Indian dosas add a culinary twist to this iconic ice-cold treat.

BIG NIGHT OUT W GUANGZHOU upped the fashion ante in this up-andcoming Southern Chinese metropolis with a Fashion Night Out that championed five up-and-coming designers in the Pearl River Delta, the only happening of its kind in the region. It also teamed up with Chinese label MO.&CO to host a glitzy ‘POP in MO style’ event, with selected pieces from the brand’s SS 2015 collection on show.

PUTTING THE GLAM IN GUANGZHOU

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GREEN BUZZ Embracing an eco-friendly attitude doesn’t have to mean skimping on style, which is why W has partnered with EKOCYCLE, an eco lifestyle brand from WILL.I.AM and COCA-COLA. Get wrapped up in EKOCYCLE sheets and make use of our MOBILE CHARGER & ACCESSORY VALET (MCAV) on your next stay, ecofriendly in-room items both partly created from recycled plastic bottles.

W Taipei teamed up with the Taiwan Design Center for the CREATIVE EXPO TAIWAN this May to launch a W Lounge at Songshan Cultural Park that featured a sneak peek of the EKOCYCLE products, which will be available in W Hotel rooms around the world. W TAIPEI has also launched Sweet Award, the first urban beekeeping initiative in Taiwan, with six beehives now in residence at its rooftop to help boost the dwindling bee population. This home-grown nectar will be the headline ingredient in the Bees Knees cocktail and Honey Cheese Cake, and some honey will be donated to the Syin-lu Social Welfare Foundation.

W TAIPEI’S BEES KNEES COCKTAIL FEATURES HONEY FROM THE HOTEL’S BEEHIVES

W BANGKOK AND THE HOUSE ON SATHORN

BANGKOK STYLE In a bid to uncover the designers of the future, W BANGKOK sponsored cutting edge design fair ASIA TALENTS, which championed 30 diverse design studios located in nine Asian countries. Tim Wigmore and Rebecca Asquith of New Zealand’s DESIGNTREE COLLECTIVE won the W Bangkok Award for its innovative Frankie lighting collection and Chamfer (stools & coffee tables) at the show. To further underline its commitment to hot local design talent, W Bangkok commissioned cell chairs and lamps from celebrated Thai design studio ANON PAIROT to conjure up a cool look for its café and theater.

W Bangkok is poised to receive a dash of heritage glam with the addition of THE HOUSE ON SATHORN, a 120-year-old revamped colonial mansion located within the premises of the hotel. With a signature restaurant, courtyard, bar and club lounge, this multi-purpose space features inspired menus from Culinary Director FATIH TUTAK, last seen in the kitchens of the Michelin-recognised Bellbrook Hong Kong. This one-of-a-kind multi-destination venue also features four hospitality suites and additional private function spaces for stylish meetings.

ASIA TALENTS DESIGN FAIR

MR HAS DJ GIO

KELLY KELLAM

PUT A SPIN ON IT W’s ground-breaking global music collective is made up of industry pros from around the world. Behind the sonic direction of the AsiaPacific region is music director MR. HAS, who also oversees the tunes at W SINGAPORE – SENTOSA COVE. A key figure on the Singaporean music scene, DJ Has runs his own digital label, Rawjak. Mr. Has arrives at W Hotels following a four-year stint as Music Director for Singapore’s Lo & Behold Group, whose bars and restaurants include The White Rabbit, OverEasy, Loof and Tanjong Beach Club. Renowned for his ineffable style, Mr. Has has previously collaborated with Prada and Dior and is also on Mr. Porter’s Style Council, a gathering of the world’s most stylish and connected men, which also includes Hugh Jackman and Pharrell Williams.

DAMIAN SAINT

SONA EYAMBE

W HONG KONG music curator FLORA YTW plays house, techno and everything in between, and she’s entertained crowds in London, New York, Tokyo, Ibiza and Copenhagen. From the UK, she curated the music section of hip Brit mag Dazed and Confused.

KELLY KELLAM, a.k.a. Kellam, was a fixture on the underground dance music scene in New York and is music curator/resident DJ at W RETREAT KOH SAMUI. His dynamic sound ranges from warm sunrise sessions with a deep melodic groove, to dark funky grooved deep tech house. Whether it’s sunset on the beach or 3am in a warehouse, he will have you tuned into the moment with tunes that capture the vibe.

DJ LAUNA FEN

FLORA YTW

W RETREAT & SPA BALI – SEMINYAK’S music curator, DAMIAN SAINT delivers blissed-out house beats on the Indonesian isle. Formerly the tour manager and opening act for house supremo Sebastien Leger, Damian’s in demand as a remixer when he’s not behind the decks.

US actor and music producer, SONA EYAMBE is also music curator at W TAIPEI under the handle DJ Sona, who made his DJ debut at the hotel this May with his blissed-out selection of house.

Korean/Belgian electronica master DJ GIO Vanhoutte, a winner of W HOTELS BURN DJ LAB competition in 2012, curates W SEOUL – WALKERHILL’S tunes. DJ Gio started out mixing up electronic beats in Belgium, and was resident DJ at Lime Club, DecaDance and Culture Club in Gent.

Music curator at W GUANGZHOU, DJ LAUNA FEN serves up funky beats in this up-and-coming Chinese city.

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