Recently in W Category

Jaime Gottlieb is the Manager of Online Communications for the Luxury Brands Group and thelobby.com's expert on everything W.

New York's Fashion Week is upon us and W Hotels, as always, will be hosting its VIP backstage lounge for this season's main event. From September 5-12, Bryant Park will be buzzing with music and glittering with the flashes of paparazzi while W's VIPs will be sitting pretty among the coolest crowd and the most happening atmosphere under the tents.

This year, those with premier access behind the scenes will be fully immersed into the pulse of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week as a living part of the W Fashion Week Lounge kaleidoscope. They'll get to step through the sparkling entrance reflecting images of the hottest new W Hotels worldwide, from the sweet Chilean hotspot, W Santiago to the panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf at W Doha. From reflective mirrors to sparkling lights to the global energy and style of this exclusive space, W Hotels has got insider access to backstage global glam. The W Fashion Week Lounge is the place to sip cool cocktails, mix and mingle among the world's fashion elite at the reflective bar or chilling out by the live DJ booth. And to give you the inside scoop all during the week, W will once again be featuring its Backstage Blog and offering fast-clicking Fashion Weekers its always popular Catwalk Package, benefiting the not for profit, Dress for Success. Check out W Hotels' Fashion Week hub for all things fab.

The W Istanbul is housed in a handsome landmark building that dates back more than 130 years, but design elements from some of the 21st century's most talented artisans give it an air of modern luxury and elegance. The timeless experience begins as soon as guests enter the hotel, as their first view is of a Marmara marble check-in area where crystals, jewelry, carved stones, and curtains create an atmosphere of mystery, eroticism, and glamor. The front desk itself (pictured) is a work of modern art. Designed to resemble a jewelry box, it features original crystals under a cut-glass table top, an emerald tree pattern, and distinct mood lighting to strike the right note with arriving guests. The nearby SIP and Living Room lounge areas, meanwhile, feature the long, plush Ottoman-style seating areas preferred by the sultans along with contemporary flourishes like brass-clad columns, portable black partitions, and elegant wooden side contours. And of course, you're in for a feast for all the senses at the Spice Market restaurant. Light-colored leather seats and tables, oak wood trim, and a patterned ceiling ensure that your eyes will take in almost as much as your taste buds. It simply must be seen to be believed, so take advantage of one of the hotel's special offers and visit the future of hospitality in Istanbul.

The new W Istanbul represents the very best of classic and modern styles, with roots in the Ottoman Empire and flourishes from the most forward-thinking minds of the 21st century. The hotel is located within the Akaretler Row Houses, a carefully restored series of buildings constructed in the 1870's by Sultan Abdülaziz to house the workers of the nearby Dolmabahce Palace. The hotel's exterior reflects the pervasive western influence felt in Istanbul in the early- to mid-19th century, with a neoclassical design, intricate stonework, and majestic wood accents. On the inside, designers created a space of unparalleled beauty, with the latest technology and amenities set against a backdrop of Ottoman sophistication. From the welcome area - with furniture upholstered with quilted turban material and classical handicrafts along the walls - to the Living Room Lounge, which resembles a harem with its romantic screens and sedir seating, no detail was neglected in creating an oasis of luxury and relaxation. Naturally, guest rooms and suites are fit for a sultan, with W Signature Beds, goose down pillows and duvets, flat-screen televisions, and marble bathrooms. But don't take our word for it, come see the W Istanbul for yourself and experience the best of Istanbul's past, present, and future.