W Opéra Hotel Debuts in Paris

PARIS, France - W Hotels Worldwide will mark its debut in France on February 14, 2012 with the new W Paris Op�ra hotel. Owned by Barcelona-based Meridia Capital, the hotel is set inside an elegant 1870s Haussman-era heritage building. W Paris Op�ra has been designed jointly by W Global Brand Design and Rockwell Group Europe (RGe) led by Diego Gronda, its Managing and Creative Director. RGe is the Madrid office of New York-based Rockwell Group, founded by David Rockwell over 25 years ago.

Known for iconic design projects including the 81st and 82nd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, the Juana Manso complex in Buenos Aires and Wasabi by Morimoto restaurant in Mumbai, Rockwell Group's projects around the world demonstrate the company's capacity to understand global brands while creating immersive, experiential, locally relevant environments. Design has been at the forefront of W Hotels since 1998 with the launch of the first W hotel, W New York, which was designed by Rockwell Group.

Situated across the street from the renowned Op�ra Garnier, W Paris - Op�ra is certain to become a buzzing landmark in the city. Inspired by the creative idea of "The Spark", the hotel was conceptualized to create a dynamic dialogue between the following: the historic fa�ade of the building, Paris as the "City of Light" and W's DNA by infusing a sense of energy into the quintessential Parisian neighborhood. This approach results in a stimulating fusion of New York's dynamism and its never-ending energy with the sophistication and culture of Paris.

"Taking the W brand into Paris, a global fashion capital, if not the global fashion capital, will mark a true milestone in W's global expansion into the world's most exciting and vibrant destinations," comments Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le M�ridien. "Through the opening of W Paris Op�ra, fashionistas and global jetsetters can now be on the runway with W from New York to London and Paris. Unique lifestyle programming within a cutting-edge designed environment will bring a new and distinctive experience to Paris and the Parisians alike."

Elaborating on the design concept, RGe's Diego Gronda comments, "For the first W Hotel in Paris, we wanted to provide guests with an unforgettable experience of the light and sophistication present all over this amazing city. Our design feeds off the elegance, richness and radiance of Paris, "La Ville Lumi�re", while layering in the contemporary cool and free-spirited energy of New York. Our goal is to transform this historic building into a W Hotel that literally shines with innovative and unexpected details, materials and technology."

The hotel design revolves around an oversized backlit digital undulating wall that defines the central core of the building and weaves through the public and private spaces. The "spark" will appear as a dotted pattern that forms abstract clouds. This wall will be set at various tempos to create different moods to match the season, event, time of day, and location within the hotel, bringing the historic building to life with a glowing vibrancy.

The elevators, DJ booth and staircases will be cloaked in red to give the illusion of being inside an epicenter of energy. Historic features of the 19th-century building, such as ornamented columns, vaulted ceilings, marble staircases and fireplaces, have been partially restored, celebrated and often juxtaposed against contemporary elements.

The original stained glass windows and mosaic flooring on the second floor will be protected to reflect the building's heritage. Commenting on the new W Paris - Op�ra, David Rockwell says, "I am thrilled at this fantastic opportunity for Rockwell Group Europe to showcase their extraordinary talent in creating transformative and evocative spatial experiences for W Hotels' debut in Paris."

The five-story hotel will have 91 stylish guest rooms, including 20 suites and two Extreme WOW Suites (W's interpretation of the Presidential Suite). With soaring ceilings up to three and a half meters in height, the guest rooms and suites offer a contemporary, spacious design and stunning views of Op�ra Garnier and the Parisian streets.

The Extreme WOW Suites feature a shower that is concealed behind two huge, classical Parisian doors creating an alluring effect within the suite. This will be complemented by an oversized three-meter circular bed set in the middle of the suite. The vibrancy of the space goes beyond the illuminated wall, and into patterns and features throughout the hotel.

In the guest rooms, unexpected elements such as a backlit bridge that wraps the entrance corridor with white patterned lights, a sculptural faucet, and molding that breaks into different pieces complement the design concept. Paris-based artists have been commissioned to add cutting-edge artistic interventions to the rooms.

W Paris Op�ra will offer a signature restaurant and destination bar, as well as a SWEAT� fitness centre. Guests will enjoy spectacular views of the Op�ra Garnier from the hotel's ground level and mezzanine floors, including the Living Room, a stylish social space where visitors can mingle and relax. At the hotel's grand entrance, "The Spark" takes the form of a black resin bar shaped like a molten sculpture and other customized furnishings that demonstrate the energy from the spark wall.

W Paris Op�ra is located at 4 rue Meyerbeer, 75009 Paris, France, across the street from Op�ra Garnier, and near Galeries Lafayette and Place Vendome in the 9th Arrondissement. The area contains many places of cultural, historical and architectural interest, and is a key business centre in Paris. The opening of W Paris Op�ra will mark a significant milestone in the W brand's global expansion, following the debuts of W London - Leicester Square, W St. Petersburg, W Taipei, and W Retreat & Spa Bali - Seminyak in 2011.

W Paris Op�ra is now accepting reservations, including group arrivals and event bookings. Rooms start from EUR340 ($474) per room per night plus VAT. For further information and bookings, call W Paris-Op�ra on +33 (0)1 44 77 10 68 or visit www.wparisopera.com

W Paris Op�ra Hotel
4 rue Meyerbeer - Paris 75009
Tel: +33 (0)1 77 48 94 94
www.starwoodhotels.com