W Hotels Announces First Luxury Retreat in Southeast Asia

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W Hotels Worldwide has announced that W Retreat - Koh Samui, the first W Retreat in Southeast Asia, will open in summer 2010.

It is an all-villa beachfront resort that will be a sublime architectural tribute to Maenam Beach on Samui Island's pristine northern coastline; W Koh Samui will offer an 'escape within an escape.'  Located adjacent to W Koh Samui will be The Residences at W Retreat - Koh Samui,  featuring 17 secluded beachfront villas ranging from three to five bedrooms and from 1,000 to 2,752 square meters.  Each residence will offer a modern, cool style with local touches and full access to the benefits, services and amenities of W Retreat- Koh Samui.
 
"W Koh Samui will redefine the way we live and play," commented Miguel Ko, President and Chairman of Starwood Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:HOT), Asia Pacific Region. "After a fantastic and successful introduction of the first-ever W Retreat in the Maldives, we are delighted to bring W to Koh Samui, one of the coolest islands in Southeast Asia."
 
Capitalizing on Thailand's long history of festivals and lunar ceremonies, W Koh Samui will be the destination where daytime is dedicated to individual moments and relaxation, while the night brings energy and celebration.  With its powdery golden sands and unspoiled waters, W's location is a perfect sanctuary for local and global jetsetters alike, and the Retreat's signature programming and service promise will bring a unique dimension to the everyday resort experience and a new way to escape.

W Koh Samui's Living Room (W's reinterpretation of the traditional hotel lobby), a spectacular indoor/outdoor lounge, is a tribute to its location, perched on the hillside yet visually connected to the sea below.  Round banquette seating areas are submerged in a glistening, infinity-edge reflecting pool, perfect for sipping cocktails with friends or soaking in the sun.  Guests of the Retreat will be able to enjoy preferred dining reservations and seating at The Kitchen Table, the Retreat's signature restaurant; Namu, a modern Japanese restaurant; or Sip Lounge, creating a memorable dining experience for both guests and locals alike.

aWay Spa, the signature spa at W Koh Samui, will offer guests and in-the-know locals a place to detox from the long, playful night out and refuel for whatever comes next.  Services will include massages, facial and body treatments, manicures and pedicures, as well as a range of treatments incorporating local Thai influences in a contemporary way. 

In addition, aWay Spa will offer the first "Thaimazcal" treatment facility in Asia, which is based on Mexican tribal rituals mixed with local Thai ingredients.  To round out the unique wellness offer, guests of W Koh Samui will enjoy the WET pool, SWEAT, state-of-the-art fitness facility, water sports center, tennis courts, and Style Lab.

W Retreat - Koh Samui will feature 75 private villas, offering a range of options from panoramic views high atop the Samui hillside to direct beach access on the shoreline below, equipped with modern elements, including private plunge pools, daybeds, an outdoor shower, Yamaha sound system, 47-inch plasma screen TV, wine refrigerator, and signature W bed.  W Koh Samui will also offer W's signature Whatever/Whenever® concierge service, providing guests and residents with whatever they want - from a Champagne brunch on a deserted beach to an intimate sunset wedding on a stretch of Koh Samui's glistening sand - whenever they want it, as long as it's legal!

The Great Room function area at W Koh Samui will serve as an ideal island venue for social gatherings, weddings or business meetings.  Contemporary yet flexible in design, The Great Room will be able to be divided into two areas and will serve 60 people with the latest in meetings technology.

W Retreat - Koh Samui and The Residences at W Retreat - Koh Samui is a joint venture of Amburaya Hotels & Resorts and Istithmar World.  Amburaya Properties is a vibrant Thai-based developer bringing new and innovative lifestyle-oriented accommodations and residential developments to new and well-established destinations. The company currently has properties in Bangkok, Pattaya, Koh Samui, and India and continues to look for opportunities to grow its portfolio within Thailand and the region.  Istithmar World is one of the world's largest privately held real estate developers, with a portfolio of developments that includes The Palm trilogy, among others.

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