W Hotels Worldwide recently announced that it has agreed to open a new W Hotel in Bogota, Colombia, in collaboration with Terranum Hotels. W Bogota is set to debut in 2014 as part of a bigger mixed-use development that includes luxury office space and high-end retail. lusail marina
"We are thrilled to expand our cooperation with Terranum Hotels to bring the W brand to Colombia," stated Osvaldo Librizzi, Starwood Hotels & Resorts' Co-President of the Americas. "Bogota is one of Latin America's fastest-growing economic hubs, and it's also known for its fashion, music, incredible gourmet options, and historical significance."
The 160-room W Bogota will be located in the trendy Usaquen district in the city's northern outskirts, just steps away from the neighborhood's trendy restaurants, cafes, and shopping. "At the crossroads of the Americas, Colombia attracts a varied range of cultures for both business and pleasure travel, and it gives a great foundation as we expand our pipeline in the region."
W Hotels is a modern, design-led lifestyle brand and an industry innovator with 42 hotels and retreats in the world's most exciting cities and exotic destinations, including 14 W-branded residences. Terranum is a Bogota-based integrated real estate corporation with six business segments focused on commercial real estate investment, development, and management. Terranum is a joint venture between Estrategias Corporativas, a major investment bank, and the Santo Domingo Family, one of the region's greatest enterprises.
"Our goal is to build a hotel that will set a new lifestyle standard for Colombia," Terranum Hotels' Managing Director Javier Pimienta remarked. "It was an easy choice to go with Starwood and its unique W Hotels brand for this project. W Bogota will undoubtedly become a must-see destination for both residents and international visitors to Colombia."
W Bogota will be designed by Studio Gaia, a New York-based firm that was inspired by Colombia's legendary El Dorado mythology. According to legend, when the indigenous Muisca tribe acquired a new Chief during the pre-Colombian period, the people would make sacrifices to their god by throwing gold, emeralds, and semi-precious stones into the Guatavita Lake. The hotel's design will bring the mystery and adventure of the El Dorado tale to life in inventive and distinctive ways, employing color, light, and texture to bring in the vibrancy and splendour of Colombia's varied environment.
The W Bogota will offer 168 stylish guestrooms, including 20 suites and one Extreme Wow Suite (the W brand's interpretation of the Presidential Suite), the signature W Lounge experience (the W brand's take on the traditional hotel lobby), destination restaurant and nightclub, Away spa, and 3,000 square foot workout fitness center. With over 12,000 square feet of event space, including a Great Room and five state-of-the-art conference rooms, the hotel will be a great setting for meetings.
The W Bogota will be located just seven miles from El Dorado International Airport in one of the city's most prestigious neighborhoods, where many of Colombia's most prominent enterprises are based.
W Hotels is on track to achieve more than 60 hotels by the end of 2015, after more than 13 years of proven success. Guangzhou, Milan, Shanghai, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Athens - Astir Palace, Muscat, Mumbai, Dubai, and Santa Fe, Mexico are all getting W Hotels, while Verbier and Mexico's Riviera Maya are getting W Retreats.
With three hotels now under development, Terranum Hotels is a major developer of brand-affiliated hotels in Latin America. Terranum Investment handles Colombia's largest REIT and Terranum Development is a corporate real estate development company (Real Estate Investment Trust). Terranum Management is Colombia's largest property and facilities administration firm, with over 3.5 million square meters under management for top corporate clients. Terranum Architecture is a renowned architectural business that places a heavy emphasis on environmental sustainability.