W Hotel Bogotá: Modernist Luxury Comes To Usaquén

Finance Colombia recently visited Starwood Hotels and Resorts’ (NYSE: HOT) recently opened W Bogotá in Bogotá’s north side, possibly Colombia’s premier luxury hotel designed for the high-end business traveler with tastes running towards the modern. The hotel presents a markedly different attitude than the traditional (staid?) mahogany paneled boardroom motif that traditional luxury hotels present in Bogotá, and other Latin American capitals.

“The opening of W Bogota is a milestone in Colombia’s hotel landscape, setting the stage for a redefined luxury experience in one of the world’s most vibrant destinations,” said Paul James , Global Brand Leader, W Hotels, St. Regis and The Luxury Collection. “As emerging economies expand, so does tourism, and W Bogota’s highly anticipated debut is symbolic of the whims and wishes of today’s more global and interconnected modern travelers.”

Above photo: W Lounge (the W brand’s re-imagining of the hotel lobby bar) features gold-dusted accents and bold furniture as well as a local interpretation of Bogota’s urban art by Vertigo Graffiti. Guests can lounge in luxury and listen to the sounds of the resident DJ, while sipping a cocktail and gather with friends.

Owned by Terranum and operated by Starwood, W Bogota is the 46^th W Hotel worldwide and third W Hotel in Latin America after W Santiago and W Mexico City. With the opening of W Bogota, the company gets closer to its 100^th hotel in Latin America. Starwood currently has 84 hotels in operation and 16 under development.

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W Bogota’s Market Kitchen, by Culinary Concepts, features a farm-to-table menu inspired by both global dishes and Colombia’s unique variety of fruits and vegetables. Chef Emiliano Rabía Sottil, a culinary expert with an international career, having worked in Chicago, Mexico City and Barcelona, runs the operation. Market Kitchen offers a chef’s table and private dining room where guests can entertain and hold private meals or celebrations.

Headed by General Manager Ian Robert Ciappara, the hotel is built with a motif based on the Legend of El Rey Dorado (the Golden King).  W Bogota’s 168 guestrooms and suites, inspired by the lavish ceremonies of the ancient tribe and the rafts that floated on Lake Guatavita, feature views of the Sierra Occidental bordering the East of Bogotá, and northeastern neighborhoods of the city, and are appointed with modern design themes and locally-inspired furnishings covered in bright leathers, vinyl, and white sheers. All guestrooms include a 360° floor to ceiling mirror and a modern interpretation of the mini-bar.

The “Extreme WOW Suite” the W brand’s take on the Presidential Suite is equally inspired by the Legend of El Rey Dorado, and features the green of the Colombian emeralds and the deep blue of the great lagoon of Guatavita. Ideal for hosting up to20 friends or associates, or for a hedonistic escape,the suite boasts multiple lounge spaces, a central bar, oversized bathtub and an iconic bed.

The W Bogotá has five meeting rooms, with a total of 7,900 square feet of event space, including “The Great Room” of 2,347 square feet, and a ceiling height exceeding 25 feet.

Below photo credits: First 15 by Loren Moss, Remaining 19 by Sahar Azran