Starwood appoints brand leader for W Hotels

Tuesday, 18 Feb, 2009 0

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has appointed Eva Ziegler as global brand leader for W Hotels Worldwide.

In her new role, Vienna-born Ziegler will be responsible for leading the global development and growth strategy for the brand.

She will also continue in her role leading sister brand, Le Méridien, as it continues its re-launch globally.

Meanwhile, Starwood has announced plans to open W Paris-Opéra in 2011, marking the debut of the brand in France.

Located in the chic Opéra area of Paris, W Paris-Opéra will occupy an elegant 1870s Haussmann era building, close to the Galleries Lafayette and Place Vendome.

Owned by Meridia Capital, a Barcelona-based private equity global real estate fund, W Paris-Opéra will feature 90 stylish guest rooms, a restaurant and destination bar, a state-of-the-art fitness facility with spa treatment rooms, and W Hotels’ signature lounge experience.

W Paris-Opéra will be the W brand’s eighth property in Europe, following the opening of W Istanbul in 2008, and the upcoming openings of W Hotels in Barcelona, St. Petersburg, Athens, Manchester, Milan and London.

By Bev Fearis

Bev

Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.