Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has unveiled its second W brand hotel in the Middle East. GulfWeekly Editor Stan Szecowka writes about the wonderful time he had with his family during a stay at the W Doha .
I HAVE been enjoying a warm and wonderful feeling after being wowed by a weekend away with the family in Woha, sorry, Doha, at the new W Hotel & Residences.
It's a wild and wacky world where the wow factor is very much in evidence almost everywhere you turn.
Designed by London-based United Designers, W Doha successfully merges traditional Arabian imagery with a contemporary 'cool' charisma.
Immediately upon arrival, guests are welcomed into a world of W. The W Living Room (the company's re-imagination of the hotel lobby) combines water features, ceiling-suspended seating and modern hand-blown hanging lanterns aimed at providing a dynamic social atmosphere.
Symmetrical designs, clean lines and innovative lighting create private, tranquil areas within the sweeping, dramatic public spaces.
Topping off W Doha, the 15th floor Extreme Wow suite (W's take on the traditional Presidential Suite) is nothing but spectacular, boasting breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea, private massage and meeting rooms, full-size pool table and wet bar, stunning saltwater aquarium stocked with exotic sea life, a luxurious oversized bathroom and ... a full-size horse which is a glorious lamp-stand and proved to be a huge hit with my wide-eyed nine-year-old horse-riding-mad daughter Imogen during our whirlwind tour of the property.
W Doha boasts 291 guest rooms, 31 suites, and 154 W branded residences and the two-bedroom apartment we stayed in was luxurious, ultra modern and featured every appliance of science you could dream of.
To get to it we sneaked through a magic glass wall door from the foyer to a residents' only lift.
The cooker and fridge inside the apartment's kitchen remained gleaming and clean throughout our stay despite the fact that we could have stocked up with goodies from the City Centre complex just a short walk away. However, it was pretty unlikely that the good lady wife, Kathryn, would consider loading the dish washer anytime soon in Qatar.
Fortunately a tasty steak sandwich snack and children's dishes, all at very reasonable prices, quickly winged their way up after a call to the 'whatever, whenever' room service team.
W Doha also features three stylish bars for guests to mix and mingle including the signature W Living Room experience, Wham, a modern poolside shisha lounge, and the Crystal Lounge, a sleek, fashionable spot where guests can sip cool cocktails and groove to the latest world beats.
In addition, W Doha boasts three signature restaurants, including modern cuisine at Spice Market and Market by Jean-Georges, both concepts created by 3 Star Michelin Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, complemented by the sophisticated fare of La Maison du Caviar.
Spice Market features a family-style menu of delectable South East Asian dishes in a style best suited to share, while Market by Jean-Georges blends international cuisine with local Arabian flavours and also conjures up a fabulous breakfast (my poached eggs were perfect).
To unwind, W Doha offers the signature Bliss Spa, New York's hottest spa, which can now be enjoyed in the Middle East for the first time.
Kathryn's face is still shining from the facial I treated her to and she has returned home with an armful of goodies to ensure she scrubs up well for the next fortnight.
W Doha is conveniently located in the West Bay of Doha on the Qatar peninsula, providing easy access to Doha's world-class shopping destinations, pristine beaches and water sports facilities, the first-class greens of Doha Golf Club and the scenic Corniche waterfront district.
Doha is also home to a mighty museum of Islamic art which is well worth a taxi trip and features a pretty impressive armour-plated horse of its own and a selection of jewel-encrusted daggers which delighted my six-year-old son, Stan, who likes nothing better than battling with his dad with a plastic sword or light saber.
"We are excited to bring the W brand to the Middle East after its magnificent success now celebrating 10 years of innovation in the hospitality industry," said Roeland Vos, president of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East.
Founded in 1998 in New York City, W Doha is the brand's second hotel in the region following the opening of W Istanbul last year.
It makes for a wicked weekend break. We flew courtesy of Gulf Air and touched down reliably on time on the journey to and from Doha on a comfortable flight which took less time than the journey from our Saar home to the airport.
For more information, visit www.whotels.com and
www.gulfair.com
