Our venture in the hotel business began with a development of the first W brand hotel in the Middle East and North Africa – W Doha Hotel & Residences. The objective has been to combine authenticity with modernity all whilst create a new luxury life-style experience.
In 2015 we acquired The Gritti Palace in Venice, Italy. This iconic property combining history and culture with Venetian style elegance was built in 1475 and named after Andrea Gritti, Doge of Venice (1523-1538). The Gritti Palace became a destination for the world’s political, social and intellectual elites. Over the years guests have included Churchill, De Gaulle, Hemingway, Stravinsky, Chaplin, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and more. According to the British newspaper, The Telegraph “… The Gritti is not just any hotel: it’s one of the world finest hotels; one of the most historic, ravishing, beautifully located, and sumptuously appointed places to stay not just in Venice but in any city you care to mention.”
In 2016 we acquired The St.Regis Florence, Italy. The palace is a historic building designed by famed Florentine Architect, Filippo Brunelleschi around 1400. Originally home to the noble Giuntini family, the palace was converted into a Hotel in 1866, and was initially named the Grand Hotel Royal de la Paix. Its history is closely intertwined with the history of the city itself, and famous events and personalities have often linked Florence with its Grand Hotel. it was a stopping point for Queen Victoria, the Marajr Chuttraputti di Kolapoor and his successor, Rajaram Chuttraputti, for whom the Indian Bridge or Ponte all’Indiano was named. Leland Stanford Jr., namesake of Stanford University, was also a visitor.
In 2016 we acquired The Westin Excelsior, Italy. The area on which The Westin stands today is associated with a wealth of historical memories. It is recorded that in 1427 one of the houses built on the Western Excelsior belonged to the noble family of Boccaccio, in 1607 another great family replaces the Boccaccio, the Gondi family. Later the building became the property of Londomez, who was probably the first to use it as a hotel. In 1833 one of the two houses on the property was bought by Carolina Bonaparte, sister of the Great Napoleone and wife of Gioacchino Murat, the former King of Naples. Carolina Bonanaparte entrusted the engineer Giuseppe Martelli with the reconstruction of the building giving it today’s actual look. In 1884 one of the buildings was bought by Anton Autenrieth whose heirs sold it to the Swiss hotelier Gerardo Kraft. In 1925 both buildings were closed down for important work and reopened as one complex under the name Excelsior Italie.
Our latest addition in the European Continent, The W Algarve Hotel & Residences will be opening its doors mid 2022. Flowing between low voltage casual and high intensity play, W algarve adds a new and vibrant energy to the southern Portuguese coast with its west-facing 134 guest rooms and suites and 83 residences mix modern staging with locally influenced touches.
Complementing these themes, we have established partnerships with Culinary Concept’s Spice Market and Market Restaurants, created by the internationally renowned 3-star Michelin Chef, Jean Georges Vongerichten. We also added to this collection, La Spiga by Papermoon, COYA Doha, Cipriani Doha, GAIA Doha & Shangai Me Doha.
