The beachfront property is one of four W retreats and has been created as an ‘island within an island’


Away Spa at W Retreat Koh Samui M


aking the hot lists of consumer magazines such as Condé Nast Traveler, Starwood Hotel’s first


W-branded destination in south-east Asia debuted in November 2010. Developed by Amburaya and Istithmar World at a cost of thb3bn (us$98m, €74m, £60m), the 26-acre (11-hectare) beachfront property is one of four global retreats operated by Starwood’s design-led lifestyle brand. Positioned as an ‘island within an island’ in line with its peninsula setting on Koh Samui’s northern


SPA BUSINESS 2 2012 ©Cybertrek 2012


shore, W Retreat maintains a Zen-like calm during the day while at night a touch of Manhattan attitude comes into play. “W bridges the gap between an idyllic


villa-based escape and a more interactive, urban experience,” observes general man- ager Nicholas Downing. “Tis is not your typical five-star Tai hotel – W’s passion points of design, music and fashion are rep- resented with a laid-back energy that suits the Koh Samui vibe and as a retreat we are open to other island visitors.”


Interiors by P49 Deesign and architecture


by MAPS Design Studio, adhere to clean lines, flowing indoor/outdoor spaces and a sculptural use of warm materials liſted by colour pops, inventive artwork and over- sized lighting. Tis is exemplified in the W Lounge where terrazzo stone and bleached veneer panels, akin to driſtwood, lead the way to a panoramic open-air platform that is home to the WOOBA (bar) and an infin- ity-edged, lotus-shaped water pond. Found beneath the lounge, the Kitchen Table serves


Read Spa Business online spabusiness.com / digital 69


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