W Hotels Worldwide unveiled the restyled rooms and suites of W Montréal. It was the first full-scale renovation of the hotel’s 152 guestrooms and suites since W Montréal first burst onto the scene in 2004. Reimagined by Starwood’s award-winning design team, the renovation reflects the duality of the iconic city, where historic culture is undercut by an edgy, cosmopolitan scene. The hotel itself stands between the city’s bustling financial district and historic Old Montréal, inviting double takes at every turn.
Previously both a French trading post and an English colony, the island city of Montréal sits at the center of what’s old and new. Drawing upon this history and cultural juxtaposition, the renovation captures Montréal’s energy and its position as the most European city in North America. Its Francophile nature is implied through a deconstruction of archetypical French neoclassical elements such as chevron patterns in walnut and brass tables. In addition, the design draws upon local insights, such as Montréal’s underground culture and the hotel’s proximity to Old Montreal. Together, these themes combine to create a guest experience that is uniquely W Montréal.
Guests are first greeted by gold accents in the corridors which speak to the building’s former life as a bank.. This gilded story continues into the guest rooms and suites, which also feature stunning white murals that highlight the architecture of Old Port and give the space incredible light. The bathrooms and fitting areas are designed to suit the needs to the fashionable jetsetter, with mirrored closet doors that open up to become tri-fold dressing mirrors and interiors that provide ample space to organize and display one’s wardrobe. The closets stand adjacent to the open concept bathrooms which provide stunning city views while in the soaking tub or glass shower.
The focal point of each room and suite is the cocktail corner and Mix Bar, a key design element and nod to W’s love and legacy of cocktail culture. Bathed in light, backed by mirrors and highlighted by a yellow accent, the bar is a freestanding focal point in many of the rooms and suites, lending a social vibe that brings the excitement of the hotel’s many lounges and bars up to the guest rooms. Low lounge seating, cocktail tables and W’s signature bed, draped in black fur throws, framed with LED strip lights and floating on a mirrored base, comprise the rest of the space.
Other highlights include television units that are rendered in mirror and shaped like a fireplace mantel, blending form and function seamlessly, as well as Artemide Tolomeo lamps that are framed in ceiling medallions and mounted vertically on mirrored surfaces to create nightstands and desk lamps. Custom wall coverings with a faux marble print background and graphic representations of oversized architectural moldings come together to blend gothic, rococo and neo-classical influencers through the whimsical lens of W.
With its bold design, Whatever/Whenever service and avant-garde programming, W Montréal embraces all that is new and edgy in the city while being just steps from downtown Old Montréal. This new transformation of the rooms and suites is a key project in the ongoing wave of renovation projects that is part of the W brand’s plan to reinvigorate its iconic North American portfolio. The aggressive strategy includes a significant investment by the W brand and its ownership groups with cutting-edge updates to public spaces, restaurant concepts and stylish guestroom refreshes.
