W Amsterdam Expands Buzzing Lifestyle Experience with the Debut of the Bank Building Extension

W Hotels Worldwide has officially opened the doors to its second hotel building, the BANK. Located directly opposite the original Exchange Building, just steps away from the vibrant Dam Square and the Royal Palace, the transformation of the historical KAS Bank building is the final milestone in the dynamic W Amsterdam project.

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Further enhancing W Amsterdam’s vibrant lifestyle scene, the new BANK building boasts 66 stylish guestrooms and suites, a sleek and enticing AWAY Spa housed in the historic bank vaults; the X BAR - where guests can Detox, Retox and Repeat throughout their stay; FIT - W’s state of the art workout space; and The Butcher - Amsterdam’s long awaited fine burger restaurant. The BANK building also houses X BANK - a creative incubator space that showcases the city’s leading talents in art, fashion and design; and THE DUCHESS - a stylish contemporary restaurant that fuses the elegance of traditional hospitality with Viennese grandeur to create a dazzling space with a refined European-inspired menu that exudes sophistication.

“The extension of W Amsterdam demonstrates the huge demand for this innovative lifestyle brand in such an important travel market,” said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “W Amsterdam’s location at the pulsing heart of the city, combined with the heritage of the buildings, contemporary interiors and the W brand’s signature programming, has created the perfect setting for W in this capital.”

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Providing an intriguing mix of heritage and contemporary style, the BANK gives international jetsetters and locals alike the opportunity to tailor their W Amsterdam experience to their taste and mood. For those looking to immerse themselves in what’s new and next in Amsterdam’s party scene, the Exchange building with its vibrant W Lounge and rooftop WET Deck is the perfect place to see and be seen. Alternatively, guests looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city can now check-in to the BANK building where the sophisticated rooms and sumptuous AWAY Spa provide the ultimate city retreat.

“The launch of the BANK building brings a stylish extension to the already hugely successful W Amsterdam and we’re confident that with the brand’s unique lifestyle programming and cutting-edge design, this new addition will only amplify the hotel’s spectacular offering for a new generation of jetsetters,” said Jenni Benzaquen, Vice President Luxury Brands, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “The BANK building is filled with clever and playful, including the AWAY Spa which is located within the bank vaults providing a W spa experience like none other.”

While the visionary Exchange building is made up of interesting lines, integrated spaces and captivating views that echo its previous role in connecting the people of Amsterdam with the rest of the world, the BANK building, which dates back to 1908, embraces its historic past retaining many original features in the stunning new design. Architect Wingender Hovenier (WINHOV) has overseen the transformation of this impressive space and the interiors have been designed by Baranowitz + Kronenberg who use a gold and diamond theme to represent the buildings high-value former use.

The rooms in the BANK building exude playful luxury and sophistication. The black and gold bedspreads, which are inspired by the bank vaults, have been specially created by Dutch textile designer Aleksandra Gaca while the pillows, which are designed by Sabrina Bongiovanni, represent Amsterdam’s famous window sills. As a finishing touch, all mini-bars in the BANK building are shaped in the form of a bank vault, ensuring guests connect to the building’s rich history.

The black and gold theme continues through AWAY Spa, which is located on the ground floor of the BANK building. An urban retreat built into two original vaults, AWAY Spa provides hotel guests and locals alike with an insider-escape where innovative tailor made treatments revitalize mind and body. Featuring seven treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room, wet area with fire bath and plunge pool and a dedicated relaxation zone, AWAY Spa transports guests from the whirlwind of city life to an urban sanctuary, in a few small steps. The spa’s black walls and gold accents provide an exclusive backdrop for prestigious signature treatments such as the ‘Diamonds Don’t Lie Facial’ by the renowned Gemology cosmetics line, which offers powerful anti-ageing features through the use of pure diamond powder.

Liran Wizman, owner of W Amsterdam and Europe Hotels | Private Collection: “A hotel that consists of two different buildings is quite unique. Although the two buildings have their own identity, we managed to create great synergy. Both buildings are inseparable and connected through W DNA, whilst keeping a distinct individual character.”

All W Amsterdam’s 238 rooms and suites across both buildings have access to the brands signature Whatever/Whenever® service philosophy with the W Insider providing guests with whatever they want, whenever they want it, as long as It is legal.

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About W Amsterdam
W Amsterdam brings the distinctive New York cosmopolitan vibe to the capital of the Netherlands, showcasing what is new and next in fashion, design and entertainment. The hotel is divided into two historical locations that used to house the Telephone Exchange and KAS Bank, both situated right behind the royal palace in the vibrant center of Amsterdam. All the 238 rooms and suites are characterized by a mix of modern design and historical details with a touch of typical Amsterdam landmarks. On the top floor of the Exchange building you will find restaurant MR PORTER as well as the iconic rooftop bar W Lounge offering a stunning 360-view over the city. The BANK building -located right across the street of the Exchange building - houses THE DUCHESS, an elegant and stylish restaurant inspired by the Époque and retail concept X BANK. With this gallery, W Amsterdam offers Dutch artists and designers a platform to exhibit art, fashion and photography. Also located in KAS Bank are X BAR where guests can refuel and have a detoxifying experience, the AWAY Spa & FIT, a destination spa with a gold and diamond design offering various tailor-made treatments, and well known restaurant The Butcher. For more information visit: www.wamsterdam.nl or follow Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About W Hotels Worldwide
Born from the bold attitude and 24/7 culture of New York City, W Hotels has disrupted and redefined the hospitality scene for nearly two decades. Trailblazing its way around the globe, W is on track to reach 75 hotels by 2020, defying expectations and breaking the norms of traditional luxury wherever the iconic W sign lands. With a mission to fuel guests’ lust for life, W ignites an obsessive desire to soak it in, live it up and hit repeat. The brand’s provocative design, iconic Whatever/Whenever service and buzzing Living Rooms create an experience that is often copied but never matched. Innovative, inspiring and infectious, W Hotels’ super-charged energy celebrates guests’ endless appetite to discover what’s new/next in each destination, to see more, feel more, go longer, stay later. For more information, visit whotels.com/theangle or follow Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) is the world’s largest hotel company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with more than 5,700 properties in over 110 countries. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts. The company’s 30 leading brands include: Bulgari Hotels and Resorts®, The Ritz-Carlton® and The Ritz-Carlton Reserve®, St. Regis®, W®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, The Luxury Collection®, Marriott Hotels®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Renaissance® Hotels, Sheraton®, Delta Hotels by Marriott ^SM , Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Tribute Portfolio™, Design Hotels™, Gaylord Hotels®, Courtyard®, Four Points® by Sheraton, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, Residence Inn®, TownePlace Suites®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Aloft®, Element®, Moxy Hotels®, and Protea Hotels by Marriott®. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com and @MarriottIntl.

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Contact information

For questions, (interview) inquiries or images:
Het PR Bureau
Isabelle Storms, T: 020 670 22 32
M: 06 46 60 63 92
E: isabelle@hetprbureau.nl
or
W Amsterdam
Ellen Bruens, M: 06 24 80 61 68
E: ellen.bruens@starwoodhotels.com