W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott International, announced the opening of W Nashville, set in the diverse Gulch neighborhood. The 14-story mirrored tower immerses guests in the locally charged cultural scene. With six street level entrances, the hotel invites guests to take advantage of the vibrant area.
“The W experience has always been centered on a local, social scene, but W Nashville takes it to the next level,” says Tom Jarrold, global brand leader for W Hotels Worldwide. “Today’s global traveler is not content staying at a hotel with superficial neighborhood references, and locals are not embracing of hotels that ignore the social fabric of the community. W Nashville is different as it weaves itself into The Gulch seamlessly and authentically through the brand’s distinct lens.”
Wellbeing in Music City
Seemingly floating in the sky, the WET Deck serves as the largest hotel pool area in the city. It features an impressive 2,000 square foot, L-shaped pool with private cabanas and views of the neighborhood. Not far from the pool is a manicured yoga lawn that leads to FIT, the hotel’s fitness center. It’s located in the heart of the action, making fitness a social activity.
All in the Details
The concept, programming, and design was led by hospitality veterans David Tessier and Anna Gomez of Hospitality Gaming Advisors, local partner Mark Bloom, and developed by 12th Ave Realty Holding Company. With public spaces and guestrooms designed by the award-winning Rockwell Group, the hotel relies on rugged local materials, such as iron, steel, wood, leather, and polished and raw concrete. The spatial experience created by HKS Architecture invites passersby to look up. The W Nashville features more than 26,000 square feet of outdoor space.
“Authenticity was at the heart of this project,” says Tessier, president of Hospitality Gaming Advisors. “Every decision and choice we made on design, materials, finishes, art and our collaborators took this into consideration. As a result, the hotel has a very tactile quality and at every turn there is something visually provocative. All of our amenities and offerings have a unique character and identity. We feel our guests will be engaged and inquisitive discovering places that evoke diverse emotions.”
The Welcome Den, a new W Hotels concept accessible only by room key, is a space where guests can relax, work, and enjoy a specialty crafted beverage. The hotel, with 286 rooms and 60 suites, including two Extreme WOW (presidential) Suites, has the most of any other hotel in Nashville. Each room blends industrial polish with warmth. The furnishings are inspired by vintage stereo equipment and feature stud detailing, similar to that found on a roadie case. A focal point, the brand’s Mix Bar is illuminated in a gold, mirrored cage to encourage in-room entertaining. All WOW Suites and Extreme WOW Suites come with balconies and overhead views of the WET Deck. The Extreme WOW Suites also feature a discreet music booth, a dining area, a lounge, and a pantry kitchen.
Art Takes Center Stage
Each guestroom also highlights an original, commissioned artwork by Brooklyn-based studio FAILE. The pop-inspired art celebrates the musical soul of the city, depicting a female figure who symbolizes the innocent, young talent who come to Music City to make it big and a wolf, signifying the music industry. A host of local artisans contributed to the W Nashville, including street artist Bryan Deese who painted a Jimi Hendrix mural on the building’s façade. The W Nashville is home to a myriad of original prints, photographs, and other works, including a 96-inch Jim Dine Double heart canvas, Atlantic Love Letter, the first piece guests see when they enter the hotel.
“From the sounds of live music filling the air on the Spanish Steps to FUEL fitness classes on the WET Deck, W Nashville is ready to add new buzz to this one-of-a-kind neighborhood,” says general manager David Cronin. “The unique beat of W Hotels is finally ready to play in this Southern capital and will soon become the most sought-after destination for both locals as well as out-of-town guests who wish to experience all this city has to offer.”
