The 251-room W Austin is all set to add some serious sizzle to the Austin hotel scene on Dec 9, 2010 with a grand opening bash. To drum up buzz for the opening, the hotel has got itself a fleet of W Smartcars that are being used for a clever social media version of slug bug.

Instead of a punch in the arm for every Volkswagen beetle spotted, the W Austin is offering a free stay at the hotel during the launch party to the winner of the W2Go contest.

W Austin's W2GO cars

Contestants need to spot one of the W2Go cars cruising around in Austin, and post on facebook or twitter where you spotted it.

Something like this: “I Spotted W2GO at (place spotted)” on Facebook, or on twitter like this: “I spotted @whotelatx #W2GO at (place spotted)”.

Winner gets:
1. Access for two to W Austin’s Premiere.
2. 1 night stay in W Austin’s Cool Corner Suite with breakfast in bed for two.
3. Chef’s tasting for two at Trace.
4. AWAY Facial or 75min AWAY Massage for two at AWAY Spa by W Austin.

The hotel has pretty much the usual W offerings, including the aforementioned AWAY Spa, the SWEAT fitness center, wireless internet in public areas and the signature W bed and Munchie Box in each of the 251 guest rooms and suites. Read More »

Push this button for happiness at The W

Recently my friend Karen wrote a post here about not loving The W Hotel during her stay in Chicago. I was thinking about her while I attended the Blogalicious Conference, which was held in The W Atlanta Midtown.

Pretty much all of her gripes about The W are true.

• The lobby and elevator are a hot, loud, rock ‘n’ roll mess of music and scenesters  — even more so the weekend I stayed there because the BET Awards were being held across the street. We saw quite a few “walk of shame” outfits. Ladies, those 5″ high shiny hooker heels, at 9:00 am, give you away every time.
• The sliding door on the bathroom sucks. Forget sound privacy, it doesn’t even close all the way to give you visual privacy!
• All that mood lighting = a freaking dark room. Forget trying to read anything or putting on makeup anywhere besides the (completely not private) bathroom. When I twittered that I forgot to take pix of the hotel for this review, a friend wrote back, “Turn off the lights in your bedroom at home and take a picture in the dark. It will look just like any W room!” So accurate!
• The whole building was insanely hot. No matter what we did, it was impossible to get the A/C to kick in.

As your basic tourist, paying a couple hundred a night, it’s annoying.

But here’s the thing — I was there for business purposes. My social media agency was hosting an event in a suite during the conference, and the W kicked serious ass!

Cool decor, great space, and that Whatever/Whenever customer service rocked my world!

We dialed the Whatever/Whenever button at literally all hours of the day and night. They brought me scissors, a garment rack, extra hangers, another chair, more hangers, champagne glasses, more hangers, room service, extra napkins … I got the feeling that we really could ask for anything and they’d just make it happen.

We paid some big bucks for all of this service — a $20 tip makes even most inane request seem reasonable, right? — but in a business context it made absolute sense. Our event went off without a hitch, and it was worth every penny.

So do I recommend a W property for your next “girls trip” with your Mom and Aunt Mabel? Heck no!

But I definitely give them a high ranking for customer service and put them in my top 5 for places to throw a party or event.

Photo credit: C. Lincoln. Sorry for the poor quality, but it was TOO DARK to get a better shot.

My bed at the W Westwood in Los Angeles, CA

I don’t travel well, especially when it comes to getting to sleep in a strange bed.  Besides my inherent fear that someone will break into my room, there’s always the lovely sounds of hotel neighbours to rouse me before I actually get to sleep.

Having just returned from the hip and happening W Westwood in Los Angeles, (where I must admit I felt 100 years old just like last time, more on that later), the first article I wanted to write was this one.  You know, for next time.

So, if you’re a restless, weary traveler, consider the following:

1 ) When checking in or booking the room, ask to be placed at least 2 floors away from the hotel’s hot spot.  In the case of the W, make it 6 or more.  I was on the 4th floor and heard BOOM BOOM BOOM until 1 a.m.  Not ideal when I had to be up at 6.

2 ) Also request your room not be near the ice machines or the elevators.  Even if the mechanics of these areas are quiet, there will be the human element pouring off the lift or digging in the ice machine for just one. more. drink.

3 ) Unplug your phone or ask the hotel to put your phone on Do Not Disturb mode if possible.  No need for drunk dialers to wake you if you’ve already managed to crash.

4 ) Double check your alarm clock for obvious reasons.  You don’t want to be up at 4 a.m. unless it’s your flight you’re looking to catch.

5 ) Use ear plugs, if you’re so inclined.

6 ) If you’re the type to get up in the night to use the washroom or get a drink of water, make sure your foot path is clear and save yourself the trouble of getting up for water by leaving a glass of water at your bedside.

7 ) Close your curtains before bed.

8 ) If your neighbours are particularly rowdy, you could try calling the front desk but if that fails, don’t be afraid to pack it in and go to the front desk for a new room.  Personally I don’t mind the sound of happy party people.  For some reason I feel safer if I know there are people around.

9 ) If you’re going to watch television to fall asleep, set the timer for sleep mode.  That way you don’t wake up to the Slapchop dude screaming into your dreams.

10 ) If you don’t want hotel staff to wake you up in the morning, be sure to use your Do Not Disturb sign.

Personally I find having a couple of drinks at dinner gets me lubricated enough to slip into dreamland a little easier.  Hopefully sleep finds you at your destination!

Photo Credit: Karen Bodkin

I stayed in the W Hotel Lakeshore in Chicago, IL in 2007 for BlogHer, and it was the weirdest travel experience of my life.  My friend Sarah and I were thrown off completely by the shutter-like door and window (!) in the bathroom.  As modest women, we didn’t expect that every little noise would be heard by each other.  As it was, anytime either one of us needed the facilities, we were either full of giggles or embarrassed, or both.  What I did like about that bathroom was a well lit, pull-out magnified mirror to fix my makeup and pluck eyebrows.  Great idea.

The beds were super comfortable, and the wifi was spotty at best. What I didn’t appreciate was the $8 bottle of water taunting me late at night.  Eight bucks for a bottle of water is so out of line in my eyes I could barely stand it.  Couple that small expense with the $31/day for parking a car I never used the whole weekend and my wallet was screaming to go home by the time I left.

Rooms aside, the hotel lobby is BUSY 24/7.  Blaring music, a bar, and a party atmosphere means tipsy, obnoxious people at all hours.  Using the public restroom off the lobby meant, as a woman, subjecting oneself to scrutiny by the men’s bathroom, via one way mirror.  Sure, the warnings are there to tell you you’re being watched, but my goodness, is that really necessary?

Having said that, the service was impeccable.  Whatever/Whenever service, they claim:

Impeccable service? We’re all about it 24/7. Just push a button on your phone to reach our Whatever/Whenever desk. Ask and you shall receive. Need a reservation anywhere in the city? Perhaps a bathtub filled with chocolate milk? Whatever you want. Whenever you want it. It’s all just a phone call away.

You wanted something, you got it.  It may have cost you an arm and a leg, but The W is very good at slipping your money away from you while showing you a great time.  Now I wonder what that W really stands for?

I’m heading to L.A. soon and will be put up at The W Westwood.  Yes, of course I took out a second mortgage so I can afford a few drinks!

Photo Credit: Kvetch Blog