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29 March 2024

Starwood drops W name from two NYC hotels

A W Hotel in New York. The two hotels being dropped form a portfolio of five hotels the group has in NYC. (REUTERS)

Published
By Shweta Jain

The W Hotels & Resorts, a luxury boutique hotel chain from Starwood Hotels & Resorts, is dropping two hotels from its New York City portfolio of hotel properties.

Both the W Court and the W Tuscany in NYC will no longer be a part of W Hotels with effect from today – April 14, according to a report published by American daily USA Today.

The websites of the two hotels confirm the same.

"W New York – The Tuscany will be leaving the Starwood system on April 14, 2010 at 11.59pm. Reservations for dates on or after April 14, 2010, at 11.59pm will not be eligible for Starwood Preferred Guest membership benefits, award redemption or accrual," the W Tuscany's website says.

The W Court's website contains the same note.

To recall, W Hotel scrapped its Dubai project last year. The W Dubai Festival City, which was scheduled to be ready by 2013 (following two delays), was shelved owing to economic downturn, Emirates Business had earlier reported.

However, W Hotels opened its first Middle East property in Doha in March last year, with the opening of W Doha Hotel & Residences.

Meanwhile, as per the official statement from W Hotels for its NYC properties, as reported by the US media, London budget hotel operator St Giles – with hotels in central London and at Heathrow airport – are expected to take charge of the hotels once W exits.

It states: "Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed an agreement to sell W New York – The Court and W New York – The Tuscany to St Giles Hotels, a hotel owner and operator, operating under the St Giles Hotel's new contemporary brand.

"The sale, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close on April 15. On this date, W The Court and W The Tuscany will no longer be affiliated with the W Hotels brand or Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

"The hotel's new owner has advised that they will honour all local negotiated rates previously signed by W The Court and W The Tuscany."

The two hotels are being dropped form a portfolio of five hotels the hotel group has in NYC.

Its sixth addition – the W Downtown, is expected to open on May 4 this year. The hotel has been "considerably delayed due to construction and financing woes", according to media reports.