Marriott International has brought its W Hotels brand to the city of Nashville.
W Nashville occupies a 14-storey mirrored tower in the Gulch neighbourhood, close to Music Row and Midtown, and includes six street-level entrances.
The public spaces and rooms were designed by Rockwell Group, and champion the city’s industry and artisanship through historical, rugged local materials such as iron, steel, wood, leather and polished and raw concrete. The hotel also lays emphasis on the blending of indoor and outdoor spaces thanks to HKS Architecture, with a total of 2,415 sqm of outdoor space.
The hotel features a collection of original prints, photos and other works, including original prints by the “godfather of rock’n’roll photography” Jim Marshall, embossed hand-stitched leather wall panels with roses and guitar pick details by Joseph Verzilli of Lockeland Leather, and a Jimi Hendrix mural by street a artist Bryan Deese on the building’s facade.
Its 286 rooms and 60 suites – the most of any hotel in the city according to Marriott – features warm, soothing tones and a mix of raw materials such as leather and exposed concrete.
Meanwhile, furniture has been inspired by vintage stereo equipment and includes stud detailing (reflecting that on a roadie case) and TVs surrounded by speaker cloth. Every room also features an original, commissioned Pop Art-inspired artwork by Brooklyn-based studio Faile, which celebrates the musical soul of the city.
Guests receive a reusable water bottle upon arrival, which they can fill from the filtered water stations on each floor. For instance the hotel also boasts the largest hotel pool area in the city at the 929 sqm Wet Deck with a L-shaped pool and private cabanas.
Dining facilities include coffee shop Barista Parlor, two destination restaurants by Chef Andrew Carmellini (all day dining venue The Dutch and the Italian fine-dining, evening only Mare), a ‘Living Room’ bar and 14th floor rooftop bar Proof.
The hotel features a new concept for the brand, known as the Welcome Den. This space, accessible by room key, is designed for guests to relax, take work calls and enjoy drinks. The hotel has 2,230 sqm of meetings and events space, a gym, and an L-shaped pool with private cabanas. A high-end retail and live entertainment venue will join the property in the future.
Tom Jarrold, Global Brand Leader at W Hotels Worldwide, commented on the opening:
“The W experience has always been centered on a local, social scene but W Nashville takes it to the next level. 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.”
Marriott International currently operates 14 properties and residences under the W brand across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Elsewhere, the W brand has 34 hotels in the global pipeline, with forthcoming destinations including W Edinburgh, W Gramado and W Playa del Carmen. The brand recently opened properties in Philadelphia and China’s Changsha.