Photos credit: W Hotels

NEW YORK — W Hotels Worldwide has announced the opening of W Goa on Vagator Beach.

“It’s hard to imagine a more perfect setting for our newest W Escape than Goa, with its electrifying nightlife, vibrant fashion scene, and colorful culture,” said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “As our first location in India, this highly anticipated debut from the W brand promises to be unlike any other hotel in India, combining the bold design and dynamic lifestyle programming that W is known for with a uniquely Goan-twist.”

Goa has witnessed vast changes in the influx of visitors over the past decades, from hippies in search of paradise, to New Age devotees, followed by purveyors of psytrance, and the yogaphiles and Burning Man disciples. These days it’s renowned as a beachside playground for Bollywood stars and world travellers alike.

WOW Villa

Situated between the jungle and the coastline of Vagator Beach, W Goa features 160 guestrooms, including Villas, Chalets, a Marvelous Suite and an Extreme WOW Villa (the brand’s take on the Presidential Suite). A one-hour flight from Mumbai and a 90-minute drive from Goa International Airport, the property overlooks the Arabian Sea and spans 25 acres of exotic sandy beach set against the backdrop of a 500-year old Portuguese fort.

“With a rich natural environment intertwined with its strong cultural roots and eclectic scene, Goa remains a favorite destination for the Indian community; while at the same time continuing to garner international spotlight,” said Rajeev Meenon, Chief Operating Officer, Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC), Marriott International. “W Goa is set to inject a fresh vibe into the local hospitality scene with the brand’s game-changing style, modern guestrooms, amplified entertainment, and innovative cocktails – all infused with the irresistible mystique of Goa.”

Features of the hotel include:

‘Trippy’ Kaleidoscopic Design

Imagined by interior design house Design Wilkes and architects Eco-ID, W Goa combines the rustic and dramatic landscape of Goa with an exuberant spirit that is unique to W Hotels. The grand entrance features huge, unframed doors that are perpetually open and adorned with art by Goan artist Subodh Kerkar, representing the lunar phases and a nod to Goa’s full moon party culture. Just steps away, behind the reception pods adorned with white Capize shells, is a massive street art mural by Indian artist M. Narayan featuring imagery that celebrates the culture of Goa.

For the interiors, the team at Design Wilkes celebrated the local and foreign cultures of Goa, incorporating rich colors and fabrics across the hotel. Each guestroom is decorated in a psychedelic look and feel with ‘trippy’ hues of purples and blues creating a kaleidoscopic melding of color throughout. Many fixtures – from foggy metal closet doors to the ‘beaten’ metal drawers in the bathroom – are purposefully designed so that guests cannot clearly see themselves, but rather just their shape and movements. Each guestroom features a chandelier that looks as though the lights are melting from the ceiling, and each bathroom features a mirror adorned with the shape of the Bodhi Leaf, which is often associated with enlightenment.

Spectacular Room