
Starwood Hotels' W Hotels has been one of the fastest-growing luxury brand in hotel history, having hit the 45-hotel milestone since its beginnings in 1998 with its debut in New York. Furthermore, the lifestyle brand is expected to have more than 60 establishments in its portfolio by 2017.According to Frits van Paasschen, CEO & President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, "Over the past 15 years, W has turned the staid hospitality landscape on its head and demonstrated that a hotel is more than a place to check in and checkout as it continues to reinvent the category it created with each new hotel opening around the world".The brand's 45th establishment is not only a milestone in numbers, but is also the first W Hotels ski retreat, located in Verbier, Switzerland. The establishment offers 125 rooms with 15 full-service residences, as well as a signature spa, fitness area, and pool.