STAMFORD, Conn.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the commencement of construction for its first-ever W and Element dual-branded hotel development, scheduled to open in the heart of downtown Philadelphia in early 2018. The 295-room W Philadelphia and 460-room Element Philadelphia will occupy a 51 story skyscraper located directly across from Philadelphia City Hall. Owned by Chestlen Development and developed by Vine Street Matthews Development, the project will also feature panoramic city views and facilities that include an outdoor pool bar and terrace, meeting and banquet facilities, food and beverage outlets, and retail space along Chestnut Street.
“This exciting project will bring two popular Starwood brands to Philadelphia and provide much needed inventory to the City and Convention Center, attracting even more visitors and meetings business to our downtown,” said Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “The construction and operations of the new development will also have a significant economic impact on the City of Philadelphia and the surrounding region, creating numerous immediate and long-term jobs and generating substantial tax revenues.”
Brook Lenfest, owner of Chestlen Development said, “This has been many years in the making and a true collaboration between ownership, our development partners, the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. We’re excited to deliver this iconic project to the downtown market.”
“We have actively pursued this market for some time and look forward to the upcoming debut of both W and Element in Philadelphia as part of this dual-branded development, which will increase Starwood’s total portfolio in the city to 12 hotels across seven of our nine world-class brands,” said Allison Reid, senior vice president of North American Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Combined, the W Philadelphia and Element Philadelphia can operate jointly as a 755-room headquarters hotel, ideal for conventions and group business due to its direct views as well as short walking distance from both Suburban Station and the Broad Street entrance to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Additionally, the property’s downtown location is proximate to leading city attractions such as the Avenue of the Arts, Independence Hall, Barnes Foundation, Liberty Bell, Mutter Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the galleries, restaurants, and boutiques along Walnut Street, Chestnut Street, and Rittenhouse Row.
“The $786 million expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center has transformed it into the largest contiguous exhibit space in the Northeast and generated increased demand for high-caliber lodging within walking distance,” said Jack Ferguson, president and chief executive officer of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. “These two new Starwood hotels will supply additional downtown room inventory in close proximity to Pennsylvania Convention Center, which will encourage large-scale new business to select Philadelphia as their convention destination.”
Guests will enter W Philadelphia via the hotel’s distinct entrance on Chestnut Street. The ground-floor will feature a signature W Living Room with a full bar, VIP room, and a 150-seat destination restaurant. In addition, the hotel will feature a 2,900 square foot spa, 1,400 square foot FIT gym, and 7,000 square foot WET outdoor terrace with a year-round heated outdoor pool and destination bar, and 45,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and event space for conventions, business meetings and social functions of all sizes.
The Element Philadelphia will feature a separate arrival lobby on Chestnut Street with elevator access to the main second floor lobby, which will feature a 1,400 square foot breakfast and lounge area, a 1,600 square foot fitness center, and 560 square feet of branded meeting space. The hotel’s studios will offer a fluid design of modular furniture, fully equipped kitchens, and spa-inspired bathrooms. Guests will be able to stay on the move with Element’s complimentary bikes to borrow program and enjoy the brand’s signature complimentary RISE breakfast and RELAX evening reception.
