Assignment 7: David

The W Hotel in downtown Atlanta is part of an upscale boutique hotel chain that markets itself as an "urban oasis" that is hip, smart, stylish, with luxury aplenty. According to the receptionist at the checkin counter, the downtown W gets a lot of business from out-of-town attorneys working at the Ernst & Young law firm next door and younger, finacially endowed travelers fresh from Hartsfield-Jackson taking advantage of the W's weekend packages. It also tries to capture business meetings, conferences, special events such as weddings, 16th birthdays, or basically any occasion rich folks care to drop money on. The fourth floor contains 6 studios and 2 great rooms that can be rented out and are equipped with Willy-Wonka-like technology. Sensory Set Up can provide custom smells and much more; Wish Workshop can teach you how to cook like a chef to new yoga moves in seconds; and Recess offers "a menu of activities that sets the tone for inspiration." I don't know if these things are all integrated into the room or if Oompa-Loompas come out and put on a show. The hotel also features a helipad complete with a helicopter that offers direct service to the airport ($200 gets you there in 5-6 minutes) as well as sight-seeing tours.

Since I couldn't go see the rooms (they would have let me but they were all booked up, so they didn't have any "show rooms" for me to check out), I'm not sure of the layout, but I'm sure they are arranged to offer optimal views of the city. There are balconies and I'm not sure what the big, open space is almost half-way up the building. There are 5 types of rooms offered and 3 suites. They range from $150 to $1,500 a night. The have great names, too, like the Wonderful Room, Fabulous Room, and Extreme WOW Suite. I'll take it!

This Hotel is somewhat of a hybrid as residential units make up half the building, and the residents get to enjoy all the hotel has to offer. As such, the W definitely promotes social interaction and draws in folks with its fancy bars and restaurants. The lobby, called "The Living Room," has a bar and is comprised of room-like spaces that have snazzy sofas, chairs, end-tables, coffee tables, constellations of silver bird-like objects hanging from the ceiling, wavy wooden strips that give the impression of bamboo or and forest, and actual plants. There were a few people sitting at the bar -- young and professional -- and some sitting in one of the room spaces, chatting and having a cocktail.

Unfortunately, this was the only room I was able to see, as they wouldn't let me go wandering about taking pictures. I was lucky to get the ones I did; the receptionist gave me the okay and spoke with the bar staff so the wouldn't try to tackle me. There is also a Wet Bar, Drinkshop, and BLT Steak.

I would say this building on the interior has a lot in common with theme-parks and shopping malls -- the interior space, that is. By this I mean that like Disney Land, it uses technology to create a fantasy land; and like the Mall it sells an image, but not one made up of clothing. The W Hotel sells a lifestyle. It tells people that they are the smartest, hippest, most successful, exciting, and fun people around. You're are part of an elite group of young, rich and sexy achievers that are influencing the world and you deserve this "urban oasis" to relax.