PHILADELPHIA — Chestlen Development and Vine Street Matthews have announced plans to bring a dual-branded W and Element property to Center City Philadelphia. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide will operate the 755-room hotel.
The Element Philadelphia will feature 460 rooms and a 6,392-square-foot sky lobby. It will include a separate arrival lobby on Chestnut Street with elevator access to the main second-floor lobby, which will contain 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 W Philadelphia will feature 295 rooms, a 2,900-square-foot spa, a 3,505 square-foot outdoor pool and deck, a 1,590-square-foot pool bar and a 2,974 square-foot garden area.
The 51-story project will also include about 1,731 square feet of street-level retail and three levels of below-grade structured parking. It will be situated directly across from Philadelphia City Hall. The nearby Pennsylvania Convention Center is undergoing a $786 million expansion.
Construction began on the project earlier this month. It is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2018. The development will be built by Tutor Perini Corp. Cope Linder Architects is the project designer.
Vine Street Matthews is a joint venture between Matthews Southwest and Vine Street Ventures.
“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,” says Allison Reid, senior vice president of North American Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.
“Our innovative W Hotels brand provides contemporary luxury and insider access in key urban and exotic destinations worldwide, while Element Hotels is an industry-leader in the eco-space, offering stylish, sustainable extended-stay lodging,” continues Reid. “These two unique and highly differentiated brands will offer guests a new experience not currently available in the Philadelphia market.”
W Hotels is a contemporary, design-led luxury lifestyle brand with 46 hotels and retreats, including 17 W-branded residences, throughout the world.
Element Hotels is Starwood’s latest brand innovation. The extended-stay flag includes 17 hotels worldwide, including 16 in North America and one in Europe.