The pioneer of the boutique hotel, Ian Schrager, has teamed up with an unlikely partner, Marriott Hotels, to launch Edition. The new global brand is meant to pair the best strengths of both partners–Schrager’s ability to create one-of-a-kind hotels focused on cool design and a hip scene, combined with Marriott’s global reach, experience with larger properties, and more accessible price points. The first property, Edition Waikiki, pictured above, opened this fall.
Unlike Marriott’s other properties, which you’re more likely to associate with a standard, cookie cutter hotel experience, Edition boasts individually designed hotels meant to be reflective of the region. Upcoming Edition hotels will open in Barcelona, Istanbul, Bangkok, and Mexico City, to name a few. For Waikiki, Schrager teamed up with designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg, whose experience includes the W in Times Square, plus Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany’s stores.
The sexy carved wood bar above is done by sculptor Scott Eunson.
Many of the indoor public spaces like the lobby and the bars have a dimly lit, swanky vibe. Beachy details like a surfboard sculpture behind the front desk, and graphic white coral on bookshelves, links the interiors to the outdoors. The rotating bookshelf above, provides a secret entrance to the lobby bar.
In stark contrast to the dimly lit public spaces, each of the high rise hotel’s 353 rooms looks airy and bright, decked in shades of white. The amazing bedside lights are from Isometrix.
The crisp palette and understated design keeps the focus on the awesome city and ocean views. While, most people, can’t pull off the all-white minimalist look at home, it would be a nice break to be in that clean white space for a few days.
Rooms start at $375 officially, but I just saw an offer on their site for rooms starting at $275 for the first weekend in March.
As the hotel isn’t right on the beach, they brought the sand to them. Sunset Beach features a lagoon- like shallow pool, a bar, and plenty of palm trees.
Happy Weekend!!!
