Starwood Hotels & Resorts Plans to Open Four Resorts on Hainan Island in Next Five Years

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Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced an agreement with Hainan Jianfeng Tourism Development Co., Ltd. to debut China’s first W Retreat and the second St. Regis resort on Hainan Island. Scheduled to open in 2019 and 2020, respectively, W Retreat & Spa Sanya – Haitang Bay and The St. Regis Sanya Haitang Bay Resort will both be located at the North Wing of Haitang Bay, one of the most exclusive and sought-after addresses in the area. Starwood is vigorously expanding its luxury presence to meet the demands of a new generation of well-heeled travelers in Hainan. By 2020, the company will add four luxury resorts to Hainan Island, including three St. Regis resorts in Haikou, Qingshui Bay and Haitang Bay as well as a W Retreat & Spa in Haitang Bay.

The only tropical island in China and the country’s largest Special Economic Zone, Hainan boasts powdery beaches, lush scenery and year-round sunshine. The St. Regis Sanya Haitang Bay Resort and W Retreat & Spa Sanya – Haitang Bay will be located near Haitangwan town, 38 kilometers from Sanya’s city center and 45 kilometers from Sanya Phoenix International Airport. With 21.8 kilometers of pristine beachfront, clear waters and coconut palm groves, Haitang Bay retains an unspoiled beauty. A National Coast Wetland Park, Ocean Park, aquarium and yacht club have been planned within 4 kilometers of the resort complex. Construction has also commenced on the first phase of a larger yacht club, with 30 berths at Tielu Harbor on the tip of the South Wing of Haitang Bay.

W Retreat & Spa Sanya – Haitang Bay
Designed to become Hainan Island’s newest, most happening scene, W Retreat & Spa Sanya – Haitang Bay will feature 450 stylish guestrooms and 10 villas, with most guestrooms boasting panoramic ocean views.

The W Retreat & Spa will serve as an ideal island venue for weddings, business gatherings and creative meetings, featuring more than 2,400 square meters of meeting and event space as well as a business center, spa, fitness center, indoor heated swimming pool, kids club and W Hotels The Store. In addition, W Retreat & Spa Sanya – Haitang Bay will offer four unique restaurant and bar offerings, including an all-day dining restaurant, Chinese restaurant, specialty restaurant and lobby lounge. Guests can also expect the W brand’s renowned Whatever/Whenever® service philosophy, providing them with whatever they want, whenever they want it.

As the first W Retreat in China, W Retreat & Spa Sanya – Haitang Bay joins W Retreat & Spa Goa in the Asia Pacific pipeline. The W brand currently operates five Retreats in exotic destinations around the world, including Bali, Maldives, Koh Samui, Verbier and Vieques Island.

The St. Regis Sanya Haitang Bay Resort
Located directly on the beach with panoramic ocean vistas, The St. Regis Sanya Haitang Bay Resort will feature 400 guestrooms and 15 villas, as well as a luxury spa, three restaurants, a lobby lounge, wine bar and over 2,000 square meters of meeting facilities. Offering an unrivaled dimension of luxury, sophistication and service, The St. Regis Sanya Haitang Bay Resort is poised to occupy a leading position as one of the island’s premier vacation and tourist destinations.

Specifically, the resort will present guests with the famed hallmarks of St. Regis hotels, including luxury accommodations, bespoke guest experiences and the iconic St. Regis Butler Service. St. Regis butlers provide ever-present, yet unobtrusive service while anticipating guest needs and customizing each guest’s stay according to his or her specific tastes and preferences.

Daniel Fountain / 16.09.2014

Editor, Hotel Designs

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Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

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Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher atSPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.
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