W’s First Retreat in Southeast Asia Set To Open Autumn 2010

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W Hotels Worldwide has announced that W Retreat – Koh Samui, the first W Retreat in Southeast Asia, will open in Autumn 2010. An all-villa beachfront resort that will be a sublime architectural tribute to Maenam Beach on Samui Island’s pristine northern coastline, W Koh Samui will offer an ‘escape within an escape.’ Located adjacent to W Koh Samui will be The Residences at W Retreat – Koh Samui, featuring 17 secluded beachfront villas ranging from three to five bedrooms and from 1,000 to 2,752 square metres. Each residence will offer a modern, cool style with local touches and full access to the benefits, services and amenities of W Retreat- Koh Samui. W Koh Samui’s W Lounge (W’s reinterpretation of the traditional hotel lobby), a spectacular indoor/outdoor lounge, is a tribute to its location, perched on the hillside yet visually connected to the sea below. Round banquette seating areas are submerged in a glistening, infinity-edge reflecting pool, perfect for sipping cocktails with friends or soaking in the sun. Guests of the Retreat will be able to enjoy preferred dining reservations and seating at The Kitchen Table, the Retreat’s signature restaurant; Namu, a modern Japanese restaurant; or SIP Lounge, creating a memorable dining experience for both guests and locals alike.

AWAY Spa, the signature spa at W Koh Samui, will offer guests and in-the-know locals a place to detox from the long, playful night out and refuel for whatever comes next. To round out the unique wellness offer, guests of W Koh Samui will enjoy the WET pool, SWEAT, state-of-the-art fitness facility, water sports center, tennis courts, and Style Lab.

W Retreat – Koh Samui will feature 75 private villas, offering a range of options from panoramic views high atop the Samui hillside to direct beach access on the shoreline below, equipped with modern elements, including private plunge pools, daybeds, an outdoor shower, Yamaha sound system, 46-inch plasma screen TV, wine refrigerator, and signature W bed.

The Great Room function area at W Koh Samui will serve as an ideal island venue for social gatherings, weddings or business meetings. Contemporary yet flexible in design, The Great Room will serve 60 people with the latest in meetings technology.

W Retreat – Koh Samui and The Residences at W Retreat – Koh Samui is a joint venture of Amburaya Hotels & Resorts and Istithmar World. Amburaya Properties is a vibrant Thai-based developer bringing new and innovative lifestyle-oriented accommodations and residential developments to new and well-established destinations. The company currently has properties in Bangkok, Pattaya, Koh Samui, and India and continues to look for opportunities to grow its portfolio within Thailand and the region. Istithmar World is one of the world’s largest privately held real estate developers, with a portfolio of developments that includes The Palm trilogy, among others.

Daniel Fountain / 08.09.2010

Editor, Hotel Designs

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

Workhighlights:Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

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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.