Crafting the 'W'OW Factor

As India’s first W hotel readies for a launch, here is how the team created the ‘Whatever Whenever’ experience that the brand is known for.

- Vinita Bhatia

TJ Joulak is used to the excitement and pressure of opening W Hotels globally. During his 15-year career, he has been part of four W launches – in Doha, Istanbul, Bali and Taipei. It explains why he was handpicked to oversee the launch of W Goa, the debut of Starwood’s eighth brand in India in November.

From his past experience, especially in Bali, Joulak knew the importance of working with residents when it comes to opening a new resort. Hence, the first thing he did as general manager of W Goa was to work with the locals. “When the property was under construction, for four years, there was dust, noise, vehicles and people. My priority, therefore, was to keep the denizens happy,” Joulak explained.

He next went to work identifying and inducting resident manpower, which not only won him local support, but also got him staffers who knew the region and could accomplish work faster. Besides, he saved on costs involved in recruiting staff from out of the state and paying for their bed and boarding. “Initially, the project began with 180 people and we will have 368 people when we open the hotel,” Joulak added.

Located against the backdrop of the Chapora fort, W Goa has 109 keys, which include five fort-facing villas, seven sea-facing villas, 92 rooms and one suite. It also has a helipad for guests who would like to fly down for a quick getaway. A standalone ballroom is being constructed across the hotel, which will open in April. W Goa will also unveil 42 wooden shacks, two meeting rooms and eight rooms next October, taking the total number of keys to 160.

BUILDING AN EXPERIENCE