I hadn’t been to Atlanta in years, so when invited to attend the Social Media Strategies Summit as part of the Sensei Project, something all travel bloggers and writers referred to as SITSum by the time the event ended, I thought it would be a great opportunity. I was long overdue to revisit a city I remembered had some gems, including hotel and resort gems.
The W Hotel in Atlanta’s Midtown is very “W” in many ways, from its modern motif to its colorful chic design and dim lobby lighting, however there are a few fun twists throughout the property. I fell in love with the creativity of the lobby ceilings, which exuded imagination, so as a writer, I found inspiration in its vibrancy.
The lobby seating ranged from classic modern bright colored chairs and cushions to couches that lay scattered across a large room with plenty of light to darker more secluded rooms where you could tuck yourself away for awhile and nap or get some work done. Wifi was available throughout the property so you could work from any of these hideaway public spots which was a nice feature of the hotel.
Above 2 shots, courtesy of the hotel.
More great modern lobby energy….
The below shots will give you an idea of standard rooms, from two queens to a king. They have six different room categories — if you’re there for a special occasion, are ready to splurge and would love a ton of space, their 1,600 square foot Extreme WOW Suite is the way to go. It says it only sleeps two but it would make a great option for having friends over for drinks and socializing one night.
Take note of the vibrant colors – combine them with the muted warm lighting and you have a magical formula for cozy and right at home. The staff are incredibly warm and friendly as well — a huge call out to KAY at the front desk who heard my raspy voice over the phone and knew I wasn’t feeling better, so personally brought up a complimentary pot of hot tea for me. BRAVO!!
Above 3 shots, courtesy of the hotel.
There’s a great gym (and pool) on the premises, which was a huge godsend for me. It matters so much these days that if a hotel doesn’t have a place to exercise, I’ll keep looking.
Gym shot, courtesy of the hotel
Outside, you can sit at the cafe and people watch. Since it is located in the heart of Atlanta’s hippest neighborhood, there’s plenty to see along 14th Street. You’re also very close to a number of attractions, from seeing shows at the Fox Theatre, taking a power walk through the ever so picturesque Piedmont Park or nightclubbing it some of Atlanta’s chicest clubs, including Gerber Group’s Whiskey Park, which is at home inside the W. They also boast 30,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 10,000 square foot Great Ballroom.
Another thing to note is that they are pet-friendly which isn’t always the case, so pet lovers may want to mark this hotel down for their next Atlanta trip. Also health afficiandos will be happy to hear that the on-site TRACE Restaurant is farm-to-table and sources locally and organically. My lunch salmon salad was delicious. Two thumbs up!
Outside view shot courtesy of the hotel.
DETAILS:
The W Hotel Atlanta Midtown
188 14th St NE
Atlanta, GA 30361
(404) 892-6000
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.