St. Petersburg, Russia to Get a W

The W St. Petersburg is set to open in mid-2008 in the main historic area of the city. The move can be considered a coup for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, which owns the W brand, as several luxury hotel companies, including Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, are said to be searching for sites in St. Petersburg. The city is considered one of "the hottest" in Europe for tourism development; in fact, Virtuoso this week is hosting its annual agent-supplier symposium there, at The Grand Hotel Europe. The W St. Petersburg will be on Voznesensky Prospect, between St. Isaac's Square and the Admiralty; it will be close to the Winter Palace, which houses the Hermitage Museum. Guest rooms will have views of the landmark gold-domed St. Isaac's Cathedral.