James Bardwell/W Hotels
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
With all eyes set on Thailand, thanks to the recent success of the hit HBO series White Lotus, W Hotel has created a one-of-a-kind retreat, turning their gorgeous Koh Samui location into a vibrant culture hub for music lovers.
Dubbed W PRESENTS, the innovative live music showcase features an all-inclusive experience that includes exclusive performances from participating DJs and artists from around the globe, local excursions such as elephant sanctuary visits, a Muay Thai boxing session, and even a White Lotus-style island-hopping boat cruise with a sunset party.
The inaugural Koh Samui retreat took place between May 1 to 5 with a jam-packed lineup of live performances from renowned DJ and W Hotels‘ Global Music Director LP Giobbi, plus Bonobo, Sofia Kourtesis, Beatrice, Emjie, JOPLYN, Mascolo, as well as local artists like Kate Sara, Dan Buri, and W Koh Samui Music Curator, Armando Mendes. From poolside DJ sets during the sunset, to intimate villa dinner partiers, to luxe boat cruise dancing, each performance was spread throughout multiple nights and set at different locations to make each set feel unique.
“Music has always been part of W Hotels’ DNA, and W PRESENTS has become a powerful global platform for a culturally relevant sonic expression,” says W Hotels senior VP and global brand leader George Fleck. “With our first-ever W PRESENTS Retreat, we are deepening that connection to be an even more immersive experience in the world’s most exotic destinations, bringing guests closer to the artists they love and the places they love to discover. Launching at our iconic W Koh Samui makes it even more special given the island’s vibrant music scene, natural beauty and stunning local culture.”
James Bardwell/W Hotels
“We don’t just see music as background noise, as in many hotels, but rather a part of creating experiences, both for our guests, but also for creating a platform for artists who want to share their art and write their music with guests around the world. And so it was kind of a natural evolution for us as we think about music programming, that we would create a global music tour where we can bring interesting artists to destinations that also really resonate with those travelers.”
What sets W PRESENTS apart from concerts or music festivals is the more intimate setting. At the W Hotel, there aren’t thousands of fans packing into a venue or security separating the artists from fans, but the exact opposite. The retreat encourages attendees and musicians to mix and mingle together in a casual setting to help build connections and a sense of community. With only a few hundred guests on site, the experience felt more like a VIP exclusive getaway for creatives, artists and music lovers alike.
James Bardwell/W Hotels
“The privacy of these hotels, in a really cool setting, you have more access to them. You can learn more about how they create music, and you can feel more a richer, more personalized experience that hopefully will live with you for a long time and create those memories that stay with you. That’s really important to us, that we don’t just come across as a hotel that plays music.”
Besides enjoying live music, guests are immersed into local cuisine, art, nature, and hospitality. Many excursions were planned to fully embrace and experience the Koh Samui island with options to explore lively night markets, use arts and craft stations, learn Muay Thai boxing, or slow things down with beach-front yoga and sound baths. What you see in the White Lotus may look luxurious, but actually laying out by the ocean with fresh coconut water and mango sticky rice in hand is the perfect vacation treat.
James Bardwell/W Hotels
The W PRESENTS Retreat at W Koh Samui ranges from $3,836 (132,000 Baht) for a one-bedroom villa with a private pool and garden view to $6,746 (232,000 Baht) for an oceanfront villa. Bookings include breakfast, lunch and dinner for two guests daily, a welcome dinner and access to wellness programs (such as sound baths and yoga and mindfulness classes mentioned above).
Can’t make it to Thailand? W Hotel is expanding its W PRESENTS series with a global tour this summer hitting Shanghai, Budapest, Seattle, Prague, and Abu Dhabi. W PRESENTS will also have a stage at other W Hotel properties this year, including W New York (Union Square), W Hoboken, W Hollywood, W Punta Cana, W Bali (Seminyak), W Singapore (Sentosa Cove), W Fort Lauderdale, W Dubai (Mina Seyahi), and W São Paulo, with event dates soon to be announced.
“W PRESENTS is a powerful platform for W Hotels – a brand that’s always been anchored in sound, scene, and self-expression,” shares George Fleck, Senior Vice President and Global Brand Leader, W Hotels in a press release. “As music-led travel continues to surge, W Hotels remains a cultural connector, setting the stage for discovery and unforgettable experiences that blur the line between performance and place. Through groundbreaking live sets and immersive experiences, we’re redefining how music and hospitality come together to create those moments that you just had to be there for.
Book your stay at the W Koh Samui hotel here.
