W Barcelona

Starwood announced in 2004 that the hotel would open with Ricardo Bofill as architect. The founder of Taller de Arquitectura in 1963 defined the building as 'a sail swollen by the wind'. The original design called for a taller skyscraper, but Josep Antoni Acebillo, as municipal architect, and the City Council limited it to 99 meters. The building stands on land reclaimed from the sea in the construction of the new entrance to the port. In October 2009, the W Barcelona finally opened, the first W hotel in Western Europe. The hotel was a source of controversy among residents of Barceloneta, although it received the 2010 Prix Villégiature for the Best Exterior Hotel Architecture in Europe.

The building designed by Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura is shaped like a sail, which earned it its popular name of Hotel Vela. Its 26 floors are perpendicular to the pier to maximize views of the Mediterranean and the city. The tower rises 99 meters above the Barceloneta beach. The hotel groups its facilities under a platform of terraces that connects to the beach. Together with the Agbar Tower and the Hotel Arts, the hotel's silhouette forms part of Barcelona's maritime and architectural landscape, with frequent comparisons to Dubai's Burj Al Arab.

The hotel is at the southern end of the Paseo Marítim de la Barceloneta, Barcelona's traditional seaside neighborhood. Barceloneta beach, with its beach bars and Mediterranean atmosphere, is at the foot of the hotel. The Port Olímpic with its restaurants is nearby. The Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas are accessible by public transport. The Parc de la Ciutadella and the Born complete the attractions of Barcelona's maritime environment.