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What do you get when you combine music, action and tropical destinations? The answer is W Presents Retreat, a new global live music series curated by W Hotels, which just took over the first launch activation of Koh Samui in Thailand.

The first event in the series is to immerse music, art and local culture in the sensory experience of music, art and local culture, a performance by emerging and established DJs and artists, all in the context of the beautiful Koh Samui Island. Following the latest season of White Lotus, they filmed Koh Samui on the same island, which became more like a hotspot to escape paradise, while W proposed a retreat to provide a weekend of amazing sights and sounds.

The retreat’s lineup includes the famous DJ and W Hotels’ global music director LP Giobbi, Plus Bonobo, Sofia Kourtesis, Beatrice, Emjie, Emjie, Joplyn, Mascolo, as well as Kate Sara, Dan Buri and W Koh Samui Music Curator, Armando Mendes. Every night, the artist plays for guests in different parts of the resort, from the pool at sunset in the ocean in the background, to the more intimate villa setting, and even on the streets of the fishermen’s village of Koh Samui.

Unlike most concerts, musicians hold in separate spaces Musicians and fans are off stage, everyone has VIP access to W Presents Retreat, where attendees are able to interact with the artist in a casual environment around the hotel property. Mix and mixing are encouraged throughout the weekend, with music fans flying from all over the world for daily (and nightly) shows. So, new friendships and connections were built Sabai Sabai (Traditional Thai welcome drink) on the beach. With only a few hundred guests on site, the event felt like a creator of exclusive knowledge and a fun-seeking person, and in fact, organizers say the goal of the retreat is not only to promote music and culture, but to promote the community.

“W Hotel has positioned itself at the intersection of hotels and music and has always been part of its core pillars,” said George Fleck, senior vice president of St. Regis, Edition and W Hotels. “For this brand, music has been a part of the cultural epochists every decade, so it’s very important for us to capture the sound of a decade, or the moment we’re in.”

Another "current" component is the introduction of W in Thailand, which has been a popular tourist destination, but due to White lotus. Although the HBO series was not shot at W Hotel Property, but in a four-season resort a few miles away, the choice of the first retreat W KOH SAMUI was completely intentional.

"Southumi has a long history and is a magnet for great artists and owners, in some great events in the past," Fleck said.

“I think another reason why this is a unique place is that most of the time, artists, we have a lineup, and you usually only see them in major nightclubs or large festivals,” he said. “To be able to bring them to this tiny place, you only share this experience with a few other people, and the other thousand are really special.”

In addition to enjoying live music, guests are immersed in local cuisine and Thai hospitality and have the opportunity to experience unique activities including visits to elephant shelters, Muay Thai training, island boat cruises and night market exploration.

Relaxation is also a large part of the retreat, which includes yoga and sound bath exercises. Of course, there are a lot of downtime whether guests want to read, diary, swim or just recalibrate with nature. After all, nothing is like hearing the sound of waves while looking at the huge blue water. Soothe and balance immediately.

W Koh Samui provides the ideal backdrop for a well-curated itinerary, combining an incredible week of relaxation, exploration and live music. After the first success, the organizer said that W introduces more information, details and locations of W will be announced soon. The retreat is different from anything else, and it is the best holiday for music fans who want to get an elevated, luxurious experience in nature.

As for W Hotels, they are currently in the middle of global brand evolution, improving aspects in every aspect such as detail-driven design, consistent and improved customer service, and dynamic programming and activation.