# Glassy Mediterranean Hotels W Barcelona Offers Spectacular Architecture Close to the City By Katie Cordrey | Published 2010-01-28 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/w-barcelona References: [betterlivingthroughdesign](http://www.betterlivingthroughdesign.com/travel/w-barcelona-and-london.html) & [starwoodhotels](http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3183) W Barcelona is [luxury beachfront hotel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/regent-santa-monica-beach) created by the world-famous Ricardo Bofill. The hotel’s architectural design, [hotel interior design](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kimpton-los-monteros-hotel) and room design are deliciously hip, but the hotel’s amenities and food get mixed reviews. The W Barcelona hotel was built less than two years ago and sits out on the tip of a peninsula, so it is somewhat isolated from the action of the city. It may not be the best choice for those who want downtown hustle and bustle or old world charm. Still, it would be hard to beat the fabulous ambiance near an iconic city [overlooking the Mediterranean Sea](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/contemporary-mediterranean-restaurant). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.4/10 - Popularity: 56% | Activity: 97% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Travel](https://www.trendhunter.com/travel) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Luxury Beachfront Hotels:** Opportunity for innovative hotel designs that combine luxury with stunning beachfront locations. - **Architectural Design:** Opportunity for architects to create iconic and visually striking hotel designs. - **Mixed-use Developments:** Opportunity to integrate hotels with other amenities to create a unique and vibrant guest experience. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Hospitality:** Opportunity for hotels to elevate their offerings by incorporating innovative design elements. - **Architecture:** Opportunity for architects to push the boundaries of design in the hotel industry. - **Real Estate:** Opportunity to create mixed-use developments that blend hospitality with other commercial and residential components. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Elegant Boutique Hotels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-barcelona-edition.md) - [Extravagant Catalan Hotels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sls-barcelona.md) - [Modern Functionalist-Style Tuscan Hotels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/w-florence.md) - [Historic Beachside Mediterranean Resorts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/montecarlo-beach.md) - [Mid-Century Nostalgic Hotel Redesigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hotel-riomar.md) - [Verdant Adults-Only Destinations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/w-punta-cana.md) - [Seaside Bold Red Resorts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/red-sol.md) - [Mediterranean-Inspired Restaurant Interiors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zaytinya-nyc.md) - [Modern Mallorca Stays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zafiro-palace-andratx.md)