MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: April 2021 – W Melbourne's first W Insider and Music Curator are setting the stage for epic events and guest experiences at the luxury lifestyle hotel. W Insider Jacob Detering is tasked with making the impossible possible for guests. As Music Curator, Rachel Phillips aka DJ Minx, books electric weekly programming and next level major happenings at the hotel.

Bringing a super-charged energy to what's New/Next at W Melbourne, the duo help amplify the guest experience across all areas of the hotel, which recently opened its doors on February 4.

 As W Insider, Jacob is tasked with uncovering the unexpected and bringing guests back-lane access to Melbourne's hottest experiences – the kind you won't find in a guidebook.

 Born and raised in Melbourne, Jacob always jumped at the chance to become involved in local creative projects, leading him to co-host an indie breakfast radio show, and publish an underground magazine. With a background in film, music video production and the arts, Jacob brings his artistic passions to the W Insider role to create truly memorable guest moments.

 “I always look forward to the guests that want a little bit extra,” he says. “There's an electricity to connecting with guests who share a passion for getting behind the scenes of the local creative culture. I'm all about connecting guests to their interests, like visiting the newest pop-up experience, an insider party that no-one has heard about, or a new laneway restaurant that's just opened.”

 A hotelier by trade, Jacob has several years of industry experience and is thrilled to be back in his hometown to reconnect with the city and all it has to offer.

 Another central role in driving the energy behind a stay at W Melbourne is the hotel's Music Curator. With extensive local and international experience as a DJ, Rachel ignites the day-in-day-out music programming and curation of major happenings throughout the year.

 Over the past 16 years Rachel has toured the globe playing at the hottest nightclubs including Pacha, Café Mambo Blue Marlin in Ibiza, and DJing alongside the likes of Pete Tong, Carl Cox and Deadmau5. The Darling of Australia's club scene, Rachel has left a strong footprint on home soil headlining at Goodbar, 161, and Pawn & Co, and festival line-ups across the country including Stereosonic, Good Vibes, For The Love and Future Music Festival.

 Rachel brings her experience, connections, and natural intuition to create an electric energy at all events at W Melbourne. With a focus on showcasing local emerging talent, Rachel is set on making W Melbourne stand out from the rest.  

 “Music plays such a pivotal role in driving vibrant experiences for our guests, helping them to truly soak it in and live it up in the hotel and build their energy as they get ready for a night out. I am obsessed with finding fresh local talent and sitting them alongside those familiar faces to deliver that unmistakable Melbourne sound, and celebrating a city that truly places music at its heart” says Rachel.

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About W Melbourne

Melbourne's first luxury lifestyle hotel with its rebellious Flinders Lane address, W Melbourne opened its doors in February 2021, taking its design cues from the streets of Australia's cultural capital. Holding the back-lane entrance keys to what's New/Next in the city and revealing a playground where the early risers to the late-night revellers can turn up the tracks in this truly 24/7 city. Extending the laneway culture inside, 294 bold rooms and suites peel back the layers and revel in the city's creative history. 830 square meters of ultra-modern event space will set the stage for spectacular events. Vibrant restaurants and bars will amp up the experience; with WARABI set to shake up Japanese dining, Lollo to take you from day, night to beyond, with a highly celebrated local chef, Curious will be the bar to see and be seen in and Culprit a café come wine bar will serve up your double shot latte, to that afternoon spritz. Detox in the state-of-the-art FIT gym then retox with a dip and a sip in the WET® pool, all whilst soaking up the city skyline views.

 For more information on W Melbourne visit wmelbourne.com or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About W Hotels Worldwide

Born from the bold attitude and 24/7 culture of New York City, W Hotels, part of Marriott International, Inc., has disrupted and redefined the hospitality scene for over two decades. Trailblazing its way around the globe, with nearly 60 hotels, W is defying expectations and breaking the norms of traditional luxury wherever the iconic W sign lands. With a mission to fuel guests' lust for life, W ignites an obsessive desire to soak it in, live it up and hit repeat. The brand's provocative design, iconic Whatever/Whenever service and buzzing Living Rooms create an experience that is often copied but never matched. Innovative, inspiring and infectious, the brand's super-charged energy celebrates guests' endless appetite to discover what's new/next in each destination, to see more, feel more, go longer, stay later. For more information on W Hotels, visit whotels.com/theangle or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. W Hotels Worldwide is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition.

To enrol for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.

Media Contacts:

Caris Kinsella

0417 973 054 | caris@themintpartners.com.au