Guests Pay For WIP Treatment at W Hotel

Hotel Chatter: If you've ever envied the perks that guests receive when at a W hotel, you can now get the W treatment at the W Los Angeles-Westwood without spending the night.

The hotel just started offering WIP—W Important People—Platinum membership that gives members year-round access to the hotel's popular amenities, like its pool and fitness center. Plus, it will try to get you to stay the night by offering 25 percent off of hotel rates and free room upgrades and WiFi.

But not just anyone can join—the program sounds almost like a hotel country club. To become a WIP, it'll cost you $1,800 and you will have to apply. A committee will meet to go over the applications and select new members (once) a year.

If you are among those chosen for the limited-number memberships, you'll get one-time welcome benefits like a night in WOW suite—which usually starts at $319 a night—breakfast for two in Ninethirty, a "bliss"age service in Bliss Los Angeles, a personal yoga and workout session and two tickets to the Geffen Playhouse.

Regular membership perks will include admission to the pool and 24-hour gym, preferred rental pricing on the poolside cabanas (which all come tricked out with WiFi, TVs and DVD players), two complimentary pool chaise lounges Saturday to Sunday, 20 percent off Bliss Spa products and services and use of facilities at Bliss, 20 percent off dining at hotel restaurants and bars, preferred dining seating with 24-hour notice, free skate rentals to the seasonal rink CHILL, complimentary valet parking and access to WIP Platinum members-only quarterly and private events.

If you want to spend a lot of time at the hotel and become a WIP, you can download an application online. The W Los Angeles-Westwood will start accepting applications in May.