When W Hotels says “You had to be there,” Hotel Tales shows you why.
The brand’s new editorial-documentary series follows bold creatives as their carefully planned itineraries unravel. It’s the official reveal of W Hotels recent multi-year brand transformation with W Dubai-Mina Seyahi as a playground for Adwa Bader. Shot across Europe and the Middle East, each short story is less about the city outside and more about what happens inside: the serendipity of a lobby encounter, a late-night studio session that starts at the W Lounge, a detour that becomes the whole trip. It’s travel as moodboard: unfiltered, magnetic, and irresistibly in the moment.
Our lens lands on Adwa Bader: multidisciplinary artist, actress, and a woman staring down a screenplay deadline with writer’s block knocking at the door. Her reset? Checking into W Dubai – Mina Seyahi, where the brand’s signature mix of bold design, intuitive service, and after-hours buzz turned the hotel into a working muse. Between sun-lit corners, beachside notes, and a swirl of unexpected inspirations, Adwa finds her rhythm again—proof that sometimes the right room is the real plot twist!
KHAMSA sat down with Adwa for an intimate chat about her relationship with W—how the brand’s spaces spark her creativity, the rituals that ground her process, and the moments from Hotel Tales that she just “had to be there” for.
All images are courtesy of W Dubai – Mina Seyahi.
١. W’s tagline is “you had to be there.” If you had to bottle the feeling of W Hotels in three sensory cues—one sound, one scent, one texture—what would they be, and why?
I would say wrapped in a blanket and I would say the scent is lavender oud. It’s very comforting. And the texture is very velvet, luxury. So it feels like you’re home, but wrapped in your mother’s arms.
٢. Give us your perfect 24 hours around the W Dubai – Mina Seyahi: where are you starting your morning, what’s your golden-hour ritual, and where does the night end?
I start my morning with gratitude, connecting with myself and journaling, reflecting all the night before in my dreams, and writing it all down. I’d follow that with a good brunch at the Ginger Moon, and then I’d move on to dinner at ATTIKO. Having a good meal at the golden hour, reflecting on life and just spending time with myself. And then finally in the evening, I spend time catching up with my family and my friends.
ŮŁ. Where in the city do you pull inspiration from the most?
Honestly, it’s the people. It’s just a melting pot of cultures, and I’m really grateful that we get to experience this international experience in the Middle East. You get to meet all sorts of people with all sorts of styles and everyone looks so chic and down to earth or upscale or luxury. You can find the best of all worlds and that’s where I draw my inspiration from!
٤. If a friend asked for one “Adwa-approved” thing to do at the W, what would you tell them, and why?
I would tell them to do everything. They need to experience it all. Otherwise, you haven’t experienced the W. It’s amazing.
٥. Imagine someone watching your Hotel Tales video, and decides to chase their own moment. What’s the one line you want them to hear from you?
Okay, I would say that the universe and creativity do not respond to desperation. So, let go and chase the vibes, chase what feels good to you, and that’s where inspiration comes from and creativity blossoms and flourishes. Once you throw that notebook out, once you throw that, “I have to do this” mentality, that’s when it comes in. That’s when the magic happens and it clicks!
