Starwood Hotels & Resorts is set to enter Israel with its W brand in 2015 with the opening of W Tel Aviv - Jaffa.

Owned by Manhattan-based RFR Holding, the hotel will be set inside a historic 19th century heritage building.

W Tel Aviv - Jaffa is being designed by British architect John Pawson along with Ramy Gill Architects and Urban Designers, who has also designed the new Jaffa port.

The hotel will feature 125 guestrooms and suites as well as its signature Away Spa and Sweat fitness suite.

This project will also include 38 W-branded residences featuring apartments ranging from 70 to 400 sq m (753 to 4,305 sq ft). The six-storey Residences at W Tel Aviv - Jaffa will be built alongside the heritage building in which the hotel is housed.

Bart Carnahan, senior vice president of acquisitions & development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, MEA said: "The new signing underlines Starwood's continued commitment to grow our portfolio of luxury brands globally.

"W Hotels is well poised to continue its expansion into some of the most exciting and vibrant destinations around the world."

W Hotels currently has 44 hotels and retreats open and the brand is on track to reach more than 60 hotels by the end of 2015, which includes new openings in Milan, Bogotá, Muscat, Beijing, Shanghai and Abu Dhabi.