Thomas Lélu Lends His Wit (Again!) to W Hotels

Fresh off the heels of Rockwell Group’s total transformation of the W Hotel – Union Square in New York as well as the debut of W Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, the first all-inclusive W Hotels stay, the hospitality brand has launched a playful ode to its current design-driven evolution. French artist Thomas Lélu, whose pithy text-based works are beloved by art and fashion circles, has created a new collection of bucket hats, canvas tote bags, and notecards for W Hotels. To celebrate recent property launches, Lélu now asks, in his signature pen-scrawled wit, “What’s included? Yes.”

This artistic collaboration originated in 2024 when Lélu first created a series of custom bags and cards, similarly full of charm, for W Hotels. This year, his two new aphorisms—the aforementioned “What’s included? Yes.” as well as “Do you look better in pictures or in person? Me: All-inclusive”—were inspired directly by W Punta Cana, whose design by Zanobia Arquitectura brings local vernacular into a lush tropical resort on stunning coastline. Lélu’s recognizable ballpoint handwriting adds a nonchalant panache to each souvenir from the island escape.

While Lélu shares humorous notes daily on his social media feeds, this ongoing partnership is an opportunity to bring them out of the digital realm. “It’s important for me that people can touch the words,” the artist said. “It’s not just ideas; it’s material.” And while a cap or bag can’t exactly replicate the feeling of a sun-kissed day in the Caribbean, they can hold the memories made there—with a quote that brings out a chuckle.

As W Hotels summed it on Instagram recently: “This collection captures the mindset of our newest escape through a series of phrases that feel a little too honest… and a little too familiar.” A luxury resort with a sense of humor? As Lélu would advise: “Sometimes all you need is a one-way flight.”