Armani Hotel Burj Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Key Data:

Order year                    2004

Project type                  First new hotel in world’s tallest building and first Armani Hotel

Location                       Dubai

Estimated investment    US$8bn

Completion                   Early 2009

Key Players:

Sponsor                  EMAAR Properties, EMAAR Hotels and Resorts Inc,

                              Giorgio Armani SpA, Giorgio Armani Hotels and Resorts

Lead contractors    Skidmore Owings Merrill, Samsung Constructions,

                             Turner Construction International, Armani Hotels and Resorts

Construction          BESIX, Arabtec, Arab Technical Construction Co, ETA M&E,

                            Al Khatib Cracknell, Lerch, Bates & Associates Inc, Bauer Spezialtief GmbH,

                            Middle East Foundations Group L.L.C, PMK International, GHD Pty Ltd,

                            Hyder Consulting Middle East Limited,

Construction         RWDI Anemos Ltd, Otis Elevator Co, Schmidlin AG HQ, DOKA,

                            voestalpine Grobblech GmbH

Financing              EMAAR Properties, EMAAR Hotels and Resorts LLC

Number of rooms  175

ARMANI HOTEL

In a deal forged in 2004, Giorgio Armani S.p.A. and EMAAR Hotels & Resorts LLC agreed to develop a unique series of international 'Armani Hotels and Resorts'. Giorgio Armani S.p.A. has awarded a long-term license to EMAAR Hotel & Resorts LLC for the operation of the hotels and resorts, where EMAAR will be fully responsible for real estate, construction, management and operations.

Giorgio Armani will oversee all aspects of content, design and style, including interiors and amenities, incorporating the various Armani fashion, furnishings and beauty collections.

Giorgio Armani S.p.A. has established an Armani Hotels and Resorts division at its headquarters in Milan, which has been actively developing the design concepts under the close supervision of Giorgio Armani. This will define the look and feel of the hotels and resorts.

ARMANI AT THE BURJ

The first Armani brand hotel is expected to be opened by the first quarter of 2009 and is under construction as part of the Burj Dubai development. The Dubai 'Armani Hotel' will include 175 guest rooms and suites, five restaurants and a spa, covering more than 40,000m². Alongside the hotel, the Burj Dubai will also offer 160 luxury residential apartments all designed by Giorgio Armani and fully furnished with a specially designed line of products from the Armani Casa home furnishings collection.

The schedule of Armani hotel openings to follow Dubai will be Milan, London, and New York along with the first resort. Giorgio Armani said, "This marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Armani story. In this our thirtieth anniversary year, I cannot think of a more energising prospect than bringing my philosophy of style and design to a collection of hotels and resorts.

"Today, more than ever before, fashion has expanded to encompass our way of life, not just how we dress, but where we live, which restaurants we eat at, which car we drive, where we go on holiday and which hotels we stay in.

"I strongly believe that for those people who enjoy the Armani fashion and home furnishings collections there will be a real enthusiasm for the possibility to now stay at an Armani hotel or resort. This continues our ongoing strategy of building the Armani universe into a comprehensive lifestyle brand."