ACCOMMODATION

The Armani Hotel, Georgio Armani's first-ever hotel, drips luxury and style, with fashionable decor and 'lifestyle managers' instead of hotel receptionists, all dressed head to toe in Armani. The hotel also boasts an Armani sweetshop and florist ... oh, and the world's highest swimming pool.

More than $6bn worth of hotel projects are due for completion in the Middle East by 2013 but greater emphasis is being put on sustainability, an industry expert said on Sunday. The Hotel Show will place at the Dubai World Trade Centre on May 17-19, with 400 exhibitors representing 25 countries.

The stage is set for next month’s Middle East Gala Ceremony, the first stage of the World Travel Awards 2011 Grand Tour, which will be hosted by Dubai’s Armani Hotel on May 2nd.

The other attractions within the Burj Khalifa have an air of glamour that visitors have come to expect from Dubai. Elevating its sleek factor: the Armani hotel and spa, which opened last spring at the tower’s base. The attention to detail and luxury is evident in chocolate-colored décor and a spa offering part- and full-day sessions, an outdoor pool and various treatments.

The Address Dubai Mall, the five star premium hotel adjoining The Dubai Mall, the world's largest shopping and entertainment destination, is hosting the annual The Address Hotels + Resorts Wedding Fair, that offers the entire array of wedding planning options under one roof.

The Missoni hotel, reflecting the designs of the Italian fashion house, has bold colours and striped and floral patterns throughout. Missoni, along with Versace, Armani and Bulgari, is part of a trend that has emerged in recent years for fashion names to move into hospitality.

When the Ritz-Carlton closed the doors to its original Hong Kong hotel in 2008, it wasn't long before the hotel group would make one of its biggest announcements in hotel history: the next Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong would be open just three years later and would be the highest hotel in the world, surpassing the Armani Hotel at the Burj Khalifa, which opened in March 2010.

The Residence at Burj Khalifa is located from levels 19 to 108 in the world's tallest building. These comprise an elegant collection of studios, and one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units. Unit size is 546 to 2,333 square feet and amenities include state-of-the-art fitness facilities, swimming pools, Jacuzzis, recreation room, private library, cigar club, convenience store and valet parking.

Bashir Hiridjee's purchase of Armani Residences 1218 is not a mere bricks-and-mortar investment. "Living in the Burj Khalifa is truly a privilege. Living in an Armani Residence is magical since you are treated like a prince.

One inevitable area of travel exhibitions and conferences is that many organisations use the occasion to throw out some fascinating statistics and trends. Industry will start to see co-branded hotels for signature hotels – hypothetical example, Armani Hotel in Dubai or a Rough Guide Intercontinental.