ACCOMMODATION

Another world first can be found over at the Burj Khalifa which is home to fashion house Armani’s debut hotel. Luxury oozes from every crevice of the Armani Hotel, from the sleek designs of the rooms that make you feel as though you have stepped on to a photo shoot to the finishing touches that even include Armani branded sugar cubes. And the food is certainly an experience, with eight restaurants to choose from including the Armani Ristorante which, in keeping with the brand’s founder, is an Italian delight.

Emaar Hospitality Group LLC plans to manage five new hotels under its brand “The Address” in the coming four years, doubling the hotels it operates, Chief Executive Officer Marc Dardenne said. The company, which operates Armani’s first property in the world’s tallest tower, will open hotels in the south of France and Marrakesh, Morocco in 2013. It’s also planning hotel-openings in Bali, Budapest and Istanbul the following year. Emaar Hospitality is also looking at opportunities in China, he said.

Dubai hosts – despite all those financial troubles in the recent past – the highest building on earth. The 828 meters tall Burj Khalifa is a symbol for sustained activities in the Middle East hotel investment and real estate sector. The region also accommodates one of the most exclusive hotels in the world – the Armani Hotel with its 160 luxurious suites.

As we approached the tower, we were stopped at the entrance where a guard verified our details, the car plate number and allowed us access. The valet – a service offered complementary to all residents and guests – then takes over. As we walk through the huge, impressive lobby, marked by a unique drum-cymbal decor, we get past the glass doors, which can be opened only with an access card, and take the lift to the 76nd floor. There one has to change lifts to go higher.

It was the promise of goat on the menu that prompted my visit to Asado, the Argentinean steak restaurant at The Palace-The Old Town. We sat outside at a table facing the Burj Dubai lake, the Khalifa looming in the background and every so often, we saw the tail end of the Dubai fountain. Goat or no goat, first impressions were good.

The new property joins Dubai's well-established range of luxury hotels, led by names such as the Armani Hotel, Jumeirah's Atlantis and the "seven-star" Burj Al Arab, but recent reports have suggested that despite its top-end offerings, Dubai is still suffering from a shortage of visitors - which could lead to bargains for visitors.

Participating beach hotels for the DSF are The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Mina A Salam and Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina. City hotels include the Grand Hyatt, Dubai Marriott, Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, Hyatt Regency, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, The Address Dubai Marina, The Fairmont Dubai, Shangri-La Hotel, Raffles, Taj Palace Hotel, The Palace - Old Town, Premier Inn Dubai International Airport, Four Points by Sheraton, Al Manzil Hotel, Qamardeen Hotel, Marco Polo Hotel and Highland City Hotel.

A few days after its first anniversary, the Burj Khalifa, is inspiring a similar structure in China. The People’s Daily, in a report on Thursday, said the proposed $1.3 billion tower (the Burj cost an estimated $1.5 billion to build) would come up in Mentougou district of the capital and would house a seven-star hotel.

After a year of its inaugural, the Burj Khalifa has made its name as one of Dubai's largest tourist attractions and has aided the nearby hotels to increase their business up to 35% over the last two years.

The 160-room hotel opened in April in downtown Dubai and occupies floors in the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa. It's a studiously sober property where black, white, grey and beige rule. So-called lifestyle managers waft about like runway models, each assigned to specific guests; it's a hands-on approach ("360-degree service", says my lifestyle manager) that enhances the carefully managed nature of the hotel but won't suit every traveller.