ACCOMMODATION

The UAE version of the US-based restaurant Ketchup will be opening in Downtown Dubai in September 2013 with an 'Eat One Kilo in Eight Minutes' competition to get into the restaurant's Hall of Fame.

“It is a true honour to be awarded the Green Globe Certification for the second consecutive time, one of the most prominent recognitions in the industry,” said Michael Sorgenfrey, General Manager at The Palace Downtown Dubai. “The certification is a testament to The Palace Downtown Dubai’s efforts to promote sustainability across all facets of the hotel’s operations.

Fashion house Armani is to transform one of London’s best known landmarks into a luxury hotel, it was claimed today. The brand synonymous with style and sophistication plans to open a £100million resort in Admiralty Arch. It is understood to be close to snapping up the gatehouse which leads from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace.

During the course of the festival, goodie bags will be distributed to visitors with VIP tickets in addition to VIP lanyards to ease their access to the dedicated lounge. The Address Hotels + Resorts will also be distributing booklets of complimentary vouchers to all VIP ticketholders.

Emaar Property’s first project in 2013, The Address Residence Fountain Views, on Saturday witnessed an overwhelming response, selling out all the units released on the first day of the launch, according to sources. The strong response to Emaar’s prime property indicates robust demand for premium developments in Downtown Dubai, which was one of the most sought-after communities for residential sales and leasing last year.

One of the first new serviced hotels in Dubai to complete will be Burjside Boulevard in the Burj Area with enviable views over the world's tallest tower and world's largest mall. Developed by DAMAC Properties, the region's largest luxury private developer, the 50-storey tower is set to begin handover later this year.

Emaar Properties, Dubai’s largest developer, will be launching The Address Residence Fountain Views, a luxury tower, in the Downtown Dubai distrcit later this month. The public launch of new tower is scheduled for January 26, according to an invite sent by the developer to its registered real estate agents.

The Address Downtown Dubai, the flagship hotel of The Address Hotels + Resorts, the hotel brand owned by Emaar Hospitality Group, has been chosen as the 'Best Hotel in the World' at the Global Traveler Annual Reader Survey Awards for the second consecutive year. Global Traveler is a monthly magazine for business and luxury travellers, and in this year's annual reader survey, more than 28,000 people - mostly frequent premium travellers - took part to determine the best in some 70 travel-related categories.

Dubai’s luxury hotel The Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa will be renovated in 2013, a spokesman for the hotel has said.

These days, purveyors of luxury can go beyond owning, eating or imbibing their favorite brand; they can live it. No longer content with selling a mere fraction of the lifestyle experience, an increasing number of high-end luxury companies have decided to open hotels, where their clients can eat, sleep and breathe the brand around the clock.