NEWS

London has been voted the "World's Leading Destination" at this year's World Travel Awards, which took place November 7. The World's Leading Hotel gong went to the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, despite rivalry from 26 other properties including the Armani Hotel in Dubai, the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower in India, the Hotel Ritz Paris and the Emirates Palace in neighboring Abu Dhabi.

A former employee of a hotel in the world's tallest building yesterday admitted peddling stolen goods for Dh300,000 in cash. A Dh53,000 Rolex watch swiped from the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa led to the discovery of the money in the home of the South African waiter.

Tom Cruise dangled from the top of the Burj Khalifa on Friday, as filming in Dubai for the spy thriller Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol entered its second week. The Hollywood star was sighted swinging from the world's tallest tower several times last week, and even dropped down to the 124th floor observation tower in a surprise visit to tourists.

International water feature specialist Crystal is delighted to have supported major contemporary artist Jaume Plensa, on the 'World Voices' sculpture at the Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai, U.A.E. Commissioned by EMAAR Properties. The art installation has the pride of place in the Burj Khalifa's dramatic residential entrance lobby in the iconic tower - now the world's tallest building.

It still might be the most familiar symbol of Dubai, but Burj (which translates as tower) Khalifa has grabbed attention lately as the tallest freestanding structure in the world, weighing in 828 metres with the world’s first Armani Hotel and a killer viewing platform on the 124th floor that includes high-tech viewing equipment to get a close-up of buildings miles away; something the CN Tower might want to try.

Eager crowds may catch their final glimpses of Tom Cruise this week as filming outside the Burj Khalifa for Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol wraps up. The Hollywood star has been dangling off the world's tallest tower this week, reprising his role as Ethan Hunt in the fourth instalment of the spy thrillers. On Saturday, he dropped down to the observation tower on the 124th floor to the shock - and delight - of tourists inside.

It wasn’t exactly the view they had expected from the 124th floor of the world’s tallest building. As they looked out from the observation deck of the 2,717ft skyscraper, Ben Mathew and his family were suddenly confronted by Tom Cruise – dangling in mid-air outside the window. The 48-year-old Hollywood star, suspended by several safety wires, was filming a stunt for Mission: Impossible IV.

Room prices at Dubai’s Armani Hotel, which occupies the first six floors of the Burj Khalifa, are trading at 40 percent down from the published rates at launch, Arabian Business can reveal. Seven months after its opening, a standard room at the 160-room Armani hotel will now set back guests AED2,400 ($653) compared to a rate card price of AED4,000 at the end of April.

Airberlin, Germany’s second-largest airline announced it will launch the first-ever nonstop flight service between Dubai and the German capital, Berlin. The announcement of the new route, which will launch on 4 November, was made at a press conference held in the Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai.

In addition to Armani's expensive catwalk collections, the store showcases his children's wear, a bookshop, flower shop and a branch of every celebrity's favourite restaurant, Nobu. Soon, it will also have an Armani Hotel - to go with the one already opened in Dubai.