NEWS

After a few delays, designer Giorgio Armani formally opened the world’s first Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa on Tuesday and said his company would, in partnership with Dubai-based Emaar Properties, open 10 more such hotels over the next 10 years.

“If Burj Khalifa put Dubai and Emaar Properties in the global spotlight and added to our track record in project delivery, the performance of Emaar’s business segments highlighted our role as an integrated property developer adding long-term value to our stakeholders.”

World-renowned fashion designer Giorgio Armani has selected the French Fashion University Esmod in Dubai as partner for an upcoming fashion show that will mark the opening of the Armani Hotel in Burj Khalifa on April 27, 2010.

Housed in Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, the 160-room luxury hotel is as exclusive as its namesake’s designer duds with added amenities such as the Armani/Privé nightclub and the world’s first in-hotel Armani/Spa.

Its main discussion thread on the Burj Khalifa stretches to more than 26,000 comments – many of them including stage-by-stage photographs of the building’s construction – and has been viewed nearly seven million times.

The Armani Hotel is the first from fashion designer Giorgio Armani and will include eight restaurants, an upscale lounge, a spa with thermal suites, a fitness centre and an outdoor swimming pool.

The eagerly awaited grand unveiling of Armani Hotels’ first venture is set to take place this week: a 39-floor, five-star hotel housed in the Burj Khalifa. With 160 guest rooms and suites and 144 residential apartments, it’s no small venture. The launch itself is shrouded in secrecy, but, as with any opening in this city, the press, both here and internationally, will be quick to pass judgment as soon as they get a peek inside.

Emaar Properties PJSC, a global property developer with a significant presence in key markets worldwide, announced today first quarter 2010 revenue of AED 2,886 million (US$ 786 million), underpinned by the robust performance of the company’s hospitality and shopping mall subsidiaries during a period when the company opened the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa.

Armani Hotel Dubai, the world's first hotel developed by Armani Hotels '&' Resorts, in Burj Khalifa opened on April 21, 2010. It is the first such hotel to be launched under the collaboration between Emaar Properties PJSC and Giorgio Armani SpA. An integral component of Burj Khalifa, every element of the Armani Hotel Dubai has been personally designed by fashion legend Giorgio Armani.

Burj Khalifa scooped the top accolade at Cityscape Abu Dhabi, with judges praising the 828 meter tower in downtown Dubai as ‘truly iconic’. The Burj, designed by SOM architects for developers Emaar, won best mixed use category just weeks after re-opening to the public following problems with its lifts.