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Armani’s first hotel, initially due to open last year in Burj Dubai – the world’s tallest building – is now set for autumn 2009, with 160 rooms and a 40,000 square metre spa. The Italy-based Armani hotel brand has been in the pipeline for five years following the initial signing of a deal between Armani and Dubai’s EMAAR Hotels and Resorts. A global property developer, EMAAR is responsible for the real estate, construction, management and operations of the new hotel chain, while Giorgio Armani oversees all aspects of content, design and style.
The EMAAR/Armani agreement anticipates at least seven luxury hotels and three resorts (the first is likely to be in Marrakech), backed by an investment sfrom EMAAR of US$1 billion (796,000 euros) within ten years. Although the initial timeframe now looks optimistic, work has just begun on the Armani Hotel Milano, which is to be the brand flagship and is being built above Armani’s existing retail and restaurant location on Via Manzoni in Milan’s fashion district. Every aspect of the Milan hotel is to be a reflection of Armani’s aesthetic philosophy, the designer insists.
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