World's tallest building will open on January 4. Thursday, 19th November 2009 Source : 4Hoteliers.com, DTCM & with input from newswires

Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world, will open next year and the opening will coincide with the fourth anniversary of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum becoming the Ruler of Dubai.

"We decided to inaugurate the world's highest tower during an anniversary that is dear to the hearts of everyone," Emaar chairman Mohammed Alabbar said.
 
"The Burj Dubai reflects the ambitious vision set by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid." Work on the Burj Dubai started in January 2004 and the tower reached 100 levels in January 2007.

A month later, it surpassed the Sears Tower in Chicago as the building with the most floors in the world.

(Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing - www.dubaitourism.ae ) 

The building will also be the home of the 175 rooms, deluxe Armani Hotel which will include 5 restaurants and a spa.

Armani Hotel Dubai

The first Armani brand hotel is expected to be opened by the first quarter of 2009 and is under construction as part of the Burj Dubai development.

The Dubai 'Armani Hotel' will include 175 guest rooms and suites, five restaurants and a spa, covering more than 40,000m? Alongside the hotel, the Burj Dubai will also offer 160 luxury residential apartments all designed by Giorgio Armani and fully furnished with a specially designed line of products from the Armani Casa home furnishings collection.

The schedule of Armani hotel openings to follow Dubai will be Milan, London, and New York along with the first resort. Giorgio Armani said, "This marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Armani story. In this our thirtieth anniversary year, I cannot think of a more energising prospect than bringing my philosophy of style and design to a collection of hotels and resorts.

"Today, more than ever before, fashion has expanded to encompass our way of life, not just how we dress, but where we live, which restaurants we eat at, which car we drive, where we go on holiday and which hotels we stay in.

Armani Hotels & Resorts / Emaar

In May 2005 Giorgio Armani S.p.A. signed an agreement with Emaar Properties to create a series of Armani Hotels & Resorts.

Under the terms of this agreement Giorgio Armani undertook responsibility for originating and implementing design concepts that would define the style and mood of a new international chain of hotels, resorts and luxury residences scheduled to open in the world’s leading cities and tourist destinations.

Elegance and harmony were to be the keynotes of the project, offering guests the opportunity to enjoy a total experience rooted in the Armani lifestyle. The first of these Armani hotels will open in Dubai during 2009, and will be followed by another in Milan in 2010. 

eMaar: "It is our aim to develop and operate unique hotel branded products at five star level that are internationally recognized as the finest “lifestyle” oriented hotel or resort, providing seamless integration of spectacular design, cutting edge technology and world class service in the markets we serve."

The first Armani/Emaar hotel is destined to be in the Burj Dubai and we are looking to develop and operate a collection of branded, mix-use properties that are unsurpassed in quality, innovation and service.

The recruitment activities was highlighted by arabianbusiness.com: "A recruitment drive spanning 16 countries will take place to ensure the hotel is served by a cosmopolitan team of staff, according to a statement on Tuesday by Armani Hotels & Resorts, a partnership between Dubai developer Emaar Properties and Italian fashion and luxury goods group Giorgio Armani."