(ANSA) - Rome, May 8 - Armani Hotels & Resorts of Italian fashion guru Giorgio Armani will open the Armani Hotel in the Burj Dubai tower in Dubai in 2009, it emerged at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai running until May 9, 2008.

The Armani Hotel in Burj Dubai, developed in cooperation with UAE's EMAAR Properties, will have 160 rooms and suites, restaurants and a spa centre, covering a total area of 40,000 sq m. The hotel, as well as another 144 Armani Residences at Burj Dubai, will be fully furnished with the Armani Casa furnishing collections especially created for the hotel. The project is part of a wider cooperation programme between Giorgio Armani SpA and EMAAR Properties launched in 2005. The Armani-EMAAR pact envisages the opening of at least seven hotels and resorts in ten years in the world's largest cities.

The Burj Dubai opening will be followed shortly by the opening of an Armani Hotel in Milan, northern Italy, with New York, Shanghai and London to follow suit. The first Armani Resort is planned to rise in Marrakech, central Morocco. All projects in the portfolio will be personally designed by Giorgio Armani right down to the tiniest details.

Armani's presentation at the Arabian Travel Market is the first presentation to the public of the project of Armani Hotels & Resorts since Armani and EMAAR announced their partnership, Giorgio Armani said. There is enthusiasm and great expectations across the world one year before the first opening in Dubai, Armani added.