Just what we need – a new hotel

Just what we need – a new hotel

Owning hotels seems to be in fashion: Hot on the heels of the Armani Hotel’s arrival, Elisabetta Gucci is said to be checking in with one of her own.

June 7, 2010 4:39 by shafeer

Kipp knows a thing or two about fashion. Members of the team are rarely seen without some high end brand on, from Tommy Hilfinger polo shirts and Hugo Bass suits to Jimmy Choo-choos and Dolce and Cabana.

So imagine how happy we were when we found out Elisabetta Gucci is planning to open a hotel, right here in Dubai. Just down the road, in fact, in Dubai’s Media City. It will be her first hotel, says the National, which didn’t surprise Kipp that much – a quick show of hands at the office reveals none of us has a hotel yet, either.

But we’re not planning any, and she is. In fact, she (daughter of Paolo Gucci) and her designer brand are hoping to launch three a year for the next 15 years. (Wouldn’t it make more sense to open one or two, and see how you get on first?)

All the usual growth destinations are being bandied about, including Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi in the Middle East, and China, Brazil and Russia further afield.

There are two questions bothering Kipp. First, does Dubai really need a new up-market hotel? Since the downturn, most of them have been on their uppers, with low occupancy across the board.

But second, and most importantly, first Armani, then Gucci. What next? Given the poor supply of budget and mid-market hotels, how about the GAP Inn, the Levi lodge or the Next Hotel?

Anyway, got to run, our Rolax watch is telling us it’s time to get going.