ACCOMMODATION

Recognizes the significance of outstanding architecture and design of a hotel or component therein. Nominees: Capella, Singapore; Aria Resort & Casino, Las Vegas; Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona; Armani Hotel Dubai; and Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad.

Located in the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, the 160-room hotel is clad from bedhead to bar with Giorgio Armani-designed furnishings from the label's home collection. A total of four resorts and 10 Armani hotels are planned for the world's fashion capitals, including Milan (2010), London, Paris, New York and Tokyo.

Passengers stay at the Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport Hotel. Those travelling onwards to Europe, or other destinations on the Emirates network, can also receive one free night in Dubai at The Armani Hotel, or The Address.

Mr Marc Dardenne, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Hospitality Group and Emaar Hotels & Resorts, and Mr Brian LaBelle, Senior Vice President, Skywards, recently signed the agreement at a ceremony held at Level 152 of Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower.

Not content with supermodels, catwalks and a roll call of rich and famous clients, these fashion designers are increasingly spreading their creative wings to include interior design projects for hotels – see Hotel Maison Moschino in Milan, the Missoni Hotel in Edinburgh or the Hotel Armani in Dubai - or even launching their own interiors collections.

The 160-room hotel, which opened in April in the designated Downtown Dubai district, is the first Armani property (others are in the pipeline; one in Milan is scheduled to open next) and occupies floors ground to eight and levels 38 and 39 of the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa.

Elisabetta Gucci may be the daughter of the late fashion mogul Paolo Gucci and the great-granddaughter of the founder of the company, but the prospective launch of her eponymous hotel in Dubai has reignited a long-running feud between the family and the global fashion house of the same name.

The Address Downtown Dubai is the flagship hotel of The Address Hotels + Resorts, and is located in Downtown Dubai, described as the new soul of the city. The 63-storey hotel, the second tallest in the neighborhood, overlooks Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building; The Dubai Mall, the worlds largest shopping and entertainment destination; and The Dubai Fountain, the worlds tallest performing fountain.

Experience the spa environment that reflects the Giorgio Armani lifestyle and design philosophies at the worlds first in-hotel ARMANI/Spa at Armani Hotel Dubai exclusively located in Burj Khalifa.

Armani Hotel Dubai opened in April, and last year the people at Moschino launched Maison Moschino in Milan. The Missonis plan to open hotels in Kuwait, Oman and Brazil by 2012.