REZIDOR SAS ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST THREE MISSONI HOTELS
Rezidor SAS Hospitality is pleased to announce its first 3 Missoni hotels – Edinburgh, Kuwait and Dubai. The group signed a license agreement with the Italian fashion house Missoni, in November 2005, to develop the Hotel Missoni brand worldwide. The addition of these three new properties is a firm step by Rezidor SAS towards achieving its objective of 30 Missoni hotels under operation or development by the year 2010.
“Although several lifestyle and boutique hotels have already entered this segment, we strongly believe that the market is only ready now to embrace a truly global yet individualistic lifestyle brand, such as Hotel Missoni”, said Kurt Ritter, President & CEO, Rezidor SAS Hospitality. “Missoni is one of the few fashion brands that has an inherent and instantly recognisable look, and this essence fits perfectly with our objective to create a pure brand that is totally committed to quality and consistency in design and service, which effortlessly compliments and sustains a brand’s heritage,” adds Kurt Ritter.
Rezidor SAS plans to develop the brand in dynamic cosmopolitan cities and resorts around the world, starting within its recognized patch of Europe and the Middle East, all based on the group’s usual thoughtful and dynamic development strategy.
Hotel Missoni Kuwait will be the first major lifestyle development in the city of Kuwait at the Symphony Complex. The hotel will bestow spectacular views over the Arabian Gulf, and is scheduled to open in Q3-2007. Hotel Missoni Kuwait will offer over 200 stylish guestrooms, with a signature Missoni Cucina, Mocha Missoni, Missoni Lounge, Missoni Spa, a fitness centre with pool deck, a range of boardrooms and a major event venue.
Hotel Missoni Edinburgh will be one of the city’s most prominent hotel developments in decades. The hotel is located on the famous Royal Mile at Victoria Terrace and George IV Bridge. With plans to open the doors in Q4-2008, Hotel Missoni Edinburgh will offer 130 elegant guestrooms, a Bar Missoni, Missoni Cucina with private dining, a small spa and fitness, and graceful boardrooms.
Hotel Missoni Dubai has a prime location on the Crescent of the famed Palm Island with gorgeous views over the Gulf. The hotel will be constructed as a Mediterranean village with a private harbour, with over 250 guestrooms. Missoni signatures will come alive in the Missoni Cucina, Bar Missoni and Missoni Spa. The hotel will also feature a small fitness facility, pool deck and boardrooms. Hotel Missoni Dubai is scheduled to open in Q4-2008.
“Missoni, in my opinion, is a great brand. It’s real. It is not some creation to fit a short term market opportunity – it has history, it has a great story to it. A family owned enterprise, the brand has deep emotional roots, and everyone involved stays absolutely committed to doing the right things for the long term success and prosperity of the brand. And that’s where Rezidor SAS and Missoni have found a common ground to move forward to the next level,” says Gordon McKinnon, Brand Leader Hotel Missoni and Senior Vice President Brands, Rezidor SAS Hospitality.
To ensure quality and brand consistency, the interior designs of all Missoni hotels will be conceptualized and controlled by Italian design icon Matteo Thun, and locally implemented by celebrated and trusted partners of Rezidor SAS, such as, LWD of Dubai for Kuwait and Dubai establishments, and Graven Images of Glasgow for Edinburgh.
The fashion brand Missoni, on the other hand, is about to take a step up into the truly global stakes through extension of the fashion lines into hotels, homeware and children’s clothing. Most vibrant of them all is the extension into fragrance collection through a joint venture with American cosmetic giant, Estée Lauder. The launch is set for spring/summer this year, and is already making headlines as positioning the Missoni brand to a whole new international level.