MILAN, Italy -- Bulgari, the Italian designer of expensive jewelry
and perfumes, said it will open its first luxury hotel in
partnership with Marriott in Milan by the end of next year.
The hotel will feature 58 rooms and will be managed by
Ritz-Carlton, although only the Bulgari name will be evident.
It will be the first of more than a half-dozen luxury Bulgari
hotels that are planned for major capitals during the next five
years, including London, Miami, New York, Paris, Rome and
Tokyo.
Bulgari and Marriott announced their joint venture, called
Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, in February 2001.
The deal calls for Marriott to operate the hotels, which
typically will be small and owned by real estate partners.
As part of the agreement, Ritz-Carlton was paired with Bulgari
in a new luxury group division based in Atlanta.