Rezidor SAS Hospitality have concluded a worldwide license agreement with the Italian fashion house Missoni, to develop and operate a lifestyle hotel brand of the same name: Hotel Missoni.
Rezidor SAS will conclude on negotiations for sites for the new brand in the UK, mainland Europe, Russia, Asia Minor and the Middle East. With the first three Hotel Missoni’s expected to be open in 2007 and 30 expected to be open or under development by the year 2010.

Speaking at the completion of the agreement, Kurt Ritter, President and CEO of Rezidor SAS, said: “We have been believers in this market segment for a long time now and this deal gives us the perfect brand to take our share of this fast growing, increasingly important, market sector. I’m particularly delighted because the deal with Missoni has grown into much more than just a deal, it’s a relationship, a natural partnership, and that’s the only way that a brand like this can truly develop. It’s a very unique brand, with a great heritage, a very identifiable look, and real family values. I’m sure when we launch in 2007, Hotel Missoni is going to create quite an impact on the market.”

Vittorio Missoni, Director of Missoni S.p.A., added his comments: “We are very, very protective of the Missoni business that my family have built, and we want to ensure that we never sacrifice the values of that business at the expense of quick, short term growth. We’re sure that we have the right partners in Rezidor SAS and that they understand and will respect these values. We believe that hotels are a natural extension for our core brand and will work with, and complement, our fashion business, our Missoni Home collection and our new fragrance range, that will launch in spring next year.”

The design of the hotels will be developed through a tri-party team that will see Rezidor SAS and Missoni collaborate with Studio Thun, the Milan based architectural and design practice, headed by the celebrated architect Matteo Thun. The hotels will be reflective of contemporary Italian life and style, and will bring particular focus to the bathrooms, bedrooms, bars, restaurants - cucinas, spas, and the whole service culture and environment. The development strategy for the brand will concentrate on both city centre locations as well as resort destinations. With target destinations including: London, Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, Barcelona, St. Petersburg, Istanbul and Dubai.
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