Jumeirah appointed to manage one of New York's most prominent hotels, Essex House

Jumeirah will be working closely with Dubai Investment Group, a member entity of Dubai Holding, on a $50 million renovation programme of the Essex House Hotel to create a 500-room premier property on Central Park South in the heart of New York City.

This management contract acquisition follows Jumeirah's re-branding announcement in June this year, where the group also announced aggressive expansion plans to increase its portfolio to 40 hotels in the next five years.

Jumeirah will assume management of the Essex House Hotel in January 2006. Gerald Lawless, Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah, commented: "We feel privileged to have been awarded the management contract for this historic hotel in New York. We recognise the responsibility we have to enhance Essex House, and to consolidate its position as one of New York's few remaining truly original hotel experiences. We are very much aware of the contribution that the great staff of the hotel makes to the hotel's success, and we look forward to working with them in the future."

Lawless added: "We plan to create a true contemporary classic in New York, reflecting the tradition of the hotel's historic past and the ambition of its luxurious future." Plans for the hotel renovation will include extensive redesign and refurbishment of the lobby, rooms, public areas and the creation of market-unique food and beverage outlets. The hotel will remain open during the renovation period, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2006.

Lawless stated that both the hotel's new owners and new management company are focused on the objective of developing Essex House Hotel into a luxury destination hospitality experience, complementing New York's reputation as the world's leading business and leisure city.