The JW Marriott Danang Resort will be an integral part of a mixed-use development which will also include residential villas and a Greg Norman-designed golf course. Future phases will include additional residential units, a convention/exhibition center, retail stores and two mid-tier hotels.

The development will be located between Danang and Hoi An along Vietnam’s central coast, which is home to many natural, cultural and historic sites. Among nearby notable UNESCO World Heritage sites are the ancient imperial city of Hue, the historic port of Hoi An and the ruins of the Cham ruins at My Son.

“We are excited to be part of the emergence of Vietnam’s central coast as an important global leisure travel destination with what promises to be a premier example of our luxurious JW Marriott hotel brand,” said Ed Fuller, president & managing director of international lodging for Marriott International.

JW Marriott is Marriott International’s premier luxury hotel brand that appeals to travelers who appreciate an unpretentious approach to luxurious surroundings, services and amenities. There are 39 JW Marriott properties located in major cities and resort destinations in 18 countries throughout the world.

Situated directly on the beach, the JW Marriott Danang Resort will offer unobstructed views of the East Sea. All resort guests will enjoy spacious guestrooms with amenities that include luxurious bedding, flat screen televisions and high-speed internet access. The well-appointed four-fixture bathrooms will feature a separate bath tub and shower.

For dining and entertainment, the resort will have a grand lobby lounge and three restaurants: a casual outlet offering three meals daily and two specialty restaurants. A pool bar will round out the facilities.

Recreational amenities will include a spa equipped with 10 treatment rooms; an outdoor swimming pool and a children’s wading pool; a fitness center offering a sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi; a kid’s club; a water sports pavilion; and a recreation pavilion with a library and games room. Additional amenities include a gift shop, a retail shopping arcade, and a business center. Guests at the resort will also have access to the adjacent Greg Norman-designed championship golf course.

For conferences and social events, the JW Marriott Danang Resort will have 1,400 square meters of meeting space. This will be comprised of a 600-square meter divisible ballroom, four individual meeting rooms in varying configurations and an 80-square meter boardroom.

The Marriott International portfolio in Vietnam currently consists of the 336-room Renaissance Riverside Saigon and the 538-room New World Hotel Saigon.

The VinaCapital Danang Resort Ltd. is owned by VinaCapital Group, Vietnam’s leading asset management and financial services firm. VinaCapital’s experienced real estate team will lead development of the villas and golf course surrounding the JW Marriott Danang Resort.

Burton has sought to ensure attention to detail is key throughout the Heritage collection.

These latest mens jackets feature a half canvas construction which forms to the body to give the wearer more comfort. The fabric selections reflect a strong attention to detail with the use of traditional Prince of Wales check and pin stripes inspired by the Burton mens clothing archives.

The fabric selection and labeling of the mens suits take their inspiration from original 1940s, 50s and 60s Burton garments which are then brought up to date with a sharper modern fit. The suits are made from pure merino wool and woven in the British mill first used by Montague Burton over 70 years ago and feature intricate detailing such as trouser brace buttons and an embroidered Burton ”B” on the under collar.

Montage Burton once said, ”Good clothes develop a man’s sense of self respect”, and the Heritage collection continues his legacy by offering a superior garment at an accessible price.

“Luxury products have to challenge you in order to buy them,” says Marianna Tsoureka, a veteran luxury retailer whose family has teamed with the Italian brand on the new store. “Greeks are consumers, but they didn’t have access” to a lot of top brands.

Up to now, that is.

Only in the last few years have international fashion brands slowly made their entrance. Louis Vuitton was one of the first to arrive, followed by Hermès, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tod’s and Burberry. Dior and Balenciaga arrived just last year.

But the pace is picking up this autumn, with several additions to the Greek capital’s luxury map – although many of the newcomers still are collaborating with Athens’s most-recognized fashion names.

“While obviously China and India are very important to everyone in the luxury market, especially in these economic times, the Oscar de la Renta customer has a certain taste level, and lifestyle, that will only be found in certain developed countries,” says Alex Bolen, chief executive at Oscar de la Renta.    

De la Renta is opening a 300-square-meter, or 3,230-square-foot, store on Oct. 15 in the affluent suburb of Kifissia, a project that is being done in collaboration with Harris Tsimoyiannis, its longtime local partner. A store also is opening a few days earlier in Madrid, but the fashion house is calling the Athens’s site its first official monobrand store in Europe.

Its partner, the Tsoureka family, also owns the 30-year-old retailer Rossi and runs the Luisa multibrand outlets, which showcase Alexander McQueen, Etro, Missoni, Stella McCartney and Yves Saint Laurent, among others.

Thanks to Anastasia Tsoureka, the daughter of Marianna and her husband Zafiris, Rossi also is introducing Lanvin and Manolo Blahnik franchises. Lanvin opened in the Kolonaki neighborhood Oct. 4 and Blahnik is set to pen in the same area later in the month.

“The arrival of the luxury sector in Greece is long overdue and, though slow-paced, it comes with a high chance of success when it occurs in prime spots and attracts consumers in selected areas,” says John Arapoglou, an equity research analyst at Piraeus Securities.

High-end retail also is getting a mall. The Golden Hall, the result of a €75 million renovation of the former International Broadcasting Center for the 2004 Olympics, is expected to open at the end of November. The building’s original skeleton has been retained, but its 40,000-square-meter interior is being rebuilt to house fashion labels like Furla, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tod’s, Tommy Hilfiger, Loewe, Marithé et François Girbaud and Longchamp.

While much of the planning for these projects was done long before the current financial turmoil, the retailers all voice confidence in their eventual success.

“The timing of our investment in the brands is not affected by possible opportunities that arise sometimes in period of crisis,” notes Aris Rakas. “It rather has a longer term outlook compared to the current crisis, which we hope is a cyclical phenomenon.”

His Rakas company is putting the finishing touches on two Marc by Marc Jacobs stores – the first, a 160-square-meter shop, opened in Kolonaki on Oct. 3; the second is to be at the Golden Hall. It also teamed with Diane Von Furstenberg to open a 130-square-meter store on Sept. 26 in Kolonaki.

TripAdvisor, an online travel community, has come up with a list of 10 top wine destinations in the world, according to its editors and traveler popularity. This list is not endorsed by Reuters:

1. Geaux Bordeaux: Bordeaux, France

Perhaps the world’s most famous wine destination, the Bordeaux region of France has long been renowned for its vineyards that produce everything from delicious table wines to the most expensive bottles in the world.

2. Golden Grapes: Napa Valley, California

Napa Valley has long been synonymous with superb wine and striking scenery, both of which draw millions of wine lovers to the region each year. Home to nearly 400 unique wineries, the valley has a Mediterranean climate that is ideal for growing a variety of grapes, from Cabernet Sauvignon to Zinfandel.

3. Keen on Chianti: Tuscany, Italy

Famed for its reds like Chianti and Montalcino, the Tuscany region of Italy is a delight for the senses. Celebrated not only for its vineyards and its cuisine, its sheer natural and historic beauty make it one of the world’s most sought-after destinations and a magical place to taste the local “vino.”

4. A Bit of the Bubbly: Champagne-Ardenne, France

The Champagne province is famous for the beloved sparkling white wine that shares its name. Its neatly-tended vineyards amongst a picturesque natural landscape, rich history, and unique culture make this region as vibrant as its effervescent wine.

5. Raising the Barossa: Barossa Valley, Australia

This scenic region in Southern Australia is highly regarded for its Shiraz and its other robust varieties of red wine. Characterized by its visibly rich German heritage, along with its rolling, vine-covered hills, Barossa Valley is a beautiful destination for sightseers and wine connoisseurs alike.

6. Spanish Inbibation: La Rioja, Spain

Spain’s most famous wine destination, Rioja is divided into three regions: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Baja. Most recognized for its outstanding reds, the region’s wines are particularly distinctive because of the oak aging and delicious vanilla flavors.

7. To the Moon: Sonoma Valley, California

Nicknamed the “Valley of the Moon” by legendary writer and one time Sonoma local Jack London, the Valley features amazing vineyards, with particularly remarkable whites, as well as beautiful scenery and charming towns.

8. Grand Central: Valle Central, Chile

Just outside the Chilean capital of Santiago, the gorgeous Valle Central set among the Andes Mountains and Pacific Ocean is internationally acclaimed. Wine enthusiasts will be particularly fond of the Maipo Valley’s Cabernets, and the Curico’s Chardonnays.

9. Great Escape: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Home to one of South Africa’s most visited wine routes, Stellenbosch is the heart of the Cape Winelands region, with more than 100 wine cellars to visit surrounding the culturally rich center town of Stellenbosch.

10. Blanc Stare: Marlborough, New Zealand

Located on the southern island of New Zealand, Marlborough is widely regarded as the country’s birthplace of winemaking. Famous for its white wine varietals, the region is best known for its delectable Sauvignon Blancs.

Three high-profile fashion weeks vie for attention in October with no shortage of glitz and glamour to beguile local and oversees buyers.

Two of India’s premier fashion events clashed in New Delhi last week while a third, the Lakme fashion week in Mumbai, kicked off on Monday.

International buyers said the country’s designers were in sync with global trends in fashion, and their creations met international standards.

“I think they lack in nothing,” Jessica, a buyer from American retailer Anthropologie, told Reuters.

And there was no sign of the global credit crunch at the earlier Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week and Delhi Fashion Week, where spring-summer collections for 2009 featured an eclectic mix of jumpsuits, high-waisted pants and short tunics with Indian motifs and geometric prints.

Sumeet Nair, head of the Delhi Fashion Week, said it might be a good opportunity for Indian fashion designers to offer international buyers trendy clothes at low prices and make inroads abroad.

TRULY INDIAN

Indian fashion, with its legacy of handicraft, color and durable motifs, has garnered growing global appreciation, and some designers at the fashion weeks showcased the best of fabric and craftsmanship from the country.

The designer trio of Ashish, Viral and Vikrant espoused the cause of the kota fabric, a light, airy natural fabric that they say is perfect for summer.

Newcomers like Urvashi Kaur used a lot of Indian fabrics without prints or embellishments — a rarity in the country’s fashion circles — while designer duo Parvesh and Jai dipped into unfamiliar waters with a separate line of beachwear — a rarity in India.

“All that the Indian designers need now is better finishing of their clothes,” said Sunil Sethi, president of the Fashion Design Council of India, which organized the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week.

The flagship development of Emaar Malls Group, The Dubai Mall is one of the world’s largest shopping, lifestyle and entertainment destinations featuring over 1,200 retailers. Of these, more than 165 are opening in Dubai or the Middle East region for the very first time, offering a fresh international retail mix that spans fashion and apparel, accessories to homewares, jewellery and entertainment concepts.

Galeries Lafayette, the prestigious French retailer and Bloomingdale’s, America’s leading department store are confirmed key anchors, marking the first time each retailer will be opening a store outside their country of origin. Hamley’s, London’s famous toy store is launching their Middle East flagship store in The Dubai Mall to the delight of children and families across Dubai.

A 55,304 sq ft Waitrose, ‘voted Britain’s best high street retailer’, is the mall’s anchor supermarket and the largest in the growing Downtown Burj Dubai development. Waitrose in The Dubai Mall will be the first ever store outside the UK, and a regional first. Expected to have a loyal following in Dubai, Waitrose’s commitment to freshness and innovative, quality food products will be on offer in its bakery, butchery, fishmongers and market-style fresh fruit and vegetable area.

Mr Yousif Al Ali, General Manager, The Dubai Mall, said: “The Dubai Mall is not only revolutionising the shopping mall experience, but providing a revitalising boost to the city’s retail offer by introducing over 165 new stores from around the globe. To deliver a fresh retail experience, it was important for us to bring in names that are new to the region. Therefore, we developed partnerships with leading international retailers for opening their doors for the very first time here. These top names in the retail industry will further enhance Dubai’s reputation as one of the prime shopping and leisure destinations in the world.”

Kinokuniya, is a bookstore chain originating in Japan with widespread global presence. Already popular in Australia, Far East Asia and the United States, Kinokuniya makes its Middle East debut with a 68,850 sq ft store in The Dubai Mall. Featuring tens of thousands of quality publications across multiple languages, Kinokuniya will be one of the largest bookstores in Dubai.

Retailers opening in Dubai for the first time, or opening up their first-stand alone store at The Dubai Mall cover a range of product categories including fashion, jewellery, food and beverage, home furnishings and specialty stores. Alberta Ferretti, Joseph, Alexander McQueen, Manolo Blahnik, Agent Provocateur, Galliano, Tom Ford and Lanvin are leading names in the fashion sector. Armani/Casa, Walentowski Gallery and Bloomingdale’s furniture offer first-time services in home furniture, while Burj Al Hamam, Fauchon Café, Rainforest Café, Café Nero, MBCo (Montreal Bread Company), Vapiano, Carluccio’s, Ping Pong Dim Sum, Roadster Diner and The Noodle Factory add to the food and beverage roster.

Bubbles & Giggles, Armani Junior, Tommy Hilfiger Kids, Kids Puzzle, Theopille & Patachou and Cacharel Paris are new names in children’s and maternity wear, while Jacob & Co, Piaget Boutique and Panerai are new entrants in the watches and jewellery sector.

Emaar Retail has also announced a strategic partnership with Armani/Casa to develop Armani/Casa stores across the UAE, with the first and flagship store at The Dubai Mall. On the leisure side are SEGA Republic®, an exciting indoor theme park; the Olympic-size Dubai Ice Rink; the world’s largest indoor Gold Souk; KidZania®, a unique children’s ‘edu-tainment’ concept; and a 22-screen Cineplex, REEL Entertainment, which is a joint venture between Cathay Organisation and Emaar Retail.

Over 1.1 million sq ft of gross leasable area dedicated to new retailers or first-time standalone stores, Fashion, accessories, food and beverage, homewares, jewellery stores and entertainment among the unique retail mix.

The Dubai Mall has a total area of 12.1 million sq ft, with an internal floor area of 5.9 million sq ft and a gross leasable space of 3.77 million sq ft. It will feature more than 1,200 stores and over 160 food & beverage outlets. There are over 14,000 undercover car park spaces and the adjoining The Address, Dubai Mall luxury 5-star hotel with 250 rooms and 450 serviced residences. The Dubai Mall expects an estimated 30 million visitors within the first year of trade.

“I use it pretty much every day,” the 25-year-old said. “You can charge money on it right there if needed, and you don’t have to run around trying to find an ATM. You can even get points because it’s linked to credit cards.”

The world’s top firms such as Visa Inc and Nokia are still mostly testing phone use for payments, but in Japan, more than 50 million, or about half of all cell phone users, already carry phones capable of serving as wallets.

Japan has pioneered not just the technology but also the business models that will pave the way for wallet phones to become a standard payment method in the future. Some 700 million people worldwide are expected to own such phones by 2013.

“You can’t deny that having such applications on a phone is convenient, and that will likely be the way that mobile phones are going worldwide,” said JPMorgan Securities analyst Hironobu Sawake in Tokyo.

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The group, which also sells food and homewares, said customers would be able to order clothes, lingerie, as well as selected beauty and home accessories from its website and send them to friends and family abroad in time for Christmas.

The move is part of Marks & Spencer’s (M&S) plan to grow sales at its M&S Direct home shopping business to ($773.3 million) by 2010-11,as well as its commitment to expand overseas.

“(We) have deliberately selected markets where we currently don’t have stores, but where we know through extensive feedback, that there is a demand for our goods,” Carl Leaver, M&S’s director of international, home and retail, said in a statement.

Deliveries will cost 10 pounds to France, Germany and Spain, and 20 pounds to the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The launch of international delivery follows a series of new additions to the online business, including the launch of an online wine club, the introduction of 3,000 premium “white goods” such as washing machines and fridges online, and the development of a portal for corporate gifting.

Blackberry Storm 9530

The BlackBerry has been making its presence felt in the consumer market since the arrival of the Pearl a few years back, but today sees the UK launch of what is likely to be its most popular consumer device to date — the Storm.

It is the first touchscreen BlackBerry and will be exclusive to Vodafone, which has been working with creator RIM for over a year on the handset. (Demo)

Already the mobile phone company — which will be offering the Storm in 10 countries worldwide — has received pre-orders from well over 100,000 British customers who want one when it goes on sale.

The phone is RIM’s response too the growing popularity of touchscreen devices, which was sparked by the arrival of the iPhone a year and a half ago. Vodafone lost out on the iPhone to bitter rival O2 in the UK.

More recently, Nokia has jumped on the touchscreen bandwagon — which has to date been dominated by Asian manufacturers such as LG and Samsung — while T-Mobile made a major splash recently with the G1, the first handset to include Google’s Android operating system.

The G1 is, of course, made by HTC which recently launched its own-brand full touchscreen device — called the HTC Touch HD.

The Storm, meanwhile, is free to anyone willing to sign up to a two year contract at £35 a month, making it cheaper than the G1 and iPhone.

Nokia has yet to sign up an operator for its touchscreen phone in the UK.

the shopping center is ideally situated within a rapidly growing urban area that is easily accessible via mass transport and by automobile. Surrounded by an IKEA store and a Carrefour hypermarket, La Gavia is Madrid’s largest retail hub, with a catchment area that includes an estimated population of 1.3 million.

The success with which the center has met since it opened, particularly during its first weekend of operation, reflects the exceptional location, a remarkable architectural style, and the high quality retail mix on offer, including some of the most dynamic international retail brands (H&M, FNAC, C&A, the Inditex group, etc.). It also confirms the resilience of the model of shopping centers which are easily accessible for shoppers, backed by powerful retail draws (hypermarkets in particular) and which retail mix positioning offers the kind of value for money that is well-suited to the current needs of Spanish consumers.

Madrid’s biggest retail hub

An urban shopping center of regional scale, La Gavia was built in the heart of one of the most dynamic demographic areas around Madrid. 240 000 inhabitants live within 5 minutes of the facility, and some 26 000 new residences are planned between now and 2010 within that primary area – which will potentially bring an additional 100 000 inhabitants. Overall, 1.3 million inhabitants live within 10 minutes of the facility, while 4.5 million live within 20 minutes.

A high-quality retail mix that includes global brand names

Tenant lease-up was handled by Ségécé to ensure the creation of a balanced retail mix (floor space dedicated to ready-to-wear but also to restaurants, food, culture, recreation, etc.) that complements the site’s two major global retailers, IKEA and Carrefour.

Many dynamic international brand names are also present in the shopping center: H&M, FNAC, C&A, Sephora, the Inditex group, Cortefield, Primarkt, Jules, Orange, Celio, Jenyfer, Camaïeu, Sportzone (the Sonae group), etc.

The financial occupancy rate when the center opened was 95.3%.

Opening promises

In the first days since it opened, La Gavia showed every sign of living up to its potential. Several retailers reported sales in excess of forecasts despite the fact that some shops were still scheduled to open later on (the FNAC store for example will open in December and the Cinesa cinema complex in 2009). The Irish ready-to-wear specialist Primarkt turned in the best sales performance per square meter ever when it comes the opening of its retail outlets in Spain.

The culmination of more than five years of work for the Klépierre-Ségécé group, in partnership with the Carrefour group for development, this exceptional project illustrates the quality of Klépierre’s pipeline and development team, as well as the relevance of its integrated owner/manager/developer model for the international context.