Sultan of Brunei on hotel buying spree
Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who via the Brunei Investment Agency controls the Dorchester Collection, chain of currently 9 luxury hotels in the US and Europe, is eyeing to add at least six more hotels to bring the total number to 15 by 2015.
Reportedly he has cast an eye on the famous and tradition-rich Hotel Eden in Rome, currently branded under Starwood’s Le Méridien flag. It would be the second Italian property for the group, joining the Principe di Savoia in Milan.
According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the Sultan is willing to pay 105 million euros ($140 million) for the luxury property.
Dating back to 1889, the Hotel Eden is a few minutes away from the famous Spanish Steps, fancy shopping at Via Veneto, as well as the Borghese Gardens. It currently has 121 rooms and suites. Rates start at around €400 (about $530) per night, with the penthouse suite costing 3,400 euros ($4,500) per night.
The hotel would be bought from Starman UK Services Company Limited, a joint venture between Lehman Brothers and Starwood Capital which tried to sell the property since 2008, but for 200 million euros, a reason why the Emir of Qatar, though interested, rejected to acquire the Eden in 2012.
The Eden always was a preferred location for celebrities and stars, among them Frederico Fellini, Tina Turner , Pierce Brosnan , Michelle Pfeiffer, Fanny Ardant , Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Roberto Benigni , Jayne Fonda, Woody Allen , Tom Cruise , Gwyneth Paltrow, Bruce Willis , Leonardo DiCaprio and Richard Gere.
Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who via the Brunei Investment Agency controls the Dorchester Collection, chain of currently 9 luxury hotels in the US and Europe, is eyeing to add at least six more hotels to bring the total number to 15 by 2015. Reportedly he has cast an eye on the famous and tradition-rich Hotel Eden in Rome, currently branded under Starwood’s Le Méridien flag. It would be the second Italian property for the group, joining the Principe di Savoia in Milan. According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the Sultan is willing to pay 105 million euros ($140 million) for...
Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who via the Brunei Investment Agency controls the Dorchester Collection, chain of currently 9 luxury hotels in the US and Europe, is eyeing to add at least six more hotels to bring the total number to 15 by 2015.
Reportedly he has cast an eye on the famous and tradition-rich Hotel Eden in Rome, currently branded under Starwood’s Le Méridien flag. It would be the second Italian property for the group, joining the Principe di Savoia in Milan.
According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the Sultan is willing to pay 105 million euros ($140 million) for the luxury property.
Dating back to 1889, the Hotel Eden is a few minutes away from the famous Spanish Steps, fancy shopping at Via Veneto, as well as the Borghese Gardens. It currently has 121 rooms and suites. Rates start at around €400 (about $530) per night, with the penthouse suite costing 3,400 euros ($4,500) per night.
The hotel would be bought from Starman UK Services Company Limited, a joint venture between Lehman Brothers and Starwood Capital which tried to sell the property since 2008, but for 200 million euros, a reason why the Emir of Qatar, though interested, rejected to acquire the Eden in 2012.
The Eden always was a preferred location for celebrities and stars, among them Frederico Fellini, Tina Turner , Pierce Brosnan , Michelle Pfeiffer, Fanny Ardant , Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Roberto Benigni , Jayne Fonda, Woody Allen , Tom Cruise , Gwyneth Paltrow, Bruce Willis , Leonardo DiCaprio and Richard Gere.
