Dubai has earned something of a reputation for attracting visitors looking to live the high life. Already home to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa (2,717 feet), Dubai now also lays claim to having the world's tallest hotel after the JW Marriott Marquis was confirmed as the new title holder.
Standing an impressive 355 meters (1,165 feet) tall from mast top to ground level, the hotel is just 26 meters (85 feet) shorter than the Empire State Building of New York City.
Construction on the building started in February 2008 and was finally completed in January 2012. Sporting a post modern architectural style, the entire hotel complex is spread across 3,750,000 square feet.
Owned by The Emirate Group and run by the Marriott International Group the hotel consists of 77 floors with an antenna spire on the roof. The hotel has 684 rooms and 120 suites. It also boasts retail stores and outlets, a spa and health centre, plus nine restaurants and five lounges and bars.
The hotel's Guinness World Records certificate was received by the general manager of JW Marriott Marquis, Rupprecht Queitsch along with Ashok Korgaonkar, M.D of Archgroup Consultants, the architectural design firm of the hotel.
"We are excited and delighted to be officially recognized as the world's tallest hotel. Dubai is a city of superlatives and the JW Marriott Marquis is an outstanding addition its iconic skyline," Queitsch told reporters. "This Guinness World Record will help us to put Dubai on the global business destination map,"
The two-towered JW Marriott Marquis opened its first tower to customers in November, with its second tower expected to open in 2014.
