The iconic Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, California ©AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECK

Legendary Hollywood hotel brand Biltmore is to open an outpost in the Middle East, it said May 1.

Millennium & Copthorne, which owns the Biltmore brand, said at the Arabian Travel Market that it would open a spinoff of the Los Angeles property in Abu Dhabi by 2013.

The Biltmore Hotel in Hollywood is one of America's most iconic hotels -- it has hosted countless movie stars and is something of a screen legend itself, having been featured in films such as Ghostbusters, Independence Day, The Italian Job and Chinatown.

First opened in 1923, the Biltmore's art deco style has made it a firm favorite among luxury travelers and foodies keen to experience the four restaurants and bars.

Now, the luxury property is set to be transported to Abu Dhabi's Al Bateen district, where company officials said "the timeless elegance and glamour of the Biltmore is certain to resonate with this market."

It is likely to be a high-profile entrant to the hotel scene in this exclusive corner of Abu Dhabi, the oldest occupied area of the UAE's capital where traditional fishing trawlers bob next to gleaming new resorts.

Nearby hotels include a Sheraton, a Hilton and an InterContinental property, as well as the famous Emirates Palace hotel by Kempinski. - Relaxnews

Published 03.05.2011