The 285-room Meydan opened to guests for the first time on Dubai‘s horseracing “Super Thursday,” March 4.

With rooms overlooking the track, the hotel is likely to be a hit for racing fanatics, with seven restaurants and bars and a rooftop pool.

The property will feature 1 Royal Suite, 2 Presidential Suites, 8 Meydan Suites, 19 Panoramic Suites and 255 Balcony Deluxe Rooms.

Diane von Furstenberg has announced she’ll be teaming up with Claridge’s on her first foray into interior design.

Von Furstenberg, a longtime guest and friend of the hotel, will bring her iconic prints and bold colours as well as original pieces of furniture to the legendary landmark.

“One of my fondest memories was when I was in London as a young, independent businesswoman and stayed at Claridge’s” Diane told WWD.

Hotel prices fell by an average of 14 percent globally in 2009, according to figures released March 2 by Hotels.com.

Around the world, hotel prices now cost four percent less than they did in 2004, says the most recent edition of the firm’s Hotel Price Index (HPI).

Every continent posted a drop in prices, with Latin America the worst affected — a fall of 21 percent year on year.

Asia fell by 16 percent, North America by 14 percent and Europe by 13 percent.

Moscow, formerly the world’s most expensive city for hotels, posted the largest fall, with a staggering 41 percent wiped off the average price of a room.

Luxury hotel brand Westin is to retail products through Amazon, the firm confirmed February 22.

From March 1, fans of Westin’s hotel experience will be able to purchase items from its merchandise collection on a branded Amazon site, making it the first hotel to have an Amazon.com storefront.

Products on sale will include the “Heavenly Bed” set, found in all Westin rooms and complete with mattress, pillows, duvets and sheets.

The hotel’s signature “Heavenly Bath” amenity collection and White Tea scented candles will also be on sale, alongside “like-minded” brands such as Gaiam, Kate’s Paperie, Tea Forté and Riedel.

It may not be possible to buy love. But at least you can spend a fortune trying to do so in the United Arab Emirates, where luxury hotels are offering Valentine’s Day specials for mega-rich romantics.

Lovey dovey in Abu Dhabi? The Emirates Palace, which bills itself as a seven-star hotel, has the priciest Valentine offer — a seven-day stay for a cool million bucks.

Takers will have a private butler and a chauffeur-driven Maybach luxury car at their disposal, which can be “tailor-made to your design.”

Italian fashion brand Armani announced that it is now accepting bookings for its first hotel, which opens March 18 in Dubai.

The luxe label has chosen the just-opened Burj Khalifa (formerly Burj Dubai) — the world’s largest tower — to host its first venture into hospitality.

More hotels are planned for Milan, New York, Tokyo, Shanghai and London, although no dates have been specified at this point.