New Yorkers have long been familiar with the Giorgio Armani power suit. Soon they will make the acquaintance of the designer's power suite. Construction is scheduled to begin in the next few months on the first of two Armani hotels planned for Manhattan, according to Joey Allaham, a New York City restaurateur, who recently partnered with Dubai-based Emaar Hotel & Resort Group to bring the designer's hotel chain to the United States.

Emaar inked a deal with the designer in 2005 to invest $1 billion to develop seven hotels bearing the Armani name. Armani hotels are scheduled to open in Dubai and London by next year.