Harrods to bring luxury line of hotels

by CNNGo Staff

Harrods -- London's upper-crust department store which started operations in 1824 -- will launch a chain of luxury hotels in top tourist destinations around the world, the company has announced. 

The first hotel will open in Kuala Lumpur, and subsequent properties are planned for New York, London, Paris and Sardinia. 

"We have already decided to build a Harrods hotel in London, one in Kuala Lumpur and one in Sardinia, Italy," said Dr. Hussain Ali Al-Abdulla, vice chairman of Qatar Holding LLC, the owner of the British luxury retailer. 

Previous owner Mohamed Al-Fayed sold the store -- which is renowned for its top quality foodstuffs and high fashion -- to Qatar Holdings in 2010 for a reported US$2 billion.

Construction for the first hotel is slated to start next year and is estimated to cost �406 million (US$634 million). The hotel is expected to have 300 rooms, apartments and also retail space. 

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