Farmir

The first hotel of the newly-unveiled Edition brand of Marriott chain of hotels will open in Istanbul on December 15 this year. The hotel will open in the former headquarters building of HSBC bank in Istanbul. (By the way, I searched for this subject at the site and could not find it. If there was a thread opened on this subject (or on ex-HSBC bank) before, the two threads can then be combined).

Source HÜRRÝYET - TÜRKÝYE'NÝN AÇILIÞ SAYFASI
"Istanbul to have its first seven-star hotel.
ISTANBUL - The first of the "Edition" series of hotels is going to be opened in Istanbul by the contract signed between Palmali Holding and Marriott Hotels. ’The Edition Hotel Istanbul' will offer seven-star comfort to its guests and will cost 100 million euros.

Palmali Holding, among the top five ship owner companies in the world, is going to build the 80 room hotel at the site of the former HSBC building on Büyükdere Street which they have bought from the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, or TMSF. Palmali have acquired the building at the bidding opened at the end of 2007 for 93 million Turkish Liras and planning to open the hotel on Dec 15, 2009 after the renovation of both the interior and the exterior.
Mübariz Mansimov, president of Palmali Holding, said they are very happy to be opening a seven-star hotel in Istanbul. "We will open a seven-star hotel to offer the best service possible to Istanbul, the European Culture Capital of 2010. The Edition Hotel will have 80 rooms, all suites. There will be the finest restaurant brands of the world and a SPA service."
The design of the Edition Hotels belongs to Ian Schrager, one of the creators of Studio 54, New York’s legendary nightclub. Schrager introduced the concept of boutique hotel to the sector 23 years ago. His designs for hotels such as Hudson and Gremercy Park have attracted much attention. Schrager and Marriott International have designed the Edition series together. The Edition series aims to combine high quality with modern design, originality and authentic factors.
Dan Flannery, General Manager of Operations for the edition Hotel Istanbul, said: "We are excited to be in cooperation with Palmali to begin our new Edition to Istanbul. Choosy guests expect a unique atmosphere and experience from a hotel. The potential of Istanbul is important because of that."
Mansimov said they are going to invest $400 million for other hotels in Bodrum and Baku. "We are going to open the hotel, ’Pal Beach’ at Yalıkavak, Bodrum this summer season. Next year, this hotel will also be added to the Edition series. Besides, we are working on opening an Edition at Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan."
Seven-star hotels around the world
There are only three seven-star hotels around the world. Dubai’s Burj Al Arab, the Grace International in Bangkok, Thailand and Town House Galleria in Milan are the only existing "seven star" hotels. A few more are currently under construction in Fiji, China, Iran, Pakistan, India and the Philippines."

Farmir

April 3rd photographs showing reconstruction/renovation work done on the new Edition Istanbul hotel (building with the construction tower crane on the left).

Source Panoramio - Photos of the World, photographs by "ilhanparcali"
Panoramio - Photo of Levent,Ä°stanbul
Panoramio - Photo of Levent,Ä°stanbul
Panoramio - Photo of Levent,Büyükdere cd.İstanbul