The rise of the designer label hotels

Pack your bags, label snobs...brands best known for sequin gowns and logo-bedecked handbags are slapping their names on...high-end hotels across the globe. There are the haute couture hideouts, like Palazzo Versace (Gold Coast, Australia, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates) and Armani Hotels (Milan and, yes, Dubai). Prefer bling? Bulgari Hotels and Resorts cater to vacationing jewelry fiends in London and other hot spots. The trend has taken a new turn lately, with brands outside the world of fashion also trying on the hotelier hat. French crystal maker Baccarat says it's planning a property in New York City, while the first Nobu Hotel is slated to open in Las Vegas this fall.