News Article | 5/10/2006

Dallas’ victory park district continues evolution

DALLAS, TX – May 10, 2006 – Hillwood, a Perot Company, has confirmed plans to develop a new 120-room luxury hotel and 90 branded residences in Victory Park which will be operated by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. The first Mandarin Oriental project for Texas and the southwestern U.S., Mandarin Oriental, Dallas is slated to open in 2009. It will debut concurrently with Victory Tower and will occupy the first 11 floors of the 43-story, 650-foot high-rise.

Upon completion, Victory Tower will be one of the tallest residential structures in Texas and will serve as the architectural centerpiece of Victory Park. Kohn Pedersen Fox is serving as design architect for the building, which will also house 75,000 square feet of internationally-recognized luxury retail and 275,000 square feet of premier office space. Remedios Siembieda, president and managing Principal of Long Beach, CA-based Remedios Siembieda, Inc. will oversee interior design for The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Dallas and Susan Seifert, a founding member of Morrison Seifert Murphy, is designing the interiors of the hotel.

“This announcement marks a major milestone for Victory Park in our endeavor to create Dallas’ premier neighborhood,” said Ross Perot, Jr., chairman and founder of Hillwood. “The entry of Mandarin Oriental, best known for its unsurpassed properties in cities like Hong Kong, London and New York City, will raise the bar for hospitality and luxury living in this region.”

Mandarin Oriental, Dallas will be a showcase of elegant, contemporary design with a strong sense of place, while taking inspiration from the legendary hotel group’s oriental heritage. With average room sizes of over 750 square feet, the guestrooms will be among the largest in the city. All accommodations will offer state-of-the-art entertainment and customer-centric technology systems, a hallmark of Mandarin Oriental hotels worldwide.

The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Dallas will be located above the hotel, on floors 22-43, offering spectacular views of the city. Homes will range from 1,700 to more than 8,000 square feet in size and will be priced from $850,000 to more than $6 million. As with all Residences at Mandarin Oriental, owners will be treated as permanent guests of the hotel and will enjoy access to the services and amenities provided on property.

“We look forward to bringing Mandarin Oriental’s renowned levels of hospitality to the city of Dallas and specifically to the vibrant new Victory Park development,” said Edouard Ettedgui, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental. “This project presents an ideal opportunity for Mandarin Oriental to extend our luxury brand in another important business and leisure destination in the United States.”

Six dining and cocktail venues, including a signature restaurant and an all-day dining facility, will feature the exciting culinary creations for which Mandarin Oriental is renowned. An elegant Lobby Lounge will offer light refreshments, while a stylish and chic Bar will provide the perfect venue for evening cocktails. A dedicated Spa café will feature healthy, alternative fare, and an outdoor pool bar will be a popular choice for relaxation.

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Dallas will offer holistic rejuvenation and relaxation in a tranquil, meditative setting. Incorporating the most comprehensive range of wellness, beauty and massage treatments in the region, the spa will feature life-enhancing signature programs created exclusively by Mandarin Oriental. As with all Mandarin Oriental spas, the 30,000-square-foot space will include private treatment rooms as well as significant water and heat therapies. The spacious Spa area will include a lap pool, private Spa cabanas and a Spa café. European-inspired beauty salons for men and women will also be featured. The fully-equipped fitness facilities will be complemented by dedicated pilates and yoga studios, as well as a large outdoor swimming pool.

Business travelers will find the latest technology in all guestrooms in addition to a full-service business center. With over 9,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom, four private meeting rooms and two boardrooms, Mandarin Oriental, Dallas will be ideally suited for upscale meetings and functions.

As part of Victory Park, Mandarin Oriental, Dallas will be ideally located in one of the country’s most innovative master-planned urban districts, with myriad attractions, including shopping, sports, fine dining and entertainment for both leisure and business travelers. The property is a short walk from the $420 million American Airlines Center, a prominent component of Victory Park and the region’s premier sports and entertainment complex. Victory Park’s master plan features a total build out of 12 million square feet, including over 4,000 high-end residences and four million square feet of office, retail space and recreational facilities.

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