An artist's rendition of the the "Galactic Suite", the first hotel planned in space, which is expected to open for business in 2012 and would allow guests to travel around the world in 80 minutes. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

    MADRID, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- "Galactic Suite," the first hotel in space, will open for business in 2012, its Barcelona-based architects said Friday.

    Reservations for Galactic Suite will begin in 2008, company director Xavier Claramunt told journalists.

    "Galactic suite will allow clients to travel around the World in 80 minutes," Claramunt said.

    It will be made of aluminum and have five modules, he said.

    The three boutique rooms will be decorated with mini components because of a lack of room and due to the fact that objects float in space because of the absence of gravity, Claramunt said.

    "The greatest challenge will be the bathrooms with zero gravity. Accommodating the clients' intimate activities is not easy. To take a shower in zero gravity, the guests will enter the spa in which water bubbles will float," he added.

    Guests will also be able to participate in scientific experiments during their stay in Galactic Suite hotel, 450 kms from Earth.

    The space hotel will be the most expensive in the galaxy, costing three million euros (3.99 million U.S. dollars) for a three-day stay, during which guests would see the sun rise 15 times a day, its architects said.

    It is estimated that some 40,000 people worldwide will be able to buy a Galactic-Suite ticket which is not as expensive as the 20-million-dollar ticket paid by the first space tourist Dennis Tito, who traveled to space in Soyuz TM-32 on April 28, 2001.

    For the moment Galactic Suite has private investors from United Arab Emirates and Japan, local press reported.