Raffles Hotels and Resorts
Encyclopedia
Raffles Hotels & Resorts is a collection of luxury properties located in major cities around the globe. Each hotel is known to have its own distinct personality. Raffles Hotels & Resorts is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a Canadian-based hotel company with over 88 hotels in 27 countries worldwide under the Fairmont
, Raffles and Swissôtel
brands. The company also owns Fairmont
and Raffles branded Residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties.
. The corporation also undertakes the restructuring and management of the I.M Pei-designed Raffles City Development, thus laying the foundation for Raffles Hotels and Resorts to become a first-rate international hotel management company.
The Raffles Hotel reopened after a complete restoration on 16 September 1991 to international commendation. In 1997, the company opened the restored Grand Hotel d'Angkor
in Siem Reap
, Cambodia
, marking the launch of its luxury resort brand. Thereafter, Raffles Hotels and Resorts further expanded its portfolio of properties with the acquirement of two European hotels; Brown's Hotel
in London and Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg
. The Raffles’ lifestyle concepts were also extended to Europe through the opening of two signature restaurants – 1837 in Brown’s Hotel and Doc Cheng’s in Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten.
In the year 2000, Raffles opened a new concept of health spas, named Amrita
Spa, in Raffles City
, Singapore
, Raffles Hotel Singapore, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Grand Hotel d’Angkor and Hotel Le Royal in Cambodia and Merchant Court Sydney
. The name ‘Amrita’ is an ancient Sanskrit
word meaning the ‘elixir of youth’. October 2000 marked the arrival of the Raffles International
brand to North America
with the acquisition of L’Ermitage, Beverly Hills, located on Burton Way.
On 1 January 2002, the re-branded Raffles The Plaza
in Singapore joined the Raffles Hotels & Resorts family of hotels. By March 2002, four hotels in the Raffles Hotels & Resorts portfolio shared the Raffles name; Raffles Brown's Hotel, Raffles Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor and Raffles Hotel Le Royal.
On May 16, 2002, Raffles Hotels & Resorts Limited and Hotel Okura Co Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding
for a strategic alliance. Under this strategic alliance, both parties will discuss and explore business opportunities and joint marketing and promotion activities. Hotel Okura Co. Ltd, with 23 hotels, has a strong domestic network in Japan and in select international destinations.
In August 2003, Raffles Hotels & Resorts signed its fourth management agreement with Canouan Resorts Development Ltd to operate a luxury resort on Canouan Island. Named Raffles Resort Canouan Island
, Grenadines
, the resort features 156 accommodations, an 18-hole golf course and a RafflesAmrita Spa. Later in 2003, the company signed a marketing alliance with Blue Tree Hotels & Resorts in Brazil in order to facilitate the connection of the two groups’ strengths in their respective stronghold markets.
On May 4, 2004, the famous Le Montreux Palace was renamed Raffles Le Montreux Palace, adding to the portfolio of Raffles brand hotels around the world. In August 2004, the company tied up with Taj Hotels
, Resorts and Palace in the signing of a strategic marketing alliance. To further expand the portfolio in to key destinations around the globe, Raffles Hotels and Resorts signed an agreement with Veritas Limited, a Hong Kong
based company to manage a 65-villa luxury resort in French Polynesia
under the name Raffles Taimana Resort Tahaa.
In December 2004, Raffles Hotels and Resorts unveiled its exclusive recognition programme, Raffles Capital which offers a collection of exceptional privileges to its most frequent residents.
The word 'Capital' refers to an architectural term meaning the head of a column or pillar in colonial buildings. As ornate capitals adorn many of its heritage hotels, such as the legendary Raffles Hotel, Singapore, Raffles Hotels & Resorts has appropriately named its guest loyalty program Raffles Capital to recognize the top echelons of its customer base.
In April 2005, Raffles Hotels and Resorts Limited signed an agreement with the Beijing Tourism Group (BTG), to re-brand and manage two of the four blocks of the Beijing Hotel
under the Raffles brand. After carrying out some renovations and refurbishment, it was re-launched as the Raffles Beijing in 2006.
Raffles Hotels & Resorts signed a management contract with Dubai
-based diversified business conglomerate, Wafi Group, to manage a 240-room luxury hotel in Wafi City
. Raffles Dubai
marks the Wafi Group's expansion into the growing Middle East
market.
On 18 October 2007, Raffles Hotels and Resorts signed an agreement with Royal Monceau Pte Ltd to manage Le Royal Monceau in Paris
. The hotel will join Raffles Hotels and Resorts’ collection of luxury properties in winter 2008.
pen master, David Horridge. The native of Madagascar
is actually a relative of the banana tree, which explains its large flat leaves. The leaves of the Traveler’s Palm are known to come to rest in an 'east-west' direction and thus have served as an informal compass for travelers making their way home after long journeys. Upon checking into a Raffles hotel or resort, guests are greeted by the staff who each wears a Traveler’s Palm-design pin. When Traveler’s Palm pin is seen, guests know that they have found their way home.
Middle East
Europe
Raffles growth is accelerating. There are now 13 hotel projects in the development pipeline. Destinations include Bali, Jakarta, Macao, Tianjin, Manila, Phang Nga (Thailand), Da Nang (Vietnam), Marrakech, the Maldives, the Seychelles, St. Lucia, Tortola and French Polynesia.
Fairmont
-Places:Canada* Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia, a resort townUnited States*Fairmont, Illinois*Fairmont, Minnesota*Fairmont, Nebraska**Fairmont Army Airfield, Fairmont, Nebraska, listed on the NRHP in Nebraska*Fairmont, North Carolina...
, Raffles and Swissôtel
Swissôtel
Swissôtel Hotels and Resorts is a group of hotels pitched at the higher end of the hotel market. The chain currently includes 28 properties in 15 countries....
brands. The company also owns Fairmont
Fairmont
-Places:Canada* Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia, a resort townUnited States*Fairmont, Illinois*Fairmont, Minnesota*Fairmont, Nebraska**Fairmont Army Airfield, Fairmont, Nebraska, listed on the NRHP in Nebraska*Fairmont, North Carolina...
and Raffles branded Residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties.
History
Raffles Hotels & Resorts was formed in 1989 to restore, redevelop and manage the world renowned Raffles HotelRaffles Hotel
Raffles Hotel is a colonial-style hotel in Singapore, and one of the world's most famous hotels. The hotel was established by the famous Armenian Sarkies Brothers. Opened in 1887, it was named after Singapore's founder Sir Stamford Raffles. Managed by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, it is...
. The corporation also undertakes the restructuring and management of the I.M Pei-designed Raffles City Development, thus laying the foundation for Raffles Hotels and Resorts to become a first-rate international hotel management company.
The Raffles Hotel reopened after a complete restoration on 16 September 1991 to international commendation. In 1997, the company opened the restored Grand Hotel d'Angkor
Grand Hotel d'Angkor
The Grand Hotel d'Angkor is a historic luxury hotel located in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was opened in 1929. It is located at 1 Vithei Charles de Gaulle...
in Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia, and is the gateway to Angkor region.Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market...
, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, marking the launch of its luxury resort brand. Thereafter, Raffles Hotels and Resorts further expanded its portfolio of properties with the acquirement of two European hotels; Brown's Hotel
Brown's Hotel
Brown's Hotel is a luxury 5-star hotel in London, United Kingdom. Opening its doors in 1837, it has been owned by The Rocco Forte Collection since 3 July 2003 and is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World....
in London and Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. The Raffles’ lifestyle concepts were also extended to Europe through the opening of two signature restaurants – 1837 in Brown’s Hotel and Doc Cheng’s in Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten.
In the year 2000, Raffles opened a new concept of health spas, named Amrita
Amrita
Amrit is a Sanskrit word that literally means "immortality", and is often referred to in texts as nectar. The word's earliest occurrence is in the Rigveda where it is one of several synonyms of soma, the drink which confers immortality upon the gods. It is related etymologically to the Greek...
Spa, in Raffles City
Raffles City
Raffles City is a large complex located in the Civic District within the Downtown Core of the city-state of Singapore. Occupying an entire city block bounded by Stamford Road, Beach Road, Bras Basah Road and North Bridge Road, it houses two hotels and an office tower over a podium which contains a...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Raffles Hotel Singapore, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Grand Hotel d’Angkor and Hotel Le Royal in Cambodia and Merchant Court Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. The name ‘Amrita’ is an ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
word meaning the ‘elixir of youth’. October 2000 marked the arrival of the Raffles International
Raffles International
Fairmont Raffles Hotels International is a Toronto, Canada based hotel chain owned by Voyager Partners, Kingdom Hotels and Los Angeles based Colony Capital, LLC.The group was formed in January 2006, when Kingdom and Colony entered into a join venture...
brand to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
with the acquisition of L’Ermitage, Beverly Hills, located on Burton Way.
On 1 January 2002, the re-branded Raffles The Plaza
Raffles The Plaza
Fairmont Singapore , formerly Raffles The Plaza is the sister hotel of Swissôtel The Stamford located within the Raffles City complex in Singapore. It has a total of 769 rooms and suites housed within two 26-storey towers...
in Singapore joined the Raffles Hotels & Resorts family of hotels. By March 2002, four hotels in the Raffles Hotels & Resorts portfolio shared the Raffles name; Raffles Brown's Hotel, Raffles Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor and Raffles Hotel Le Royal.
On May 16, 2002, Raffles Hotels & Resorts Limited and Hotel Okura Co Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding
Memorandum of understanding
A memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
for a strategic alliance. Under this strategic alliance, both parties will discuss and explore business opportunities and joint marketing and promotion activities. Hotel Okura Co. Ltd, with 23 hotels, has a strong domestic network in Japan and in select international destinations.
In August 2003, Raffles Hotels & Resorts signed its fourth management agreement with Canouan Resorts Development Ltd to operate a luxury resort on Canouan Island. Named Raffles Resort Canouan Island
Raffles Resort Canouan Island
Raffles Resort Canouan Island is a luxury hotel owned by the international hotel chain known as Raffles Hotels and Resorts and is one of two resorts on the Caribbean island of Canouan . The resort is set on of a private estate that includes three secluded beaches that are surrounded by one of...
, Grenadines
Grenadines
The Grenadines is a Caribbean island chain of over 600 islands in the Windward Islands.-Geographic boundaries:They are divided between the island nations of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. They lie between the islands of Saint Vincent in the north and Grenada in the south. Neither...
, the resort features 156 accommodations, an 18-hole golf course and a RafflesAmrita Spa. Later in 2003, the company signed a marketing alliance with Blue Tree Hotels & Resorts in Brazil in order to facilitate the connection of the two groups’ strengths in their respective stronghold markets.
On May 4, 2004, the famous Le Montreux Palace was renamed Raffles Le Montreux Palace, adding to the portfolio of Raffles brand hotels around the world. In August 2004, the company tied up with Taj Hotels
Taj Hotels
Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is a worldwide chain of hotels and resorts. A part of the Tata Group, one of India's largest business conglomerates, Taj Hotels Resort and Palaces own and operate 76 hotels, 7 palaces, serviced apartments, 6 private islands and 12 resorts and spas, spanning 52...
, Resorts and Palace in the signing of a strategic marketing alliance. To further expand the portfolio in to key destinations around the globe, Raffles Hotels and Resorts signed an agreement with Veritas Limited, a Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
based company to manage a 65-villa luxury resort in French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
under the name Raffles Taimana Resort Tahaa.
In December 2004, Raffles Hotels and Resorts unveiled its exclusive recognition programme, Raffles Capital which offers a collection of exceptional privileges to its most frequent residents.
The word 'Capital' refers to an architectural term meaning the head of a column or pillar in colonial buildings. As ornate capitals adorn many of its heritage hotels, such as the legendary Raffles Hotel, Singapore, Raffles Hotels & Resorts has appropriately named its guest loyalty program Raffles Capital to recognize the top echelons of its customer base.
In April 2005, Raffles Hotels and Resorts Limited signed an agreement with the Beijing Tourism Group (BTG), to re-brand and manage two of the four blocks of the Beijing Hotel
Beijing Hotel
The Beijing Hotel is a five-star state-owned hotel in the Dongcheng District of Beijing, China.-Overview:It is located at the southern end of Wangfujing Street, at the corner with East Chang'an Avenue, 1.5km from Beijing Railway Station with views of the Forbidden City and part of Tiananmen Square...
under the Raffles brand. After carrying out some renovations and refurbishment, it was re-launched as the Raffles Beijing in 2006.
Raffles Hotels & Resorts signed a management contract with Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
-based diversified business conglomerate, Wafi Group, to manage a 240-room luxury hotel in Wafi City
Wafi City
Wafi City is a mixed-use development in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The complex includes a mall, hotel, restaurants, residences, and a nightclub. The "city" is styled after Ancient Egypt. This themed environment includes columns reminiscent of Karnak, small pyramids, and images of pharaohs...
. Raffles Dubai
Raffles Dubai
Raffles Dubai is a 19-storey hotel that is built in the shape of a pyramid. The design was an inspiration taken from traditional Egyptian architecture...
marks the Wafi Group's expansion into the growing Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
market.
On 18 October 2007, Raffles Hotels and Resorts signed an agreement with Royal Monceau Pte Ltd to manage Le Royal Monceau in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The hotel will join Raffles Hotels and Resorts’ collection of luxury properties in winter 2008.
Traveler’s Palm
The drawing of the Traveler’s Palm depicted in the Raffles Hotels and Resorts logo is the work of BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
pen master, David Horridge. The native of Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
is actually a relative of the banana tree, which explains its large flat leaves. The leaves of the Traveler’s Palm are known to come to rest in an 'east-west' direction and thus have served as an informal compass for travelers making their way home after long journeys. Upon checking into a Raffles hotel or resort, guests are greeted by the staff who each wears a Traveler’s Palm-design pin. When Traveler’s Palm pin is seen, guests know that they have found their way home.
Raffles Destinations
AsiaAsia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
- SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
– Raffles HotelRaffles HotelRaffles Hotel is a colonial-style hotel in Singapore, and one of the world's most famous hotels. The hotel was established by the famous Armenian Sarkies Brothers. Opened in 1887, it was named after Singapore's founder Sir Stamford Raffles. Managed by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, it is...
- CambodiaCambodiaCambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
–- Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Siem ReapSiem ReapSiem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia, and is the gateway to Angkor region.Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market...
- Raffles Hotel Le RoyalRaffles Hotel Le RoyalRaffles Hotel Le Royal is a luxury five star boutique hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The hotel is located at 92 Rukhak Vithei Daun Penh, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Daun Penh District...
, Phnom PenhPhnom PenhPhnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
- Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Siem Reap
- ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
–- Raffles Beijing Hotel, BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
(Beijing HotelBeijing HotelThe Beijing Hotel is a five-star state-owned hotel in the Dongcheng District of Beijing, China.-Overview:It is located at the southern end of Wangfujing Street, at the corner with East Chang'an Avenue, 1.5km from Beijing Railway Station with views of the Forbidden City and part of Tiananmen Square...
) - Raffles Tianjin, TianjinTianjin' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
- Raffles Beijing Hotel, Beijing
- SeychellesSeychellesSeychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
- Raffles Praslin Seychelles
Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
- United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab EmiratesThe United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
– Raffles DubaiRaffles DubaiRaffles Dubai is a 19-storey hotel that is built in the shape of a pyramid. The design was an inspiration taken from traditional Egyptian architecture... - Saudi ArabiaSaudi ArabiaThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
- Raffles Makkah Palace
Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
- FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
– Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris, ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
Raffles growth is accelerating. There are now 13 hotel projects in the development pipeline. Destinations include Bali, Jakarta, Macao, Tianjin, Manila, Phang Nga (Thailand), Da Nang (Vietnam), Marrakech, the Maldives, the Seychelles, St. Lucia, Tortola and French Polynesia.
See also
- Raffles Hotels & Resorts Official Website
- Raffles HotelRaffles HotelRaffles Hotel is a colonial-style hotel in Singapore, and one of the world's most famous hotels. The hotel was established by the famous Armenian Sarkies Brothers. Opened in 1887, it was named after Singapore's founder Sir Stamford Raffles. Managed by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, it is...
- Fairmont Raffles Hotels International