About
Our Raffles story
Capturing the world’s imagination since 1887
Transcending hospitality, Raffles strives to create a world of beauty, wonder and inspiration for its guests, employees and communities – all those whose lives we touch. It is loved by generations past, present and future.
In 1887, at the dawn of the Golden Age of Travel, four entrepreneurial Persian-Armenian brothers, the Sarkies, opened a modest 10-room hotel in Singapore. They named it after the founder of modern Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles, a distinguished British diplomat and pioneering botanist. With such a resonant name, Raffles Hotel caught the imagination of a new generation of well-heeled globetrotters, beginning to discover for themselves the allure of the exotic East.
As the hotel grew to be the splendid Victorian-colonial landmark we know today, it attracted a glorious cavalcade of guests. Writers such as Rudyard Kipling, Somerset Maugham and Noel Coward came for inspiration – and returned for more; while Ava Gardner, Elizabeth Taylor and Jackie Kennedy found a rare place whose refinement mirrored their own elegance and glamour. With grace and generosity embodied by its impeccable butlers, the Raffles name became the stuff of legend, known to connoisseurs worldwide for its unique blend of British etiquette, tropical magnificence and Asian grace.
In time, the birthplace of stories and legends became also the birthplace of a family of elegant and culturally well-connected landmark addresses, all of them evoking the timeless old-world glamour, literary heritage and enchantment of the original. All share a unified aspiration to honour the Raffles name. Beyond hospitality, today Raffles strives to create a world of beauty, wonder and inspiration for its guests, employees and communities – wherever in the world it is found. It is loved by generations past, present and future.
Turning the pages of history
The Raffles family has grown wide and strong under its Accor parentage. You will find us embedded in ancient civilisations, fabled ports and emerald coves. Crossing continents to embrace the cultural mélange of Paris, the verdant jungles that envelop Angkor Wat, the sparkling waters of the Maldives and the desert cityscape of Dubai. Writing a new chapter in London, elevating artistic brilliance in Istanbul and Warsaw, and commanding skylines in Jakarta, Doha, Boston and Shenzhen, as the new icons of our day.
How a legend is created
1887
Raffles opens
Raffles Hotel Singapore opens, offering 10 rooms in an old bungalow-style building overlooking the beach and the South China Sea. It soon becomes the most fabled hotel in the Far East, and remains so to this day – with a guestbook that reads like a Who's Who.
1989
Raffles International is formed
Raffles International Ltd is formed as the hotel management arm of Raffles Holdings Ltd to redevelop and manage Raffles Hotel Singapore.
1991
Major restoration
Raffles Hotel Singapore reopens on 16 September after a complete restoration that has taken two-and-a-half years. It looks much as it did in 1915 during its elegant heyday.
1997
First expansion of the name
Raffles reopens two landmark hotels in Cambodia – Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh, and Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor, Siem Reap.
Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh
Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor, Siem Reap
2006
Travelling to Dubai
Raffles takes its expansion to the Middle East with the opening of Raffles Dubai.
2007
Le Royal Monceau joins
Having been acquired by QDHP, Le Royal Monceau is assigned to Raffles Hotels & Resorts for management.
2010
More openings
Raffles Makkah Palace opens, strengthening the brand's presence in the Middle East. Le Royal Monceau reopens after two years of intense renovation led by the French designer Philippe Starck.
2011
A first resort in the Seychelles
Raffles opens on the north shore of the remote island of Praslin, the brand's first resort and first to open in the Indian Ocean.
2012
Arrival in the Philippines
The Raffles and Fairmont Makati complex opens its doors, the first luxury hotels in 18 years to open in Manila's central business district.
2013
A resort for China
Raffles opens its largest property to date on the island of Hainan, China's southernmost province. It occupies a vast stretch of beach on Clearwater Bay, adjacent to two championship golf courses.
2014
Istanbul opens
Raffles Istanbul opens in the heart of the Zorlu Center, a sought-after address with breathtaking views over the Bosphorus.
2015
A work of art in Jakarta
Jakarta's golden triangle welcomes its first Raffles, a property inspired by the local artist Hendra Gunawan and his work, blending an Indonesian aesthetic with an ultra luxury feel.
2016
Corporate moves
Accor takes over FRHI and with it the Raffles brand, strengthening its portfolio in the ultra luxury segment.
2018
A third European destination
Raffles Europejski Warsaw opens in a neo-Renaissance palace by Enrico Marconi, dating from 1857, in the heart of the city.
2019
Further portfolio expansion
Raffles expands its portfolio to include Raffles Maldives Meradhoo, a peaceful haven in the Indian Ocean; and Raffles Shenzhen, in a glamorous high-rise where the business district meets the city bay. Raffles Singapore reopens after its latest renovation, the return of the legendary flagship.
Raffles Maldives Meradhoo
Raffles Shenzhen
2020
Opening in Bali
A collection of 32 exquisite pool villas in tropical hillside gardens with views over Jimbaran Bay opens in Bali. It is a tranquil retreat for emotional wellbeing that elevates the art of intimate hospitality.
2021
Key international destinations
Raffles Udaipur and Raffles The Palm Dubai arrive, bringing fresh perspectives on favourite destinations. Raffles Udaipur is an architectural marvel immersed in a serene natural setting; while Raffles The Palm Dubai is a majestic palace, crafted by masters at the heart of vibrant Dubai.
Raffles Udaipur
Raffles The Palm Dubai
2022
Longest-serving member of the Raffles community
Raffles Singapore's Resident Historian, Leslie Danker, celebrates his Golden Jubilee: the longest-serving member of the Raffles community. Mr Danker's 50-year career has led him from maintenance supervisor to 'accidental historian', enthralling guests with nostalgic anecdotes about Raffles Singapore's rich history.
Awards & Accolades
The awards are in. Here are some recent accolades recognising the legendary Raffles blend of glamour, enchantment and graciously generous service.
Introducing Raffles: From Your Butler
In partnership with the renowned publisher Assouline, we are delighted to announce the launch of Raffles: From Your Butler. This elegant new book, the latest in Assouline’s prestigious hospitality collection, invites readers to experience Raffles’ world of elegance and enchanted glamour through the lens of our legendary butler service.
At the centre of Raffles’ story is the highly personalised service provided by its butlers – a tradition that began in Singapore, where our first hotel was established in 1887. Here, the ethos of service as a ‘gentle breeze’ – unobtrusive yet ever-present – took shape, and Raffles butlers were entrusted with anticipating guests’ every need, often before they even thought to ask. This philosophy continues to be at the heart of Raffles' service today, going far beyond the walls of any suite and into the destinations themselves.
In Raffles: From Your Butler, readers are taken on a journey across five continents, exploring the diverse expressions of Raffles' butler service across cultures and regions, all united by a singular vision: to offer our guests the highest level of care. With a foreword by celebrated writer and editor Derek C. Blasberg and witty text full of compelling anecdotes by acclaimed travel writer Mark Ellwood, each page serves as an invitation to discover the magical world of Raffles, celebrating the brand’s legacy and the butlers who have shaped our hotels and resorts into places of wonder and inspiration.
Raffles: From Your Butler is published by Assouline
From US$120
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