Raffles Singapore set for restoration
Raffles Hotel Singapore has announced a 16-month restoration programme, set to begin in Q1 2017.
The refurbishment of the heritage hotel, owned by Katara Hospitality, will be conducted over three phases to ensure every detail of the programme is approached with consideration. The renovated building will feature 103 individually designed suites, 84 Courtyard and Palm Court Suites, 12 Personality Suites, 5 Grand Hotel Suites and 2 Presidential Suites.
Phase one of the programme will begin in January 2017, and will see the Raffles Hotel Arcade undergo restoration works while other areas of the property will operate as normal. The Raffles Hotel Arcade will feature regional and specialty shops, indoor and outdoor function areas including The Ballroom and The Lawn and a variety of restaurants and bars, including The Long Bar.
Phase Two will begin in mid-2017, when restoration efforts will concentrate on the main hotel building, the Lobby and some of the guestrooms. The hotel will then close for the final phase near the end of 2017, before a grand reopening in the second quarter of 2018.
Diana Banks, Vice President, Raffles Brand and Luxury Sales, Raffles Hotels and Resorts, comments: “Raffles Hotel Singapore has always evolved to stay distinctive and relevant, moving with the times and adapting to the changing needs of today’s traveller. We have a rich and colourful history and are about to begin a new chapter in our ongoing story – a sensitive restoration that will enable us to continue to offer what our guests expect and value.”
The restoration project will be led by Aedas Singapore, the company behind renovations including the London Coliseum and the revitalised Mallory Street/Burrows Street in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. The interiors of the project will be overseen by designer Alexandra Champalimaud who has worked with properties including New York’s The Plaza, Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, The Dorchester in London and The Carlyle in New York.
“This restoration is designed to ensure that we retain what is so special about Raffles– the ambiance, the service, the charm and the heritage of the hotel.” adds Simon Hirst, General Manager. “We have always changed and evolved to keep in step with the needs and expectations of our guests and this has been one of the secrets of our success for more than a century. This extraordinary undertaking will also re-imagine the facilities, spaces and experiences within the hotel to delight the well-travelled and the community.”
Declared a National Monument by the Singapore government in 1987, Raffles Hotel Singapore is known in the country for its historical significance and heritage. The last restoration was undertaken from 1989 to 1991 when the hotel closed for two and half years.
