Raffles Singapore Undertaking 3-Phase Renovation

SINGAPORE — Raffles Hotel Singapore will embark on a three-phase renovation, it was announced Oct. 11.

Phase one will begin in January 2017 and see the Raffles Hotel Arcade undergo restoration while other areas of the property operate normally. The Arcade houses 40 regional and specialty shops; indoor and outdoor function areas, including The Ballroom and The Lawn; the 388-seat theatre venue Jubilee Hall; and restaurants and bars.

Phase two of the renovations will begin in mid-2017 on the main hotel building and lobby, as well as some suites. Following that, Raffles Hotel Singapore will close for the final phase near the end of 2017 before a grand reopening in the second quarter of 2018.

Architecture and design firm Aedas Singapore will lead the restoration project. Designer Alexandra Champalimaud, who has worked with New York’s The Plaza, Hotel Bel-Air, in Los Angeles and The Dorchester, in London, will handle interiors.

Declared a National Monument by the Singapore government in 1987, Raffles Hotel Singapore last underwent a restoration between 1989 to 1991, when it closed for two and a half years. The luxury hotel has 103 individually designed suites – 84 Courtyard and Palm Court Suites, 12 Personality Suites, 5 Grand Hotel Suites and 2 Presidential Suites.

“Since opening its doors in 1887, Raffles Hotel Singapore has maintained a lasting legacy as a landmark hotel, hosting some of the world’s most famous and elite personalities. As a National Monument of Singapore and one of the few remaining 19th century hotels in the world, the hotel’s restoration is a testament to our continued pursuit in preserving portraits of historic charm, while growing Katara Hospitality’s portfolio of iconic properties in key travel destinations. Raffles Hotel Singapore is no exception, with its carefully implemented restoration programme that is poised to unveil contemporary charm and elegance; reminiscent of the luxurious splendour of Katara Hospitality hotels,” said Hamad Abdulla Al-Mulla, chief executive officer of Katara Hospitality, which owns the property.