Tourism Breaking News
Raffles plans to double its footprint of resorts over the next three to five years. The brand’s resort development pipeline includes sought-after destinations such as Macau (China), Sentosa (Singapore), Manama (Bahrain) and Jaipur (India).
With many markets seeing a robust return to leisure travel following more than a year of disruptions and pent-up demand, Raffles Hotels & Resorts enters an exciting phase of growth which will see the revered brand add several new resort destinations to its worldwide portfolio of hotels, resorts and residences. A heritage luxury brand known for creating landmark properties in key destinations around the world.
“Resort travel is rapidly increasing in demand and we are seeing an uptick in resort developments in several markets around the world,” said Agnès Roquefort, Chief Development Officer of Accor, the global hospitality group that owns the Raffles brand. “The pandemic has awakened people’s desire to travel further, visit dream destinations and experience the world together – in small groups or with the whole family.”
Adds Stephen Alden, CEO Raffles & Orient Express, “At Raffles, we are fusing our illustrious heritage with modern hotelcraft to create places of comfortable wonderment and enrichment for our well-travelled guests. As we look forward to the next chapter in the brand’s storied history, diversifying our portfolio with a broader array of resorts and experiences will play an important role in enabling us to achieve this goal. Several of our extraordinary resort projects are making headlines with the opening of Raffles Udaipur and more recently with the opening of Raffles The Palm, Dubai – places filled with the legendary spirit of Raffles, with its peerless service, sense of calm in a hurried world, and the promise of adventures yet to come.”
Recognising that today’s discerning guests expect a luxurious experience to have a meaningful impact – whether it’s to be educated, feel transformed, or to spend precious time with loved ones – Raffles is committed to delivering an array of luxury experiences that focus on wellness, community and discovery. Emotional Wellbeing by Raffles was launched in late 2019 to deliver serenity, harmony and pleasure through three core pillars: Harmonious Design, Nutrition for Pleasure and Serenity Rituals. Dedicated wellness butlers guide guests beyond the spa and guestrooms through thoughtfully curated wellness paths, spaces and rituals reflecting the local culture, to nurture a holistic sense of inner peace. Emotional Wellbeing by Raffles can be discovered at resort locations such as Raffles Maldives Meradhoo, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Raffles Bali, Raffles Seychelles, and Raffles Hainan.
Raffles Udaipur, India’s first Raffles resort, offers a fresh perspective on the region of Rajasthan from a 21-acre private island set in the middle of the serene Udai Sagar lake. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the expansive property is reminiscent of a magnificent country estate, with beautifully manicured, ornamental gardens and panoramic views of the surrounding Aravalli hills, tranquil lake and a 400-year-old temple. The resort itself is an architectural marvel of 101 spacious rooms, suites and signature suites that elegantly interweave western cultural references with Rajasthan’s royal heritage and elements of Mughal architecture. Guestrooms have uninterrupted lake views, private gardens, balconies, plunge pools and an east-west design aesthetic with murals, handcrafted furniture and other crafts by local artisans.
Located on the iconic Palm Jumeirah, the world’s largest man-made island and archipelago, Raffles The Palm, Dubai opened on October 1, 2021 spanning 100,000 sqm of the West Crescent. Raffles’ second property in Dubai – and its first resort in the Middle East –offers panoramic sea views and vistas of Dubai’s iconic skyline while creating a tranquil and private escape, just a short drive away from the city’s vibrant attractions. The resort will offer 389 luxurious guestrooms, suites and villas, each with a balcony and sea-view terrace, along with eight bar and restaurant concepts. To meet the rising demand for bespoke wellness experiences, the resort will feature a sumptuous spa with 23 treatment rooms and two private spa suites, as well as the city’s largest indoor swimming pool.
Both Raffles Udaipur and Raffles The Palm, Dubai encapsulate the forward momentum of the brand, offering progressive, rare and authentic experiences to well-travelled connoisseurs, multigenerational families, and young adventurers seeking elegant spaces, privacy and cultural discovery.
