Second Raffles Hotel to open on Sentosa in 2022

By Bong Xin Ying

/ EdgeProp Singapore |

June 26, 2019 2:04 PM SGT

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Singapore will see the opening of a second Raffles Hotel, this time on Sentosa island, in 2022. This comes more than 135 years after the original Raffles Hotel opened its doors along Beach Road.

On Tuesday (June 25), Accor announced the new hotel in partnership with real estate developer Royal Group. The Raffles brand is part of French travel and lifestyle group Accor.

(From left) Peter Wilding of Royal Group, Canadian designer Glenn Pushelberg, Bobby Hiranandani of Royal Group, chairman and Accor chief executive Michael Issenberg, and Asok Kumar Hiranandani of Royal Group (Credit: Accor)

The Raffles Sentosa Resort & Spa Singapore will be located adjacent to the existing Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, owned by Royal Group. The new property will be Singapore’s first villa-only hotel. The Royal Group also owns SO Sofitel Singapore along Robinson Road.

When Royal Group purchased the former Beaufort Hotel in 2014, its first task was to renovate the hotel, to the now Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa. “But when they acquired [the Sentosa site], they knew they wanted to expand,” says Michael Issenberg, chairman of Accor Asia Pacific.

“They had to do a lot of analysis, talked to the Sentosa Development Corporation, and so we started talking about Raffles in earnest a good two years ago,” he adds.

Set on a ground of over 1,000,000 sq ft, the latest ultra-luxury resort will feature 61 villas, each comprising a private swimming pool and a terrace area, with views of the South China Sea. The villas will range in size from 2,800-sq-ft one-bedders to 4,850-sq-ft four-bedders.

The all-villa resort will feature 61 villas (Credit: Yabu Pushelberg)

“It's really the ultimate expression of luxury,” says Issenberg. “To be able to create that sort of space in Singapore is pretty special.” He adds: “The Raffles brand is the highest expression of luxurious hospitality in Singapore.”

Apart from facilities like the bar, restaurants, a fitness centre, a “celebrations room”, and two meeting rooms, the signature Raffles butler service and Raffles spa will be included in the resort. The room rates are expected to be “slightly higher” than that of the original Raffles Hotel, and can possibly be priced from $875 to $2,500 a night, says Issenberg

The original Raffles Hotel was conceived as a beachfront property, says Peter Wilding, managing director of Royal Group. Beach Road once marked the shoreline until land reclamation began in the 1840s. “Raffles Sentosa Resort & Spa Singapore will return the brand to the beach and create a modern resort experience that captures the balance of tradition and modernity in a serene and idyllic setting,” he adds.

The Raffles Sentosa Resort & Spa Singapore will be located adjacent to the existing Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa (Credit: Yabu Pushelberg)

Global design studio Yabu Pushelberg was engaged to direct the resort’s architecture, landscaping, lighting and interiors, and inject a new interpretation while capitalising on the natural landscape of the island. Before entering the arrival hall, guests will be greeted by a waterfall. At the arrival building, a bar within will lead to views of the outdoors, where a heritage tree rests in the centre.

Meanwhile, closed since December 2017 for its final restoration phase, Raffles Hotel on 1 Beach Road will reopen later this year in August. Since 2015, this national monument has been under AccorHotels’ management, after the latter signed a US$2.9 billion takeover deal with FRHI Holdings, the owner of the Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel hotel chains. Raffles Hotel on Beach Road is owned by hotel developer Katara Hospitality.

“We believe both Raffles hotels in Singapore will offer complementary experiences: one a historic, heritage hotel in the heart of the city, and the other a modern, elegant resort experience that blends beautifully with the natural surroundings of Sentosa Island,” says Royal Group’s Wilding.

Each villa will come with a private pool and terrace area (Credit: Yabu Pushelberg)

The Raffles brand currently has 14 properties in its portfolio but plans are in place to increase this to 20 hotels in 2025. Apart from Raffles Maldives Meradhoo and Raffles Shenzhen China which opened recently, there is a strong pipeline that follows. In Indonesia, the 32-villa Raffles Bali resort is expected to open in 2020. Other upcoming properties include Raffles Udaipur, Raffles Jaipur in Asia Pacific, as well as Raffles London and Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences further afield.

On this newest Raffles Hotel collaboration with Royal Group, Accor’s Issenberg is “confident”. “I have worked with [Royal Group] for 25 years, and this one is special.”

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