With newly appointed CEO Stephen Alden at the helm, Raffles Hotels & Resorts has announced its global expansion plans for 2021, 2022 and beyond. On the docket: Later this year, Raffles will open a second hotel in Dubai (The Palm), along with Bahrain, Udaipur and Macau. Next year and beyond, the brand will debut flagship locations in London (2022), Boston (2022), Doha (2022), Jeddah (2022) and Moscow (2023), among others.
Next year will see two “watershed” moments for the brand—with Raffles making its debut in North America and the United Kingdom. Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences is located in the center of the Back Bay, touted by the brand as “Boston’s most prestigious neighborhood,” and comprises a distinctive hotel as well as residences. Raffles London at The OWO and The OWO Residences by Raffles will be located within the iconic Grade II-listed Old War Office building (hence the name). The building was originally completed in 1906.
2021 Openings
Raffles the Palm Dubai is set to open its doors in Q4 of 2021. This will be the first Raffles resort on the Palm Jumeirah. Raffles the Palm Dubai, located across 25 acres on the West Crescent, will have 389 rooms, suites and villas, each with a balcony and sea-view terrace, along with offer eight bar and restaurant concepts.
In Bahrain, Raffles Al Areen Palace is located near the island’s protected wildlife park and reserve. Guests can expect 78 pool villas and one of the largest spas in the region, as well as a wealth of signature Raffles experiences. A collection of one- and two-bedroom villas will have living and dining areas, an office and expansive master bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms.
Raffles Udaipur
A new-build site on a 21-acre private island in Udai Sagar Lake, Raffles Udaipur will be surrounded by hills and will have a view of the 400-year-old temple in the background. The property has 101 rooms, each with a private pool.
Raffles at Galaxy Macau will have 450 suites with curated artworks (and some featuring private pools and gardens). Galaxy Macau is a luxury integrated resort that offers an array of leisure activities, on-site entertainment and a specialty restaurant helmed by a multi-Michelin-starred Japanese chef. A highlight of the hotel will be its “glass airbridge that connects the two towers on every floor.”
2022 Openings and Beyond
Raffles London at The OWO will be the U.K. capital’s first Raffles property, set in a building that served as Winston Churchill's base during World War II. Many original architectural details have been preserved while also allowing room for updated design elements. The hotel will comprise 120 rooms and suites, 85 residences, nine restaurants and bars, and a spa.
Raffles Boston will be the brand’s first mixed-use North American venture, with both a hotel and private residences. Located in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, just a block away from Copley Square, the 35-story building will be home to 146 residences, 147 guestrooms, and six restaurant and bar venues, including a sky bar and speakeasy. The three-story sky will be the centerpiece of the property, complete with a grand staircase spanning the 17th, 18th and 19th floors.
Raffles Doha
The Towers in Lusail—a representation of Qatar’s national seal—will be home to the new Raffles Doha. With 132 suites and 49 branded apartments, the combo hotel will have state-of-the-art entertainment and recreational facilities, boutique shopping, movie theaters, restaurants and a cigar lounge.
Inspired by Saudi Arabia and Jeddah’s old town architecture, Raffles Jeddah will have 181 guestrooms—including a wedding suite and penthouse suite with in-room entertainment—and 188 branded residences. Alongside six restaurants and lounges, there will be an extensive library, spa with eight treatment rooms and a fitness club.
The new flagship Raffles Moscow, located next to the Kremlin in the heart of Moscow, is expected to open in 2023—becoming the first Raffles hotel in Russia. The hotel will offer 153 rooms across nine floors with views overlooking the Kremlin and Red Square; these will include 20 two-bedroom suites, 19 junior suites and two presidential suites with private terraces. Each guestroom has views of the city, with a select few offering access to the hotel’s courtyard terrace.
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