Raffles The Plaza and its sister Swissotel the Stamford, the highest hotel in Southeast Asia.

Courtesy Raffles The Plaza

Across Southeast Asia, Singapore’s legendary Raffles Hotel conjures up images of famous writers – and now movie stars – relaxing and mingling in colonial grandeur amidst the splendor of a bygone era. But just across the street is a newer, more contemporary relative that shares its same proud Raffles pedigree - Raffles The Plaza Hotel.

Nothing about the Raffles The Plaza is ordinary. In fact, when it reopened following a major renovation along with its adjoining sister hotel, Swissotel The Stamford, in January 2002, a world record was broken. The occasion was entered into The Guinness Book of World Records for attracting the most people to participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony: 3,238.

Raffles The Plaza strikes the perfect balance between luxury and practicality. Located at 2 Stamford Road at Raffles City, it could not be more central to downtown and the historic district of Singapore.
Thanks to reciprocal arrangements with the original Raffles Hotel, Swissotel The Stamford Hotel and many of the restaurants in the adjoining Raffles City shopping mall, guests of Raffles the Plaza can choose from 40 affiliated restaurants and bars and simply charge meals to their room.

Standouts include tantalizing sushi prepared by unexpectedly outgoing chefs at Inagiku and the five distinct dining experiences available at the Equinox – a cozy collection of elegant restaurants nestled on the 72nd floor of the adjoining tower. The cuisine at the Equinox ranges from modern French fare with Khmer influences at Jaan to unlimited satays, sushi, and raw bar access during lunches at New Asia Bare + Grill. Equinox also features panoramic views of the spectacular Singapore skyline and neighboring Malaysia and Indonesian in the distance. On the third floor, there is the renowned Somerset live-jazz club featuring the longest bar in town.

For relaxation, Raffles The Plaza will not disappoint. The hotel features, of course, the latest fitness facilities and two inviting swimming pools. Most distinctive, however, is the hotel’s spa. Dedicating 50,000 square feet on three levels of the hotel, Raffles The Plaza boasts the flagship location of Asia’s largest and most highly respected spa operator, the Amrita Spa.

According to Tracy Lord, Spa Manager, with Amrita, Raffles The Plaza has succeeded in creating a “very relaxed, extremely tranquil home away from home” In this “home,” cleansing body scrubs and invigorating full body massages await guests in one of 35 treatment rooms or four VIP suites. As muscle-aches and tension are coaxed away, you’ll soon find yourself in a dreamy, semi-conscious state. Somehow, though, you’ll remain aware of the pleasure your body is experiencing, as though you are observing yourself sleeping. Birds chirp and harmonious piano notes are heard as the essence of exotic Asian botanical and aromatherapy extracts drifts through the air. Post-massage, be sure to leave time for a dip in the soothing bubble lounge of whirlpools and saunas, followed by a tranquil cup of tea.

All these elegant amenities are complimented by the hotel’s unmatched location in the heart of the downtown business district. The hotel complex is virtually linked to the City Hall Interchange along Singapore’s excellent metro system, the MRT, so you need not go outdoors to get there. From this location, a guest can be anywhere in minutes. The city’s Suntec convention center and office complex is also connected by an underground retail-lined passageway.

Business travelers will appreciate the state-of-art in-house conference facilities and especially the high-speed internet connections available in each hotel room for those with laptops and email to attend to. The hotel also provides convenient access to a variety of shops at the adjoining Raffles City mall so that guests can quickly pick up that last minute gift for a loved one back home.

At Raffles The Plaza, your hotel room feels like your own private sanctuary. The walls are sound-proof and the rooms are spacious yet comfortable. The bathrooms are beautifully appointed in a modern, minimalist design and the views from the walkout balcony picture postcard. With impeccable service available day and night, you feel you’ve found the perfect refuge after a busy day in Singapore.

“No other hotel in Singapore offers all these amenities under one roof,” says Raffles The Plaza General Manager, Markland Blaiklock.

Beyond the hotel group’s legacy of service and refinement, Raffles The Plaza’s management is planning yet another record-setting event.

On November 10, 2002 Raffles Hotels will host a “vertical marathon.” Participants will race to the top of Southeast Asia’s highest hotel, Swissotel the Stamford. If all goes according to plan, the hotel tower will be covered by the world’s longest banner: 220 meters. What will be on the banner is anybody’s guess. But the people at The Guinness Book may once again be on hand to record another world record.

For further information, see www.rafflescityhotels.com.