Raffles Hotels and Resorts will expand its portfolio with the opening of Raffles Makati in Metro Manila in December 2012.

The official launch, followed by a Grand Opening in February 2013, will bring the company to nine hotels and resorts, from the flagship, Raffles Hotel in Singapore, to China, Cambodia, the Seychelles, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Paris. There are plans for further openings in Istanbul, Jakarta and China over the next 18 months.

“There couldn’t be a better time for Raffles to be opening in the Philippines,” said Raffles Hotels and Resorts President, John Johnston.

“The country is full of a new-found optimism as the economy expands, with a modern infrastructure and an international presence.

“We bring with us 125 years of heritage and experience in luxury service and a portfolio that includes some of Asia’s greatest hotels.

“I believe this puts both parties in a very favourable situation, where Raffles is the right hotel company, at the right time, to be opening in Manila.”

Raffles Makati is at the heart of a prestigious new development that includes a newly-constructed 30-floor tower, one that’s home to three very different areas in the one building:  Raffles Makati, with 32 suites; Raffles Residences, with 237 one to four bedroom residences for private ownership; and Fairmont Makati, a hotel with 280 deluxe rooms.

The City of Makati is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila and is home to a host of foreign Embassies and the Philippine Stock Exchange.

“There is a huge buzz and anticipation around this opening,” said Raffles Makati and Fairmont Makati Managing Director, Tom Meyer.

“It has been 18 years since the last luxury hotel opened in this part of Metro Manila. Raffles is able to bring the best of both worlds to this opening:  the most modern facilities, technology, exciting, stylish restaurants and bars – alongside the Raffles heritage of providing warm and graceful service, embodied by the legendary Raffles Butlers.

“At Raffles we believe that good service is not just about what you give people, it’s about how you make them feel. We call this “emotional luxury” and this is what we will be working hard to bring to this incredible city.”

Raffles Makati’s suites will be spread over the 9th and 10th floors of the new tower. They have been designed by Singapore-based Bent Severin and Associates, whose impressive portfolio includes Raffles Hotel Singapore, Raffles Beijing, the British Embassy in Copenhagen and the Peninsula in Hong Kong.

James Wilkinson

Editor-In-Chief, Hotel Management