Raffles Hotels & Resorts Celebrates the Arts

What every hotel in the Raffles Hotels & Resorts family strives to offer is true engagement with their guests, so they make an emotional connection with the hotel and its staff. This “emotional luxury” also has a lot to do with authenticity and heritage – something that Raffles has in abundance. In fact, 125 years of it – since Raffles Hotel opened in Singapore in 1887. In its own way, each of the ten hotels in the Raffles portfolio gives its guests an authentic artistic connection – whether it's a puppet show in Phnom Penh, a photography contest in Makkah, an art concierge in Paris, or the only painter on the island of Praslin in the Seychelles.

As Pablo Picasso said, “The purpose of art is to wash the dust of daily life off our souls.” Below we take a quick artistic tour of Raffles Hotels & Resorts, and find out how right he was.



The secrets of Montparnasse with Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris

Domoina de Brantes holds the unique role of Art Concierge at Le
Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris. A graduate of the Sorbonne, with the Louvre on her CV, Domoina has the Parisian art world at her fingertips. New for spring 2013 is her own tour of Montparnasse, a cultural hub for Paris' Left Bank for more than a century. Domoina will bring three secret landmarks to life with her knowledge and expertise.



Explore Beijing's contemporary art district with Raffles Beijing Hotel

Steeped in history yet at the forefront of contemporary China, Beijing thrives as the cultural capital of the country. At the city's heart is Raffles Beijing Hotel, originally established in 1917 just moments from Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the modern shopping district of Wangfujing. Today this historical icon welcomes guests to explore the modern side of Beijing.



An artistic take on afternoon tea with Raffles Dubai

The grand tradition of Afternoon Tea is given an artistic twist at Raffles Dubai at the hands of British-born artist Hatty Pedder, the magic of Raffles' pastry chefs, creating ‘The Collection – Afternoon Tea by Raffles,' Dubai's only Fashion Afternoon Tea. The concept is to create delectable savories and sweets inspired by designer collections straight from the catwalk. Each of the elements is inspired by the fashion trends of the season. Spring/Summer 2013 sees cake-stand favorites include the oh-so-chic Spring Stiletto with White Chocolate Orange Blossom, and a charming Cream Choux Puff “Miss Daisy”.



Praslin's only painter showcased at Raffles Praslin Seychelles

Raymond du Buisson is distinctive on the small island of Praslin, tucked quietly in the Seychelles archipelago: he is the only visual artist to call Praslin home. A well-respected Seychellois painter, creating colorful and vibrant works, du Buisson takes inspiration from the Indian Ocean landscape, reflecting the rich fauna and flora of the Seychelles. In addition to his own gallery at Anse La Blague, twelve of Raymond's works are on display at Raffles Praslin Seychelles, capturing the essence of the island and reminding guests of a sense of place.



‘Inspiring Makkah' through photography with Raffles Makkah Palace

Raffles Makkah Palace enjoys an outstanding location within the iconic Abraj Al Bait complex, directly adjacent to Al Masjid Al Haram and the Grand Mosque – some of Makkah's most photogenic sights. The hotel works as a place of calm contemplation with a privileged viewpoint over the most sacred place in Islam. In celebration of the city's heritage, Raffles Makkah Palace is launching an international photography competition, ‘Inspiring Makkah'.



The art of Cambodian shadow puppets with Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh sits at the heart of the new Cambodia, characterized by a determined people, and resurgence in the arts, slowly rebuilding the damage of the civil war (1975-79) which obliterated all traces of the country's artistic, culinary and musical heritage. The only luxury hotel in the city to pre-date the Khmer Rouge, Raffles Hotel Le Royal stands as a colonial reminder of Cambodia at her finest, one of Asia's great hotels. An elegant French colonial building, with cool black and white tiled floors, high ceilings, louvered shutters and overhead fans, the hotel is an artistic statement of Khmer art deco in itself.



Iconic photography for an iconic hotel: John McDermott at Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor, Siem Reap

While discovering the astonishing temples of Angkor, guests of Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor in Siem Reap should visit the McDermott Gallery in the hotel. The gallery opened last year to showcase the iconic monochrome photographs of the Angkor temples by award-winning photographer John McDermott. Hailed by The New York Times as “the Ansel Adams of Angkor” (after the American photographer known for his black and white photographs of the American West).



Singapore's art scene with Raffles Singapore

Raffles Singapore is celebrating 125 years at the heart of the cultural scene of its city. Ever supportive of local talent, Raffles Singapore is linked closely with the Chan Hampe Galleries in the Raffles Arcade. The Galleries seek to foster emerging artistic talent in Singapore, promoting the contemporary visual arts in the city, as well as celebrating Singapore's established artists: this is a focal point for the discourse and discovery of contemporary Singapore work.



Filipino art shines in the new Long Bar at Raffles Makati, Manila

Raffles Makati in Manila opened in February 2013 with a contemporary look, while drawing on the timeless quality of Raffles Hotel Singapore – echoing Manila's own blend of old world charm and new world sophistication. This is reflected in an astonishing collection of art, all by Filipino artists. There are some 2,700 pieces, giving this glamorous new hotel a real sense of place. Art consultant Hala Jaber was determined to avoid having artworks that had no meaning or relevance - “here we make it personal” she says.



And a specially curated collection at the new Raffles Hainan

Raffles Hainan will open in Spring 2013 in Clearwater Bay, the new hotspot on the southeast coast of Hainan Island – China's answer to the French Riviera and a rising star in the luxury tourism market. The resort will be home to a collection of more than 1,000 works of fine art, specially curated by Hong Kong's renowned Willow Gallery, including works commissioned specifically for the resort. Traditional yet contemporary, local yet worldly, the collection will blend the culture of Hainan with a wider vision, in keeping with the Raffles concept.

More information: https://www.raffles.com/press-room/news/raffles-celebrates-art-for-2013/