Raffles Hotel Opens in Makati City, Manila

The official launch in December 2012, followed by a Grand Opening on February 7, 2013, brings 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 Hainan in China over the next 18 months.

Raffles Makati is at the heart of a prestigious new development - a brand new, striking, 30-floor tower, 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, one of the world's most exciting and cosmopolitan cities. Home to a host of foreign Embassies and the Philippine Stock Exchange, Makati is the financial centre of the Philippines, an important hub for international affairs. It is also an exclusive residential area with a vibrant arts and culture scene and world-class retail.

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

The look for Raffles Makati is contemporary, whilst drawing on the timeless quality of Raffles Hotel Singapore – echoing Manila's own blend of old world charm and new world sophistication. Each of the hotel's 32 large suites has been designed to be an understated oasis of calm. Every suite has large floor-to-ceiling windows and mesmerizing views out over the city. A key design feature is the wooden flooring, covered with rich silk velvet and hand-tufted rugs. In keeping with the vibrancy of Manila, bright colors have been chosen for the fabrics – satin, silk, and damask. Locally inspired artistic accents – a ceramic pot, a bright painting, a woven basket – bring a dash of local joie de vivre to the interiors and a sense of place.

Good ideas need time to evolve and, after 125 years, the exceptionally good idea - Raffles' Long Bar – has travelled to Manila, opening in Raffles Makati. True to its Singapore original, it features similar décor with tropical punka fans; an atmospheric black, ivory and terracotta tiled floor; long-stemmed ceiling fans and a 14 metre long bar where clients can enjoy not only a Singapore Sling but cocktails made to order. A Makati Sling, anyone?

Another Raffles classic that has been an instant hit at Raffles Makati is the Writers Bar. Styled as a library, this is a new take on the original Writers Bar at Raffles Hotel Singapore, just off the Lobby.

All the new restaurants and bars in the complex are open to guests of both Raffles Makati and Fairmont Makati. These include all-day dining restaurant, a contemporary pastry boutique, two lounges, as well as the Long Bar and the Writers Bar. The hotel has two large outdoor swimming pools, each with a wading pool and children's pool and poolside lounges. Guests also share the Willow Stream Spa, with five treatment rooms and a full service hair and nail salon. The Fitness Center offers inspiring views of the city, garden and swimming pool.

Makati's central business district is known as the ‘Wall Street of the Philippines' and Raffles and Fairmont Makati together offer an impressive range of state-of-the-art spaces for events and meetings, as well as a 24-hour business center, all with a personalized business concierge service.

Step out of Raffles Makati's elegant lobby, and there is a fascinating city waiting to be explored: Intramuros, the old capital of Manila (dating from 1571) a standing reminder of the country's Spanish period, with centuries-old walls, bulwarks and plazas; Fort Santiago, built in memory of those lost during the Spanish and Japanese periods; Malacanang Palace, since 1863 the official residence of the country's president; and the Ayala Museum, full of art and objects that trace the rich tapestry of Philippine history.

With its Grand Opening in February 2013, Raffles Makati is a modern icon for this burgeoning, exciting city.

Rates start from £250 / US$395 per night for a Raffles Junior Suite. More information www.raffles.com