We explore the most established properties in some of the world’s leading luxury locations
Raffles Singapore
Raffles, Singapore
The legendary Raffles Singapore first opened its doors in 1887. Although a global brand now with 18 properties around the world, the first Raffles hotel was a humble – yet luxurious – 10-room bungalow overlooking the beach and the South China Sea in Singapore. Over the years, the hotel has had an impressive guest list, hosting the likes of Queen Elizabeth II, Rudyard Kipling, Charlie Chaplin and Liz Taylor.
The famous ‘Singapore Sling’ which now appears on menus in countries all over the world, was first created at the Raffles Hotel back in 1915 at the property’s historic Long Bar which still exists today. In a city where modern buildings compete to touch the sky, this beautifully preserved building – declared a National Monument in 1987 – takes pride of place in the vibrant civic and business district. The vast spaces – from the living room to the dining room and the bedrooms – are adorned with carefully curated antiques and artworks from the hotel’s history. After two years of restoration work, the hotel reopened in 2019, retaining its traditional character and special ambience, whilst bringing the rooms and facilities up to the highest standard that modern luxury travellers expect today.
Guests and locals alike can now enjoy six restaurants and three bars, including traditional favourites such as The Tiffin Room, alongside modern innovators such as Anne-Sophie Pic’s Le Dame Du Pic, and Yì by Masterchef Jereme Leung. The property is all-suite with a 24-hour butler service and also offers an extensive spa with unique restorative treatments. The hotel also offers its very own team of Resident Historians who take guests on a journey through time to discover the legends and stories of more than a century.
The Peninsula Hong Kong
Fondly known as “The Grande Dame of Hong Kong” The Peninsula is the oldest hotel in the city and first opened its doors on the 11th of December 1928. Located on the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula the architects who designed the impressive building did so with the ambition of creating the “finest hotel East of the Suez.” Founded by two brothers called Ellis and Elly Kadoorie, they came from the wealthy Kadoorie family who were originally from Baghdad and whose descendants still hold great influence in Hong Kong.
The Peninsula has built its reputation on the finest traditions of service and hospitality, while the 30-storey extension that opened in December 1994 has since combined the hotel’s heritage with the very best in modem facilities for the business and leisure traveller. The tower rises from within the site of the original hotel in an area that was previously the rear podium. The extension added 132 rooms and suites for a total of 300 and includes 10 floors of prime office space, shops and a range of hotel facilities, among them a swimming pool and Sun Terrace; state-of-the-art Fitness Centre; The Peninsula Spa; business centre; banquet and meeting rooms; and Felix, a rooftop restaurant with panoramic views of the city created by renowned French architect and designer Philippe Starck.
On the roof of the tower, twin helipads offer hotel guests exclusive, easy access by helicopter to the airport and destinations around the territory. This facility is served by a separate elevator and features The China Clipper, a private lounge with reception and communications centre. Over the years, the hotel has welcomed many esteemed guests including Royalty such as Britain’s Princess Margaret and Princess Soraya Esfandiary of Monaco, leading political figures Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon, as well as a slew of legendary creatives and celebrities such as Tennessee Williams, Roger Moore and Muhammad Ali.
Claridge’s Hotel, London
Claridge’s first opened in the early 19th century as a single house, however, it was not long before it was transformed into a masterful art deco property favoured by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Once the couple had given the property their Royal seal of approval, it quickly became one of the most sought-after properties for visiting heads of state and royalty throughout Europe. After more than half a century in operation, it was purchased in 1893 by Richard D’Oyly Carte, owner of the Savoy, who planned an ambitious – and very successful – redesign, with the property enjoying a grand reopening six years later in 1898. Following the redesign the hotel grew in popularity and during the 1920s the property pivoted once again and invested in the design elements of the hotel.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Claridge’s was transformed into an art deco icon. As the jazz age swept through the world, Claridge’s invited art deco pioneer Basil Ionides to redesign the restaurant and several of the suites. His magnificent glass screens still shimmer in the Foyer & Reading Room. By 1929, Claridge’s was the talk of the town. Oswald Milne strengthened its reputation, designing a new main entrance and removing the awkward carriage drive. A façade of Roman stone and a mirrored foyer completed the new look.
Buoyed by the success of the redesign, Milne had even bigger plans in mind. A new Art Deco extension block was added to the east side of Claridge’s. Outside, it was a simple, cubic addition to the original hotel. Inside, it featured a fine suite of reception and guest rooms, all furnished in a smart, eclectic style. The most recent restoration happened in 1996 when New York-based designer Thierry Despont made over the Foyer in modern art deco style. The centrepiece of his design is a Dale Chihuly light sculpture, suspended from the ceiling like a chandelier. Further redesigns were made in 2012 when the property opened 25 new suites designed by David Linley.
Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
The spectacular Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo was first built in 1864, when Monaco as we know it today was first starting to take shape, transforming what had been empty land into the country’s famous Casino Square. As the Principality quickly became a must-visit location in Europe, the rich and famous started to arrive in large numbers. Royalty, government ministers and famous creatives all began to travel to Monte-Carlo and stay at the famous hotel. Many of the famous banquet rooms and halls are named after famous guests at the hotel including the “Churchill”, “Debussy” and “Puccini”.
The Hôtel de Paris has hosted plenty of historical events too, being a favourite of the ruling family, in May 1974, the celebrations for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the accession of HSH Prince Rainier were held at the property and attended by the young Prince Albert, Heir to the throne of Monaco. it served as the celebration spot for the 20th wedding anniversary of HSH Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco in 1976. Today, the iconic Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo is still at the heart of the action, offering guests an unparalleled experience, combining the magic of a legendary hotel with some exceptional things to see and do – from the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurants to the Jewellers’ Courtyard, Opéra Garnier and the sumptuous Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo.
The best rooms in the hotel include the Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III Diamond Suites, named after late members of the principality’s Royal family, which are simply without equal on the French Riviera. Meanwhile, SBM’s talented, world-renowned chefs at Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris*** and Le Grill* pay vibrant homage to the Mediterranean Sea. Guests can admire the beauty of the surrounding area from the panoramic terrace at Le Grill* on the eighth floor of the hotel while sampling delicious dishes from the grill.
The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, New York
Situated at the corner of Madison Avenue and 76th Street, The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel has been a classic landmark of Manhattan’s elegant Upper East Side since 1930. Located just one block from Central Park, The Carlyle is a 35-story, 192-room hotel offering guests a combination of discretion and grace. The Carlyle is surrounded by galleries and designer boutiques on New York’s well-heeled Madison Avenue and located blocks from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim and the Frick.
The strong Art Deco influence, introduced by the hotel’s first decorator Dorothy Draper, has been meticulously maintained, from the famed black and white marbled lobby to Art Deco motifs of the hotel’s speciality suites. Many of the accommodations have been updated further with a more contemporary flair from designers such as Alexandra Champalimaud, Thierry Despont and Tony Chi. Every American president since Truman has visited and its rich history includes visiting Royals and heads-of-state including HRH, The Prince of Wales; the late Diana, Princess of Wales; TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to the Kings and Queens of Denmark, Greece, Spain and Sweden.
The jewel in the crown of the hotel is Bemelmans Bar. A special hideaway where artist and author Ludwig Bemelmans’ whimsical drawings come to life. Best remembered for his beloved Madeline series of classic children’s books, Bemelmans was commissioned in 1947 to paint the large-scale murals to depict all four seasons in famed Central Park. Open 356 days a year with live music every evening, the bar maintains its Art Deco legacy with chocolate-brown leather banquettes, nickel-trimmed black glass tabletops, a dramatic black granite bar and a 24-karat gold leaf-covered ceiling. Featuring the only surviving Bemelmans’ commission open to the public, the bar combines wit and cosiness in a unique New York style.
rosewoodhotels.com/en/the-carlyle-new-york
Hotel Ritz Paris
The Ritz Paris celebrated its 125-anniversary last year, having first opened in during France’s Belle Époque in June 1898. The original property was founded by Swiss entrepreneur, César Ritz, who was at the time one of Europe’s most renowned hoteliers. At the time, he chose to open his hotel in Place Vendôme, an area already synonymous with the essence of Parisian chic. The creation of the Ritz Paris was entrusted to the French architect Charles Mewès, who was inspired by the castles of Versailles and Fontainebleau to give the new establishment all its superb and authentic French style.
In his new-style establishment, César Ritz was determined to offer the ultimate in elegance and modern comfort. This devotee of world exhibitions was astonishingly inventive. On the hotel’s inauguration in 1898, the Ritz Paris was the first hotel in the world to boast electricity on every floor, along with rooms with private bathrooms. Once it had opened, the Ritz Paris became the most fashionable place in the city. This Parisian palace majored on discretion where required but equally acted as the place to see and be seen.
People came to the Ritz for its famous dinners, perhaps reserving a private salon with a few musicians. For weddings and anniversaries, tables could be set right in the lobby. Women could arrive unaccompanied to enjoy a London-style five o’clock tea. In the 1920s, the Ritz opened its first bar, where the art of conversation took pride of place. Dancing was the order of the day, both afternoon and evening and the word “ritzy” even entered the social vocabulary, describing the ultimate in elegance. For the first time in its history, the hotel closed its doors from 2012 to 2016, during restoration and expansion. The revamp of the hotel interiors was overseen by the late great French architect Thierry W. Despont. The changes to the property were kept respectful, honouring the history of the building but with small modern adjustments.
Beverly Hills Hotel, Los Angeles
Like Hollywood itself, the history of The Beverly Hills Hotel is a 20th-century tale of glamour, riches and romance. The hotel was built in 1912 before there was even a city called Beverly Hills. Hoping to ignite a land rush, developer Burton Green, President of the Rodeo Land and Water Company, bought land once owned by the Mexican government in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. He hired Margaret J. Anderson to build a sprawling hotel in Mission Revival style on 12 acres, with white stucco exterior and terra cotta-coloured roof tiles and named it after Beverly Farms, his home in Massachusetts.
Investing $500,000, then a staggering sum, Green hoped to lure wealthy Easterners to retire in what were then open fields north of Los Angeles. On opening invitations, Anderson described the property as situated “halfway between Los Angeles and the sea.” By 1914, Beverly Hills had attracted enough residents to incorporate as a city. Then, in 1920, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks built their county home, Pickfair, in the nearby hills. Beverly Hills soon became one of the world’s smartest addresses.
More stars followed, including Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson, Buster Keaton, Rudolph, Valentino, Tom Mix, and Will Rogers, transforming the bean fields surrounding The Beverly Hills Hotel into prime real estate. Fast forward to the 21st century and in 2012, the hotel’s centennial celebration gained national attention and included year-long activities and events to mark the milestone occasion. The hotel was also named the first historic landmark in Beverly Hills by the City Council’s Cultural Commission, and the plaque denoting this recognition is on display at the signature red carpet entrance.
Hotel Imperial, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna
The Hotel Imperial was originally built for an aristocratic family as a private residence in 1863 as no hotels were envisaged during the construction of the new Ring Boulevard. However, less than 10 years later, the family sold the hotel to Horace Ritter von Landau in 1872. In just a few months, he had it converted into a hotel by Heinrich Adam. The copper roof of the palace was raised several meters with a special mechanism and a whole new story was added. After narrowing the original entrance for the carriages, the reception hall was created, while the horse stables with its 16 stalls were turned into a dining room.
Marble bathrooms and a lift were installed and telegraph lines were laid throughout the house while the name “Hotel Imperial” was added to the façade. The hotel is characterized not only by elegant interior design but also by its artistic façade, which is articulated to offset the austerity of the building. On the first and second floors, there are stone balconies supported by consoles. The ground floor is dominated by a three-part portal. Four portal figures by the sculptor Franz Melnitzky have been preserved to this day.
Its opening in 1873 coincided with the World Fair in the city, which was also the 25th anniversary of the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I. As a result, during the first weeks of the hotel opening, emperors, kings and queens, state chancellors as well as famous personalities stayed at the property. Creating an imperial flair at the property which has lasted to this day. Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2023, it has continued to be a popular property for celebrities and well-heeled guests from around the world.
