Raffles Hotel is popularly known as the epitome of class and first-rate hospitality services in Singapore. Their clientele is composed of high-profile individuals and delegates from all around the world.
The hotel’s history can be traced back to the 1830s when it was just a humble privately-owned beach house. It had undergone the Great Depression and several changes in ownership and has recently received a major renovation to give the heritage hotel a due facelift.
Given its long years of existence, it’s only natural to have a handful of novel stories related to the hotel. Here are four fun trivia you might enjoy before heading to Raffles.
- A tiger was shot inside the hotel
In 1902, a full-grown tiger that escaped from a nearby circus made its way inside the hotel all the way to the Bar & Billiards Room. The incident naturally caused a commotion and ultimately ended with the giant feline being shot down under a storage space for the safety of the public in proximity.
During its centennial celebration, Raffles organized an event where a tiger is photographed inside the hotel premises as a nod to the event that transpired.
- The national drink was invented in Raffles Hotel
Singapore sling, the region’s national drink made its official appearance within the walls of the Raffles Hotel. Sling is a gin-based cocktail mixed with curaçao, bénédictine, pineapple juice, and some lime juice. Ngiam Tong Boon concocted the drink in 1915 as a hotel bartender at Raffles’ Long Bar.
The idea of mixing gin, a popular drink among men at that time but not so well-received for women to enjoy publicly, and juice had an instant hit. The unique appearance as a fruit juice appealed to both males and females and thus created an avid following for the cocktail.
- Raffles values its heritage and its people
When Colony Capital successfully acquired the hotel, what secured the deal was the preservation of the hotel’s dignity as a heritage monument and the retention of its employees. Jennie Chua, the hotel’s executive at that time strike a deal with Grant Kelley, head of Colony Capital Asia, knowing exactly what they want from the investment firm.
The agreement was settled for more than $1 billion in offered price and assurance that Colony will act as a custodian, preserving the hotel’s grandeur and absorbing its current employees.
- The Hotel was featured on-screen on multiple occasions
A mystery drama thriller film was released in 1989 titled Raffles Hotel. It was an adaptation of Ryū Murakami’s novel. The production was shot in the Raffles hotel itself. The plot follows a female actress named Moeko who comes home and struggles with the memories of her past.
In the 2018 international hit Crazy Rich Asians, the hotel was the chosen accommodation for the couple protagonists, Nick and Rachel. The shots beautifully capture the elegance of colonial architecture in the furniture and infrastructure designs.
Other on-screen featurings include a stint for a documentary series that focused on the hotel’s renovations and an appearance in Medal of Honor: Rising Sun, a game popular to early PlayStation enthusiasts.
A Long-standing Hotel
Adding to the charm and services that stand out, this long-standing heritage hotel also comes with a fascinating history. Despite decades of changes, the hotel stays strong in delivering a luxury lifestyle to its guests.
The few beguiling events are memorable and continues to affect the prestige and reputation of Raffles Hotel up to this day.
