I did love the old Raffles, but it has been 40 years. Last year it was closed when I was there. Seeing this you realize it did need renovations. The humidity of Singapore had affected the walls and to save old buildings you need to do this. People will still love this hotel, it's the staff who also make your stay special at any hotel. The staff look so friendly. Love it.
Stayed at raffles over 20 years ago. Agreed the renovation is beautiful, and the rooms needed upgrades , but now it is not unique . It lacks what raffles was always known for ...the iconic old world charm , the rattan , the antique art and carpets , the old world chandeliers and those wonderful rose gold fans . Those are few of the things people checked in there for . The designers just lost the plot ...now it looks like so many other hotels . Sighhhh. Excellent well made documentary.
Yes destroying that wonderful marble floor was criminal. They could have fixed the age/humidity etc related structural problems while retaining the original and unique charm. Now it's just like any other luxury hotel. Sad.
I have only just come across this and the hotel is beautiful but in honesty the best thing about a successful hotel is its wonderful staff..their attention to detail and care they gave every person who walked through the doors was so wonderful to watch especially their lady who would stay 4 times a week saying welcome home to her and making her feel part of their family. This kind of attention is what stays with their guests forever ...well done team absolutely amazing people xx
Gorgeous..would love to stay there one of these days. I don't think the pre-renovation was that bad, but the new version will hopefully last a long time. The attention to detail is world class.
What an incredible documentary of a historical iconic property Raffles in the lovely country of Singapore. It is also beautiful and awe inspiring to see the entire staff work as more than a team but a family caring with the utmost respect for all of the hotel's guest and new guest and tourist coming to see the place and enjoy it's restaurants, bars. What an example to the rest of the world and it's hospitality service. Thank you kindly. I hope that one day I can travel to Singapore and be able to stay at Raffles.
I like it better the way it was. Everyone wants to update everything. Somethings need to stay iconic and timeless. This was definitely a renovation with restoring the walls.
I am glad I got to see the restoration and when it was completed. The temporary place to have a Singapore Sling on Seay could not replace the Long Bar. I was so happy to enjoy at the Long Bar when it reopened.
Enjoyed this very much. Both parts (one and two) were beauifully film along with sharing the personal journeys of its staff and the visiting residents.
They discovered that the outer shell was crumbling. That's MUCH more serious than a simple slap up reno. That's heart attack time. The truth is, it isn't the building that makes the hotel a 5 star. It's the STAFF!!!!!
Stayed there before 2019, love it especially the verandah area. I really like sitting outside the room in the morning enjoying a cup of hot coffee. Simple pleasure but a memorable one. I would love to go back there again.
This is a very good and touching story of restoration for this iconic hotel, I remember I had dinner there in 2014 and it was great. I can feel the emotions of the guests and staff, I also cry. Congratulations to the Reborn of Raffles Hotel, unfortunately the start of the pandemic in 2020 has a negative impact on the entire travel and hospitality industry. Hopefully the tourism industry will recover soon and travel bans will end soon following the vaccines that have been implemented around the world.
This was a project to destroy a beautiful hotel. The new interior decoration is in bad taste. I would love to stay at the old hotel. Hotels like this new, are everywhere, like the old are not! I am extremely sad for what they have done!
Well nothing lasts forever It's over 130 years old Technically the british people who did the engineering on this are not even alive anymore They have to change it for safety reasons. If it collapses on the people living in their would be disastrous Yes sad for us Singaporeans but we must accept that it's too old and we have to preserve what we can to honour sir Stamford raffles.
I think that the attitude of designers and architects today is that anything representing colonialism is just not acceptable in these times of PC culture - I'm surprised it was not bulldozed - yes, very sad. But I love Singapore and I love Raffles - it is what it is.
Beautiful :) I think they did manage to preserve the old world charm but in a glistening new shell . A refined homage to the original design sensibility:)
Beautiful remake of an already legendary hotel. Even the new uniforms are so smart and stylish!! I wish I could return to Asia to experience even one night there. But perhaps for another lifetime!
Well done..looking splendid in all it’s glory…what an amazing feat..ready to go for another century..I would certainly like to visit one day to see for myself this icon in the hotel industry..happy days to Raffles…🎉❤🎉
there is so many negative comments on the change :-( we should be more accepting and appreciative of the new Raffles as we move forward into the 21st century. the charm and passion of Raffles IS still there, it is just new and different and we need some time to adjust to. i miss the keys though and i cant wait for this year's christmas tree when I come back to Singapore later during the year
After the renovation, this hotel has lost its tropical (colonial) vibes: sky-high-areca trees, timber decors, ceiling fans...The new decor is not distinguishable from other hotels...What a shame!
Colonial and tropical are not to be used synonymously. Both are different styles in design. What are you talking about? Also, the hotel still retains a lot of its old chairs (seem to be reupholstered) and some wooden furniture. Even the original timber stairs are restored. Any trees taken down in Singapore needs to be approved by NEA. The palm trees are still there. The ceiling fans in Tiffin Room is gone because the whole area is with AC and the fans are no longer needed. Simple. It's a shame people who have not been to the restored hotel always like to complain.
I agree! It's beautiful, but it's too stark. It's lacking the warmth of the old place and they really should have stayed, at least somewhat, with that old style. The upgrades are awesome, though, and the landscaping was beautiful.
I first stayed at Raffles in c1985. The hotel at that time was sadly in need of renovation, but I really enjoyed my stay, in the Somerset Maugham suite at the time. When living in Singapore in the late 1990s I dined there frequently. I had the pleasure of staying there again quite recently. I have to say the most recent renovations are very tasteful. I totally disagree with the negative comments posted here regarding bad taste in the improvements. It’s still the Queen of good taste and faithfully maintains its historic mage.
Sacrilege . Wow I must say it goes together with that other bit of kitch they built in Singapore. Now just trying to remember the name !! AHH yes I got it Marina Bay Sands . The first time I set foot in raffles was in 1964 , and seen many upgrades But this time they managed to engineer the Whole feeling and ambiance out of the most Famous hotel in this part of South East Asia.
Interesting. I would have liked though to see more of the interiors of the renovated hotel and less of the staff. I have been to this iconic hotel in the past and I agree that it was time for a thorough check up of its structure considering the unforgiving humid climate of Singapore. I think the new decoration respects the historic character of this iconic building and nothing over the top was forced upon it. Raffles is now updated to the requirements of a 5 stars hotel. Well done.
I'm sure the new furniture and decor weren't cheap, as some posters suggest. And "bad taste" is so subjective (and pretentious) as to be meaningless as a criticism. Any comparisons to IKEA are just foolish. BUT...I think in trying to be modern, the designers have gone for a design that is going to look very dated very quickly. I doubt they will be able to go another thirty years before they have to renovate again. The new look is very of-the-moment. I think they'd have been better off to stick with "timeless."
James Clendon The layout and everything is good though I feel, and it’s a lot easier and quicker to do a re-furb which can even be done bit by bit. So personally I think it’ll be aright for awhile now especially considering they fixed all the damp etc that would’ve made huge decay and issues in the future if it wasn’t discovered now.
Actually, the designer is Alexandra Champalimaud, who specifically designed in mind to pay homage and respect to Raffles Hotel's history and they even introduced some Peranakan elements, that are especially unique to Singapore/Malaysia/Straits Chinese. The black and white colonial style of the lobby is very timeless, and it will stay in style for a very very very long time to come, from a designer's perspective. Some of the more avant-garde lamps at the restaurants may be a tad too modern, but I trust they work for the restaurants' theme and style, and the restaurants may go through rotation regardless. I would suggest to just Google photos to look at the entire restoration or view the hotel in person before commenting.
Grand Hotels are one of my greatest passions in life! I have a list of about 10 Hotels in the World that I am willing to pay the high cost to stay. Hopefully, I will live long enough to do it! The Raffles Hotel is in the Top 3 on my list. I just know I have to make it happen somehow.
Man, if you paid attention they reopened towards the end of summer, 2019 I think - right in time for COVID to start ramping up. I hope they didn't lose too much business / clients / staff.
To me it is too white and shiny. Just like any modern hotel anywhere. I will never forget the old Raffles with it’s beautiful swimming pool on the roof. We never got to see that. In the warm nights you could swim and float and look up at the stars. Then lie on beds at the poolside in the warm air of Singapore then go back into the pool. I have never experienced anything like that. And the massage you could get before swimming. That was not mentioned in either blogs but to me that was the best memory of all.
Wow, I don’t know what everyone is complaining and being so judgemental about. I absolutely love it! Maybe the chandelier isn’t my personal taste, but everything else was beautiful. I loved how they still kept the white as the true backdrop of the hotel. Quite frankly the dark furniture of before, the Persian rugs and all were just too dark and old fashioned to me. I wouldn’t have been happy staying there at all. I still love that there are old style things mind, just not the overwhelming sense of of how out-dated and worn out some of the thing were looking. I know a lot of people like antiques, but that was truly an over abundance of them.
Persian rugs will never be old fashioned. They are class. If not for looks then for other reasons I will not list here. I suggest a history lesson, and a general expanding of your general knowledge.
I understand they wanted modernised, but instead of rivaling or perhaps exceeding the colonial splendor of the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, they wound up with something closer to the Oberoi. Not a disaster by any means, but they could have done better. What does look horrendous is that chandelier in the Grand Lobby.
I consider myself lucky for having had the opportunity to stay in hotels like Galle Face, Colombo; Strand Hotel, Yongon; E&O, Georgetown; Oriental, Bangkok; Metropole, Hanoi and the Manila Hotel, Manila. Never in the Raffles, though. Perhaps because I was resident in Singapore. It is still on my to do list.
The hotel is too white. It look like a hospital. They should add more colors to the hotel and make it feel warm and colorful. I don't want to stay at a luxury hotel and feel like I'm staying at a hospital.
Whoever was in charge of the marketing and interior design should be thrown in a river never to be heard from again. You guys took out quality, hand made, early 18th century furniture and fixtures and replaced everything with IKEA like products. Idiots.
Hahaha! I somewhat sense your irritation even here! I concur with you though. It took some "class" off & out of the beautiful old look of the interior.
I like the updating of the rooms, they were looking dated, but they made the lobby very cold and uninviting, the chandelier should have been gold and more elaborate rather than tacky and the fans they had before were a beautiful and practical addition plus all the new ceiling moldings are really cheap looking, are they plaster or painted plywood. honestly the lobby looked much better before, it clearly needed to be redone anyway especially if it hasn't been done in 30 years but it should have used the same or similar pallette and the sky light should have been painted differently, or even going all out with some brilliant cutting to make it sparkle in the light. it was a let down after watching through all this, really ruined the luxury of the space and mad it feel more like wannabe luxury.
Have you actually been to the actual hotel before and after the renovation? I can tell you the hotel looks amazing in person now. Before, it was falling apart and showing signs of age.
@@shopgirl6183 " it clearly needed to be redone anyway especially if it hasn't been done in 30 years but it should have used the same or similar pallette" I never said they shouldn't have touched it but new and quality aren't mutually exclusive, it was getting a bit tired before, but the gold tones made it feel well established, the silver tones lack that, I even said the rooms were fine, but the lobby losing all that detail and not replacing it makes what is supposed to be an long standing iconic hotel with a feeling of solidarity and replaces it with something without any presence, you could stick it in any other hotel and it would fit. I may not have been since the renovation but I can still see what they've changed. if they want to make things more modern that's fine fut if you're swapping out higher end fixtures and fittings for lower end ones just because they're new or even worse, just removing them entirely, you're doing it wrong, you're better off restoring the old. all the beautiful hanging lights, the iconic and practical ceiling fans, all removed, it looks bare, if you want a minimalist hotel, you're not going there, so why remove them all and not replace/restore them? same with mouldings, why go for something less ornate, unless you're just being cheap.
@@audi4444player Like I said, if you have not been to the actual hotel lobby and are just basing it off what you can see on the video, which is not an accurate representation of the total picture, stop. As an interior designer, I can tell you the place is mighty grand in person and the items used are not cheap indeed. They have also done a marvellous job salvaging what they could to retain its heritage since the hotel is a historical monument in Singapore. The paddle ceiling fans were never at the Grand Lobby, They have always been at Long Bar, which has a lower ceiling height and is on L2. The paddle fans still are a part of the charm at the restored Long Bar so I'm wondering have you ever been to Raffles Hotel at all. The ceiling at the Grand Lobby is too high for paddle fans or any ceiling fans to even be practical (Again, have you even been to Singapore? It's humid and hot, especially with climate change. AC is so much more practical), and the so-called tacky mouldings are intricately carved columns which have always been part of the initial design and are simply restored. Certain beams have been painted black to go with the newly varnished and stained stairs. And to keep those old ceiling fans near Tiffin Room would have been crazy. They gather dust, will be hard to clean since the ceilings are tall and probably will never work again after being demolished and reinstalled back. Parts will be hard to procure and repairs will be difficult even if they work. And most importantly, they are not adequate to cool the entire area. AC does. Why put back things that don't work and will cost a lot to maintain? Please think about practicality since you are talking about it. I would suggest instead of whining and confusing facts, maybe look at archive photos and compare. We don't need fake news and a foreigner to tell us Singaporeans what is beautiful and what needs to be retained. Our authorities have worked very closely with the team to do so. Mind your words.
@@shopgirl6183 I don't know what's wrong with you, you come to pick a fight and insult me over a comment I made on a documentary I watched over two years ago, I watched a nearly two hour video and I was disappointed at the end result as it felt like while new and shiny, the life was gone, that's how I felt and you can't tell me I didn't. when I went to the hotel it was 20 or so years ago for about a week, having apparently gone very often your knowledge of the place and names of the rooms is obviously vastly more than my own, so I can only go from what this documentary has shown me, if that is inadequate to show the good points of the renovation then you can blame them for not presenting it properly. I have not seen the full building after the remodel but if I can see from these videos that there are a number of fixtures missing and not replaced i.imgur.com/LoChaV3.png everything in red isn't there, am I wrong? all the sconces, gone, fans, gone, small hanging chandeliers gone, replaced with a simply designed "modern" silver chandelier, that brings down the warmth and character of the space and yes, the ceiling fans don't cool the whole room as well as air conditioning, however the breese created by a ceiling fan is far more efficient at cooling the people and better for acclimatisation than living in a fridge and dying when you go out, which you obviously want to do if you're visiting a beautiful country such as singapore. Honestly I can't remember what mouldings I was referring to but it's not the beautiful original parts you pointed out, as I said, I watched this over 2 years ago. I am an interior designer myself with a focus on historical sensibilities so trying to belittle my opinion by claiming yourself one is unnecessary, and as far as not being a singaporean, I don't see what relevance that has to talking about the renovation of a hotel that has made a documentary to share with the world, and presumably being a hotel, most of their customers would be from somewhere else, so you mind your words and don't try to gate keep design and architecture, heaven forbid somebody have a differing opinion to your own.
Estuve en este Hotel en el año 2005… y era maravilloso.. en el suelo tenía unos tablones de madera fe olmo oscura increíble..!! No entiendo una reforma fe este tipo.
In 1961 I had the pleasure of having afternoon tea at Raffles with my late Mum. I was 18 , I am now 77. It still has a magic that is unique.
How lovely is Roslee? You can tell how much he loves this hotel. What a gem.
I did love the old Raffles, but it has been 40 years. Last year it was closed when I was there. Seeing this you realize it did need renovations. The humidity of Singapore had affected the walls and to save old buildings you need to do this. People will still love this hotel, it's the staff who also make your stay special at any hotel. The staff look so friendly. Love it.
So glad I could see the hotel before the renovation in 2016. Love from Germany!
Stayed at raffles over 20 years ago. Agreed the renovation is beautiful, and the rooms needed upgrades , but now it is not unique . It lacks what raffles was always known for ...the iconic old world charm , the rattan , the antique art and carpets , the old world chandeliers and those wonderful rose gold fans . Those are few of the things people checked in there for . The designers just lost the plot ...now it looks like so many other hotels . Sighhhh.
Excellent well made documentary.
I agree with you.
Yes destroying that wonderful marble floor was criminal. They could have fixed the age/humidity etc related structural problems while retaining the original and unique charm. Now it's just like any other luxury hotel. Sad.
I have only just come across this and the hotel is beautiful but in honesty the best thing about a successful hotel is its wonderful staff..their attention to detail and care they gave every person who walked through the doors was so wonderful to watch especially their lady who would stay 4 times a week saying welcome home to her and making her feel part of their family. This kind of attention is what stays with their guests forever ...well done team absolutely amazing people xx
The charm and magic of the old hotel....so sad to see it gone!
Gorgeous..would love to stay there one of these days. I don't think the pre-renovation was that bad, but the new version will hopefully last a long time. The attention to detail is world class.
What an incredible documentary of a historical iconic property Raffles in the lovely country of Singapore. It is also beautiful and awe inspiring to see the entire staff work as more than a team but a family caring with the utmost respect for all of the hotel's guest and new guest and tourist coming to see the place and enjoy it's restaurants, bars. What an example to the rest of the world and it's hospitality service. Thank you kindly. I hope that one day I can travel to Singapore and be able to stay at Raffles.
Absolutely beautiful presented. It actually bought tears to my eyes. Especially the devoted staff.
I like it better the way it was. Everyone wants to update everything. Somethings need to stay iconic and timeless. This was definitely a renovation with restoring the walls.
You allowed us to live the journey ... What a great documentary thumbs Up
I have watched a lot of these famous fancy hotels but this one is just gorgeous but the staff are just lovely and really care!💘
I am glad I got to see the restoration and when it was completed. The temporary place to have a Singapore Sling on Seay could not replace the Long Bar. I was so happy to enjoy at the Long Bar when it reopened.
Everyone's saying that they prefer the old look but honestly the new modern look looks great 👍
38:38. I though i'll never hear a French chef say "too much butter" in my life.
I would never imagine to hear a French Chef speaking Singlish too.
I guess that's why she's a world renowned 7 Michelin star chef.
as bocuse would say "plus de beurre....de beurre!"
julia child would be rolling in her grave :)
Old is gold......
First class documentary.Very good,best and superb.I am awaiting more documentary like this.Thank you..
Enjoyed this very much. Both parts (one and two) were beauifully film along with sharing the personal journeys of its staff and the visiting residents.
They discovered that the outer shell was crumbling. That's MUCH more serious than a simple slap up reno. That's heart attack time.
The truth is, it isn't the building that makes the hotel a 5 star. It's the STAFF!!!!!
The old decor seems much more charming than the tacky new stuff
Big lie
You can give that opinion because they didn’t even show much of the old decor
@@angelhighlight5154 Big tool head speaking
@@angelhighlight5154 they have lost the colonial charm
god damn , should've kept the light fixtures and fans in the lobby .
Stayed there before 2019, love it especially the verandah area. I really like sitting outside the room in the morning enjoying a cup of hot coffee. Simple pleasure but a memorable one. I would love to go back there again.
This is a very good and touching story of restoration for this iconic hotel, I remember I had dinner there in 2014 and it was great. I can feel the emotions of the guests and staff, I also cry.
Congratulations to the Reborn of Raffles Hotel, unfortunately the start of the pandemic in 2020 has a negative impact on the entire travel and hospitality industry. Hopefully the tourism industry will recover soon and travel bans will end soon following the vaccines that have been implemented around the world.
32:39 the balloon dropped! :o
Thank you CNA!! missed it on TV...
This was a project to destroy a beautiful hotel. The new interior decoration is in bad taste. I would love to stay at the old hotel. Hotels like this new, are everywhere, like the old are not! I am extremely sad for what they have done!
Well nothing lasts forever
It's over 130 years old
Technically the british people who did the engineering on this are not even alive anymore
They have to change it for safety reasons.
If it collapses on the people living in their would be disastrous
Yes sad for us Singaporeans but we must accept that it's too old and we have to preserve what we can to honour sir Stamford raffles.
I think that the attitude of designers and architects today is that anything representing colonialism is just not acceptable in these times of PC culture - I'm surprised it was not bulldozed - yes, very sad. But I love Singapore and I love Raffles - it is what it is.
Beautiful :) I think they did manage to preserve the old world charm but in a glistening new shell . A refined homage to the original design sensibility:)
Bravo to those workmen what a job!
What a beautiful restoration at a magical place! I can only dream of one day visiting.
Beautiful remake of an already legendary hotel. Even the new uniforms are so smart and stylish!! I wish I could return to Asia to experience even one night there. But perhaps for another lifetime!
I stayed recently - the update is fantastic. But most importantly the staff are the best rained in the World. Didn't find the bed too comfy though!
It would have been nice if they had acknowledged the hard work that had been put in by all the trades people who made it possible.
Yes Mr. Bluecollar Embittered Man, they did. What were you watching?
We stayed here in 1983, I wished I took more photos of the inside, lots of the garden & my daughter in the pool
Well done..looking splendid in all it’s glory…what an amazing feat..ready to go for another century..I would certainly like to visit one day to see for myself this icon in the hotel industry..happy days to Raffles…🎉❤🎉
Sad to see history paused but what a fabulous ending of luxury but most of all the dedication of staff . Well done it's incredible.
I had always dreamnt of staying there , another dream crushed, it now just looks like so many other hotels ,,,
Well done for all the staff from Raffles Hotel, it got there in the end!👏
I Am Speechless and in Awe!!!...The Staff should be given Gold Medals 💖
🥇🏅🎖️
An absolutely brilliant hotel before and after the latest renovation.
not a fan of the new carpets and new lightings in the room, but awesome video production nonetheless, keep up the good work CNA!
I hate the new carpet/rug too. Low-end products compared to the previous ones.
there is so many negative comments on the change :-(
we should be more accepting and appreciative of the new Raffles as we move forward into the 21st century. the charm and passion of Raffles IS still there, it is just new and different and we need some time to adjust to. i miss the keys though and i cant wait for this year's christmas tree when I come back to Singapore later during the year
Luxury hotel dan report... ❤❤❤
I honestly really hoped that Raffles hotel would be restored and not renovated since there’s not that many hotels that aren’t modernised anymore
Thank you for sharing this peak into such a lovely world ❤
After the renovation, this hotel has lost its tropical (colonial) vibes: sky-high-areca trees, timber decors, ceiling fans...The new decor is not distinguishable from other hotels...What a shame!
Yea.. totally agree. I understand old historic building needs to be repair but I prefer the old decor before the renovation.
I recall drinking Singapore Slings whilst seated in a high-backed ratton and reed peackock chair in the 1970s. Looks ghastly now.
Colonial and tropical are not to be used synonymously. Both are different styles in design. What are you talking about? Also, the hotel still retains a lot of its old chairs (seem to be reupholstered) and some wooden furniture. Even the original timber stairs are restored. Any trees taken down in Singapore needs to be approved by NEA. The palm trees are still there. The ceiling fans in Tiffin Room is gone because the whole area is with AC and the fans are no longer needed. Simple. It's a shame people who have not been to the restored hotel always like to complain.
I agree! It's beautiful, but it's too stark. It's lacking the warmth of the old place and they really should have stayed, at least somewhat, with that old style. The upgrades are awesome, though, and the landscaping was beautiful.
@@shopgirl6183lol i think you are overreacting a bit
You cannot buy class at any price. It needed a upgrade, instead they threw the baby out with the bath water. Unique character gone for ever.
Loved seeing the old and the new Raffles - how beautiful it is!
43:43 ahhh I’m so glad he made his way back home❤
Wish I could go stay there. It's just beautiful, and OMG, the staff! I love them all 🥰
I first stayed at Raffles in c1985. The hotel at that time was sadly in need of renovation, but I really enjoyed my stay, in the Somerset Maugham suite at the time. When living in Singapore in the late 1990s I dined there frequently. I had the pleasure of staying there again quite recently. I have to say the most recent renovations are very tasteful. I totally disagree with the negative comments posted here regarding bad taste in the improvements. It’s still the Queen of good taste and faithfully maintains its historic mage.
Such emphasis is made about the fact that the smallest detail is looked at, but the new chandelier in the foyer has one light that is not working!
Sacrilege . Wow I must say it goes together with that other bit of kitch they built in Singapore. Now just trying to remember the name !! AHH yes I got it Marina Bay Sands . The first time I set foot in raffles was in 1964 , and seen many upgrades
But this time they managed to engineer the
Whole feeling and ambiance out of the most
Famous hotel in this part of South East Asia.
Interesting. I would have liked though to see more of the interiors of the renovated hotel and less of the staff. I have been to this iconic hotel in the past and I agree that it was time for a thorough check up of its structure considering the unforgiving humid climate of Singapore. I think the new decoration respects the historic character of this iconic building and nothing over the top was forced upon it. Raffles is now updated to the requirements of a 5 stars hotel. Well done.
Love the new Raffles ❤️. Reminds me of old dutch building at my hometown, Semarang.
Old? Dutch? I think the furniture reminds you more of IKEA.
Vinny your response is rude and unnecessary.
Stunning. Love every element
They removed the old chandeliers in the lobby :( :(
Feeling nostalgic.
You could smell the new paint ❤❤❤❤😊😊😊 love the chandelier😊
Wonderful production !
Brilliant loved the show both parts
I'm sure the new furniture and decor weren't cheap, as some posters suggest. And "bad taste" is so subjective (and pretentious) as to be meaningless as a criticism. Any comparisons to IKEA are just foolish. BUT...I think in trying to be modern, the designers have gone for a design that is going to look very dated very quickly. I doubt they will be able to go another thirty years before they have to renovate again. The new look is very of-the-moment. I think they'd have been better off to stick with "timeless."
James Clendon The layout and everything is good though I feel, and it’s a lot easier and quicker to do a re-furb which can even be done bit by bit. So personally I think it’ll be aright for awhile now especially considering they fixed all the damp etc that would’ve made huge decay and issues in the future if it wasn’t discovered now.
so they'll do another restore in 30 year. Not the end of the world.
you really are an idiot
Actually, the designer is Alexandra Champalimaud, who specifically designed in mind to pay homage and respect to Raffles Hotel's history and they even introduced some Peranakan elements, that are especially unique to Singapore/Malaysia/Straits Chinese. The black and white colonial style of the lobby is very timeless, and it will stay in style for a very very very long time to come, from a designer's perspective. Some of the more avant-garde lamps at the restaurants may be a tad too modern, but I trust they work for the restaurants' theme and style, and the restaurants may go through rotation regardless. I would suggest to just Google photos to look at the entire restoration or view the hotel in person before commenting.
Fabulous!
Much of the old charm is missing
Bern looks like Nick Carter of the back street boys : )
I love Roslee. He's such a sweetheart. I'd love to work with him 🙂
He looks a bit like Mr Bean!
nice video, I like it , much !! it very hotelier, more and more.. Enggaged!!
Past and present British splendors at their best. Hong Kong should follow it roots.
Their original roots are chinese lol
@@Probanot - I was talking about Arts and Styles.
Swind Pendulum why would it be? 😂😂
Looking very very nice...
I'm crying. They ruined that beautiful hotel. WHY do they have to ruin everything and make it "modern?" Crying.
@TDAKS exactly. People has lost appreciation for anything of value.
well it's about them bringing new people in. They don't care about the old ones. Just like the movies
@@antr7493 yall are dramatic damn
Grand Hotels are one of my greatest passions in life! I have a list of about 10 Hotels in the World that I am willing to pay the high cost to stay. Hopefully, I will live long enough to do it! The Raffles Hotel is in the Top 3 on my list. I just know I have to make it happen somehow.
Looks so beautiful hotel ......need to make reservation ......later on
Wonderful to see all the different religions come together to bless the hotel.
Old decor still better
Wow 🤩. Oh my gosh its soooo beautiful ❤️
BRAVO !
Man, if you paid attention they reopened towards the end of summer, 2019 I think - right in time for COVID to start ramping up. I hope they didn't lose too much business / clients / staff.
They killed Raffles with the obscene redevelopment and tacky decor!
To me it is too white and shiny. Just like any modern hotel anywhere. I will never forget the old Raffles with it’s beautiful swimming pool on the roof. We never got to see that. In the warm nights you could swim and float and look up at the stars. Then lie on beds at the poolside in the warm air of Singapore then go back into the pool. I have never experienced anything like that. And the massage you could get before swimming. That was not mentioned in either blogs but to me that was the best memory of all.
Wow, I don’t know what everyone is complaining and being so judgemental about. I absolutely love it! Maybe the chandelier isn’t my personal taste, but everything else was beautiful. I loved how they still kept the white as the true backdrop of the hotel. Quite frankly the dark furniture of before, the Persian rugs and all were just too dark and old fashioned to me. I wouldn’t have been happy staying there at all. I still love that there are old style things mind, just not the overwhelming sense of of how out-dated and worn out some of the thing were looking. I know a lot of people like antiques, but that was truly an over abundance of them.
Hi Rachel
Persian rugs will never be old fashioned. They are class. If not for looks then for other reasons I will not list here. I suggest a history lesson, and a general expanding of your general knowledge.
If you watch movie 1979 Saint Jack it was filmed at Raffles Hotel. You can see its driveway, lobby, room interior etc.
I loved Bernd the much ❤❤
I understand they wanted modernised, but instead of rivaling or perhaps exceeding the colonial splendor of the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, they wound up with something closer to the Oberoi. Not a disaster by any means, but they could have done better. What does look horrendous is that chandelier in the Grand Lobby.
I hope one day i'll be there..RHSG.icon reborn
I consider myself lucky for having had the opportunity to stay in hotels like Galle Face, Colombo; Strand Hotel, Yongon; E&O, Georgetown; Oriental, Bangkok; Metropole, Hanoi and the Manila Hotel, Manila. Never in the Raffles, though. Perhaps because I was resident in Singapore. It is still on my to do list.
awsome where hotel in Singapore ...
It is the iconic 130-year-old Raffles Hotel, at 1, Beach Road, Singapore.
Nearest MRT station : City Hall MRT.
Welcome to Singapore!🌿💮🌷
The hotel is too white. It look like a hospital. They should add more colors to the hotel and make it feel warm and colorful. I don't want to stay at a luxury hotel and feel like I'm staying at a hospital.
prestigious !
A bit too minimalist with the lack of detail, but still quite tasteful, and classy
From Raffles Hotel to Ming Palace Hotel upgraded to 21st century technology & fittings. Lobby chandelier is soooooo made in PRC. Yucksss !!
it made by Presioca, a luxury brand for chandelier from Czech Republic.
@@crafael. looks modern but still tacky tho. Sorry
I love the old one
well before was much more classy ... i dont like the new face .
This is happening all over the World, First class hotels, with luxurious high taste, being turned into tacky lux. So sad!
Whoever was in charge of the marketing and interior design should be thrown in a river never to be heard from again. You guys took out quality, hand made, early 18th century furniture and fixtures and replaced everything with IKEA like products. Idiots.
Hahaha! I somewhat sense your irritation even here! I concur with you though. It took some "class" off & out of the beautiful old look of the interior.
Vinny very true! The essence of its historical value is gone
Yo friend! Did u read my mind? You speak my mind! Lol
I like the updating of the rooms, they were looking dated, but they made the lobby very cold and uninviting, the chandelier should have been gold and more elaborate rather than tacky and the fans they had before were a beautiful and practical addition plus all the new ceiling moldings are really cheap looking, are they plaster or painted plywood. honestly the lobby looked much better before, it clearly needed to be redone anyway especially if it hasn't been done in 30 years but it should have used the same or similar pallette and the sky light should have been painted differently, or even going all out with some brilliant cutting to make it sparkle in the light. it was a let down after watching through all this, really ruined the luxury of the space and mad it feel more like wannabe luxury.
i agree with you. The wow experience in the lobby is gone after the renovation.
Have you actually been to the actual hotel before and after the renovation? I can tell you the hotel looks amazing in person now. Before, it was falling apart and showing signs of age.
@@shopgirl6183 " it clearly needed to be redone anyway especially if it hasn't been done in 30 years but it should have used the same or similar pallette" I never said they shouldn't have touched it but new and quality aren't mutually exclusive, it was getting a bit tired before, but the gold tones made it feel well established, the silver tones lack that, I even said the rooms were fine, but the lobby losing all that detail and not replacing it makes what is supposed to be an long standing iconic hotel with a feeling of solidarity and replaces it with something without any presence, you could stick it in any other hotel and it would fit. I may not have been since the renovation but I can still see what they've changed. if they want to make things more modern that's fine fut if you're swapping out higher end fixtures and fittings for lower end ones just because they're new or even worse, just removing them entirely, you're doing it wrong, you're better off restoring the old. all the beautiful hanging lights, the iconic and practical ceiling fans, all removed, it looks bare, if you want a minimalist hotel, you're not going there, so why remove them all and not replace/restore them? same with mouldings, why go for something less ornate, unless you're just being cheap.
@@audi4444player Like I said, if you have not been to the actual hotel lobby and are just basing it off what you can see on the video, which is not an accurate representation of the total picture, stop.
As an interior designer, I can tell you the place is mighty grand in person and the items used are not cheap indeed. They have also done a marvellous job salvaging what they could to retain its heritage since the hotel is a historical monument in Singapore.
The paddle ceiling fans were never at the Grand Lobby, They have always been at Long Bar, which has a lower ceiling height and is on L2. The paddle fans still are a part of the charm at the restored Long Bar so I'm wondering have you ever been to Raffles Hotel at all. The ceiling at the Grand Lobby is too high for paddle fans or any ceiling fans to even be practical (Again, have you even been to Singapore? It's humid and hot, especially with climate change. AC is so much more practical), and the so-called tacky mouldings are intricately carved columns which have always been part of the initial design and are simply restored. Certain beams have been painted black to go with the newly varnished and stained stairs. And to keep those old ceiling fans near Tiffin Room would have been crazy. They gather dust, will be hard to clean since the ceilings are tall and probably will never work again after being demolished and reinstalled back. Parts will be hard to procure and repairs will be difficult even if they work. And most importantly, they are not adequate to cool the entire area. AC does. Why put back things that don't work and will cost a lot to maintain? Please think about practicality since you are talking about it.
I would suggest instead of whining and confusing facts, maybe look at archive photos and compare. We don't need fake news and a foreigner to tell us Singaporeans what is beautiful and what needs to be retained. Our authorities have worked very closely with the team to do so. Mind your words.
@@shopgirl6183 I don't know what's wrong with you, you come to pick a fight and insult me over a comment I made on a documentary I watched over two years ago, I watched a nearly two hour video and I was disappointed at the end result as it felt like while new and shiny, the life was gone, that's how I felt and you can't tell me I didn't. when I went to the hotel it was 20 or so years ago for about a week, having apparently gone very often your knowledge of the place and names of the rooms is obviously vastly more than my own, so I can only go from what this documentary has shown me, if that is inadequate to show the good points of the renovation then you can blame them for not presenting it properly. I have not seen the full building after the remodel but if I can see from these videos that there are a number of fixtures missing and not replaced i.imgur.com/LoChaV3.png everything in red isn't there, am I wrong? all the sconces, gone, fans, gone, small hanging chandeliers gone, replaced with a simply designed "modern" silver chandelier, that brings down the warmth and character of the space and yes, the ceiling fans don't cool the whole room as well as air conditioning, however the breese created by a ceiling fan is far more efficient at cooling the people and better for acclimatisation than living in a fridge and dying when you go out, which you obviously want to do if you're visiting a beautiful country such as singapore. Honestly I can't remember what mouldings I was referring to but it's not the beautiful original parts you pointed out, as I said, I watched this over 2 years ago. I am an interior designer myself with a focus on historical sensibilities so trying to belittle my opinion by claiming yourself one is unnecessary, and as far as not being a singaporean, I don't see what relevance that has to talking about the renovation of a hotel that has made a documentary to share with the world, and presumably being a hotel, most of their customers would be from somewhere else, so you mind your words and don't try to gate keep design and architecture, heaven forbid somebody have a differing opinion to your own.
It looks magnificet
Love it...
I wonder how Raffles fared during the pandemic. The hospitality
business all over Asia was viciously affected by the virus!
The front desk manager is handsome af!
Estuve en este Hotel en el año 2005… y era maravilloso.. en el suelo tenía unos tablones de madera fe olmo oscura increíble..!! No entiendo una reforma fe este tipo.
One of my closest friends met her future husband there 39 years ago.