BEIJING, 6 August 2007 – Raffles Beijing Hotel’s elegant Presidential Suite is among the world’s top 101 luxury suites, featured

in Elite Traveler magazine’s Sixth Annual Pure Decadence issue. The

list of top suites were selected by editors of Elite Travler, and a celebrity panel which included Cuba Gooding, Jr., Harry Connick, Jr., Kim Catrall, John Legend and more. Beyond the criteria of luxurious details, judges also looked for “privacy, individuality, location and one-of-a-kind designs.” Elite Traveler is a U.S luxury lifestyle magazine whose readers include affluent travellers and private jet owners.

Raffles Beijing Hotel’s Presidential Suite occupies two stories, over a generous 884 square metres, making it one of the most spacious suites in Beijing. Elegantly appointed, this resplendent four bedroom suite features two living rooms, a private dining room, a mini theatre with a range of audio-visual facilities, a gym, Roman style bathrooms complete with a Jacuzzi and sauna. The Presidential Suite commands a nightly rate of RMB 80,000 (approximately USD$10,000).

Said Mr Peter Wynne, General Manager, “The Presidential Suite is one of our most sought-after suites, and we are delighted that it has been selected by such a discerning group of judges for this exclusive list.”

Since its re-debut in June 2006, Raffles Beijing Hotel has received numerous awards and accolades. This year, it was singled out by Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report as the Best New City Hotel in its 2007 Special Awards listing, and selected as one of the best new hotels in the world by readers of Condé Nast Traveler (US) and Condé Nast Traveller (UK). The hotel’s French fine dining restaurant Jaan was also conferred Hot Table status, making it one of the best new restaurants in the world.

Raffles Beijing Hotel made its re-debut after nine months of careful refurbishment by Raffles Hotels & Resorts. The next addition to Raffles Hotels & Resorts’ collection of luxury hotels is the spectacular Raffles Dubai, which is set to open in October 2007.

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·        Established in 1900s, Raffles Beijing Hotel witnessed many of the city’s significant social and political events, its commanding French-Orient colonnade façade has long stood as an icon of Beijing’s historical heritage.

·        The Hotel enjoys the most prestigious address, at the crossroads of Chang An Avenue and shopping district of Wangfujing, a heartbeat away from the historic Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.

·        Faithfully restored, it reopened on 27 June 2006.

·        The 171 luxuriously-appointed guestrooms and suites are some of the most spacious in Beijing, with many offering views of the glittering, vibrant city. The Presidential Suite occupies an expansive 884 square meters, while five Grand Hotel Suites and nine Personality Suites, each named after various luminaries associated with the hotel, are equally infused with the splendour of the past, yet technologically enabled with discretion, for the needs of a 21st century international traveller.

·        There are four distinctive restaurants and bars, comprising the exquisitely elegant Jaan Restaurant, the creative blend of Chinese and Italian cuisine at East 33, La Vie’s traditional afternoon tea and the legendary Writers’ Bar for cocktails and after-dinner.

·        The Hotel also has five well-equipped banquet venues and a lofty lobby adorned with a procession of graceful arches.

·        The hotel’s logo embraces the contour of lattice Orient homes peepholes, delicately encasing the hotel’s name penned by Premier Deng Xiao Peng.

·        Raffles Beijing Hotel is a promise of splendour, an exclusive world of peerless privilege and refinement, quintessential of the Raffles legend.

 About Raffles Hotels & Resorts

Raffles is a collection of luxury hotels and resorts worldwide, each distinguished by its luxury, elegance and residential charm.  Each hotel is a landmark in its respective city, positioned at the top of its local market and rated among the very best in the world.

Raffles’ relentless pursuit of service excellence has earned for its hotels and resorts a legion of international accolades, including Condé Nast World’s Best Places to Stay and Travel & Leisure World’s Best Awards.  Its flagship Raffles Hotel Singapore was named Best Hotel in Asia by readers of Ultratravel magazine by The Daily Telegraph and Best Luxury Hotel 2006 by Travel Trade Gazette Asia.  Raffles Hotels & Resorts was ranked second among the world’s top hotel brands in the 2006 Condé Nast Traveler Business Travel Awards.  For more information, please visit www.raffles.com