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To ensure that delegates have a residential experience, the culinary team of Raffles Beijing are recreating dishes from the various countries of the delegates to ensure that they feel very much at home. Each delegate will receive specially selected Olympic mementoes such as a copy of “Beijing Walks” coffee table book, to commemorate China’s inaugural Olympic event.
In preparation, Raffles Beijing, which has 100% occupancy during the Olympics, has undergone more than 1,500 hours of Pre-Olympic preparation training since March 2008. Training sessions and language classes have been taking place daily so that hotel staff from different departments can provide lateral service throughout the hotel. Even back- of-house administrative staff has been selected for intensive training for deployment to other operational areas.
A new concierge desk has been added to render assistance and to handle the anticipated increase in queries and requests. More personal butlers have been hired and trained to the exacting Raffles standards to provide the seamless service that Raffles is renowned for.
“It was an honour for Raffles Beijing Hotel to have been selected by the IOC to be the residence of its members, and my colleagues and I will ensure that the legendary Raffles service is not compromised and is delivered, even during this exciting, but demanding period”, said Riaz Mahmood, General Manager of Raffles Beijing.
Diana Ee Tan, President, Raffles Hotels & Resorts, added "We are extremely honoured to be part of this momentous event. Raffles Beijing is the third Raffles hotel to have the rare privilege of being the preferred accommodation of the International Olympic Committee – the other two being Raffles Hotel Singapore and Raffles The Plaza which housed members of the IOC during the 117th IOC Session when it was held in Singapore in 2005. We are certainly delighted to once again welcome the IOC to Raffles."
ABOUT RAFFLES BEIJING HOTEL
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. It 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 featuring 171 tastefully appointed rooms, four distinctive restaurants and bars, and 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 voted Best Hotel in Asia in 2007 and 2008 by readers of Ultratravel magazine by The Daily while Raffles Beijing Hotel was named Best New City Hotel by Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report in 2006. Raffles Dubai, the latest addition to its portfolio, is recognised among the world’s best new hotels by Conde Nast Traveler’s 2008 Hot List, and was named Best New Hotel Development in the Middle East at the 2008 Arabian Hotel Investment Conference. Raffles Hotels & Resorts is consistently ranked among the world’s top 10 hotel brands in the annual Condé Nast Traveler Business Travel Awards.
Raffles Hotels & Resorts is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a leading global hotel company with 90 hotels and resorts worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. The company also owns Fairmont and Raffles branded Residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties. For more information, please visit www.raffles.com
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