Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Siem Reap and Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh, have been ranked in Travel + Leisure magazine’s prestigious 2006 World’s Best Awards as two of the Top 50 Hotels in Asia.

This accolade marks the first time that both these Raffles Hotels & Resorts properties in Cambodia have been ranked amongst Asia’s best, for their unsurpassed level of luxury and excellence in service.

The result of Travel + Leisure’s 11th annual World’s Best Awards survey saw discerning readers selecting the very finest in travel and hotel experience, across the world.  The survey revealed Travel + Leisure’s readers exacting standards of excellence, with Asian hotels accounting for close to a quarter of the world’s Top 100 hotels.

Built in 1932 and sensitively restored with timeless elegance, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, is the gateway to the ancient wonders of Siem Reap. The resort expresses the architectural details of Angkor’s heritage, including traditional murals by local artists and an exquisite collection of 9th and 12th century Khmer artefacts.

Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh is a grand historic hotel distinguished by a combination of 1920s Art Deco, French Colonial architecture with Khmer touches.  A tropical residence, it offers the legendary Raffles experience, along with world class facilities and amenities.  Luminaries who have resided in its luxurious suites featuring Cambodian furnishings and objects d’art include Somerset Maugham, Jacqueline Kennedy and Charles de Gaulle.

Mr Riaz Mahmood, Area General Manager, Indo-China, Raffles Hotels & Resorts commented, “We are proud to be named as Travel + Leisure’s Top 50 Hotels in Asia. Given the independent readers polling, both our Cambodian properties have indeed lived up to being the best in Indo-China.”

He added, “This recognition reflects our unceasing commitment to service excellence at both properties in Indo-China and to deliver the best and most memorable stay for our residents.  We will continue to live up to, if not, surpass the expectations of travellers the world over.”

About Raffles Hotels & Resorts

Raffles is a collection of 10 luxury hotels around the globe that distinguishes itself through the highest standards of products and services.  Each hotel is a landmark in its respective city and most are positioned at the top of their local markets. The collection of legendary hotels includes Raffles Hotel and Raffles The Plaza in Singapore, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Raffles L’Ermitage Beverly Hills in the U.S., Raffles Resort Canouan Island, The Grenadines, Raffles Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Hamburg, Germany and Raffles Le Montreux Palace, Montreux, Switzerland.  On 27 June 2006, Raffles Beijing Hotel, an iconic landmark in the heart of China’s capital, was re-opened after nine months of careful refurbishment. The romance and splendour of the hotel’s regal past returns, Raffles style. Raffles Hotels & Resorts will open a new Raffles property in Dubai in summer 2007. (www.raffles.com)

In May 2006, the hotel portfolios of Raffles Hotels & Resorts and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts were combined following the acquisition of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts by Kingdom Hotels International and Colony Capital, transforming the two companies into a single global enterprise with a vision to become the world leader in the global hospitality industry.