Beijing, March 3, 2008 – The legendary Raffles Beijing Hotel has been authorized by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) as “2008 Olympic Games Official Hotel.” During the Games, the hotel is to accommodate the “Olympic Family,” including visiting Olympic Officials, media professionals and Olympic sponsors.

Located at one of Beijing’s most distinguished addresses, at the crossroads of Chang’an Avenue and Wangfujing, Raffles Beijing Hotel is a magical fusion of heartfelt hospitality, rare discretion and residential charm, and the legendary and impeccable Raffles services. Established in the 1900s, the hotel has played a significant role in Beijing’s social and political events, hosting local and foreign dignitaries on many of these occasions. Honoured as the “Olympic Official Hotel” is sure to make the hotel, once again, the centre of the city and even the world’s attention.

All staff of Raffles Beijing has been fully prepared to provide high-standard service to the Olympic guests, open a window for foreign visitors and international society to better participate in and evaluate the Beijing Games, and give the world a good impression of Beijing's hospitality industry and of Beijing citizens.

“Olympic Family” members shall take up the 171 luxuriously-appointed guestrooms and suites, with many offering views of the glittering, vibrant city and all equally infused with the splendour of the past, yet technologically enabled with discretion, for every possible need during the Games.

Olympic guests can also enjoy 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 cognac. Five well-equipped banquet venues will play host to a series of important events during the 2008 Olympic Games.

To serve the Olympic Games, is another highlight of the glorious history of Raffles, a collection of luxury hotels around the globe that distinguishes itself through the highest standards of products and services. Raffles Hotels & Resorts was ranked second among the world’s top hotel brands in the 2006 Condé Nast Traveler Business Travel Awards. Each hotel is a landmark in its respective city and most are positioned at the top of their local markets.

The 2008 Olympic Games is to be held from August 8-24, 2008 in Beijing, China, with six co-host cities of Qingdao, Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenyang, Qinhuangdao and Hong Kong.                                             

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. 

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 2007 by Travel Trade Gazette Asia.  Raffles Hotels & Resorts is consistently ranked among the world’s top 10 hotel brands in the annual Condé Nast Traveler Business Travel Awards. 

The latest addition to Raffles Hotels & Resorts’ portfolio is Raffles Dubai, a spectacular pyramidal structure which is a magnificent addition to the city’s skyline. Located within Wafi, and only 15 minutes from the international airport, Raffles Dubai is ideally placed in the heart of Dubai.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a leading global hotel company with over 85 hotels 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.

For high resolution images of Raffles hotels and resorts, please visit our Private Digital Library:  http://www.leonardo.com/raffles/

Raffles Hotels & Resorts’ award-winning collection of legendary hotels includes: 

Raffles Hotel, Singapore

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Raffles Beijing Hotel, People’s Republic of China

Raffles L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, United States

Raffles Resort Canouan Island, The Grenadines

Raffles Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Le Royal Monceau, Paris, France

Raffles Resort Konottaa, Maldives (2009)

Raffles Tianjin Hotel, People’s Republic of China (2009)

Raffles Marrakech, Morocco (2009)

Raffles St Lucia, West Indies (2010)

Raffles Resort Taimana Tahaa, French Polynesia (2010)

Raffles Macao, Cotai Strip (2010)

Raffles Tortola, British Virgin Islands (2010)

Raffles Manila, Philippines (2010)

Raffles Amartha, Jimbaran, Bali (2010)

Raffles Phang Nga, Thailand (2011)

Raffles Da Nang, Vietnam (2011)

Raffles Praslin, Seychelles (2011)