Explore the hallowed hallways of Raffles Singapore

The iconic hotel welcomes all to explore its hallowed hallways with its Raffles Walk of Fame tour.

The walk has been designed as part of the hotels line-up of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its city’s founding.  Lasting 45 minutes, it gives visitors a chance to get acquainted with the property and follow in the footsteps of the many world leaders, celebrities and royalty that have visited the hotel.

Usually only accessible to in-house guests for their privacy, Raffles Singapore has, this time, designed a tour that will open its heart to visitors both local and foreign. “The hotel has played a key role in the history of Singapore. Therefore, it is only right that as the country celebrates its Golden Jubilee, we share this national treasure with members of the public,” explained Simon Hirst, General Manager, Raffles Singapore.

The tour will start in the hotel lobby, which dates back to 1899 and occupies the first building in Singapore to have electric lights and fans. En route, visitors will visit some of the 103 suites that make up the hotel, including one of its two presidential suites where Queen Elizabeth II and Michael Jackson have resided.

Also part of the itinerary are fascinating facts about the celebrities and famous personalities that have resided in the hotel. For instance, learn about the three different occasions that literary giant Somerset Maugham stayed at Raffles Singapore.

Look out for the Hall of Fame, where the photograph of the original visionary owners of the hotel, the Sarkies Brothers, hangs proudly on the wall. Hear the real story behind the tiger that hid under the billiard room. Admire the pristine condition of the silver beef wagon in Raffles Grill that had to be buried during the Second World War in order to preserve it.

Raffles Walk of Fame will also highlight the locations where films such as The Barefoot Contessa, Pretty Polly and Hawaii Five-O were shot. “This joint programme is to highlight the historic significance of this iconic monument and its lighter moments, where it served as an attractive location for filming. Today, Raffles Singapore continues in its hospitality role and PSM is delighted to contribute to this outreach programme,” said Jean Wee, Director, Preservation of Sites and Monuments Division of NHB.

Raffles Walk of Fame is priced at S$20 (AUD19.15*) per person, and is fully redeemable at the Raffles Gift Shop or the hotel’s food and beverage establishments.

The walk will run every Saturday, until 29 August, with tours conducted four times a day – 9am, 11am, 3pm and 5pm – by volunteer guides from the Preservation of Sites and Monuments Division (PSM) of the National Heritage Board (NHB).

To register, please email the Preservation of Sites and Monuments Division at nhb_nationalmonuments@nhb.gov.sg with your preferred timeslot.

Alison Carmichael-Rulten

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