Record-Breaking Bid Commemorates New Management of Two Landmark Hotels in Raffles City

To commemorate the renaming and re-branding of the two hotels, a bid to stage the world's longest ribbon-cutting ceremony was held today. More than 3000 participants comprising business partners and supporters of the hotels, tourists from more than 8 countries, members from the public transport sector, residents from Singapore's heartland, members of uniformed organisations, media professionals and Raffles International staff members turned up to support the event, each holding part of an approximately 4,000 metre long continuous ribbon that surrounded the entire Raffles City complex. The participants were attempting to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the most number of participants at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The current world record stands at 3,300 metres, involving 2,500 participants.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was also a charity drive to raise funds for The Community Chest. The event is expected to raise well over S$100,000. His Excellency Mr S R Nathan, President of the Republic of Singapore and Patron-in-Chief of National Council of Social Service was Guest-of-Honour at the event.

Swissôtel The Stamford Singapore and Raffles The Plaza are part of the portfolio of hotels and resorts of Raffles Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of CapitaLand. The hotels are managed by Raffles Holdings' management arm, Raffles International Limited.

"This is a milestone for us as we welcome the two hotels, Swissôtel The Stamford Singapore and Raffles The Plaza, into the management of Raffles International," said Mr Richard Helfer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Raffles International Limited. "I am confident that these two hotels will provide our guests with superior standards of service, quality and style which they have come to expect of the Raffles International brand."

Said Mr Liew Mun Leong, Deputy Chairman of Raffles Holdings and Chief Executive Officer of CapitaLand Limited, "The hallmark of Raffles International is to plan bold and creative ways to launch its products and services. This official launch of Swissôtel The Stamford Singapore and Raffles The Plaza has been a dramatic event participated by many. It has also put Singapore on the world map through the Guinness Book of Records while getting such an extensive support from the community. I am particularly pleased that this imaginative approach includes a fund raising drive for the Community Chest."

Swissôtel The Stamford Singapore and Raffles The Plaza are located in the heart of the central business district, with a major Mass Rapid Transit station located beneath the complex providing guests easy access to the rest of the city.

Food and beverage options include Equinox complex, which offers a selection of two restaurants and three bars, in addition to ten other dining and entertainment facilities within the hotels. Other features include Amrita Spa, Asia's most extensive spa, the 70,000 sq ft Raffles City Convention Centre and an adjacent shopping complex.

Raffles International Limited, formed in 1989, is a name well respected in the industry for its standards of quality, award-winning concepts and innovative approach towards hotel management.

Raffles International's hotels and resorts are marketed under a two-tiered brand structure. The "Raffles brand" hotels distinguish themselves by the highest standards of products and services available in major cities on an international level. The "Swissôtel"and "Merchant Court" hotels offer quality accommodation and the full range of modern facilities and amenities expected by today's discerning traveller, with an emphasis on quality and comfort.

Many hotels in the Raffles International portfolio have been voted top hotels in the world. These include the legendary Raffles Hotel Singapore, Brown's Hotel London, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Hamburg, Raffles L'Ermitage Beverly Hills and Le Montreux Palace.

Raffles International also operates Amrita Spa, the largest spa network in Asia and the SpaAcademy, Singapore's premier spa education and skills training institute. The Raffles International Training Centres in Singapore and Phnom Penh offers training programmes for the hospitality and service industry.

Raffles International Limited is the hotel management subsidiary of Raffles Holdings Limited. Raffles Holdings Limited's portfolio comprises hotels and resorts in 33 destinations across the six continents of Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia and Africa. Raffles Holdings is a subsidiary of CapitaLand Limited. Both companies are listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange.

CapitaLand is one of the fastest growing listed property companies in Asia. CapitaLand's diversified big interests cover commercial and industrial buildings, residential, serviced residences, hotels and hospitality, property funds, real estate financials and property services. Headquartered in Singapore, the multinational company has property, hospitality and property related products and services spanning more than 50 cities.