Leslie Danker — Source: Accor
Raffles Singapore — Photo by Accor

SINGAPORE - Raffles Hotel Singapore today released a new book, 'A Life Intertwined',by Resident Historian, Leslie Danker, marking the hotel's 133rd birthday. Produced with the support of the National Heritage Board (NHB), the aptly-named memoir recounts the rich history and heritage of the iconic property through Danker's collection of mementos and trivia, as well as interesting anecdotes from his 48-year career at the hotel.

Interspersed with clippings, illustrations, notes and photos of Raffles Hotel Singapore's illustrious history, 'A Life Intertwined' is a nostalgic recollection of Danker's personal stories and reminiscences of the hotel. The book chronicled his first visit to Raffles Hotel Singapore when he was 18 years old, from his first position as the hotel's maintenance supervisor in 1972, his personal recount of the transformation of the Grand Dame through two restorations, to his journey of becoming an 'accidental historian' shortly after the first restoration began in 1989, because of his in-depth knowledge of the hotel.

Leslie Danker, Resident Historian, Raffles Hotel Singapore, said, "A Life Intertwined is my love letter to the Grand Dame, where I have been working for the past 48 years. Raffles Hotel Singapore has provided me a lifetime of wonderful experiences and I am delighted to do my part in sharing her stories on her 133rd birthday. I hope that readers will be able to learn more about her rich heritage and history through my recollection."

Christian Westbeld, General Manager, Raffles Hotel Singapore said, "The timely release of 'A Life Intertwined' with Raffles Hotel Singapore's 133rd birthday celebrates not only the highlights of the rich heritage of our Hotel throughout its 133 years of history, but also of Mr Danker's remarkable career and contributions to the hotel. With his keen interest in learning about the iconic building and its historical beginnings, there are few others who know the hotel's history as well as he does. Mr Danker has been an important and valuable member of the Raffles team and we are grateful for his commitment in preserving the heritage of Raffles Hotel Singapore."

While journeying through Danker's own collection of old press releases, keepsakes and photos of the hotel, readers will also learn more about the National Monument's role in Singapore's history since its establishment in 1887. Being the longest-serving employee at Raffles Hotel Singapore, Danker also shares interesting anecdotes of his encounters with celebrities throughout his career, and fascinating animal sightings at the hotel in the memoir. 'A Life Intertwined' is available for purchase online and at Raffles Boutique, as well as other leading bookstores.

To mark the launch of Leslie Danker's memoir, Raffles Hotel Singapore is introducing A Life Intertwined with Raffles Hotel staycation experience, which starts at S$880*++ a night, with a special 50 percent off the second night. Other special privileges and benefits include:

  • Complimentary breakfast for two
  • Complimentary Heritage evening experience for two at The Grand Lobby
  • A trishaw tour around Raffles Hotel Singapore through historical precincts highlighted in the memoir
  • An autographed copy of 'A Life Intertwined' by Leslie Danker

In celebration of Raffles Hotel Singapore's 133rd birthday, guests can book the A Life Intertwined with Raffles Hotel staycation experience on 16 September and enjoy an exclusive rate of S$1,330nett* for a two-night stay.

For reservations and enquiries, please call (65) 6337 1886 or email [email protected] or make your booking directly here.

*Terms & Conditions for Staycation offer:

  • Valid for stays from 1 October to 13 December 2020.
  • All reservations have to be fully pre-paid at time of booking.
  • Rates are subject to 10% service charge and prevailing government taxes.
  • All package inclusions are to be utilised during the stay unless stated otherwise.
  • Offer is not valid in conjunction with other promotions, discounts or loyalty programmes.

Enhanced safety and hygiene measures

As we navigate through the ongoing pandemic, Raffles Hotel Singapore continues to embody the philosophy that guides our service excellence, whilst maintaining the highest hygiene standards to safeguard the health and wellbeing of all our guests and staff. Guests can be reassured that all public spaces and restaurants have been reconfigured to facilitate safe distancing without compromising the Raffles experience.

Specific to staycations, the following measures have been taken:

  • Suites will be kept vacant for a 24-hour window between departures to ensure optimum cleanliness and sanitisation procedures are applied.
  • Increased sanitisation of high-touch points using medical-grade disinfectants and a daily disinfection process of the in-suite minibar with hygiene seal.
  • Air filters will also undergo cleaning at an increased frequency.
  • Guests are empowered with contactless check-in and checkout procedures, cashless payments, contactless in-suite dining and housekeeping services with safe distancing, to further ease any discomfort.

ABOUT RAFFLES SINGAPORE

Opened in 1887, Raffles Singapore is one of the few remaining great 19th century hotels in the world. Till today, its architecture is perfectly preserved both inside and out, giving it an intoxicating blend of luxury, history and classic colonial design. Within its walls are more than a hundred expansive suites, framed by polished teak verandahs and white marble colonnades, clustered around lush tropical gardens. Each is serviced by the legendary Raffles butlers and offers every modern convenience necessary.

Raffles Singapore has recently undergone a careful and sensitive restoration and has fully reopened on 1 August 2019. The restoration of Raffles Singapore is designed to ensure that it retain what is so special about Raffles - the ambience, the service, the charm and the heritage of the hotel. It is also designed for Raffles Singapore to stay relevant and distinctive by moving with the times and with its guests and adapting to the changing needs of the well-travelled and Singapore's community.

www.rafflessingapore.com

About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group

Accor is a world leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,300 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries. The group has one of the industry's most diverse and fully-integrated hospitality ecosystems encompassing more than 40 luxury, premium, midscale and economy hotel brands, entertainment and nightlife venues, restaurants and bars, branded private residences, shared accommodation properties, concierge services, co-working spaces and more. Accor's unmatched position in lifestyle hospitality – one of the fastest growing categories in the industry – is led by Ennismore, a joint venture, which Accor holds a majority shareholding. Ennismore is a creative hospitality company with a global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Accor boasts an unrivalled portfolio of distinctive brands and more than 260,000 team members worldwide. Members benefit from the company's comprehensive loyalty program – ALL - Accor Live Limitless – a daily lifestyle companion that provides access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. Through its Planet 21 – Acting Here, Accor Solidarity, RiiSE and ALL Heartist Fund initiatives, the Group is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity and inclusivity. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information visit group.accor.com, or follow Accor on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.