Raffles Hotel to undergo 16-month restoration programme

SINGAPORE'S iconic Raffles Hotel will embark on a 16-month restoration programme starting January 2017, the hotel announced on Tuesday.

Structurally, the heritage property will remain unchanged; it was declared a national monument in 1987.

As such, the restoration effort - to be conducted in three phases - will largely focus on interior design.

The hotel will close fully during the third phase of restoration, around November 2017 to May 2018.

Simon Hirst, general manager of Raffles Hotel Singapore, called the project an "extraordinary undertaking" to update the hotel's facilities and spaces.

"By introducing new experiences for our guests while respecting the history and heritage of the hotel, we want to ensure that this hotel continues to remain at the epicentre of Singapore's social and cultural scene," said Mr Hirst.