Accor signs two Raffles Hotels in India

Accor is to expand its highly respected Raffles Hotel brand to India with The Raffles Jaipur and Raffles Udaipur scheduled to open in 2022 and mid-2020 respectively.

Since joining the Accor network in 2015, the Raffles brand has undergone a renaissance, with a strong pipeline that will see the portfolio double in the next few years. Today, there are 13 Raffles properties in 11 countries.

“The signing of the Raffles Jaipur and Raffles Udaipur marks a historic moment for Accor in India and certainly for tourism in India,” said Accor Chief Operating Officer (COO) – India and South Asia Jean-Michel Cassé. “We are seeing increasing demand for luxury travel in India and are looking forward to expanding Accor’s globally renowned portfolio of luxury brands in this incredible country. The addition of the iconic Raffles brand signals a new era for our group.”

The Raffles Udaipur will be located in the historic part of Udaipur, one of the most romantic cities in India. The hotel is set on a 21-acre private island in the midst of Udai Sagar Lake, one of the five prominent lakes of Udaipur. The 101 lake-facing rooms are surrounded by spectacular hill scenery with views of the 400-year old temple in the background, while the suites will also feature private pools. Expected to open by mid-2020, the Raffles Udaipur will be a 15-20 minutes’ drive from the Udaipur Maharana Pratap Airport, followed by a short boat ride.

The Raffles Jaipur is being built at Kukas in the city of Jaipur as a set of secluded private residences and courtyards adjacent to the larger hotel complex that presently houses the Fairmont Jaipur. The hotel is expected to commence operations in 2022 and is located close to key tourist destinations in Jaipur including the Amer Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort and Jal Mahal palace.

The owner of the hotels, Rantankant Sharma said, “Bringing the Raffles brand, which is synonymous with excellence, taste and luxury, to India is a perfect fit for our vision to lead both Udaipur and Jaipur, the historic cities of Rajasthan, into their next chapter whilst keeping their historic values and ties. The opening of Raffles Udaipur and Raffles Jaipur is a key moment in our strategic growth in India and represents a new era of highly differentiated ultra-luxury experiences for Udaipur’s and Jaipur’s residents and visitors. These two hotels will be the jewel in the crown of our landmark developments and centrepiece in these vibrant, rich and magnificent cities.”