As a seasoned hotelier with over three a long time in luxurious hospitality — together with shaping a few of Singapore’s most iconic waterfront landmarks — Cavaliere Giovanni Viterale now steers the way forward for Raffles Sentosa Singapore and Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa as cluster basic supervisor, drawing on a legacy that fuses European finesse with a deep understanding of Asia’s evolving luxurious panorama. Tucked into the plush hillside of Sentosa, Raffles Sentosa Singapore is the nation’s first all-villa resort, providing a secluded escape with 62 personal pool villas immersed in tropical greenery. Every villa is a personal sanctuary, full with its personal terrace and pool, the place pure mild, curated artwork and considerate design invite friends into an oasis of relaxation and reflection. This rarefied island sanctuary gives greater than famend butler service and legendary afternoon tea — it marks a shift in what luxurious hospitality means right this moment. LUXUO speaks to Cavaliere Giovanni Viterale concerning the enduring magic of the Raffles model, the distinctive enchantment of Sentosa and the considerate way forward for elevated hospitality.
Inform us concerning the historical past and DNA of the Raffles Resort model.
In 1887, Raffles Resort opened in Singapore, named after Sir Stamford Raffles, a distinguished British diplomat, botanist and the famed founder of contemporary Singapore. Characterised by its impeccable service, Raffles Resort earned a worldwide popularity for its mix of refined magnificence, tropical splendour and Asian grace. Following the inspiration of Raffles Worldwide Ltd in 1989, the primary growth of the Raffles model got here in 1997 with the debut of Raffles Resort Le Royal in Phnom Penh and Raffles Grand Resort d’Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Raffles Accommodations & Resorts was acquired by Accor Group in 2016. In the present day, Raffles is a worldwide household of 25 elegant landmark addresses (together with the soon-to-open Raffles Jeddah) in culturally wealthy locations around the globe.
At its coronary heart, the Raffles model is outlined by gracious hospitality, a robust sense of place and an unwavering dedication to service excellence. These qualities have formed its legacy – they usually proceed to resonate with right this moment’s travellers, together with a youthful technology looking for experiences which might be each significant and memorable.
Throughout each property, there’s a constant dedication to excellence, however no two Raffles accommodations are the identical. Each displays the character of its vacation spot whereas staying true to the model’s legacy of quiet luxurious and significant hospitality. With Raffles Sentosa Singapore, the Raffles model is extending this legacy to supply a resort various for travellers to Singapore, with experiences which might be distinctive and distinct to Sentosa Island.
Raffles stands out not only for what it gives, however for the way it makes individuals really feel – seen, valued and genuinely at house. At Raffles, our guests arrive as friends, depart as pals and return as household.
As a basic supervisor, what do you first discover if you enter a lodge and what particulars do you pay shut consideration to?
The very first thing I at all times take note of is the service. As a hotelier, you can not assist however be drawn into noticing the main points of how the crew are interacting with the friends, and whether or not they’re observing friends to attempt to anticipate their wants. What units an excellent lodge other than a great lodge will not be the design or the elegant environment, however the service you obtain.
There are 62 distinct pool villas at Raffles Sentosa. How do you preserve constant service requirements on the property?
At Raffles Sentosa Singapore, we stay steadfast in our dedication to sustaining the integrity of our model’s heritage. The core of what makes Raffles particular is our service excellence, which is deeply embedded in each element, and we goal to make sure that our friends expertise this from the very first second they stroll by our doorways.
As custodians of the model, we proceed to honour the long-lasting traditions which might be synonymous with the Raffles identify, together with the legendary Raffles Butler crew. They’re extremely educated to offer bespoke, intuitive service, anticipating our friends’ wants earlier than they even suppose to ask. We even have a crew of Wellbeing Butlers, whose function is to anticipate friends’ wellbeing wants in order that they are going to depart feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Our objective is to create experiences which might be memorable and reflective of the most effective of Singapore. By staying true to our roots and honouring our storied legacy, we proceed to supply distinctive hospitality that resonates with each long-time patrons and new friends alike.
Inform us extra concerning the Raffles Butler service, a cornerstone of the Raffles model.
The legendary Raffles Butler service is integral to any visitor expertise at Raffles Accommodations and Resorts. Raffles Butlers are well-known for offering extremely anticipatory service whereas additionally serving as guides to assist friends discover the vacation spot, tradition and uncover their very own passions. By a mix of heritage, custom and magnificence, Raffles Butlers create personalised moments that redefine luxurious. Butlers are educated not solely to fulfill however to exceed expectations, delivering each interplay with poise, authenticity and a deep understanding of friends’ wants.
Every visitor is greeted by their Butler on arrival, who then handles their check-in and personally curates the visitor’s keep, serving to them with any wants all through their keep and changing into their private level of contact whereas they’re on the resort.
What makes Sentosa a singular location in Singapore?
Sentosa’s distinctive topography gives an environment that’s really unmatched, setting it other than the city luxurious accommodations within the metropolis. The island’s pure tranquillity, surrounded by lush greenery and pristine landscapes, gives an idyllic setting for a deeply immersive and rejuvenating expertise, or for personal celebrations. This serene backdrop is completely fitted to a resort centered on wellness and leisure, catering to the rising demand amongst luxurious travellers for a holistic and peaceable escape.
On the coronary heart of this sanctuary is nature itself. Our resort is nestled inside 100,000 sq. metres of verdant greenery, providing sweeping views of Sentosa’s untouched environment, guaranteeing that friends are at all times related to the island’s serene magnificence. The tranquil setting encourages leisure, serving to friends unwind, recharge and reconnect with family members in significant methods.
Including to the resort’s allure are two heritage Ficus timber, every over 100 years outdated, standing as residing testaments to the island’s wealthy historical past. Moreover, as a part of our “60 Bushes for 60 Years” initiative to have a good time Singapore’s sixtieth anniversary, we’ve re-introduced a number of uncommon and endangered species, together with the Seashore Mangosteen. These timber, together with others planted throughout the resort’s official opening on 1 March 2025, will finally type a inexperienced archway main friends into the resort, enhancing the sense of peace and connection to nature.
What makes Sentosa much more particular is its proximity to the town. Only a 15-minute drive from the bustling coronary heart of Singapore, and solely 25 minutes from the airport, it gives a world of tranquillity that feels miles away from the city rush — making it the proper retreat for these in search of serenity with out sacrificing comfort.
What can guests to Raffles Sentosa count on when it comes to eating experiences?
Each eating event at Raffles Sentosa Singapore is a trigger for celebration with one’s family members, pals and colleagues. This serene new escape, rooted in pure beaut,y gives 5 refined eating places and lounges helmed by acclaimed cooks with Michelin-level credentials, in addition to the gracious hospitality Raffles is understood for.
Empire Grill is the resort’s signature Italian restaurant underneath the management of Cluster Director of Culinary Chef Bjoern Alexander, and is the place friends can savour genuine Italian delicacies with a contemporary twist. Royal China options refined Cantonese delicacies overseen by award-winning chef Chef Ling Heng Yao, whereas Iyasaka by Hashida, which implies celebration in Japanese, gives a particular omakase journey in an intimate 12-seat eating area.
In the meantime, the elegant Raffles Room is the place you may benefit from the signature Raffles Afternoon Tea whereas overlooking the magnificent heritage ficus tree. The Chairman’s Room is a nod to the classic speakeasy bars of yesteryear and gives a refined collection of whiskies, a collection of Cognac, positive wines and champagnes by the glass in a sublime, intimate setting.
With 62 extremely spacious personal villas, every with their very own pool and terrace, the stage is about for an distinctive in-villa eating expertise. With bespoke companies from our culinary crew, sommelier and Butler, every meal is crafted to create an intimate and unforgettable expertise.
How does sustainability form your culinary philosophy and the way is that this mirrored throughout the lodge’s eating experiences?
At Raffles Sentosa Singapore, sustainability is deeply built-in into our operations, beginning with the resort’s distinctive location on Sentosa Island, Asia’s first GSTC-certified island vacation spot. And that is an equally central a part of our eating philosophy.
Throughout the eating places’ menus, along with domestically and sustainably sourced substances, our cooks additionally harvest produce grown from our edible backyard.
Our signature cocktail, the Sentosa Sling, is crafted utilizing upcycled watermelon pores and skin and lemon leaves grown in our edible backyard, showcasing the wedding of luxurious with conscious sustainability.
Inform us extra concerning the spa & wellness amenities at Raffles Sentosa and the precise well being gear you may have launched?
Housed in a heritage constructing (a former military barracks constructing generally known as Block 59 again within the Nineteen Thirties) that has been conferred the celebrated City Redevelopment Authority Architectural Heritage Award, Raffles Sentosa Spa blends the timeless allure of its wealthy historical past with up to date wellbeing experiences.
Friends can stay up for up to date wellbeing experiences encompassing mindfulness, therapeutic massage, health, hydrotherapy, salon companies and spa therapies. A state-of-the-art gymnasium with the most recent Technogym gear can be positioned onsite. Each element, from the structure to the environment and coverings, is designed to evoke a way of calm. Our Wellbeing Butlers additionally curate mindfulness programmes and actions to fulfill friends’ private preferences and life-style wants.
Aside from the gymnasium, the in depth spa amenities embrace 12 remedy rooms, a lap pool, two swimming pools with waterfall options, an outside whirlpool, indoor cold and hot swimming pools and steam rooms.
What makes a lodge keep an unforgettable expertise?
A keep at Raffles Sentosa Singapore is designed to be extra than simply an escape – it’s a second of pause, a reconnection with nature, and a return to what issues most; particularly with family members in full privateness. Mixed with the tranquil consolation of the visitor’s personal villa and the serenity of the environment, the hallmark service supplied by our crew of butlers makes every keep an expertise to cherish lengthy after our friends depart.
How does Accor’s international community elevate Raffles Sentosa’s positioning?
Being a part of the Accor community allows us to faucet the worldwide distribution of one of many world’s largest and most dynamic lodge teams. For a brand new lodge like ours, it’s invaluable to have the sources of such an enormous community behind us to achieve out to a community of loyal friends from all around the world.
How do you see the hospitality trade evolving within the subsequent few years?
One pattern I discover significantly thrilling is the rising emphasis on sustainability in luxurious hospitality. More and more, friends are in search of experiences that align with their values, particularly in relation to environmental accountability. I imagine this shift is extremely necessary, not only for the planet, however for the way forward for luxurious hospitality.
Friends right this moment are extra discerning than ever, they usually more and more need to really feel that their decisions are having a optimistic affect on the world. It’s thrilling to be a part of a motion that merges luxurious with accountability, and we’re deeply dedicated to it at Raffles Sentosa Singapore. On the similar time, we observe that friends are prioritising area and wellbeing greater than ever. They’re in search of extra than simply indulgence — they’re looking for a way of peace and rejuvenation. In a world that strikes sooner than ever, there’s an growing want for expansive, personal areas the place tranquillity takes centre stage. It’s not nearly being in a pleasant resort anymore; individuals need environments that promote each psychological and bodily wellness, permitting them to disconnect and reconnect with themselves.
At Raffles Sentosa Singapore, we cater to this want with our personal pool villas and nature-inspired experiences designed to supply a real sanctuary for leisure and rejuvenation.
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