Accor is all set to debut the iconic Raffles brand in Bahrain after the signing of a milestone agreement with GFH Financial Group to manage the Kingdom’s first ultra-luxurious retreat.
Raffles Hotels & Resorts is renowned for bringing old world elegance, first class travel experiences and genuine charm to the world’s most fascinating cities and desirable holiday hot spots since 1887. Raffles Bahrain will continue this legacy with a landmark takeover of the Al Areen Palace & Spa. This highly anticipated private resort features 78 pool villas as well as the region’s largest spa and hydrotherapy facility and landscaping inspired by the Arabian palace gardens. Major enhancements will transform the property into an exclusive and opulent oasis that immerses guests in Raffles’ bespoke well-being experiences.
Property enhancements will include the refurbishment of the 56 one-bedroom Desert Pool Villas and 22 two-bedroom Royal Pool Villas, which feature open-air swimming and jet pools, and converting its four F&B outlets to six.
With guest fitness and well-being central to the Raffles experience, the resort’s 10,000 sqm spa and hydrotherapy area, one of the Middle East’s largest and featuring 16 spa pavilions, the world’s first garden hammam and a hydrothermal garden, will be renovated and upgraded. Moreover, extensive health facilities including separate male and female gymnasiums, the kids’ club and indoor and outdoor swimming pools will see uplift and refurbishment.
Raffles Bahrain will also introduce signature wellness experiences to the Kingdom, including Raffles Sleep Rituals, designed to help guests unwind, get a peaceful night’s rest and wake up feeling refreshed and part of the brand’s well-being strategy.
Once renovations are complete, the property will then be re-launched as Raffles Bahrain, Chapoton, who joined Accor in 1999, tells us. She has deep operational experience with Sofitel across Asia, Europe and the Americas. From 2004, she held several positions at headquarters in the USA, Paris and Milan, prior to leading Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese in 2008; opening the Sofitel Montevideo Casino and Spa Uruguay in 2012, repositioning the Caesar Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Sofitel Ipanema in 2013, and most recently joined Accor from the emblematic Fairmont Southampton in Bermuda.
Her passion for hospitality started at Glion School of Hotel Management, and she continued to nurture this with an MBA in Hospitality from ESSEC Business School/Cornell University.