Raffles Hotels & Resorts has been chosen as the operator of 85 residences that will form part of its luxury development at London’s Old War Office building. The ultra-luxury brand signed on as the hotel partner for the 125-room and -suite flagship hotel nearly three years ago, which was originally slated to open in 2020.
Under an extended partnership between Hinduja Group and Obrascon Huarte Lain Desarollos (OHLD), the service hallmarks of the Raffles brand will be delivered to owners of The OWO Residences by Raffles. The OWO Residences by Raffles will be the first Raffles-branded residences in the UK and Europe.
Along with the signing of Raffles, The Hinduja Group and OHLD officially unveiled the new name for the project, ‘The OWO’, at a topping-out ceremony this month.
The Old War Office building, originally completed in 1906, is steeped in history and has witnessed world-shaping events by political and military leaders including Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George and Lord Kitchener.
In 2017, Hinduja Group and OHLD announced plans to restore and redevelop the building into a new destination comprising the 125-room and -suite Raffles hotel, 85 private residences, nine restaurants and bars, a destination spa and boutique retail outlets.
Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Accor, said: “Raffles is a beloved brand with British roots, named after the British statesman and founder of Singapore, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, so it is very fitting that Raffles is coming home to London and that this will be our first residential project in Europe.
Both the hotel and residences are earmarked to debut in early 2022.Want to be in the luxury travel know? Subscribe to our free eNewsletter here to keep up to date with everything in the luxury travel industry.
