Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — International luxury hotel and apartment chain Raffles opened its Boston location Monday morning.
Raffles Boston is the first North American location for the company. The 35-story building has nearly 150 hotel rooms and nearly 150 apartments, as well as a speakeasy in the sky, a spa, an indoor pool, and a café and restaurant.
Manager of Raffles Boston Oliver Dudler wanted the hotel to be an extension of the local community.
“We want to be part of Boston, that is the DNA of Raffles,” said Dudler. “Be a local hotel first, then an international brand behind it.”
They created a Boston Sling, paying homage to the famous Singapore Sling created over 110 years ago at Raffles Singapore.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined hotel officials and explained the positive impact the new hotel brings to the city.
“[Raffles created] 300 permanent jobs for our residents of the city and more than 22 million dollars in street and public realm improvements, on-site affordable units and funding also toward Boston's Affordable Housing Fund,” said Wu.
Over 700 construction and trade jobs were also needed to build the hotel.
Raffles Boston was officially open for business at the conclusion of the ceremony.
WBZ's James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.
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