Retreat by Raffles will bring holistic and highly curated wellness programmes to the brand’s urban and rural locations in 2023. Rose Dykins reports
Raffles Hotels and Resorts has debuted Retreat by Raffles, its new holistic luxury wellbeing concept that incorporates nature, local culture, conscious cuisine and spiritual awakening.
The concept will launch at Raffles Singapore, the brand’s original flagship hotel, and at Raffles Bali. The new wellbeing offering will launch at more urban and resort Raffles locations throughout 2023.
Designed to offer a one-of-a-kind experience that touches all five senses, each retreat will have its own distinctive combination of elements: spa treatments, rituals, nutritional cuisine, connection with local culture and community, and mindful movement through nature.
The programme has been co-created with prestigious wellness partners and expert practitioners, and aims to embrace “advanced beauty, deep health and emotional wellbeing”.
Wellbeing itineraries will be coordinated alongside the guest’s personal wellbeing butler, who is available 24 hours a day. These wellbeing-specific butlers will offer the same level of expertise and deep knowledge of the destination that Raffles butlers are renowned for.
Emlyn Brown, global vice president of wellbeing at Accor, says: “Our new Retreat by Raffles is a holistic concept which combines active wellbeing, self-empowerment and connection with nature.
“Through curated programmes, which balance serenity, harmony, relaxation, recovery and pleasure, our inaugural retreats at Raffles Bali and Raffles Singapore will further elevate these properties as havens for wellbeing.
“We are proud of the depth and authenticity of what these experiences will offer our valued guests and are excited to announce further iterations of Retreat by Raffles throughout the year.”
Given Bali’s popularity among travellers seeking spiritual enlightenment, itineraries at Raffles Bali will incorporate local spiritual wisdom on the island. Wellness activities will include chakra balancing, sound bowl therapy, cave meditation, yoga and reiki healing – all of which will be led by experts from Bali’s community. Each day starts and ends with a sunrise and sunset blessing ceremony and journalling. 
Throughout their stay, guests can choose from a range of activities including cooking classes or the preparation of Jamu – a traditional herbal medicine native to Indonesia – visiting a Balinese house and relaxing spa treatments.
The Raffles Bali resort’s state-of-the-art facilities include a 250 sqm beachfront infinity pool, a fitness centre, hard-floored tennis courts, and multiple outdoor jogging trails throughout the resort.
An important component of Bali retreat is delicious, healthy cuisine. Guests will be invited to experience the “Five Steps Journey”, a dedicated menu of dishes from across South East Asia, featuring sustainably farmed produce, presented in a contemporary style.
Meanwhile, amid the urban luxury of Raffles Singapore, Retreat by Raffles will being each day with sunrise yoga at the rooftop pool and dedicated time for reflective journalling.
The property’s famous butlers are on hand to organise wellbeing activities for guests, such as guided walks with a nature expert in Singapore Botanical Gardens, and sound healing experiences – including gongs, singing bowls, and the human voice at The Intan, a private Peranakan home museum.
Guests gain unlimited access to the award-winning hydrothermal facilities at the hotel’s spa including a vitality pool filled with mineral-rich Peruvian pink salt, a herbal sauna room scented with a range of calming aromas and an aromatherapy steam room that releases pure salt vapour. They can also choose from an array of spa treatments inspired by the wellness philosophies of Asia.
Guests at Raffles Singapore can dine at one of the hotel’s nine dining establishments, which combine the property’s well-loved culinary traditions with contemporary dining concepts by renowned celebrity chefs. Guests with particular nutritional goals can have menus curated by the culinary team on request.
Both hotels will offer exclusive in-room wellness amenities for guests booked on a Retreat by Raffles experience that are designed to aid restful sleep. These include essential oil blends, diffusers, a wellbeing and mindfulness journal, mood audio and a crystal eye mask.