Raffles Hotel Le Royal, the esteemed luxury heritage establishment nestled in the heart of Cambodia’s capital, has achieved a prestigious Four-Star rating from Forbes Travel Guide, solidifying its position among the elite in the global luxury hospitality sector.
“Since its inception in 1929, Raffles Hotel Le Royal has epitomized opulence in Phnom Penh,” remarked the guide’s inspectors in their comprehensive evaluation of the hotel. “It remains the preferred choice for Cambodian high society seeking to host grand wedding banquets and celebratory soirées. The venerable Elephant Bar, adorned with colonial wood paneling, is a quintessential destination for post-event libations. Moreover, the hotel stands as the premier venue in Phnom Penh for indulging in afternoon tea, where the refined ambiance and impeccably attired staff transport patrons back in time.”
Raffles Hotel Le Royal emerges as one of only two hotels in Phnom Penh to be bestowed with this esteemed recognition by Forbes Travel Guide last month. The Four-Star rating signifies “exceptional properties, offering elevated levels of service and superior facility quality.” Forbes Travel Guide, established in 1958 under the name Mobil Travel Guide, holds the distinction of being the oldest travel guide in the United States and the originator of the original Five-Star rating system for hotels.
The inspectors further extolled Raffles Hotel Le Royal’s enduring allure, commending its timeless elegance. “Each accommodation within the hotel exudes Old World luxury, with the Landmark Rooms serving as a splendid tribute to a bygone era. These spacious rooms, boasting lofty ceilings, retain much of their original charm from 1929, complete with inviting claw-foot baths.”
Of notable acclaim is Restaurant Le Royal, the hotel’s esteemed Khmer fine-dining establishment, hailed by the inspectors as “a culinary gem, offering one of the finest dining experiences in the city.”
Comprising 175 meticulously curated rooms and suites, which underwent an extensive refurbishment during a meticulous year-long restoration project in 2019, Raffles Hotel Le Royal stands as a testament to timeless sophistication.
Dennis de Groot, General Manager of Raffles Hotel Le Royal, expressed profound gratitude for the Forbes Travel Guide accolade, stating, “There is no greater honor for a hotel than to be acknowledged by Forbes Travel Guide. Our dedicated staff recognize that we are stewards of an extraordinary legacy embodied by the Grand Dame of Cambodian hospitality, and we eagerly anticipate providing exemplary service to all our esteemed guests each day.”
This esteemed accolade from Forbes Travel Guide joins a burgeoning collection of awards for the historic property. Notably, Luxury Lifestyle Magazine in the UK honored Raffles Hotel Le Royal as one of the world’s premier city hotels (ranking No. 24 overall) in January. Furthermore, Travel + Leisure recognized it as one of the top city hotels in Cambodia last year, and readers of Condé Nast Traveler voted it as the No. 1 hotel in Cambodia in the annual Readers’ Choice Awards the previous year.