BOSTON, MA – December 21, 2021 – Raffles Hotels & Resorts, part of the world-leading Accor group, together with Trinity Stuart Development LLC, a partnership of The Noannet Group, Saunders Hotel Group and Cain International, are pleased to announce the appointment of Oliver Dudler as General Manager of Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences. Opening at the end of 2022, the highly anticipated Raffles Boston will be the brand’s flagship and first mixed-use property in North America – a significant milestone for Accor and the Raffles brand in the region. With nearly a decade of expertise managing iconic Raffles properties around the globe, Dudler will take the reins as General Manager of Raffles Boston, overseeing and executing the opening and operations for the U.S. flagship as well as delivering upon the legendary brand standards for which Raffles is celebrated.
With more than 35 years of extensive experience in the hospitality industry, Dudler brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in luxury brand and hotel management to this role, having led numerous award-winning properties. Most recently, Dudler served as the Interim General Manager for Raffles Maldives Meradhoo. Prior to this, he held the position of Cluster General Manager at Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh, and Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Siem Reap, in Cambodia, both of which underwent extensive restoration under Dudler’s leadership.
“With the debut of Raffles Boston, one of the most momentous contemporary additions to our portfolio in 2022, Oliver will be broadening the scope of how our guests experience Raffles,” said Stephen Alden, CEO Raffles & Orient Express. “He has a profound understanding of what makes Raffles an extraordinary and revered brand, and with his uncompromising dedication to service excellence and his intuitive ability to create meaningful experiences for guests, I am confident that Oliver will achieve our vision in Boston.”
“As we eagerly prepare to open the doors of this exceptional property next year, I am thrilled to welcome Oliver to lead the team at Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences. His expertise and business acumen in international luxury hospitality is uniquely suited for this role, and under his leadership, the hotel is destined to become a world-class destination and a tremendous addition to our North American portfolio,” said Heather McCrory, CEO, Accor North & Central America.
“I am incredibly honoured to lead the opening and take the helm of this magnificent property in the remarkable city of Boston. Raffles is a much-loved brand and I look forward to continuing its legacy and welcoming travellers, residents and locals, while showcasing everything that makes the hotel so very special,” said Oliver Dudler, General Manager of Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences. “From the hotel’s impeccable design and exceptional dining to indulgent wellness offerings and other extraordinary experiences and legendary service for which the brand is known, we are excited to write the next chapter of the Raffles story in the historic city of Boston.”
Dudler began his career in the hospitality industry, working as a Chef in Switzerland and Hong Kong before taking on the Executive Chef role at the Peninsula in New York, followed by management roles in food and beverage in Chicago before making the transition into hotel management. Having worked in St. Moritz, Hong Kong, Beijing, New York, Chicago, Manila, Maldives and Cambodia, he has a wealth of international experience with luxury hospitality brands. A Swiss national, Dudler completed his three-year culinary Apprentice Program at the Palace Hotel Gstaad in Switzerland and has completed numerous hospitality and strategic development programs from Cornell University.
Located in the heart of the Back Bay, Boston’s most prestigious neighbourhood, Raffles Boston will make international and local history as the first mixed-use development in North America for the world-renowned, 134-year-old Raffles Hotels & Resorts brand. The property will be an urban expression of refined elegance where global cultures and local influences converge. It will showcase and celebrate what makes the Raffles brand so special: a sense of adventure and style, gracious hospitality, and thoughtful, locally inspired design, all while embracing and celebrating the cosmopolitan charm of the Back Bay. The multi-million LEED Gold Project stands 35 storeys tall and features 147 guestrooms, 146 branded residences and 16 distinct gathering spaces. Raffles Boston will bring to the Back Bay a level of elegance and adventure previously unseen in Boston with signature hotel services such as the Raffles Butler, six restaurants and bars, a striking three-storey sky lobby perched high above Copley Square, a state-of-the-art Raffles Spa, a stunning rooftop garden terrace and lounge, and expansive meeting and pre-function spaces.
Raffles Boston joins Raffles’ prestigious worldwide portfolio, which counts 16 iconic properties such as Raffles Singapore, Raffles Europejski Warsaw and Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris. Over the next three to five years, Raffles Hotels & Resorts will more than double its illustrious portfolio, adding a myriad of distinguished addresses that will continue to set the standard in the luxury hospitality industry. Recently, Raffles debuted several new hotels including Raffles The Palm, Dubai and the award-winning Raffles Udaipur. Looking to 2022 and beyond, the brand will add flagship properties including Raffles London at The OWO, UK (from 2022); Raffles Doha, Qatar (2022); Raffles at Galaxy Macau (2022); Raffles Moscow (2022); Raffles Al Areen Palace, Bahrain (2022); and Raffles Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (2023); among others.
“Raffles Boston will be a beacon for the prestigious Raffles brand in North America and demonstrates our growth ambition in the region. The arrival of the illustrious Raffles brand to the Boston market further reinforces our Group’s position as a leading luxury operator, the second largest in the U.S.,” Heather McCrory, CEO, Accor North & Central America added.
Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences is located at 430 Stuart Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
