The Raffles Experience

Since what seems like forever Sharps Redmore have advised on all manner of hotels including some rather high-end luxury brands, across the UK and for some staff further afield. The creation of acoustic specifications for hotel clients, alongside the deciphering and disseminating of those created by others – some professional, and some not, is an education and privilege.

When the Old War Office was sold by the Ministry of Defence in 2016; a Grade II* listed building from 1906 with its 1,100 rooms, 7 floors and 2 miles of corridors, this started its redevelopment into a Raffles hotel, high-spec apartments, two Michelin star restaurants and much more. Sharps Redmore were there from the early days to address the acoustic issues one step at a time, until it completed in 2024. This Baroque style building with deep historic links to Churchill, James Bond and many others, added one challenge after another, but none which could not be overcome. A project that costed around $1.7-1.8 billion was complete.

So, Sharps Redmore were delighted when asked to rewrite the acoustic specification for this global brand, and subsequently we believe, is to be used for a range of their high-end Accor luxury hotels. It is fairly rare to be able to start with an almost clean sheet, utilising many years of experience to provide a robust, flexible, and focused ‘client brand experience’ acoustic specification.

Hotel experiences for us all are also acoustic experiences, in what we do and do not want to hear. If these spaces around the world are well designed, we love the time that we spend there. That acoustic sense is part of special memories and we are always pleased to help that happen.