Hotel Buzz: Raffles to Open a Hotel in Istanbul in 2012

Raffles Hotels & Resorts is a long established leader in the luxury hotel world. Hotels like the Raffles in Singapore- where the Singapore Sling was invented- and Le Royal Monceau in Paris are benchmarks for excellence in the industry. So when Raffles announces a new project, we pay heed! After debuting a glorious beachfront oasis in the Seychelles this year, the company has turned its gaze to Istanbul- the spellbinding city that famously sits astride two continents. Slated for 2012, the Raffles Istanbul Zorlu Center will overlook the Bosphorus from the new, mixed-use Zorlu Center, where guests will have direct access to the Performance Arts Centre, featuring "world-class dramas and musicals simultaneously with their openings in London and Broadway." What to expect: 130 guest rooms and 50 suites attended to by the famous Raffles Butler Service, a ballroom, two restaurants and bars, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and-- in case you had any doubts about the hotel's level of luxury-- a heliport.

Pictured: The Raffles Hotel Singapore.