Raffles International Appoints Michael Smithuis as General Manager, Swissotel Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Press Release: Raffles International Hotels & Resorts
March 19, 2002
ZURICH -- Raffles International Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Smithuis as General Manager of the Swissotel Amsterdam. He replaces Ms. Yvette Thuering, who has been appointed as General Manager of Brown's Hotel London, A Raffles International hotel, effective 1 March.

Mr. Smithuis was the Executive Assistant Manager of Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Hamburg for the past three years prior to this appointment.

Trained at Steigenberger Hotel Berufsfahschule - Bad Reichenhall in Germany, and at the prestigious International Hotel Tourism Training School Neuchatel in Switzerland, Michael has more than fourteen years of experience in the hotel industry.

He started his career in Germany and has worked with international deluxe five star properties in the United Kingdom, the Sultanate of Oman and Indonesia.

A Dutch by nationality, Mr. Smithuis speaks fluent English, German, French and Dutch.

About Raffles International

Raffles International Limited, formed in 1989, is a name well respected in the industry for its standards of quality, award-winning concepts and innovative approach towards hotel management.

Raffles International's hotels and resorts are marketed under a two-tiered brand structure. The ``Raffles brand'' hotels distinguish themselves by the highest standards of products and services available in major cities on an international level. The ``Swissotel'' and ``Merchant Court'' hotels offer quality accommodation and the full range of modern facilities and amenities expected by today's discerning traveller, with an emphasis on quality and comfort. Many hotels in the Raffles International portfolio have been voted top hotels in the world.

These include the legendary Raffles Hotel Singapore, Brown's Hotel London, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Hamburg, Raffles L'Ermitage Beverly Hills and Le Montreux Palace. Raffles International also operates Amrita Spa, the largest spa network in Asia and the SPAcademy, Singapore's premier spa education and skills training institute. The Raffles International Training Centres in Singapore and Phnom Penh offers training programmes for the hospitality and service industry.

About Raffles Holdings and CapitaLand

Raffles International Limited is the hotel management subsidiary of Raffles Holdings Limited. Raffles Holdings Limited's portfolio comprises hotels and resorts in 33 destinations across the six continents of Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia and Africa. Raffles Holdings is a subsidiary of CapitaLand Limited. Both companies are listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange.

CapitaLand is one of the fastest growing listed property companies in Asia. CapitaLand's diversified big interests cover commercial and industrial buildings, residential, serviced residences, hotels and hospitality, property funds, real estate financials and property services. Headquartered in Singapore, the multinational company has property, hospitality and property related products and services spanning more than 50 cities.

SOURCE: Raffles International Hotels & Resorts