Hotel was operated by Sarkies brothers

Source : Sunday Times – 19 Jul 2009

I think Mr Syed Muhammad Ghadaffi Alsagoff has belittled the role that the Sarkies brothers played in the establishment of Raffles Hotel (’Who built Raffles Hotel?’, July 12).

While the brothers rented the premises from Syed Mohamed Alsagoff, it was Tigran and Martin Sarkies who opened the hotel, which they opportunistically named Raffles.

After remodelling the initial building, Tigran developed the cuisine, entertainment, quality accommodation and personal service that made Raffles the icon of hotels.

With due respect to the feelings of Mr Alsagoff, Raffles Hotel was nurtured to success by Tigran Sarkies and his management team rather than by Mr Alsagoff, who owned the title to the property.

It should be remembered that other hotels in colonial Singapore – including The Europe, the Adelphi and the Sea View – likewise operated on rented property and those who ran them were invariably referred to as the owners or proprietors.

Nadia Wright (Mrs)

Editor’s note: The letter writer is the author of the book, Respected Citizens: The History Of Armenians In Singapore And Malaysia.