WHY DOESN'T A butler butle? A driver drives, a singer sings and a wringer wrings, but 'butle' simply doesn't exist. If you ask a butler what he or she does for a living, you're unlikely to get the answer, "I butle." It's just not a word in common usage, and I think it should be, because no one butles like a Raffles buttler.
It's a feature of all Raffles resorts that guests get their own, dedicated (in more than one sense) butler. It's part of the programme and achieves the dual objectives of ensuring that the guest gets everything they need when they need it and making them feel special. It's not 'hand on foot' butlering even that word sends my spellchecker into spasms - it's a temporary social contract that may not make or break a stay at a Raffles property, but is certainly capable (when duly signed) of elevating the overall experience.
The butlers at Raffles Bali are a wonderful group of people, and mine recently made my visit to the Island of the Gods a memorable one. The experience started way before arrival with WhatsApp contact being established.
Obviously there are innumerable details that need to be gone through to make sure that the guest is comfortable dietary restrictions, transport arrangements and even whether you would like alcohol in your welcome drink or not (a rhetorical question in my case). It sets a platform of comfort and care on which the guest is convinced that all members of staff, and the butler in particular, are genuinely concerned about the guest's well-being and will do everything they can to facilitate an unforgettable temporary residence.
This story is from the September 2022 edition of Robb Report Singapore.
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This story is from the September 2022 edition of Robb Report Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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