The Raphael Hotel, built in 1928 and a member of Historic Hotels of America® since 2001 was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation® for recognizing and celebrating the finest historic hotels across America. In its first life, The Raphael Hotel was the upscale, nine-story European-style Villa Serena Apartments, which opened in 1928 to privileged Kansas City residents. It was from a complete restoration of the building that the elegant Raphael was reborn. The mahogany-paneled ceiling and ornate woodwork in the lobby recalls the graciousness of a bygone era. Reflecting the hotel's European heritage through touches of grandeur, the guestrooms accommodate the comfort and technological demands of upscale travelers. The hotel is located on Kansas City's Country Club Plaza, the nation's first shopping district designed to accommodate the automobile. For Price Match Guarantee and Special Offers please visit, please visit HistoricHotels.org .