Seoul is a new hotbed for hotel development as more and more tourists flock to the city. As a number of new hotels are expected to open next year, two foreign hotel brands started the frenzy in two popular business districts in the city.

Conrad Seoul, a luxury brand of Hilton Worldwide, will open on Monday in the financial district of Yeouido. Under the slogan of “Smart Luxury,” the hotel has much to appeal to affluent travelers and those seeking a luxurious experience.

“Hotels have stayed more or less the same in the past decade, but people have not. It is time for a change, and we will unveil a new kind of hotel that Korea has never seen,” said Nils-Arnes Schroeder, general manager of Conrad Seoul.

The 38-story, five-star luxury hotel features 434 rooms including five suites; four restaurants and bars, one executive lounge; two ballrooms and 12 meeting rooms to suit different needs of customers from business travelers to local guests looking for relaxation and tourists. 

The 48-square-meter deluxe, premium and executive rooms overlook the Han River and Seoul skyline. All rooms are equipped with Wi-Fi and Apple-based in-room multimedia as well as amenities such as Nespresso coffee and espresso maker or famous spa product brand “Aromatherapy Assorted.”

The notable feature of the hotel is the high ceiling that gives the space an expansive feel.

A key design highlight is a 36.5-meter spiral staircase which connects the first five floors, setting a symbolic aesthetic tone of the hotel.

The spa facility also offers a personal space equipped with a bed and bathroom to offer complete privacy. The fitness club Pulse8 runs 24 hours and offers personal training service by celebrated trainers such as Arnold Hong.

Creating a memorable experience for guests is also the key service philosophy for Mercure Ambassador Gangnam Sodowe, which opened in May in the heart of Gangnam’s business district.

The first Mercure hotel of the French hotel group Accor offers more approachable services to guests that satisfies both budget and service quality.

The hotel has 288 23-square-meter guest rooms offering splendid city views overlooking the Gangnam area. Although each room is the same size, they differ in theme and concept. The premier balcony room on the third floor comes with an outdoor balcony with tea table and chairs. The balcony was created to offset the disadvantages of being on lower floors by providing the customized and personal feel and relaxing experience of being out on a lawn.

The hotel smartly turned what would have been useless corner space into a special bathroom in the superior corner room. The bathtub by the window captivates guests with a breathtaking visual of Gangnam.

Following the philosophy of the hotel owner, the hotel offers the most reasonable prices at restaurants, bars and lounge.

“The hotel owner said he didn’t like to see the overly expensive price of food at hotels and chose to make affordable menus,” said Kim Bo-young, marketing manager of the hotel.

The breakfast at Cafe Sodowe is available at 24,200 won, including tax, and coffees are around 6,000-7,000 won, the same price as at nearby coffee shops.

What distinguishes the Mercure Gangnam Sodowe is the rooftop bar, a rare scene in hotels in Korea. The Sky Lounge offering panoramic view of the city has a contemporary vibe featuring reasonably priced cocktails, beers and wines.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)