Conrad Seoul enters the Korean gateway in November, the first deluxe global hotel brand product to set down stakes in the city's Yeouido district. This precinct, dubbed "Korea's Wall Street", is home to leading Korean and international financial institutions and the Korea Stock Exchange, as well as Korean media organisations and the National Assembly.
Part of the Seoul International Finance Center (SFIC), Conrad Seoul provides the hotel component to a quartet of high-rise towers housing office, retail and leisure tenants.
Besides being able to leverage on the attractions of its closest neighbours, Conrad Seoul general manager Nils-Arne Schroeder claims the 434-room property "is the closest luxury hotel to both Incheon and Gimpo International Airports and affords easy access to other parts of the city with two subway lines at Yeouido Station directly below us." These are Lines 5 and 9, with the latter providing an 18-minute service to Gimpo Airport.
Schroeder, a veteran of two other hotel openings (Hilton Namhae Golf & Spa Resort and Hilton Beijing Wangfujing) for Hilton Worldwide - of which, the Conrad is designated its “contemporary luxury” tier - believes the 37-storey hotel boasts design touches that will make it convenient for guests to navigate and feel comfortable to experience.
Unlike many modern hotels in Shanghai and other Asian cities where guests have to take several lifts before reaching their abode, this property's reception is located on the ground level and it's only one lift ride to reach the rooms. Other features: the lobby’s ceilings rise to the fourth level and the executive lounge occupies a prime location on the topmost floor (37th), adjacent to a sleek bar and grill, with all outlets featuring panoramic views of the Han River and city environs.
The in-room technology offered is branded "Direct Streams" and is an Apple-based TV service linked to the internet and all the expected platforms. It comes free with certain room categories which have yet to be announced, according to Conrad Seoul spokesperson Jean Park.
For business events, two ballrooms, one Grand and the other a Junior, and 11 breakout spaces will be available across three floors.
For more details about the hotel and the chain, visit www.conradhotels.com
Margie T Logarta
