BACKGROUND Unveiled in 2009, the Sheraton Incheon was one of the first hotels to open in South Korea’s ambitious new aerotropolis of Songdo, which is built on reclaimed land in Incheon’s Free Economic Zone and connected to the airport by a 12km bridge. The city’s blueprint is based on eco-awareness and sustainability and, in keeping with this, the Starwood property was the country’s first fully non-smoking and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified hotel.
WHAT’S IT LIKE? This is a smart, modern 22-floor business hotel with everything you’d expect from a Sheraton – from the Link@Sheraton business hub with free wifi in the lobby, to a range of restaurants, a well-equipped gym and Sweet Sleeper beds. The lobby is light and spacious – a bank of lifts behind reception takes guests up to the rooms, which start from level eight (suites are on 17 and above, and Club rooms on the top four floors, 19-22).
WHERE IS IT? The hotel is a 20-minute drive from Incheon airport and about 30km from Seoul. It is a couple of minutes from Songdo’s Central Park and close to the city’s offices. The 5,000-capacity Convensia Convention Centre is next door.
ROOM FACILITIES Bedrooms start from 37 sqm and all have 3.2-metre-high ceilings, neutral décor (beige, cream, brown and black) and floor-to-ceiling windows facing the city. Standard amenities include 32-inch LCD TVs, air conditioning, separate baths and walk-in showers, safes, coffee and tea-making facilities, 24-hour room service, minibars, irons/ironing boards, workdesks and wired/wifi internet access priced at 20,000 won (£12) per day. My spacious 57 sqm Executive suite had a living area with a sofa and coffee table, and a 42-inch TV. Guests staying in Club rooms or suites or those with SPG platinum status can access the 22nd-floor lounge, which serves breakfast and evening cocktails.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS As well as the lobby bar with a 24-seat terrace, there are four restaurants – Miyabi for Japanese cuisine, Bene for Italian and Sunday brunch, Yue for Cantonese, and Feast for international à la carte and an all-day buffet. There are 14 private dining rooms divided between the four eateries. I had breakfast in the Club lounge and lunch in Feast – as I was in a rush, I only had time to choose something from the buffet, which worked out to be expensive (at 45,000 won/£26) as I only wanted a salad and some pasta. Still, there was plenty to choose from if you were hungry and had the time to spare. In a bid to encourage solo business travellers to meet one another, Connexions bar offers a “social hour” in the early evening, with wine tasting for 18,000 won (£11).
BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES As there is a convention centre next door, the hotel didn’t build a huge on-site ballroom but it does offer a 400-capacity space on the third floor (without natural light), and seven other meeting and two pre-function spaces ranging between 20 and 110 people theatre-style. There is also a business centre with three PCs.
LEISURE FACILITIES The spa has five treatment rooms, an 18-metre pool with natural light, and a gym with Life Fitness machines. There was also a yoga room and instructions for a “jet-lag buster” workout, which I thought was a helpful touch. Members of the public have access to the fitness centre and pool, so it doesn’t have a very exclusive feel, and the locker rooms could have been cleaner.
VERDICT A comfortable Sheraton hotel in the heart of an emerging business hub. The rooms are well equipped and the range of dining options is good, especially as there isn’t a wide choice of places to eat in Songdo yet.
FACT FILE
- HOW MANY ROOMS? 321 – 124 Deluxe King, 123 Deluxe Double, 23 Club King, 35 Club Double, 12 Executive suites, three Ambassador suites and one Presidential suite.
- HIGHLIGHTS The sweeping city views, welcoming executive lounge and comfortable bed.
- PRICE Internet rates for a flexible midweek stay in April started from £117 for a Deluxe room.
- CONTACT Sheraton Incheon, 6-9 Songdo-Dong, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon; tel +82 32 835 1000; starwoodhotels.com
Jenny Southan
