New hotels are welcome respite for weary travelers
A shortage of accommodations in Seoul inspired many local businesses to launch their own hotels. Daemyung Resort recently opened the five-star MVL Hotel Kintex in Ilsan, Gyeonggi. The Korean Suite, above, offers guests a traditional experience. Provided by each hotel
Foreign guests also complained about the abundance of seedy love motels in Korea designed for couples who aren’t looking for a good night’s rest.
And they’re not alone in their complaints. In recent years, the Seoul area has suffered from a serious lack of suitable accommodations for visitors.
In 2011, the number of foreign tourists visiting Korea moved past 10 million, and the figure rose to 11 million last year.
As tourists poured in, especially from China and Southeast Asia, an estimated 36,000 rooms were needed in 2011, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. But the number available that year was only 28,000.
The severe shortage of rooms has inspired local businesses to take matters into their own hands. They have launched several new hotels in recent months.
MVL Hotel Kintex
A recent addition finally offers at least one viable option for visitors attending conferences at Kintex, whether the Seoul Motor Show or others.
The five-star MVL Hotel Kintex is nestled inside HallyuWorld, a tourist and cultural complex where there will be a theme park and K-pop concert hall.
MVL, which stands for most valuable life, is also a short distance from Kintex.
“We first aimed to open this hotel in June but we moved up the opening date after a request from Kintex,” said Brian Song, a general manager at the hotel.
Even before its official opening, about 200 out of 377 rooms were booked as the Seoul Motor Show 2013 is slated to open Friday.
Run by Daemyung Resort, MVL Hotel Kintex is the second branch for the company’s hotel business after the first opened in Yeosu, South Jeolla.
“If the MVL Hotel Yeosu is truly focused on leisure, this Kintex branch targets people who visit Seoul for meetings, trips, conventions and exhibitions,” Song said
As the general manager noted, the entire hotel seems determined to attract a wide variety of groups from budget-minded tourists to businessmen or foreign executives ready to spend more for added conveniences.
With five types of suites, the hotel allows guests the liberty of choosing rooms that fit their preferences.
A standard room, for instance, has a shower booth instead of a bathtub in order to provide more space to individual travelers with bulky luggage.
The Korean Suite offers a more traditional experience so that guests can experience the feeling of a true Korean home, at least for a few days.
The Ambassador Suite is outfitted with luxurious brown leather couches and antique furniture. It has marble floor instead of carpet, which could be beneficial for travelers with allergies.
The hotel also has top-class facilities outside of the guestrooms. Five meeting and banquet rooms of all sizes stand ready for business travelers or large events. The three smaller rooms accommodate up to 25 people, while the larger halls have space for 260 and 540 seats respectively.
For more information, visit www.mvlhotel.com/kintex or call (031) 927-7700.
Suites at the Hongik University branch of Hotel the Designers were decorated by professional designers. The room shown is called Gaga’s Atelier.
For the design savvy, the newly opened Hongik University branch of Hotel the Designers is the perfect destination. Though fairly small compared to five-star establishments, its 80 rooms don’t fail to impress. In particular, 13 suites were conceived by professional designers with degrees in interior design or fine arts.
Five budding designers took part in creating 13 suites under the theme “Between New York and London, there is Hongdae,” referring to the often-used abbreviation for Hongik University.
Of many suites, two rooms stand out. The first is No. 1501, or Black Swan, which is covered entirely in either black or white. No. 1401, or Gaga’s Atelier, adopts primary colors from yellow to green and orange.
The first branch in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul, opened last year and was an instant hit. So, the owners resolved to construct a second location and settled on Hongik University. The new location opened last month
For more information, visit www.hotelthedesigners.com or call (02) 326-5801.
Mode Tour opened Aventree Hotel Jongno in central Seoul. It collaborated with hanbok (traditional clothing) designer Lee Young-hee to decorate this room.
Travel companies have also jumped into the hotel business. Hana Tour, the country’s leading travel agency, launched the five-star business hotel Center Mark Hotel Seoul in the popular historical area of Insa-dong, Jongno District, central Seoul, late last year.
Mode Tour opened business hotel Aventree Hotel Jongno last October in Jongno as well.
Since the area is one of the oldest and most densely populated in Seoul, it was difficult to find pleasant accommodations except at inns or some motels.
But these new establishments aim to attract travelers who wish to be based right in the center of the city while spending their nights in comfortable and clean rooms.
Center Mark Hotel Seoul will provide packages that include city tours so that visitors can take full advantage of their location.
Aventree Hotel Jongno aimed to differentiate itself by collaborating with famed hanbok (traditional clothing) designer Lee Young-hee on one of its rooms. Lee decorated the whole room from bathrobes to linens.
For more information about Center Mark Hotel Seoul, visit www.centermarkhotel.com or call (02) 731-1000. The Web site for Aventree Hotel Jongno is www.aventreehotel.com and the phone number is (02) 736-1234.
By Sung So-young [so@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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