Hotel suites that suit the super-rich
Published: 25 Jun. 2008, 21:22
Aston House is often used for as celebrity weddings and international conferences. “But despite its beautiful surroundings, state leaders and participants at conferences usually choose to sleep elsewhere,” said Park Kwang-cheol, an official at Walkerhill. The duplex is relatively far from the Blue House, making it an inconvenient place to stay for heads of state.
The 330-square-meter Presidential Suite at the Grand Hyatt Hotel is located on the 20th floor and looks out toward the Han River.
While presidents and prime ministers have mostly used the Shilla Hotel suite, the Hyatt Hotel has a history of hosting royalty. Queen Elizabeth II of England stayed here. Mun Seung-hyeon, who is in charge of state protocol at the Foreign Ministry, said certain countries seem to prefer certain hotels. “The United States prefers the Hyatt, China the Shilla Hotel and Japan the Lotte Hotel,” he said.
Lotte Hotel has three royal suites, including the second most expensive room, a 449-square-meter suite on the 31st floor that costs 14 million won per night.
Foreign business leaders seem to prefer the Westin Chosun Hotel’s presidential suite. Priced at 7.26 million won per night, it features a simple, modern interior spread over 313 square meters. This was the country’s first modern hotel, built in 1914 during Japan’s colonial rule over Korea (1910-1945).
The W Hotel is well known for its emphasis on modernity and fashion. The hotel’s 273-square-meter flagship penthouse is called the Extreme Wow Suite. It has large glass windows, offering guests panoramic views of the Han River from a red sofa. The American R&B artist Beyonce stayed in the suite when she visited Seoul last November.
In southern Seoul, the Grand InterContinental Hotel and JW Marriott Hotel have luxury penthouse suites as well. The InterContinental’s 281-square-meter royal suite is priced at the relatively low rate of 3.9 million won. The American singer Mariah Carey has stayed there before.
The presidential suite at the JW Marriot Hotel is priced at 5.4 million won per night, and counts pop singer Ricky Martin among past guests.
By Choi Joon-ho JoongAng Ilbo [africanu@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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