The Sheraton Incheon Hotel, located in Songdo, one of three new international business districts in the Incheon Free Economic Zone, is not only a frontrunner of the region’s hospitality industry but also a leading hotel in the country for its efforts to “go green.”
The Sheraton Incheon, the nation’s first smoke-free five-star hotel, has been built utilizing eco-friendly methods, becoming Korea’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified hotel in March.
LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system developed by the United States Green Building Council. It provides third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance for energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emission reduction, improved indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impact.
In order to qualify as a sustainable green hotel, the Sheraton Incheon made efforts to reduce the environmental impact and pollution from construction activities by controlling soil erosion, waterway sedimentation and airborne dust generation.
Not only during the construction stage but also while in actual operation, the hotel has been designed to reduce pollution and land development impacts from automobile use by providing alternative transportation, such as public transportation and bicycles.
The hotel’s green policy has been successfully implemented and it has been recognized with international awards. In September, it won three awards at the 18th World Travel Awards 2011, the largest awards program in the travel industry: Asia’s Leading New Hotel in 2011 for the second consecutive year; Asia’s Leading Green Hotel in 2011; and Korea’s Leading Business Hotel in 2011.
With these achievements, the Sheraton Incheon has been promoted as an eco-friendly industry leader.
The hotel, opened in August 2009, offers new state-of-the-art facilities in the heart of a new urban center, Songdo City. It is located on the waterfront area of the city, which is only 20 minutes from Incheon International Airport via the Incheon Bridge, and 40 minutes from Seoul.
Along with 319 non-smoking guestrooms, the hotel has four restaurants: the all-day dining restaurant Feast, Japanese restaurant Miyabi, Italian restaurant Bene, and Chinese restaurant Yue. It also has Bb Bar and ConneXions, a lounge.
Other facilities include a state-of-the-art Sheraton Fitness center by Core Performance, indoor pool, spa, business center and Link@Sheraton offering complimentary Internet access to in-house guests. A flexible function and meeting space, 1,600 square meters wide, can accommodate business or private gatherings.
The hotel is also adjacent to Songdo ConvensiA, a new convention center, offering comfort and the highest level of service to international and Korean guests attending conferences there.
In celebration of the New Year, the Sheraton Incheon’s restaurants present a variety of course meals and buffet menus specially prepared for the season by executive chef Sven Neuert.
It also offers Winter Story package through Feb. 29, which includes a one night stay in a deluxe room, breakfast for two, Sheraton Incheon’s logo-labeled knee blanket, and free admission to the fitness center, swimming pool and sauna. Prices start from 175,000 won.
For more information, visit www.sheratonincheon.com.