SUMMIT Dreams of Global Imperial Hotels
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
No one can deny that Seoul is becoming one of the major global cities in the world _ there are more than a million foreigners in the country and it is the capital of the world's 14th largest economy. More people and enterprises are focusing on Seoul as their next business target.
There are many top class hotels in Seoul, but nearly all of them are franchised _ they are constructed under the name of giant names seen all over the world.
Amid the fierce competition, Rhee Chul-hee, president of the Imperial Palace Hotel in southern Seoul and a board member of the its management group SUMMIT, is striving to make his group a global one.
The Imperial Palace success story is one worthy of note. It started as a tourist hotel called Amiga more than 20 years ago and drew tens of thousands of guests every year through its food and beverage section. To date, the hotel is still favored by many for weddings and other food-related events.
The hotel was refurbished in 2003 under a Victorian glamour concept. Visitors are often overwhelmed by the interior _ extravagant yet dark antique furniture mesmerizes people while the marble floor and total net worth of two billion art pieces stun first-timers.
The lounge on the 20th floor, decorated as a Korean traditional living room, sets a delicate balance between Asian and Western cultures. This ``indescribable atmosphere'' makes first-time visitors loyal fans, Rhee said.
``We have learned that some foreign clients stick to Imperial Palace when they come on a business trip and ask their Korean partners to book this hotel,'' he said.
But becoming a pioneer in the Korean model of hotel management wasn't easy. Know-how was built up from ``from scratch,'' he said. From selecting unique menus to tailor-made services, Rhee pushed the hotel forward, and staff members continue to undergo weekly training.
Now, the SUMMIT Group is trying to take its brand name to the next level. It has opened IP Hotel Fukuoka in Japan, taking over the local hotel giant Daiichi's branch in 2007.
Rhee said the venture did not get off to an easy start: everything was different, from the system to administration and service performance.
But the hotel is now following local Japanese style. ``We are taking off. The sales are now steady and we are planning to make some aggressive approaches too,'' he said.
Rhee's spoke to The Korea Times just before the opening of a resort in Cebu in the Philippines in July, and Rhee showed his anxiety and hopes for the project.
He said the facilities have been a huge hit even before it swings open its door after Filipino President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo held a Cabinet meeting and encouraged the management. ``It was big news there and actually lifted up the brand power,'' Rhee said.
The Imperial Palace Waterpark Cebu Resort has 557 rooms in six buildings and a water park. ``Go and see what Korean service can do there,'' Rhee added.