Sheraton Incheon focuses on convention
In 2017, Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel will step up its efforts to bolster the convention side of its business. /Courtesy of Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel
By Kim Se-jeong
The Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel was part of an aspiring Songdo International Business District (IBD) development project aimed at making a Hong Kong-like business hub in Northeast Asia.
Songdo IBD sits on six square kilometers of reclaimed land, housing more than 100 business and residential buildings. The major constructions were completed in 2009.
Major institutions there are the Green Climate Fund, along with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), George Mason University and the University of Utah campuses, Yonsei University’s international campus, Inha University, Chadwick International School and the University of Incheon. It is also home to the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, the Northeast Asia Trade Tower, Songdo Central Park, Songdo Canal Walk and Songdo ConvensiA among others.
The Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel has been leading the hospitality business in the area to accommodate the needs of both leisure and business travelers.
Opened in 2009, the hotel is a well-known destination for tourists, mostly locals, who visit the district for leisure — in recent years Songdo has become a major weekend destination.
In 2017, the hotel said it will step up its efforts to bolster the convention side of its business.
The Grand Ballroom has the capacity of hosting 500 people at a time. / Courtesy of Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel
It has ample chances to be successful.
Good facilities are one reason. The hotel has 11 spaces for meetings and conferences. The Grand Ballroom has the capacity of hosting 500 people at a time. Smaller rooms have capacities for between 30 and 250 people.
Last year, the hotel hosted conferences organized by the UNESCAP, the Korea Meteorological Administration, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and the Korea Environment Corp.
Its location is another reason for success.
The Sheraton Grand Incheon is a five-minute walk from the ConvensiA, a convention hall equivalent to the COEX in southern Seoul. The ConvensiA is a major venue for big local and international conferences and meetings.
In 2015, it hosted the UNESCO World Education Forum, followed by the 2016 Real Estate Expo, and a convention on emergency medicine in 2016 among others. The participants stayed at the Sheraton Grand Incheon.
The hotel also has excellent facilities for room guests.
It has 321 rooms, each outfitted with an LCD flat screen TV with cable channels, a coffee maker, mini bar, bath tub, rainforest shower, hairdryer, bathrobes and slippers, a safe and free Wi-Fi service.
The hotel also has a fitness center, spa and indoor swimming pool, in addition to a beauty salon, and flower and gift shops in the lobby.
The Sheraton Grand Incheon has six dining options, including Miyabi, a Japanese restaurant; Bene, an Italian outlet; Feast, an all-day dining buffet venue; and Yue which serves Chinese cuisine. B-flat and ConneXions are bars that serve drinks and finger food.
The hotel is 25 kilometers away from Incheon International Airport, and the hotel offers shuttle bus rides to guests. It is 35 kilometers away from Gimpo International Airport, and also offers a bus service.
To check room availability, visit www.starwoodhotels.com. The hotel offers discounted rates which are available on hotel booking websites.