Andaz hotel coming to Korea
David Udell, right in front row, Asia Pacific Group president of Hyatt Hotels Corp., poses with Cho Yeong-hwan, left, CEO of Hotel HDC, and Choi Il-sung, president of KT estate, in Seoul, June 8, after signing an agreement for the development of the Andaz Gangnam, Seoul that will open next year. / Courtesy of Hyatt Hotels Corp.
By Kang Seung-woo
The Andaz brand, an affiliate of Hyatt Hotels Corp. is set to make its long-awaited Korean debut in Gangnam District, southern Seoul next year.
According to the U.S.-based multinational hospitality company, Thursday, the Andaz Gangnam, Seoul will open next year in Apgujeong, a sub-unit of Gangnam; and the 241-room hotel will feature a lobby lounge, an all-day dining restaurant, large conference venues, a pool, and a fitness center with tree spa treatment rooms.
Andaz, a boutique Hyatt brand, has properties in Asia, including Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo.
“At Hyatt, we are committed to offering experiences in destinations that are meaningful to our guests and each Andaz hotel's atmosphere is influenced by the city and neighborhood,” said Asia Pacific Group President David Udell at Hyatt Hotels Corp.
“We are excited to showcase how the new Andaz Hotel will integrate and complement Gangnam's unique character given Seoul is a very attractive destination as it continues to develop into one of the most competitive cities for global leisure and business travel.”
For the development of the nation's first Andaz-branded hotel, the company reached an agreement with KT estate and Hotel HDC. The latter worked with Hyatt for the Park Hyatt Seoul and the Park Hyatt Busan.
Hyatt said the high-rise hotel will offer easy access for guests as it will be just blocks away from two subway stations and minutes away from the Han River, one of Seoul's most prominent features.
The Andaz debut comes as tourism in Korea has surged, jumping from 16.7 million passengers arriving at Incheon International Airport in 2010 to 24.6 million in 2016.