Neither Alain Rigodin nor the Sheraton Incheon Hotel invested in the monumental Incheon Bridge, which is the seventh longest in the world and links the heart of Incheon to Songdo.
The bridge is 21.38 kilometers long and brings together the major Incheon area, including Incheon International Airport, to the up-and-coming metropolis Songdo.
Nestled right next to the Incheon Conventia, Sheraton Incheon is all set to greet the enormous number of visitors who will surely grace this port area in the years to come.
``It is going to take about 18 months, but things will pick up soon,'' said Rigodin, general manager of the 319-room five-star property over lunch at Bene, its luscious Italian eatery.
The French hotelier was referring to the amount of time it will take the hotel up to full speed ― though he appears to be headed in the right direction.
Already, he is overseeing the operation of its restaurants. There's Yue, which serves Chinese cuisine; Miyabi, which serves Japanese; buffet restaurant Feast; and Bene. There is also the B-Flat bar and the Connexion lounge.
``The completion of the Incheon Bridge could not have come at a better time since now accessing the hotel from the Incheon International Airport takes no more than half an hour,'' Rigodin said with excitement.
The hotel opened its doors Aug. 3, ahead of the opening of the Grand Incheon Bridge last month. It is owned by Daewoo Engineering and Construction, which is under the wings of the Kumho-Asiana Group.
``Our location right next to the Songdo Conventia (Convention Center) provides us with the advantage of being close to everything that is exciting business-wise and otherwise in this part of Korea,'' Rigodin said.
Indeed, the proximity to Seoul as well as many Chinese territories gives Sheraton Incheon unrivaled opportunities to fill its rooms and amenities," Rigodin added
``We believe that we have the facilities and services necessary to accommodate the most demanding guests.''