Running a hotel is a cut-throat business, especially if it’s located in Seoul. Nearly all of the topnotch hotels in the city are owned by large corporations and many of them are managed by international hotel franchises.
When Hotel Amiga first opened in southern Seoul 21 years ago, very few people predicted that the hotel would become the very first independent hotel franchise here.
However, it has become a local legend. It transformed to become the Imperial Palace hotel, sharing its names in and outside Korea with the Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel, IP Hotel Fukuoka and Imperial Palace Water Park Cebu Resort. It is now negotiating with the German government to establish a branch in Bonne, the old capital of West Germany.
The Imperial Palace Hotel President, Rhee Chul-hee admitted it was a long, difficult and lonely journey. From buying up the real estate to recruiting the staff and giving detailed instructions, he has traveled to numerous countries countless times to see firsthand how hotels abroad operate. And at this point, while he is free to just sit at his desk waiting for his subordinates’ reports, Rhee still regularly visits Japan and his hotel sites.
“I just can’t forget when we first decided to renova te the Imperial Palace hotel. We found our niche market in the Victorian decorations. However, in order to collect all the antiques for the interior design, my staff and I wandered around flea markets and antique shops all around Europe for months. It was really starting from scratch because we did not really have money and infrastructure to just order them from Korean brokers,” he said.
The rooms are filled with plates, paintings, carpets, vases and other antiques from the floor to the ceiling with wood and marble decoration seen everywhere.
The concept of the grand Victorian legacy worked magic - local ladies started to make lunch appointments and recommended the venue to their husbands running businesses in the city, who in turn introduced foreign clients to stay in the hotel with its unique characteristics.
The recent opening of the boutique hotel in the foreigners-frequented Itaewon also put the group on the map. Every room has a different design and neon colors reflect the sassy and vibrant atmosphere of one of the city’s most lively areas. The success of the Filipino resort has assured the industry that local brands can work. Hailed by the Filipino government for impeccable Korean hospitality and the great facilities, Rhee said the hotel will be the new golden egg for the company.
Now, Rhee is focused on expanding. “We are planning a new hotel in a Southeast Asian country. However, the negotiations are not going so well. We have secured the construction site, but the local realtors as well as the administrators are giving us a hard time,” he said.
The negotiations with local governments in Bonne, Germany, are still underway. “I cannot give you the details but we are targeting Asians, who are still unaccustomed to European services. Then we will be heading out to an even larger bracket,” Rhee said.
It sounds like Rhee’s vision is endless and his drive is stronger than most of us. He said the key is patience and generosity.
“Many people ask you or talk to you at the same time, ask for the same thing and even fight over it.
You need to be a good listener, moderator and a good superior, who can be stern and strong,” Rhee said. “It’s been a long but successful journey.”