By Bae Ji-sook
Staff reporter
The JW Marriott is a rare breed among top class hotels in Seoul. While most boast about luxury with discretion or exclusivity, and limited accessibility for the mass population, the Marriott focuses on openness.
It is located in the heart of a "market place" where the Express Bus Terminal links all parts of the nation to Seoul; and the large Central Seoul shopping mall ― fed by Metro lines No. 3, 7 and 9 ― coexists with buzzing bus stops and large department stores; all crammed into a very small space in Banpo-dong, southern Seoul. Not many people would expect calm and serenity here.
However, Robert Stark, general manager of the hotel, said the location has guaranteed more opportunities than setbacks.
"Wedding services are going well and so are wine sales. We are seeing some progress in the food and beverage section because people from other areas or those with guests from other regions prefer our hotel to others because of the terminal. There are also a steady number of Japanese tourists booking into our rooms," he said in an interview with The Korea Times.
In fact, the lobby is always full of businessmen sealing whispered deals, while cafes are dominated by "uptown" ladies enjoying brunch, and its gym, the largest in Seoul, is always steamy with people working on their abs.
"Yeoeuido, the financial hub of the country is just a few minutes away by both car and metro. We are attracting businessmen and tourists as well as local affluent residents. Traffic is one of the best things we have," he said. "Anyway, who said the hotel is noisy?"
It is true: the inside of the hotel is modestly serene and hotel promoters said they have yet to receive any complaints over noise from outside traffic.
The Marriot is set to get even better. The Marriott Cafe, its signature casual restaurant, and the fitness center, the Marquis Club, are about to undergo renovation; and the freshly redecorated Japanese restaurant is already wowing guests with its state-of-the-art Sushi Bar. "It is actually one of my favorite places too," Stark said pointing to the Sushi Bar. "The staff can communicate more and guests can enjoy watching their dishes being prepared," he said.
The hotel is now seeking to step up to a whole new level by attracting world leaders visiting Seoul for the G-20 Summit scheduled in November. Though he remained cautious concerning any on-going process, Stark admitted that this is his biggest goal for the second half of the year.
"Our Presidential Suite― modern, clean, comfortable, classic yet trendy and supreme ― has been frequented by world class celebrities, business leaders and others. I am confident that we can see a bright future."
At the end of the interview, Stark moved up to the rooftop of the building and showed off the million dollar- view ― the Han River is just a mile away while Mt. Namsan and the 63 City tower as well as all other landmark buildings can be seen at a glance.
"This is what you get," Stark smiled.