By Bae Ji-sook
The Mayfield Hotel may not be familiar to people who visit hotels in central Seoul. However, the hotel located near Gimpo International Airport, outskirt of Seoul, is more than a surprise to people who have low expectations about hotels here.
The hotel is all about location and has four-storey European monastery-like buildings scattered in a 105,785 square-meter estate.
Hotel General Manager and Vice President Chang Do-hyun boasted that it is the largest estate containing a hotel in Seoul.
The clean air with birds singing in the woods everywhere brings a breath of fresh air to people tired of the rat race and crowded city life.
The pathways surrounding the hotel, fountains with Baroque sculptures and rose gardens all remind visitors pretty much of the old mansions in Europe.
It does not have the glamour but the serenity more than makes up for anything else the hotel might be missing.
Chang said everything was possible due to the location. “To be honest, we wouldn’t have been able to make a hotel like this in Seoul. It would be far too expensive,” he said.
The hotel is a five-minute drive from Gimpo and 40 minutes from Incheon International Airport — a massive plus for business travelers who seek convenience. Recently, FC Barcelona and the Japanese national football squad also stayed at the hotel.
“They liked the fact that you could run around the hotel and enjoy the environment in the Mayfield. Also, it is close to Sangam Football Stadium,” Chang said.
But don’t think the hotel is just sitting back watching people visiting for its eight-hole mini golf course, outdoor swimming pools or terraced barbeque.
It is at the forefront of defending and promoting Korean dining to the world.
In the days when there are only four hotels keeping Korean restaurants — Lotte, Walkerhill, Renaissance and Mayfield — the hotel is striving to push Korean cuisine.
Having experienced phenomenal success with its in-house restaurant “Nakwon,” the hotel has recently opened its first branch at the KINTEX in Ilsan, northern Gyeonggi Province.
He said the hotel is getting much support from the government these days. Those who want to show their friends from abroad authentic Korean dishes, visit Nakwon.
This unexpected boon has encouraged Chang and his staff to plan to expand to southern Seoul soon and later nationwide.
“The hotel itself started from Nakwon, an authentic high-end Korean restaurant. We will strive to maintain its spirit and promote Korean cuisine no matter what it takes,” Chang said.