Ibis Styles Myeongdong attracts with price, style
By Kim Se-jeong
French hotel company Accor’s Ibis brand has recently opened a new property in Myeongdong, Seoul.
Located near Korea’s old film Mecca, Chungmuro, Ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong is covered with cinematic images throughout its 21-story brand-new building.
Ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong is the second Ibis property in the vicinity ― Ibis Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong is located on the other side of the famous district ― and the fifth in the city ― the others include Ibis Ambassador Seoul Insadong, Ibis Ambassador Seoul Gangnam and Ibis Budget Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun.
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Ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong’s lobby
“If you are a reasonable traveler in Seoul, Ibis Styles is an inevitable choice,” Joo Myeong-geon, a member of Ambassador Hotel & Suites and the hotel president, said. Ambassador is Accor’s Korean partner.
Ibis Styles has a clear target clientele: International travelers aged between 30 and 45 who visit Korea for leisure. The hotel is particularly targeting Asian travelers and its sauna facility represents that interest.
The biggest advantage for Ibis Styles is the price. The brand has built a global reputation among low-budget travelers and one standard room costs around 150,000 won, including breakfast and free internet access.
Style is another advantage. Rooms, lobby, hallways and restaurants are distinctive in their colors and designs, creating a cheerful atmosphere attractive to younger clientele.
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Open Hot Bath
Amenities are also an advantage. Ibis Budget Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun has a sauna; but Ibis Styles’s sauna is outdoors with a view of Mount Nam. The Open Hot Bath is only for hotel clientele and available for an extra 20,000 won. In the month of March, it only costs 10,000 won as part of an opening promotion.
The rooftop bar is also what Ibis Styles is proud of. Due to the weather, it is not currently operating, but the bar with a view of the city and the mountain is likely to attract many party goers and family event organizers in the summer.
The opening of Ibis Styles in Myeongdong demonstrates a boom in the hospitality business in Korea. The Myeongdong district alone, according to the hotel, has more than 100 accommodations, including guest houses. The hotel is well aware of this competition but said it is well positioned to win the battle in the tough market.
Accor has been very aggressive in the Korean market. With Ambassador, it has so far opened 16 hotels ― including, Ibis, Novotel, Pullman and Mercure ― and seven more are due to open by 2017. Ibis Styles is in the top tier of the Ibis brand, which also includes Ibis and Ibis Budget.
For more information and reservations call (02) 6020-8888 or visit
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The view of the hotel