Best Hotel

W Seoul-Walkerhill

Luxury Hotel

W Seoul-Walkerhill’s luxury lies in style

What makes W Seoul-Walkerhill luxurious is its distinctively upscale decor. Each room, the lobby (Living Room), the bar (WooBar), fitness center (FIT), swimming pool (WET) and sauna (Water Zone) are decorated in a distinctive style.

As winner of The Korea Times best hotel brand in luxury hotel category, the hotel has colorful rooms ― with red and white ― creating sumptuous and attractive feel. The sauna and swimming pool show a palette of different colors, creating an exotic atmosphere.

The lobby and the rest of the lobby floor are enhanced with wood, including wooden sculptures and a wooden installation. W Seoul-Walkerhill was art collaboration as a whole. The world’s prominent architects and interior designers have worked together to create what it is today. Among them were artists from the Bitform Gallery of New York, Farmboy Fine Art of Canada, Etkin Fitzgerald Studio and Lee Hae-hyo.

W Seoul-Walkerhill has 252 rooms including 24 suites. The rooms were designed by Studio GAIA from New York. Each room is equipped with a W signature bed, up-to-date in-room facilities and stunning bathrooms, a smart TV, a BOSE CD player with alarm clock, high-speed Internet access, a DVD player, mini bar, a refrigerator, tea and coffee makers, in-room safe and Bliss toiletries.

There are nine types of room available, including Wonderful Room, Fabulous Room Spa, Cool Corner Room and Extreme Wow Suite.

WooBar offers a selection of drinks. WooBar’s drinks set a new standard in town. They are known for innovative and experimental drinks, with almost 40 choices of vodka and 200 choices of wine.

W Seoul-Walkerhill currently offers two winter packages. “Winter Home” package includes a one-night stay in Wonderful Room, buffet restaurant for two, a 10-percent discount on spa treatment and a 15-percent discount on hotel restaurants. The package starts from 289,000 won, with tax and service charges not included. The “Winter Chill Out” package includes an additional two-person pass for the Water Zone at the AWAY Spa on top of the services offered for Winter Home package guests. The package starts from 314,000 won, with tax and service charges not included. The packages will be available until Feb. 29, with exception of New Year’s Eve.

“The Festive Eve” package includes all the peak periods of winter, such as New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, and is good for younger guests who prefer romantic and electrifying year-end parties with friends and loved ones. The package includes one-night in the Wonderful Room, a buffet-style breakfast for two, W Welcome Chocolate and premium champagne as well as two party tickets with a welcoming cocktail provided for each guest at the party. The package costs 534,000 won on New Year’s Eve and 464,000 won Jan. 1 and 2; excluding tax and service charges.

For more information and reservations, call (02) 2022-0000 or email to wseoul@whotels.com.

The Ritz-Carlton, Seoul

Best Service

Ritz-Carlton’s service recognized for 4th time

The quality of service at The Ritz-Carlton, Seoul has been recognized for a long time. With the best service award by The Korea Times, The Ritz-Carlton is striving to improve the service even more. The hotel has received a best brand hotel awards from The Korea Times for three consecutive years.

The motto of the hotel for 2016 will be, “Bringing inspiration to the most meaningful journeys in life.”

All staffers at the hotel are well-versed and committed to embodying the hotel’s gold standard of service and sharing the hotel’s core values of giving back to local communities.

The Ritz-Carlton, Seoul is the only hotel in the capital to offer guest rooms with private balconies and an outdoor terrace as part of its all-day fine dining restaurant. This reinforces its status as a premier urban retreat. Its balconies boast captivating views across the Gangnam cityscape, N Seoul Tower across the Han River and other landmarks. The hotel offers a comprehensive package that combines balcony room accommodation with a selection of finger food and wine.

In 2016, The Ritz-Carlton will deliver a wide range of experience-based programs to create long-standing relationships with guests. These include cooking classes provided by head chefs from each hotel restaurant and etiquette classes led by service industry experts.

Opened in February 1995, the Ritz-Carlton, Seoul has 375 rooms, four restaurants, a deli, a bar, a grand ballroom and other meeting rooms, an indoor swimming pool and a fitness club.

For more information and reservations, call (02) 3451-8239.

Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel

Best View

Enjoy the view from Sheraton Incheon suite

Are you looking for a beautiful spot to watch sunsets on the west coast? Ask Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel for help. All of its 321 rooms, including 16 suites, offer stunning views over Incheon’s Central Park.

As winner of The Korea Times Best Hotel for the category of view, Sheraton Grand Incheon has already won recognitions from guests for its great view.

But, that’s one of many reasons why guests choose the Sheraton Grand Incheon.

For one, the Sheraton’s Sweet Sleeper Beds ensure comfortable rest in the rooms. It is the first fully non-smoking building, and its partnership with Microsoft includes high speed Internet access available in all hotel property.

Seventeen meeting venues welcome those planning a last-minute meeting prior to a flight from the Incheon International Airport which is only 20 minutes from the hotel. It takes 40 minutes to reach Seoul.

Guests can choose to relax in an indoor swimming pool or work out in a fully-equipped Sheraton Fitness center. The lobby lounge is an elegant venue to enjoy afternoon tea, and the hotel’s four restaurants will offer satisfaction with quality food selection.

The hotel’s green initiative also deserves recognition.

It was the first hotel in Korea to receive a LEED certificate, awarded in acknowledgement of sustainable and eco-friendly management of the building.

The hotel was constructed with preserving the environment in mind. The water system was set up in a way that it can save up to 24 percent of water compared to other buildings.

The multipurpose lighting system can reduce electricity waste, while its air conditioning system was installed to minimize greenhouse gas emissions in the water pipes.

The hotel also provides guests with a Green Coffee Break, a coupon for free organic coffee at hotel lounge.

Hotel restaurants are strongly encouraged to use local produce, instead of using imported and long-traveled ingredients, further contributing to cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Located in the center of Songdo, Sheraton Grand Incheon is close to many landmarks, including Songdo Central Park, ConvensiA and the Northeast Asia Trade Tower, which are all in walking distance.

Also, Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, international schools and universities, Sorae Port, China Town and Incheon Grand Bridge are all in the vicinity.

For more information and reservations, call (032) 835-1000, or visit www.sheratonincheon.com.

Crown Park Hotel Seoul

Best Business Hotel

Crown Park rises as new niche hotel

Crown Park Hotel Seoul is the best business hotel. / Courtesy of Crown Park Hotel Seoul

Crown Park Hotel Seoul, a brand new business hotel in downtown Seoul, has won the Korea Times Best Hotel award in the downtown business hotel category.

It is affordable accommodation located in the heart of the capital near Myeong-dong, a major shopping district. Other landmarks nearby include the City Hall, Deoksu Palace, Namdaemun Market, Lotte Department store and Lotte Duty Free shop.

Lotte Hotel Seoul, Westin Chosun Seoul and The Plaza hotel surround Park Crown, appearing to compete, but it is targeting low-budget travelers, both for leisure and business purposes, with equally personalized service and hospitality.

The hotel has 204 rooms divided into Standard, Superior, Deluxe, Crown Deluxe and Suite. Its all-day dining venue, The Park Dining, is on the 17th floor, offering great views of downtown Seoul.

Crown Park Hotel Seoul’s lobby

The Park Library on the 17th floor is a bar/cafe for those looking to enjoy afternoon tea or an evening socializing over drinks. The Park Garden is a roof-top bar, an exceptionally rare spot in the bustling city center of Seoul. Drinks and small dishes are on offer.

The hotel’s 10 meeting rooms are one of the prime features expected to meet the rising demand for conferences and meeting rooms in the vicinity. A fully-equipped fitness center is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and free for all guests.

Each room is equipped with Crown Park Bedding System with top-class mattresses and 100-percent linen blankets, a 40-inch LED TV, a digital safe, bath robe, hair dryer, and an electric pot. High-speed Internet is available for free.

Room rates start from 150,000 won, and breakfast is separate at 24,000 won per person.

The hotel was owned by Kwanjeong Educational Foundation, a non-profit foundation, and part of the proceeds will be used for scholarships.

For more information and reservations, call (02) 750-5900 or visit www.crownparkhotel.co.kr.

Somerset Palace Seoul

Luxury Premier Serviced Residence

Somerset’s luxury experience limitless

An entrance of Somerset Palace Seoul / Courtesy of Somerset Palace Seoul

Somerset Palace Seoul won The Korea Times’ best hotel award for luxurious serviced residences.

Located beside tranquil Gyeongbok Palace and the heart of the capital’s business and financial districts, the serviced residence’s luxurious interior offers quality rooms in which to relax.

It is equipped with professionally­-trained staffers who understand the needs of guests and deliver prompt services. Whether residents are on a business trip or enjoying a holiday with their family, Somerset staffers deliver personalized and meticulous service.

As a fully-equipped serviced residence, Somerset knows the importance of maintaining the balance between work and family life. Somerset respects the privacy and freedom of its clients. It has a variety of spaces catering to guests who like to work, relax or need time to play with their family.

The family-friendly apartment has a variety of residential rooms from studios and one-bedroom apartments to two-bedroom apartments and penthouses. Each room is equipped with a comfortable mattress, a full kitchen with silverware, a shower or a bath tub, and a television offering a variety of channels, a telephone and a washing machine. Each room has high-speed wireless internet access and a home office desk. The property has a fully-equipped fitness room. There is also a billiards room, a sauna, a lounge for residents lounge and a children’s playroom.

The rooftop garden takes the guests experience to the next level. Full of beautiful, well-tended wild flowers and plants, it offers brief respite from city life. During weekends, it is also a venue for parties.

The hotel is located in a prime location, the old city center where there are major tourist attractions including Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbok Palace. These are in walking distance and another must-visit tourist spot, Insa-dong, is only five minutes away on foot.

Heartware is a signature service for new clientele providing extensive local knowledge that would make new guests’ transition smooth and peaceful.

Somerset Palace Seoul is managed by The Ascott Limited, a member of CapitaLand. It runs almost 250 properties located throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Gulf region. It has three award-winning brands ― Ascott, Citadines and Somerset ― in 90 cities in 25 countries. A Citadines property opened in Haeundae, Busan, in summer this year. For more information and reservations, call (02) 6730-8000 or visit www.somerset.com.