Business hotels sprouting in Myeong-dong

The executive floor lounge at Tmark Grand Hotel Myeongdong in central Seoul / Courtesy of HanaTour

By Kim Rahn

Mid-priced hotels are mushrooming in downtown Seoul, backed by a surging number of Chinese tourists.

They are especially clustering around Myeong-dong, the top shopping district in Seoul among foreign tourists. Unlike global hotel chains that have usually focused on luxury hotels, local operators are leading the “business hotel war” in the tourist destination.

HanaTour’s Tmark Grand Hotel

HanaTour, the nation’s largest tour agency, opened Tmark Grand Hotel Myeongdong on June 1.

This is the agency’s third hotel, following Center Mark Hotel in Insa-dong and Tmark Hotel Myeongdong in Chungmuro.

The 20-story building has 576 rooms including 30 suites. Each is equipped with a 43-inch LED TV, bathtub, goose down and all-cotton bedding, and high-speed free Internet.

Guests at L7 Hotel Myeongdong can take a ride on a rickshaw to major tourist destinations in Seoul. / Courtesy of Lotte Hotel

The hotel has a pool, which is rare in a business hotel, as well as a fitness center, a banquet room with a capacity of 250 people, meeting rooms, business center and executive floor. Guests on the executive floor can enjoy express check-in/out and Happy Hour services in the executive lounge.

For dining, Tmark Grand Hotel Myeongdong has a buffet restaurant, Tour de Gourmet; a Korean eatery, the Youlam the Grill; and coffeehouse, Tour de Cafe.

Guests can walk to major tourist attractions in Seoul, including Myeong-dong, Namdaemun and Mount Nam. The hotel is also located near a subway station.

“This hotel can cater to both leisure and business travelers,” a hotel official said. “We’ll seek a synergy effect with HanaTour’s travel, duty free and culture businesses.”

HanaTour operates Tmark properties overseas as well, including in Sapporo, Japan, and Zhangjiajie, China.

For more information about the new hotel, visit

www.tmarkgrandhotel.com

Lotte’s properties

Lotte Hotel opened Lotte City Hotel Myeongdong in January.

This is the seventh property of Lotte City Hotel, the operator’s business hotel brand, in Korea.

The hotel has 430 rooms in a 27-story building. A deluxe family twin room, having a double bed and a single bed, is ideal for a family. Every room is equipped with smart TV through which guests can control lighting and temperature and request room cleaning or morning call services.

A superior twin room at Lotte City Hotel Myeongdong / Courtesy of Lotte Hotel

The hotel is within walking distance of major tourist attractions including Myeong-dong, Insa-dong, Samcheong-dong and Dongdaemun, and it takes less than 30 minutes from the hotel to other famous destinations such as Yeouido, Gangnam and Hongdae via subway. It is also one hour away from Incheon International Airport, and 40 minutes from Gimpo International Airport.

The buffet restaurant, C’cafe, is located on the 27th floor, overlooking Myeong-dong and Cheonggye Stream.

For more information, visit www.lottehotel.com/city/myeongdong.

Lotte also opened the L7 Hotel Myeongdong, the operator’s first boutique hotel, in January.

Renowned artists including designer Jung Koho and media artist Todd Holoubeck took part in the hotel brand development to create a modern, trendy and unique atmosphere.

Staffers at the hotel wear jeans, shirts and slip-ons, and the hotel adopted yellow as its signature color to represent freedom and vitality.

The L7 has 245 rooms in a 21-story building. Some of the standard-type rooms have a Korean-style floor with a bed, while superior rooms offer views of Myeong-dong and Mount Nam. The walls of Locomix Suites are decorated with graphic images by designer group Momot, while Loasis Suites have colorful furniture and a terrace.

The hotel has a rooftop bar on the 21st floor; a lounge and bar for coffee or drinks; and a European restaurant.

It offers special services at Travel Concierge and Style Concierge. The Travel Concierge offers a rickshaw ride to City Hall, Cheonggye Stream, Bukchon Hanok Village and Insa-dong along three routes. The Style Concierge presents a package of makeup, hair styling and photographs, and a program to get vocal and dance training, makeup and photo book making with staffers from SMTOWN STUDIO.

For more information, visit www.lottehotel.com/l7/myeongdong.