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Somerset Palace enriches life at home-away-from-home

“Home away from home” is a motto for usual serviced residence, but Somerset Palace Seoul offers more than that ― guests can enrich their life at the place while feeling at home. In spacious surroundings and a sophisticated ambience, Somerset Palace’s professionally-trained staffs are at hand to meet and fulfill your every need. Somerset Palace values the importance of keeping a balance between work and family life. It respects guests’ privacy and freedom to live their lives, whether they are working, relaxing, or spending time with family. They can explore Seoul’s many attractions or share their experience with other residents. The serviced residence has apartments in size from studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom to penthouse ― all are luxurious and family-friendly. Each room offers state-of-the-art communications and entertainment facilities and fully-equipped kitchen, which satisfy both busy executives and family. Every residence is wired for high-speed Internet. Fully-equipped fitness center, billiard room, sauna, residents’ lounge and children’s playroom are also availa

Dec 23, 2010

Millennium Seoul Hilton, shines with superior service

Since the opening in 1983, the Millennium Seoul Hilton has been recognized as the premier business hotel in Seoul. Located at the foot of Mt. Namsan, in the heart of the business, entertainment and shopping districts in the city, the 22-story hotel accommodates superb, modern facilities, magnificent decoration and outstanding service. More than 680 rooms and suites of the Millennium Seoul Hilton provide new standards of luxury to guests. Each room has a view of scenic Mt. Namsan or downtown Seoul. A range of suites is available, including the opulent facilities and decor of the Vista, Parkhill and Namdaemun Suites. Equipped with modern convenience and luxurious amenities, it is a home away from home and especially for business travelers, an office away from the workplace. The hotel offers special rooms furnished with extra-large work desk, computers with free high-speed Internet access, fax machines, mobile phones and voice messaging service, enabling business travelers to stay productive. The top four floors have been designated Executive Floors. They are serviced b

Dec 23, 2010

Imperial Palace, best business place in Gangnam

Many businesspeople stay at hotels in Gangbuk, or north of the Han River, as downtown Seoul has been a financial center of the country for decades. But many businesses have moved to Gangnam, south of the river, and the region has emerged as a new center for business along with cultural amenities. Imperial Palace Hotel welcomes businesspeople in Gangnam. The five-star hotel is aimed to be a “European hotel with sophistication and class,” with a motto of “The Best of Everything.” The hotel has some 430 rooms and suites including Royal Suite for national guests and two-story Duplex Suite. All rooms are equipped with a 42-inch television, high-speed Internet access and wireless Internet service _ must items as a business hotel. Thirteen restaurants, bars and entertainment facilities provide pleasure for not only business but social gatherings. They include buffet restaurant Familia, Chinese restaurant Cheon San and Japanese restaurant Man Yo. The domestic hotel brand hotel is making strong steps into the international market, expanding hotel brand and diversifying busi

Dec 23, 2010

Executive-level service at JW Marriott

Located in the heart of the business district in southern Seoul, the JW Marriott Seoul offers well-appointed guestrooms larger than average rooms of other deluxe hotels in Seoul ― a suitable choice for successful business travelers. JW Marriott Seoul has renovated its rooms and facilities over the last two years, upgrading guestrooms, the Marquis Thermal Spa, JW Executive Lounge, Cafe@JW and Exchange Bar. It will invest over $5 million for 2011 to improve ballroom and lobby. The newly designed room has a 40-inch television and state-of-the-art remote, Jack Pack, which offers a single source interface for audio, video, iPod and computer devices. Designer furniture, new wallpaper, carpeting and curtains offer a modern, spacious and luxuriant ambiance. For those seeking fun after busy days, JW Marriott offers a booming party at Bar Rouge for Christmas. At the “Christmas in Neverland” party, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, guests will get a glass of German Gluhwein, and a chance to win best dancer, best bidder, best dresser or best guesser prizes in contests throughout th

Dec 23, 2010

Journey to Japanese cuisine at W Seoul-Walkerhills Namu

W Seoul-Walkerhill redefines Japanese cuisine at its contemporary Japanese restaurant Namu. The restaurant at one of the world’s most stylish hotel has been renovated with new interior and menu. Located on the 1st floor of W Seoul-Walkerhill, the restaurant presents a special taste of W-style Japanese menu and design. It introduces “ICE section,” a sushi and sashimi counter in the middle of the place, to offer a trendy sushi bar dining. Enhanced sushi and sashimi menus, such as Ohiru sushi course and Omakase sashimi course, are presented. A newly introduced lunchbox, named Wento, also brings the finest tastes of the restaurant into a single meal. For those seeking a little privacy, “Liquid bar” was also reformed to become a stylish semi private bar. With lounge music and best champagnes, the bar will offer as much fun as WooBar does. Outfits for talents, or staff members, will also be upgraded with a new design and concept. The renovation will make customers encounter incomparable designs, comfort, creativities and opportunities to experience a new concept of co

Dec 23, 2010

Lotte Hotel offers luxurious experience at heart of Seoul

For those wanting to have a luxury stay at the heart of Seoul’s business and tourist districts, Lotte Hotel Seoul is the best option. The hotel’s 1,124 guestrooms offer one of the most distinguished amenities and services. Lotte Hotel Seoul was selected for 2010 Best Business Hotel in Seoul by Business Traveller, a renowned business travel magazine, and 2010 Best City Hotel ― Seoul by Travel Trade Gazette (TTG). Room renovation With a six-year renovation completed in October, Lotte Hotel Seoul provides more upgraded services. The new building, which opened in 1988, underwent a renovation for all guestrooms in 2004, and its lobby was moved to 14th floor in 2006, offering more spacious check-in/check-out area. The renovation of the main building was put in tenders, with four design companies ― SOM, Wilson&Associates, HBA and Babey Moulton ― participating in the bid. Exclusive floors In order to provide distinguished advantage to female guests, it opened “Lady’s Floor,” a women-exclusive floor, for the first time in Korea in September 2009. The floor is gaining go

Dec 23, 2010

Best hotel award winners

Lotte Hotel offers luxurious experience at heart of Seoul For those wanting a luxury stay at the heart of Seoul's business and tourist districts, Lotte Hotel Seoul is the best option. The hotel's 1,124 guestrooms offer some of the most convenient amenities and services. Lotte Hotel Seoul was selected as the 2010 Best Business Hotel in Seoul by Business Traveller, a renowned business travel magazine, and the 2010 Best City Hotel ?Seoul by the Travel Trade Gazette (TTG). Room renovation With a six-year renovation completed in October, Lotte Hotel Seoul provides a wider range of upgraded services. The annex building, which first opened in 1988, underwent a renovation of all its guestrooms in 2004, and the lobby was moved to the 14th floor in 2006, offering a more spacious check-in/check-out area. The renovation was tendered, and four design companies ?SOM, Wilson&Associates, HBA and Babey Moulton ?participated in the bid. Exclusive floors In order to provide a distinguished advantage to female guests, it opened the "Lady's Floor," a women-exclusive floor, for

Dec 23, 2010

Hwaeom Temple and Nogodans sea of clouds

By Roger Dix Along the upper reaches of the Seomjin River in South Jeolla Province lies the town of Gurye. Not far from Gurye in the foothills of Mount Jiri National Park is one of Korea’s oldest and most famous temples, Hwaeom Temple. The story has it that Hwaeom Temple was founded in 544 CE by the Indian saint, Yeongi, who, with his mother, came to Korea on the back of a flying Yeon, an auspicious dragon headed turtle-like creature that carried good omens wherever it traveled. Hwaeom Temple is a large complex nestled in aesthetically beautiful surroundings, where pine trees hundreds of years old, gnarled with the wisdom of their age, stand sentry-like next to buildings and pagodas and ponds. Oaks and maples and hollies stand old and proud like the pines along the temple’s walkways and staircases and terraces. Shrubbery and flowering bush grow sculpted and arbor-like just about everywhere around the grounds, and lion-headed fountains and cold mountain streams add the sound of flowing water to the scene. Hwaeom Temple is not just for the ritual routines of Buddhist mo

Dec 16, 2010

Cheongdam sparkles with trendiest shops

By Kwon Mee-yoo The following is the last in a series of articles featuring tourist sites in Gangnam, southern Seoul, where both domestic and foreign tourists can experience an alluring blend of modern and traditional attractions. ― ED. The Cheongdam Fashion Street stretches from the Galleria Department Store's Luxury Mall to Cheongdam crossroad. The 760-meter-long street is now decorated with dandelion seed-like lighting, attracting shoppers and tourists. The avenue, already studded with fancy stores of well-known luxury brands including Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo and Gucci and rising new stores such as 3.1 Phillip Lim and Tory Burch, now shines brighter with the lights boosting the holiday mood. One of the buildings with the most eye-catching Christmas decorations is Maison Cartiers, gift-wrapped with a red ribbon. "We opened the flagship store in 2008 and have put up Christmas decorations for the last two years," Song Min-ki of Cartier said. Maison Cartier is a complex of boutiques, service centers and a headquarters. "There are about five of them in the wor

Dec 16, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo

Christmas delights at Wood & Brick

By Kwon Mee-yoo Festive feasting is a mainstay of the Yuletide season and would not be complete without the special cakes and sweet delights that brighten up the year-end holiday spirit. The Wood & Brick, known for its European style bread and fine Italian dishes, offers a variety of Christmas cakes for those who are craving some of the traditional treats from their childhood beginning Dec. 15. The restaurant and bakery’s patisserie chef Franck Colombie introduces Buchette De Noel, a petit version of the representative Christmas cake Buche de Noel to Korea. Colombie worked at Michelin-starred restaurants such as Marc Memeau and Les Elysees and also taught in Le Cordon Bleu Korea from 2007 to 2009. The Buche de Noel is a traditional Christmas dessert in most European countries including France. The dessert came from a tradition of sharing Christmas cake next to a glowing fireplace. The Buchette is a miniature version of Buche, not a sliced piece of the log-shaped cake. “Our Buchette de Noel has exactly the same structure as the original Buche and it requires the same

Dec 16, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo
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