 |
| The Penthouse Suite at Conrad Seoul, showcasing river and city views, features a living area, lounge, bar, dining area and an executive work space. |
South Korea’s flashy Gangnam style has become a pop culture reference. But Yeouido style is catching on with visitors to Seoul. Known as the Korean Wall Street, Yeouido is home to gleaming high-rises, luxury condos and the multi-tower International Finance Centre (IFC).
Opened in late 2012 in one of the IFC towers, Conrad Seoul has become the go-to meeting place for international business travelers, but high-end leisure traveler numbers are growing, said Director of Business Development Karan Singh ([email protected], 011-822-6137-7500) during our recent visit. It’s easy to see why.
A showcase of modern Asian design, Conrad Seoul makes a great first impression. Visitors arrive to an open lobby of glass, polished stone and warm wood. Its centerpiece — a free-floating spiral staircase that ascends five stories — is a functional work of art.
The 38-story property is connected to the IFC Mall, where clients can shop for more than 100 brands. It’s also close to parks, green belts and the Seoul Marina Club & Yacht. But the sweeping views of the Seoul skyline and Han River are its prime draw.
Rooms With a View
Sleek, spacious and soothing — is the best way to describe the Conrad Seoul experience. Even Standard Rooms measure in at 516 square feet. All 434 rooms and 50 suites feature Apple entertainment centers with a smart TV and media hub for an iPod/iPad/iPhone. All rooms include high-speed Wi-Fi and Nespresso machines (with pods replaced daily).
Bathrooms in luxury Asian hotels are traditionally a focal point of room design. The Conrad Seoul is no exception. Polished stone walls and indirect lighting surround free-standing tubs and separate rain-bath showers. (Guests can choose artisanal toiletries from either the Aromatherapy Associates or Shanghai Tang lines.) Double-sink vanities feature a makeup/shaving mirror that doubles as an LCD TV screen. And a discreet WC holds the latest in multi-function automated toilets.
The hotel’s Executive Rooms on the hotel’s highest floors, afford prime views plus access to the Executive Lounge. The latter is a top-floor retreat offering stunning city and river vistas. In the morning, clients can enjoy a sumptuous breakfast buffet of Asian and Western dishes.
In the evening, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres are served there while the city lights twinkle below. Complimentary laptop and iPads are available in the Lounge during the day.
For clients seeking the highest level of luxury, Grand King Corner Suites offer 1,033 square feet of living, dining and bedroom space surrounded by wraparound windows. And the 3,100-square-foot Conrad Penthouse has a living area, lounge, bar, dining area, executive workspace and the best views in the house. The walk-in closets, butler service and enormous spa bathroom are especially popular with high-end leisure travelers, according to Director of Marketing Communications Jean Park ([email protected], 011-822-6137-7505).
Amenities for Foreign Travelers
 |
| The Grand Deluxe King Suite in the new West Tower of the Grand Hyatt Incheon |
Conrad Seoul’s health and fitness offerings have in mind an international clientele that’s often jetlagged. A two-level wellness zone features the Pulse8 luxury health club, with its indoor swimming pool and 24-hour gym. A virtual-reality golf driving range offers screen golf, club rentals and swing analysis.
The Conrad Seoul Spa has eight treatment rooms, a serenity garden and a menu showcasing Asian holistic therapies. Advisors may contact Assistant Manager EJ Kang ([email protected], 011-822-6137-7432) for questions about spa services.
Dining That Dazzles
Conrad Seoul’s four restaurants serve Continental and Asian specialties and extensive wine lists. Atrio offers rustic Italian specialties infused with an Asian flair (Jeju crispy pork belly is a delicious example). The 37 Grill & Bar on the 37th floor provides a stunning setting for cocktails above the city lights. And the breakfast spread at Zest is a culinary extravaganza where east meets west.
Even if your clients are staying in Executive Lounge rooms, they should experience breakfast at Zest at least once. Recommend that they first take time to assess the maze of stations and displays. They’ll find a seemingly endless array of hand-crafted noodles, dumplings, Korean bibimbap, soups, delicate seafood dishes and other Korean specialties. Western counterparts include elaborate egg dishes, bacon, sausage, cheeses and pastries.
Advisors may contact Conrad Seoul’s General Manager Nils-Arne Schroeder ([email protected], 011-822-8137-7000) for assistance with their hotel bookings.
Transportation Tip: Conrad Seoul is not within walking distance of major sightseeing spots, but the hotel can arrange a private car service or taxi for guests. The subway is another option, with two subway lines nearby that provide central access to key shopping districts, museums, night markets and historic sites. The hotel will also arrange a private car airport transfer.
Booking Tip: The 2018 Olympic Winter Games will take place in PyeongChang, South Korea. If you have clients who are winter sports enthusiasts, it’s not too early to start some initial planning. During our visit, a high-speed train system was already under construction. Those trains will take visitors on a loop from the Incheon International Airport to Seoul and the alpine and coastal game venues.
Airport Convenience
For clients who need convenient access to Incheon International Airport, the Grand Hyatt Incheon is a surprisingly luxurious option. The former Hyatt Regency Incheon rebranded to Grand Hyatt Incheon on September 1, 2014. Along with the rebranding came the opening of the new West Tower. With 500 rooms added to the East Tower’s existing 522 guest rooms, the hotel is now the largest Hyatt hotel outside of North America.
Grand Hyatt Incheon is owned by Korean Air, whose terminals are a three minute (complimentary) shuttle ride away. Korean Air touches on the property include the carrier’s signature aquamarine accent color in rooms, carpets and artworks. Guests can check luggage in for flights from the hotel lobby and stroll through a rooftop garden designed by the wife of KAL’s chairman.
Accommodations and Dining
According to Marketing Communications Manager Misun Ha ([email protected], 011-823-2745-2511), booking requests are coming in specifically for the West Tower. Grand Deluxe Executive Suites are particularly attractive for clients looking to relax, spread out and repack before the long flight home. They feature a separate living room with dining table and wet bar. With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the airport’s brand-new MagLev train system, the suites have the aura of a Tomorrowland stay at Disneyland.
The new tower introduced residence-style guest rooms to the property. They’re designed for extended-stay guests, but kitchens, dining and living rooms make them a good choice for families as well. Indeed, Grand Hyatt Incheon is surprisingly family-friendly for an airport hotel. On our visit, the dedicated children’s pool and play area were the most popular spots there.
Both of Grand Hyatt Incheon’s towers have a Grand Club Lounge for select room categories. If clients are in the West Tower, definitely recommend a Club Lounge room. The staff is attentive, the breakfast offerings range from scrambled eggs to steamed dumplings, and panoramic windows provide a fascinatingly close look at Incheon operations.
By the time your clients are at the end of their visit, they may be craving some American food. Advise them to try Restaurant 8 in the East Tower. It’s actually eight restaurants in one. On our final night in Seoul, we enjoyed a wagyu beef cheeseburger accompanied by Soju, the famous Korean rice liquor.
In the West Tower, the Grand Café is an all-day dining space. Clients can enjoy European and Asian comfort-food buffets, a gelato bar and rows of beautifully arranged French pastries. As with the rest of the hotel, no design detail is too small. Seating for the little ones comes in the form of high-end Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chairs.
Note: Though the West Tower is getting all the buzz at the moment, the East Tower shouldn’t be overlooked. Rooms in the 11-year-old hotel are being refurbished. And a covered walkway linking the two towers makes restaurants and other facilities easy to access. Reach out to General Manager Paul Wright ([email protected], 011-823-2745-1234) with queries.
Travel Tip: Medical tourism is on the rise in Asia, and while South Korea isn’t yet in the same league as some of its Southeast Asian counterparts, that’s quickly changing. The new Inha International Medical Centre is a 10-minute walk from Grand Hyatt Incheon. Its hospital-affiliated and accredited services range from full-body scans to dental whitening. Contact Linda Lee ([email protected], 011-821-087-010-358), INHA’s marketing and global affairs director, to discuss hotel and treatment packages.
New From Design Hotels
Glad Hotel Yeouido was opened late last year by Design Hotels. In addition to 318 standard, deluxe, king and twin rooms, there’s the 694-square-foot Heritage Ondol, which comes with a traditional Korean yo bed and two ondol seating areas as well as underfloor heating, surround sound speakers and a 42-inch flat-screen TV. Nice Touch: Playing on the hotel’s name, there are plaques in each room with amusing “glad” quotes from great thinkers such as William Shakespeare and Eleanor Roosevelt.