IHG Expands Presence in South Korea with voco Seoul Myeongdong Signing
voco Seoul Myeongdong to welcome guests by the middle of this year
(IN SHORT) IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement to rebrand a 576-room property in Seoul’s vibrant Myeongdong district as voco Seoul Myeongdong, marking the brand’s second venture in South Korea after voco Seoul Gangnam. Partnering with Gravity Asset Management’s Seoul South Gate Hotel Operations Company and Hotel HDC Co., Ltd., IHG aims to bring its fastest-growing premium brand to the heart of Seoul, catering to both business and leisure travelers. The upscale hotel, set to open by the middle of this year, will offer distinctive experiences inspired by the voco brand hallmarks. IHG’s expansion in South Korea reflects the growing trend of conversion opportunities and the increasing demand for upscale hotels in the country, aligning with its broader ambition of having 200 voco properties worldwide by 2028.
(PRESS RELEASE) Seoul, South Korea, 2024-Apr-5 — /Travel PR News/ — IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, is proud to announce the signing of voco Seoul Myeongdong in partnership with Gravity Asset Management’s Seoul South Gate Hotel Operations Company and Hotel HDC Co., Ltd.
The 576-room property will be rebranded as voco – IHG’s fastest growing premium brand – ahead of welcoming guests by the middle of this year. It will be IHG’s second voco property in South Korea, following the successful brand debut of voco Seoul Gangnam in 2022.
Offering thoughtful, unstuffy and charming experiences inspired by the three voco brand hallmarks – ‘come on in’, ‘me time’, and ‘voco life’ – voco Seoul Myeongdong will follow many exciting openings for the upscale brand around the world, including voco Osaka Central, voco Ma Belle Danang, voco Xiong’An and voco Paris Porte De Clichy.
James Oh, Korea Representative, IHG Hotels & Resorts said: “We are delighted to announce the signing of voco Seoul Myeongdong – a fantastic property that adds to the great momentum of IHG’s fastest-growing brand. This is a great example of the impressive growth opportunities we’re seeing in South Korea, where we’re eager to build upon the success of voco Seoul Gangnam, which introduced the brand to the market in 2022, since when it’s been captivating guests with its unique character and charm.
“We value our relationships in South Korea very highly, and are delighted to be expanding our portfolio with first time partner Hotel HDC, and Gravity Asset Management’s Seoul South Gate Hotel Operations Company. At IHG, we’re seeing a growing trend in conversion opportunities, with voco proving popular with owners for many reasons, including its quick and swift integration into IHG’s systems, which offers rapid global exposure and the opportunity to maximise returns. With the increasing demand for upscale hotels in the country, we look forward to bringing voco’s distinctive lifestyle experience to a growing number of domestic and international travellers, and introducing more IHG brands, including Kimpton and Hotel Indigo, to the market.”
Situated at the heart of Seoul’s vibrant district of Myeongdong, voco Seoul Myeongdong will attract both business and leisure travellers, who will savour its proximity to the business district and convenient access to bustling attractions such as Deoksugung Palace, City Hall, Myeongdong shopping street and Namdaemun Market.
Less than an hour’s drive from Incheon International Airport, the hotel will feature an all-day dining restaurant, versatile meeting spaces of more than 140 square metres, an indoor swimming pool, fitness centre, business centre and an exclusive voco hotels lounge.
Il Moon, Managing Director, Hotel HDC said: “This partnership marks a significant milestone for our company as we expand into the upscale hospitality space. We’re looking forward to leveraging IHG’s global scale, expertise, and stellar reputation in the industry to bring success to voco Seoul Myeongdong, and are excited to embark on this journey together, which we hope will be the first of many collaborations.”
Since launching in 2018, voco has grown quickly around the world to reach 62 open hotels and 74 in the pipeline. It offers a premium experience to guests, combining the informality and charm of an individual hotel with the quality and reassurance of a respected global brand.
This signing of voco Seoul Myeongdong reinforces the brand’s ambition of having 200 properties in leading urban and leisure locations by 2028. It continues to command high guest satisfaction scores thanks to its distinctive charming experiences.
IHG is growing its estate across South Korea, where it has nine open hotels across four brands – InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express and voco hotels – and three properties in its pipeline.
*Numbers as of 31 December 2023
About IHG
IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.
With a family of 19 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,300 open hotels in over 100 countries, and more than 2,000 in the development pipeline.
- Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo
- Premium: voco hotels, HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels
- Essentials: Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, avid hotels
- Suites: Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Candlewood Suites
- Exclusive Partners: Iberostar Beachfront Resorts
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 345,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.
Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG One Rewards. To download the new IHG One Rewards app, visit the Apple App or Google Play stores.
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About voco hotels
voco hotels combines a big brand’s reassurance with an individual hotel’s informality and charm, providing guests with a dependably premium experience. The name, voco, means ‘to invite’ and ‘call together,’ originating from Latin, representing the brand’s thoughtful, unstuffy and charming nature. voco’s well-put-together hotels combine memorable moments and high-quality touches, from indulgent amenities to big, comfy beds. Guests will always receive a warm welcome during a swift check-in, a comfortable room perfect for unwinding and relaxing, and vibrant bar and restaurant spaces that provide plenty of opportunities to connect and socialize. For more information and to book, visit www.vocohotels.com, and stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About Hotel HDC
Hotel HDC Inc. is an affiliate company of HDC Group, which has established itself as a specialized hospitality developer and operator by operating world-class branded hotels since 2005. From Park Hyatt Seoul, located near COEX in Gangnam, Seoul, to Park Hyatt Busan in Haeundae, Busan, the company has grown into a specialized hospitality operator by maintaining high competitiveness with top tier world class services and facilities. Park Hyatt Seoul and Park Hyatt Busan, which Hotel HDC has developed, opened, and operated, have established its podiyion as top in the market with rapid growth since their opening. Both hotels have been highly recognized by guests for their world-class design and the best service in Korea, and have been recognized for their excellence by being ranked first in hotel evaluations by various famous overseas magazines such as Business Traveler. In addition, Hotel HDC expanded its business by managing Andaz Seoul Gangnam Hotel, which opened in September 2019 in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul.
Media Contact:
Jiahui Zhu
Jiahui.zhu@ihg.com
+65 9018 6005
Source: IHG
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