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3 Accor Ambassador hotels to open in Seoul by 2016
Mercure Ambassador Gangnam, Novotel Ambassador Seongbuk and ibis Ambassador Insadong to add rooms to Seoul's bursting hotel scene
Economy hotel ibis Ambassador Insadong is scheduled to open in 2013.Poor business travelers to Seoul.
The dearth of hotel rooms in Seoul is getting serious, with the government announcing a shortage of 26,500 rooms last June.
Many business travelers to Seoul have resorted to finding lodgings far out in the city's outskirts. Some even commute from other cities, such as Daejeon.
Sure, the Presidential Suite at the Shilla Hotel is probably available, but unless you're one of the world's sexiest actors, your travel expense account probably can't fathom those prices.
The hotel room shortage is expected to continue for a few years at least, and hotel developers are just dying to take care of the problem.
Accor Group, currently the largest international operator of hotels in Korea with 10 hotels and 2,800 rooms, plans to open three new business hotels -- Mercure Ambassador Gangnam, ibis Ambassador Insadong, and Novotel Ambassador Seongbuk -- by 2012 (late February), 2013, and 2016, respectively.
An artist's rendering of Mercure Ambassador Gangnam.
"We're seeing more business travelers, as well as a great deal of tourists from Japan and China."
The three new hotels will add a total of 948 rooms to Seoul.
Aimed at business travelers, the Mercure Ambassador Gangnam will be the first Mercure brand hotel in Korea.
The ibis Ambassador Insadong will most likely cater to leisure travelers while the mid-scale Novotel Ambassador Seongbuk is predicted to attract a mix. As part of a multi-complex development, the Seongbuk property will be adjoined by a movie theater, a department store and an ice-skating rink.
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