Following the rebranding of an existing property, the hotel will become IHG’s second voco branded hotel in South Korea, following the 2022 debut of voco Seoul Gangnam.
A heightened presence
Following its recent signing, voco Seoul Myeongdong is set to open by the middle of this year. The 576-room property promises to offer thoughtful, unstuffy and charming experiences led by the three ‘come on in’, ‘me time’ and ‘voco life’ brand hallmarks.
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.”
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.”
“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,” added Oh.
“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.”
For business and leisure travel
The 2024-opening voco Seoul Myeongdong will place guests in Seoul’s Myeongdong district, with its proximity to the business district and attractions such as Deoksugung Palace and Namdaemun Market making it an appealing option for both business and leisure travellers.
The property will feature an all-day-dining restaurant, exclusive lounge, fitness centre and indoor pool as well as over 140 sq m of meeting space and a business centre.
Commenting on the plans, 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.”
IHG aims to have 200 properties in leading urban and leisure locations in its voco portfolio by 2028. The group is growing its estate across South Korea, with nine hotels currently in operation, and another three in the pipeline, across its InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express and voco hotels brands.
