Korea first Sofitel Hotel

Accor Ambassador Korea launches first Sofitel Hotel & Serviced Residences in Seoul

SOFITEL AMBASSADOR SEOUL HOTEL & SERVICED RESIDENCES SET TO OPEN IN 2021

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, August 20, 2019 - Accor Ambassador Korea has announced the launch of its first Sofitel Hotel & Serviced Residences in Songpa, Seoul. Slated to open in 2021, the announcement comes as the Accor Group aims to strengthen its presence in the luxury segment in South Korea. Set in a commercial tower, the hotel and serviced residences will be inter-connected to an office building.

As the first international luxury hotel brand to originate from France, Sofitel Hotels & Resorts is renowned as a global ambassador of French style and art de vivre with over 120 hotels in the world’s most sought after destinations. ‘Live The French Way’ is the brand’s promise that pays homage to Sofitel’s roots, demonstrating the eternal allure of French style that reinforces the brand’s time-honoured position as an ambassador of art de vivre around the world.

“Sofitel is an ambassador of French style and culture. The development of Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel & Serviced Residences represents our commitment to growing Accor’s collection of luxury and premium brands in South Korea. The Sofitel brand exudes a refined and understated sense of modern luxury with a touch of French decadence in the heart of Seoul,” said Patrick Basset, Chief Operating Officer, Accor, Upper Southeast & Northeast Asia and the Maldives.

Adjacent to Jamsil Subway Station, Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel & Serviced Residences boasts a unique vantage point for leisure and business travellers. Overlooking Seokchon Lake Park, the hotel is located near the 123-floor Lotte World Tower that features a major shopping mall, duty-free shops, an aquarium and theatre. The popular amusement park, Lotte World, is also located within a short walking distance while Gangnam Business District and Coex Convention and Exhibition Center are within easy access to the hotel.

“We are pleased to launch the first Sofitel in South Korea in partnership with Accor Ambassador Korea, enabling visitors to experience French luxury lifestyle. We look forward to offering local residences and visiting travellers to discover the French way of living in an authentic and indulgent way,” said Daesan Lee, CEO of kt estate. The hotel and serviced residences will feature 563 rooms and suites, an all-day-dining restaurant and bar as well as meetings and events space. Leisure facilities include an indoor swimming pool, outdoor Jacuzzi, fitness, spa and kids’ room.

“This is the first Sofitel Serviced Residences to be announced globally and it will form the basis of a very special collection of luxury serviced residences,” said Jeff Tisdall, Senior Vice President of Development, Residential and Extended Stays at Accor. “This signing marks our continued expansion into serviced apartments and extended stay solutions.”

Accor is the largest operator of extended stay and serviced apartment properties outside of the United States of America. The group offers a leading portfolio of nearly 300 extended stay properties with more than 60 additional properties under development. Accor’s extended stay brand portfolio offers a number of exciting and modern reinterpretations of the serviced apartment and apart-hotel concepts including Novotel Living, Swissôtel Living, Mövenpick Living, Pullman Living, Mondrian Living and Hyde Living.

“We are pleased to introduce the world-renowned Sofitel brand to South Korea. Seoul is well-known for its abundant cultural heritage and Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel & Serviced Residences offers travellers the opportunity to experience this through a French-lens and brand passions that include design, gastronomy, art & culture and well-being,” added Vincent Lelay, Vice President of Operations for South Korea.

With over 120 addresses in more than 40 countries, the Sofitel collection includes notable hotels such as Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg, Sofitel London St James, Sofitel Munich Bayerpost, Sofitel Singapore City Centre, Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour and Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort.

Currently operating 24 hotels in 7 cities in South Korea, Accor Ambassador Korea will enhance its presence in the luxury and premium segments with an exciting pipeline of hotels including Fairmont Seoul in 2020 and MGallery Seoul Mapo in 2022. | sofitel.com | group.accor.com From left: Mr. Min-Soo Sohn - kt estate, Managing Director, Mr. Kong-Hwan Lee - kt estate, Executive Vice President, Mr. Dae-San Lee - kt estate, CEO, Mr. Patrick Basset – Accor, Chief Operating Officer - Upper Southeast & Northeast Asia and the Maldives, Mr. Hyun-Jun Cho – Accor Ambassador Korea, Deputy Chief Representative, Mr. Chris Cho - Accor, Vice President Development - Singapore, Philippines, Japan, Korea and the Maldives.

LE CLUB ACCORHOTELS WINS GOLD AT LOYALTY & ENGAGEMENT AWARDS 2019

The group was lauded for Best Loyalty Programme and Best Regional Campaign for its MyResorts by Le Club AccorHotels concept. Accor has won two accolades at the annual Loyalty & Engagement Awards, the only awards in the Asia Pacific market to solely focus on customer loyalty and engagement. The Group’s recognitions were the gold award for Best Regional Loyalty Campaign for MyResorts, and the bronze award for Best Loyalty Programme.

Designed around guests’ preferences and exclusive to members of the free-to-join Le Club AccorHotels loyalty programme, MyResorts offers a range of benefits and privileges to make resort stays even more magical and memorable. The comprehensive suite of benefits include MyGlass, MyKids, MyConnect, MyDiscovery, MyTreats and more, with a range of inclusions and rewards according to membership tier, such as free-flow cocktails, treats for the children or personalised butler service, ensuring travellers can experience their destination in style.

For example, Le Club AccorHotels Gold and Platinum members can luxuriate in upgraded room experiences and amenities with MyUpgrade, while MyHost provides butler service to ensure a more memorable stay. The highest level of benefits is offered to Platinum members through MyGuest, enabling them to extend their Platinum benefits to loved ones so that they too can experience a taste of the high life.

“We are elated to win these titles in recognition of our loyalty programme and campaign. Le Club AccorHotels’ MyResorts is all about offering unique and authentic experiences in our resort hotels and creating an emotional connection with our guests,” said Henrik Berglind, Vice President Loyalty & Guest Experience, Accor Asia Pacific. “ With MyResorts paid benefits, guests pay once and can put their wallet away with no added surprises upon checkout, allowing them to receive the best value for money thanks to a suite of highly-customised and flexible privileges.

“As a result, MyResorts has helped our hotels increase the satisfaction score of our members by understanding their needs and prerequisites even before their arrival at the resort,” Berglind added.

Leveraging on its strength as a leading hospitality operator in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations, including Bali, the Maldives, Phuket, Goa and the Gold Coast, MyResorts is currently rolled out in over 100 stunning locations with the ambition to have all resorts in Asia Pacific offering MyResorts privileges by 2020. Moving forward, Accor is looking to augment the guest experience seamlessly with Accor’s upcoming new loyalty lifestyle programme, ALL - Accor Live Limitless.

Le Club AccorHotels is a free-to-join loyalty programme and includes over 4,800 participating hotels worldwide in over 100 countries across the Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Grand Mercure, The Sebel, Novotel, Mercure, Mama Shelter, Adagio Access, ibis, ibis Styles and Thalassa Sea & Spa brands. Benefits include a VIP welcome on arrival, exclusive offers throughout the year, advance access to discounts of up to 50% through exclusive member sales, as well as a range of exclusive private events such as concerts, sporting matches, dining experiences, celebrity events and more. Points will never expire, provided the member stays with AccorHotels once per year. For more information and instant membership, please go to www.leclubaccorhotels.com.For a list of AccorHotels MyResorts in Asia Pacific and membership benefits, please go to www.accorhotels.com/leclub/programme/myresorts.en.shtml.