[Best Brands] Imperial Palace Seoul, a growing global presence

HOTEL BUSINESS (GANGNAM)

IMPERIAL PALACE SEOUL

A grand feat of architecture standing in the heart of Gangnam, Seoul’s hyper-modern center of business and culture, Imperial Palace Seoul has become a city landmark.

Since opening its doors 27 years ago, Imperial Palace Seoul has sought to differentiate itself through a classic approach not only to its opulent style -- ivory marble and deep mahogany wood in an ornate Baroque style -- but also to its service, striving to meet each customer’s personalized needs.

The hotel is also a treasure trove of art with over 400 pieces of art on display. It was the first Korean hotel to be selected as TIME Readers’ Travel Choice in 2006, and also hosted the G20 Summit in 2010 and the Nuclear Security Summit in 2011, touting its global standards. 

The Imperial Palace hotel brand is expanding locally and globally as well. In 2007, the Imperial Palace City Hotel Fukuoka was built in Japan. In 2010, the Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel was built in Itaewon. The Imperial Palace City Hotel Osaka in Japan, scheduled to open this October, aims to bring the hotel brand one step closer to an international presence.

Facilities for business, banquets and personal comfort

Imperial Palace Seoul has a total of 405 guest rooms, including 35 suites. For a more exclusive and relaxing experience, visitors may want to stay in the hotel’s 14 duplex suites and 12 spa rooms, decorated with marble and ondol, or Korean floor-heating system, and its royal suites.

The hotel also offers an optimal environment for business. It includes 42-inch LCD screens in guestrooms and PDP screens in suites. High-speed and wireless Internet services are provided throughout the premises. The hotel’s Business Center, which provides luxurious rooms for conferences, meetings and interviews comes equipped with top-tier IT equipment such as a beam projector, a 42-inch PDP and professional translation and interpretation services.

A fitness club offers both private members and hotel guests a place to exercise and relax. It features a physical activity zone with the latest equipment, a group exercise zone, a rock climbing wall and a squash court, an indoor swimming pool and a sauna with various theme baths for ultimate relief. The hotel also has an outdoor golf range, which offers a breathtaking view of the Gangnam area.

Eight restaurants and bars in the hotel offer fine dining by well-known chefs using top quality ingredients. The premium buffet, Familia, features seven different live cooking stations where top chefs whip up fresh food on demand. The Japanese and Chinese restaurants present top-notch cuisine, services and tastefully decorated private rooms for special occasions, social gatherings and business meetings. Elegant renditions of Cantonese and Beijing cuisine and Japanese sushi and sashimi are offered at the restaurants.  

The hotel’s bars are elegant venues for evening cocktail receptions. The Mediterranean-style outdoor pool located next to the bar offers an exotic summer atmosphere, while the garden terrace nearby adds to the charm. Gala dinners and events are frequently held at the venue.

The Club Imperial Lounge is available for more casual gatherings and meetings, offering light beverages and snacks throughout the day. The interior of the lounge features a reproduction of a hanok, or traditional Korean house, with antique furniture, traditional kitchen facilities including a fireplace with iron pots, a mortar and kite decorations.

Imperial Palace Seoul’s versatile banquet halls with magnificent interiors and the latest tech facilities can host world-class large-scale events, high-tech conferences, seminars, business meetings, gala events, and theme parties. The Dubhe Hall seats up to 1,000 persons, while the Selena Hall has a maximum capacity of 800 persons. Five other halls for small-to-medium sized meetings are also available. The hotel has a staff of event-planning experts, who meet the clients’ customized needs from the preparations to the final stages to host a successful event. 

The hotel arcade offers a selection of high-end shops such as National, which has been fitting bespoke tailored suits for over 30 years, and Basel, a luxury jewelry store. The Amiga Scalp & Hair Shop offers a full hair spa program. The Imperial Palace Skin Clinic and Imperial Palace Aesthetic at the hotel’s Medical Center offers professional dermatological treatments, including anti-aging, brightening, rejuvenation and elasticity enhancing programs.

All reservations for rooms, banquets and weddings can be made at the hotel’s website www.imperialpalace.co.kr or via phone at (02) 3440-8000.