Lotte Hotel Seoul has drawn attention by cutting the number of guest rooms through a renovation, even as the number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea continues to rise.
The Grand Lotte Seoul, which recently opened after 15 months of renovation work, reduced the number of rooms in its main tower to 590 from 737, a cut of 147, according to industry sources on the 27th. Instead, the hotel expanded the floor area of rooms and bathrooms and raised the share of premium rooms, putting the emphasis on upgrading space and service.
Lotte Hotel said it focused on how spending patterns among foreign tourists have changed. As inbound demand has shifted from group tours toward individual travel that combines shopping, dining and beauty, more guests are weighing room size and service standards, the company said.
The rooms were also completely redesigned. French hotel designer Pierre-Yves Rochon built the space around a white palette and placed Korean artworks and traditional elements throughout. The renovation also aimed to keep guests inside the hotel longer. Circulation routes from the rooms to facilities such as the swimming pool and fitness center were reworked, and the club lounge has reopened.
The Grand Lotte Seoul is particularly emphasizing its Sogong-dong location and its accumulated service expertise. Its proximity to Myeong-dong and the concentration of department stores and duty-free shops nearby allow it to draw both lodging demand and shopping and dining spending from foreign tourists.
The hotel is also working to strengthen its service competitiveness after the renovation. "Rooms and facilities can be changed through investment, but staff service and operational expertise are hard to build in a short period," a Lotte Hotel official said. "We will combine the wider space secured by cutting rooms with the service Lotte Hotel has built up over the years to attract high-end guests."
