IHG Signs First Hotel in South Korea’s Second Largest City

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with SiLee Ltd to develop the 268-room Holiday Inn Busan Seomyun in South Korea’s second largest city of Busan.  

Situated in Seomyun, the city’s central business district (CBD) and a short drive from the International Airport, business travellers will enjoy the hotel’s close proximity to Busan International Finance Center (BFIC) and Busan City Hall. The hotel’s short walking distance to the Bujeon subway station – directly linked to the KTX Train Station which connects to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport – also makes it an ideal option for guests looking to travel from Busan to Seoul during their stay.

Facilities at Holiday Inn Busan Seomyun include a fitness centre and roof top swimming pool, and business amenities such as meeting rooms and a business centre. Guests can opt to dine in during their stay with food and beverage available at the hotel’s lobby lounge and the all day dining restaurant on the 20th level whilst enjoying a panoramic view. With plans to redevelop the surrounding area into a lifestyle hub, enhanced by Busan Central Park and the upcoming SSH Boulevard Park, guests can also enjoy their downtime at the neighbouring shops, restaurants and bars when the hotel opens in 2017.

Karin Sheppard, Chief Operating Officer, Australasia, Japan & Korea and AMEA Franchising said: “There is thriving tourism across South Korea’s major cities and as its second largest city Busan is also one of the fastest growing destinations in the country. We’ve identified a number of opportunities for growth and are especially pleased to be entering Busan with one of our most well-loved brands, Holiday Inn. It is also an honour to be selected by SiLee Ltd for this partnership and we look forward to welcoming guests through the doors of the new Holiday Inn Busan Seomyun when it opens.”  

Trevor Lee, CEO, SiLee Ltd, said: “With this being our first venture into hospitality, it was essential for us to find a partner who can bring the international level of hospitality required in this exciting and rapidly expanding metropolis. IHG has a strong reputation as one of the world’s leading hotel companies and the Holiday Inn brand is well recognised by people all over the globe. We have every confidence the brand’s commitment to quality and its established reputation will make Holiday Inn Busan Seomyun the hotel of choice for the growing number of business and leisure travellers to the city.”

IHG currently operates eight hotels and resorts in South Korea across two brands: InterContinental and Holiday Inn. Holiday Inn is the world’s most recognised hotel brand in the world with nearly 1,200 hotels worldwide, including 84 hotels across the Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region. There are a further 48 Holiday Inn properties in IHG’s AMEA pipeline due to open in the next three to five years.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of nine hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites®, EVEN™ Hotels and HUALUXE® Hotels and Resorts.

IHG manages IHG® Rewards Club, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty programme with over 82 million members worldwide. The programme was relaunched in July 2013, offering enhanced benefits for members including free internet across all hotels, globally.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,700 hotels and 697,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries, with almost 1,200 hotels in its development pipeline.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.