ACCOR OPENS FIRST MONDRIAN IN ASIA
Mondrian Seoul Itaewon is set to become a “lifestyle destination” in South Korea’s coolest district, marking the 5th property in the Mondrian portfolio.
Located in the internationally diverse district of Itaewon, the Mondrian, developed in partnership with sbe hospitality group, will present what the group describes as an “immersive” destination with bold design, colourful art, and seductive restaurant and nightlife offerings.
Boasting 296 guestrooms, the hotel features a range of dining and leisure spaces which are, claims Accor in an official statement, “unlike anything Seoul has seen before”. The outdoor pool features a spacious viewing deck overlooking the city, while Altitude pool bar offers a range of exotic cocktails, mocktails and fine wines with casual bites. Mondrian also brings Asia’s first Cleo restaurant to the lobby, delivering the brand’s famous blend of Miami vibes and Mediterranean cuisine. Privilege rooftop bar will curate a wide selection of whiskeys and wines, alongside eclectic live performances, while the Rumpus Room and Blind Spot provide more intimate settings for after-work drinks or to relax and chill with the sounds of an in-house DJ. A gorgeous 867 sq m ballroom with integrated LED screen and five stylish meeting rooms provide the perfect backdrop for any celebration or event.
“We are proud to introduce the first Mondrian in Asia Pacific together with our partner sbe,” said Michael Issenberg, Chairman & CEO of Accor Asia Pacific. “The Mondrian brand captivates the energy of Seoul with its creativity, revolutionary design and exciting bars and restaurants. Seoul is one of Asia’s most dynamic cities and is renowned for its colourful K-pop scene and fashion-forward vision, while remaining deeply rooted in culture and tradition. The opening of Mondrian Seoul Itaewon will provide a complete lifestyle hotel experience in the heart of Seoul’s most vibrant district.”
Chadi Farhat, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East & Europe for sbe states: “We are very proud to bring sbe’s iconic Mondrian brand to one of the most rapidly growing countries and capitals in the world, Seoul. This is the first of many exciting projects in collaboration with our partners at Accor, which will expand not just the Mondrian brand, but all sbe brands throughout key markets globally. We have been honoured to work with Michael Issenberg, the Accor Asia Pacific team and especially with Yojin Construction & Engineering to bring this newest Mondrian destination to life with the launch of five lifestyle sbe food and beverage concepts within the property.”
Eunsang Choi, Vice Chairman of Yojin Construction & Engineering states: “We are very pleased to open the first Mondrian hotel in South Korea together with Accor and sbe. Itaewon is known as a ‘special tourism district’ in Seoul for its cultural diversity, shopping and dining, and this exciting hotel is set to become a destination in its own right, delivering an energetic and unexpected offering for those seeking the newest lifestyle experiences.”
With new hotels slated for Bordeaux and Cannes next year, the Mondrian brand expects to grow its lifestyle hotel portfolio to approximately 15 properties by 2022.
Image – top of page – an internal “forest” at the new Mondrian Itaewon