Lotte Hotel Seoul, with nearly 50 years of history, is relaunching as a classic luxury hotel under the new name The Grand Lotte Seoul.
A signboard unveiling ceremony was held Friday, attended by Jeong Ho-seok, CEO of Lotte Hotels & Resorts, along with Domestic Sales Division head Shin In-hyeop, Development Division head Kim Ji-tae, Culinary R&D head Kim Song-gi and The Grand Lotte Seoul General Manager Du Gyeong-tae.
Hotel Lotte acquired the Bando Hotel — the country's first commercial hotel — in 1979 and opened Lotte Hotel Seoul as a 38-story building, the tallest in South Korea at the time. Having served as the defining hotel at the heart of Seoul for roughly half a century, the property has now been rebranded as The Grand Lotte Seoul, the group's top-tier hotel brand.
Service has also been elevated, building on the hotel's existing strengths and philosophy of hospitality with a focus on "quiet, refined welcome." The brand philosophy of "timeless elegance and grace" has been woven consistently into every touchpoint — from guest rooms to art, fragrance, uniforms and floral styling.
A room renovation covering floors 7 through 21 of the main tower ran for about 15 months beginning in May last year. The total room count was reduced from 737 to 590, with each room gaining more floor space for a more comfortable and efficient layout. Counting both the main tower and the executive tower, the hotel's overall room count was adjusted from 1,015 to 868.
Inside the rooms, a conventional work desk has been replaced with a multipurpose table suited to both leisure and work, and bathroom space has been expanded. Traffic flow within the rooms has also been redesigned for greater practicality and comfort.
French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, whose portfolio includes the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris and the St. Regis Rome, designed the guest room interiors. Color, materials and furniture design flow consistently from the lobby through the corridors and into the rooms.
Works by prominent Korean and international artists are also on display. These include pieces by Yoo Choong-mok, named one of the world's 100 emerging glass artists by Corning Inc. of the United States in 2003, as well as works from the "Ecriture" series by the late Park Seo-bo, a master of Korean monochrome painting.
The hotel's signature scent was inspired by Ghana Chocolate, a heritage product of Lotte Group, and varies by space — from the lobby to the club lounge — to reflect each area's distinct character.
The staff uniforms draw on Korean elegance, centering on the brand's navy blue color while incorporating lines and structures inspired by the collar and neckband details of traditional Korean dress, rendered in a contemporary silhouette.
The lobby floral arrangements — the hotel's first impression on arriving guests — follow a signature styling in navy, light blue and gold, reinforcing the sense of welcome and the property's classic atmosphere.
"The Grand Lotte Seoul is a hotel that embodies the brand's philosophy and identity at every touchpoint, built on the heritage and service capabilities Lotte Hotel has accumulated over nearly half a century," a Lotte Hotels & Resorts official said. "We will continue to offer a differentiated experience by combining Lotte Hotel's signature hospitality with the essence of classic luxury and Korean aesthetic sensibility."
spa@heraldcorp.com
