IHG adds its voco brand in Seoul and continues to expand in Italy

In full expansion, the voco brand is expected in Seoul in the second quarter of 2022, after having conquered Paris, Singapore and, more recently, Milan. To make its entry into the South Korean market, the IHG Group's contemporary brand will be setting up in the heart of the capital, in the Gangnam business districtThe hotel will be located in the heart of the city, also known for its trendy restaurants and upmarket shopping centres. Also not far from the Coex Convention & Exhibition Center, the hotel will offer 151 rooms and an 85-seat café-bar, as well as three meeting rooms with a total surface area of 600 m2.

Serena Lim, IHG's Vice President of Business Development for South East Asia and Korea said: " We are delighted to be continuing our growth in South Korea with the signing of voco Gangnam, which adds to the momentum we are building following the announcement of voco Pyeongtaek City in July. " The latter, a 280-room urban resort located in Gyeonggi province, 35 kilometres south of Seoul, is scheduled for 2023 and will benefit from the proximity of the main US military base on the peninsula, Camp Humphreys, and all the economic activity surrounding it.

With these recent developments in South Korea, IHG now has 19 voco hotels signed in Asia-Pacificthree of which have already opened in Australia and Hangzhou, China, with others due to open soon in SingaporeVietnam, Thailand and New Zealand. But the brand's global expansion, supported as much by the conversion of existing hotels as by new construction, is being driven by a number of factors. also by Europe. So, after Paris, Strasbourg or GlasgowIn September, the voco brand set up shop in Milan with a hotel ideally located for business travellers.

Just a short distance from the capital's main airports, Linate and Malpensa, the voco Milan-Fiere is also close to Fiera Milano and the main business locations in the Italian metropolis MiCo Convention Center and MIND (Milano Innovation District). Formerly part of the Barcelo group, the hotel offers 280 rooms and suites and also has its own convention centre, with seven flexible meeting spaces and a large foyer. Benefiting from natural daylight and high-tech equipment, it can accommodate a total of 630 people for events that can be extended in fine weather on the 812 m² terrace.

As part of its commitment to sustainability, the voco Milan-Fiere has two bar-restaurants in its vast lobby: the OnFire Grill & Lounge, which, as its name suggests, is a grill bar, and Ludico Drinks, Food & Play. Here too, the name suggests a place where business travellers can relax over a meal or a cocktail. playing pool, darts or video games. A wellness area with indoor pool, sauna, steam room and fitness room is also available to guests.

" We are delighted to be the first voco hotel in Italy and to bring a new hotel offer to Milan." commented Paolo Tirelli, the director of a facility that will not be soon to be the only voco in the country. The brand is going to spread its new spirit near Venice, with the voco Venise Mestre Quid, a 128-room hotel due to open in 2022.

This opening is part of the IHG's expansion strategy in Italyto expand its high-end and lifestyle portfolio. " We are seeing increased demand for our premium and lifestyle brands, such as voco and Hotel Indigo, alongside our core brands." commented Willemijn Geels, VP Development Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts.a fourth Hotel Indigo recently opened its doors in Verona, this lifestyle brand, which is also present in Rome, Milan and Venice, is also expected to open soon in Florence. At the same time, the British group will also be strengthening its offering in Rome, with two luxury hotels in the Italian capital in the pipeline: an InterContinental and a Six Senses urban resortscheduled to open in 2022.