Arrival/Check-In: I have traveled to Seoul for years and have stayed at the Lotte Hotel Seoul often, as it’s centrally located, surrounded by business districts, museums and markets. But this trip was different; the Executive Tower at the Lotte Hotel is now fully open for guests after a complete renovation.

The Executive Tower’s exclusive entrance opens into the cream-marbled lobby where a dedicated Tower staff greets you and guides you up to the Sky Lobby for check-in. The enormous, brightly lit lobby offers plenty of seating areas and beverage service to enjoy while you quickly check in; I chose a hot oolong tea. The staff also asked how they could help with my stay, including booking dinners, museum tours and the like, which I found helpful to get my trip started.

Guest Quarters: My Junior Suite, located on an upper floor, opened into a long hallway of warm woods. I felt the mix of modern and classic luxury décor and color perfectly suited my style.

The brightly lit hallway held a mirror and large closet space with lots of extra cushioned hangers for my blouses, and the most interesting piece of technology I have seen in a hotel so far. The LG Styler looks like a slim fridge but actually can “Refresh Garments in Minutes with Smart Wi-Fi Enabled Steam Clothing Care System.” It was easy to use daily to refresh and steam my coats and anything else I wore that day. However, guests receive free ironing service for two garments, just in case. On the other side of the hallway a well-lit, gray-marbled bathroom featured a dual sink vanity with Dyptique amenities and a three-paneled mirror. The frosted glass-enclosed shower area included a rainfall showerhead, one of my favorites, and a spa bathtub sat adjacent.

The room opened into a living area filled with natural light and city views. A large, modern chandelier highlighted the décor and provided great lighting over the seating area and large business-appropriate desk with extra international outlets for all your gadgets. Across the room a fully stocked bar offered American classics and local spirits as well. I spent most of my time working and lounging in this area.

A king-sized bed with plush linens dominated the bedroom and gave me an excellent night’s rest. An HD LG flat-screen TV sat across from the bed. The bright neon screens atop the buildings in the area give off some extra light at night, so I recommend using the blackout curtains.

Services/Amenities: I took almost every meal during my stay at Le Salon, the lounge area for Executive Tower guests. It opens for breakfast, light snacks and tea in the afternoon, and cocktail service for happy hour. Since the area is exclusive, it’s a bit quiet, with a few businesspeople and small families coming through, making it a bit reserved for a solo traveler. However, the bustling staff at the cooking stations were kind, and the spread of dim sum for breakfast along with waffles made my mornings bright. For happy hour, I indulged in Champagne and charcuterie.

Private meeting boardrooms are available with full media services and catering. I took advantage of a room for a meeting and was impressed by the modern décor and assistance from the concierge, who helped with set-up and drink service.

The gym is shared between both towers but, honestly, is a trek to get to. However, its rows of state-of-the-art equipment, including a sauna for a cool-down treatment, will please any guest.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

◆ The Executive Tower is the best experience for traveling for business in Korea.
◆ The staff throughout the property are friendly and helpful for all entertainment and business needs.
◆ The LG Styler to refresh my garments in-room was the best surprise.

LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL

30, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu
Seoul, South Korea
tel 82 2 771 1000
lottehotel.com