IHG Hotels & Resorts and Seraphim Development are proud to announce a landmark partnership to sign the first voco™ hotel in South Korea.

The new-build 280-room urban resort voco Pyeongtaek City will also be the first upscale international hotel brand in Gyeonggi-do province when it welcomes guests in 2023.

The arrangement marks the latest milestone for the premium voco™ brand, which was launched in 2018 and quickly reached 50 signed and open hotels in more than 20 countries, marking IHG’s fastest-ever global expansion.

Serena Lim, Vice President, Development, South East Asia and Korea, IHG said: “We are delighted to sign our first voco hotel in South Korea, adding to our existing portfolio of nine hotels in the country. South Korea is an important market for IHG and a key focus of our expansion plans in South East Asia & Korea post-pandemic. With the global power of the IHG systems and enterprise delivered by a strong team on the ground, we look to grow in some wonderful city and resort locations across the country.

“We want to grow by working with community partners and it is important that we have the right brands, in the right location with the right owner. It’s fantastic to be working with new partner Seraphim Development on this exciting opportunity to deliver the world-renowned voco experience for our guests. Contemporary brands really resonate in Korea so we think Korea is a perfect market for voco and our portfolio of luxury and lifestyle brands.”

voco Pyeongtaek City will provide guests with the world-renowned voco experience from the moment they walk through its doors. They’ll receive the brand’s signature ‘Come on in’ warm welcome of a swift and simple check-in, and a locally inspired welcome treat to mark the start of what’s bound to be a memorable stay.

The brand’s signature ‘voco Life’ concept will be featured strongly, with the hotel offering the city’s only rooftop pool with a 360-degree view of Godeok city and Ansung River. Facilities at voco Pyeongtaek City will also include a restaurant, lounge and bar, fitness centre and 1,300 square metres of meeting space.

The unique location of voco Pyeongtaek City provides a global experience to domestic and international travellers. Centrally located on the Korean Peninsula near a major sea port, voco Pyeongtaek City is easily accessible by sea, by express train and by car. Its integration within the mixed used development International Market Place and close proximity to the Pyeongtaek Special Tourism Area and Naeri Cultural Park ensures it is well positioned to welcome leisure guests and business travellers from the growing number of corporations located in the area and guests to the US military base Camp Humphreys.

Sae Youn Park, Project Director, Seraphim Development commented: “We are excited to sign our first partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts and leverage their strong industry experience to bring a fresh, new brand to South Korea. The voco brand offers a contemporary lifestyle experience that is warm and welcoming. Its distinctive hallmarks of attentive service, comfort, and leisure spaces for guests will bring our vision for this urban destination resort to life.

“I am also confident that IHG’s experience as the official partner operating Army Hotels in the United States makes them well positioned to cater to the needs of military personnel and their families at Camp Humphreys from a place of deep understanding.”

Every voco hotel has its own sense of style thanks to a commitment to be reliably different which guarantees that it stands out from the crowd. Originating from Latin, voco means ‘to invite’ and ‘call together’ which perfectly represents its thoughtful and playful nature, and an ability to offer meaningful connections.

The brand offers flexibility with design concepts making it suitable for a broad range of asset types including new-build and conversion projects. The flexible approach and a distinctive sense of style means voco is attracting widespread interest from owners looking to convert or build hotels, maximise returns and benefit from IHG’s global scale, technology platforms, and one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programmes – IHG® Rewards.

With the signing of voco Pyeongtaek City, IHG has 15 signed and open hotels in Asia Pacific, including three open properties in Hunter Valley and the Gold Coast in Australia, and Hangzhou in China with further openings set for Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, New Zealand and Saipan.

voco Pyeongtaek City will be IHG’s 10th hotel in South Korea and its fourth brand in the country, alongside InterContinental, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express.