Accor Ambassador Korea is set to unveil the inaugural Sofitel Hotel & Serviced Residences property in 2021 in Seoul. This marks the brand’s first foray into the luxury hotel and serviced apartments market.

The hotel and serviced residences, set in a commercial tower,  will feature 563 rooms and suites, an all-day-dining restaurant and bar as well as meetings and events space. Leisure facilities include an indoor swimming pool, outdoor Jacuzzi, fitness, spa and kids’ room.

Daesan Lee, CEO of kt estate said “We are pleased to launch the first Sofitel in South Korea in partnership with Accor Ambassador Korea, enabling visitors to experience French luxury lifestyle. We look forward to offering local residences and visiting travellers to discover the French way of living in an authentic and indulgent way.”

Accor’s luxury serviced property a global launch

Jeff Tisdall, senior vice president of development, residential and extended stays at Accor said “This is the first Sofitel Serviced Residences to be announced globally and it will form the basis of a very special collection of luxury serviced residences,. This signing marks our continued expansion into serviced apartments and extended stay solutions.”

Accor is the largest operator of extended stay and serviced apartment properties outside of the US. The group offers a portfolio of nearly 300 extended stay properties with more than 60 additional properties under development.

The extended stay brand portfolio includes Novotel Living, Swissôtel Living, Mövenpick Living, Pullman Living, Mondrian Living and Hyde Living.

The Sofitel collection has a footprint across 40 countries.

Accor Ambassador Korea currently operates 24 hotels in seven cities in South Korea. The new deal will enhance its presence in the luxury and premium segments with a pipeline of hotels including Fairmont Seoul in 2020 and MGallery Seoul Mapo in 2022.

Another chain, Choice Hotels, boosted its South East Asia presence last month by appointing a hotel management firm to advance its three brands in the region: Comfort, Quality and Clarion.

Also in July, the Quest Apartment Hotels business was awarded franchising’s first 5-star rating.