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한국 관광객 1200만 시대에, 이미 수많은 외국계와 국내 호텔들이 빡빡하게 들어서고 있는 서울에 어떤 호텔을 지으면 좋을까.
쿠시먼앤드웨이크필드 호텔 개발 AP 총잭임자인 악샤이 컬카니는 예산만 허락한다면 최고급 레지던스 60채, 125개 룸의 초특급 호텔 하나, 그리고 150-200개 룸이 있는 비즈니스 호텔을 짓고싶다고 한다.
이십년 넘게 호텔 개발에 매진해 왔던 컬카니에 따르면 한국, 특히 서울이 점점 많은 비즈니스 관광객들을 유치하고 있으며, 이들을 위한 비즈니스 호텔, 그리고 최고급 호텔에 대한 수요가 점점 늘어나고 있다.
쿠시먼앤드웨이크필드 호텔 개발 AP 총잭임자인 악샤이 컬카니는 예산만 허락한다면 최고급 레지던스 60채, 125개 룸의 초특급 호텔 하나, 그리고 150-200개 룸이 있는 비즈니스 호텔을 짓고싶다고 한다.
이십년 넘게 호텔 개발에 매진해 왔던 컬카니에 따르면 한국, 특히 서울이 점점 많은 비즈니스 관광객들을 유치하고 있으며, 이들을 위한 비즈니스 호텔, 그리고 최고급 호텔에 대한 수요가 점점 늘어나고 있다.
그는 레지던스는 돈이 많고 늘 새로운 것을 찾는 사람들의 구미를 당길 것이며,그 정도로 부유한 사람들이 서울에 많기 때문이다. 또한, 최고급 호텔을 통해서 레지던스 사용자들을 위한 집기나 서비스도 공유할 수 있다고 말했다.
이렇게 어느정도 플랫폼을 만든 후 비즈니스 호텔을 통해 본격적으로 돈을 벌어야한다는 것이 그의 주장.
별 세개반에서 네개짜리를 짓고 안에 연회와 세미나 시설을 들여놓겠다는 그는 유명 레스토랑은 요즘 별로 인기가 없으니 안넣어도 될 것 같다고 조언했다.
그러면서 그는 서울도 이제 비즈니스 관광객을 잡을 때가 되었다고 말했다. 이들은 경기를 덜탈뿐 아니라, 내부 시설에도 민감하다.
“이미 한국을 찾는 외국인의 상당수가 사업차 방문객이다. 그들에게는 좋은 침대에서 편안한 잠을 잘 수 있는 것이 매우 중요하다,“고 말하며 컬카니는 이런 고객이야말로 호텔업계의 고정 수입원이 될 것으로 예상했다.
현재 서울에는 세개의 초특급 호텔 – 콘래드, 파크 하얏트 그리고 반얀트리—가 있다. 그리고 내년에는 캐나다 계열의 포시즌즈가 광화문에 들어서게 된다. 게다 메리어트와 아코르 등의 외국계, 그리고 국내의 많은 기업들이 호텔 업계를 레드오션으로 만들어놓았다는 관측이 우세하다.
컬카니는 지금도 서울에 호텔을 더 지을 수 있다며, 그 근거로 한국의 방값이 다른 나라에 비해 비싸다는 점을 내세웠다. 아직 수요를 공급이 따라가고 있지 못하다는 얘기다.
그의 또다른 관심사는 국내 호텔들이 해외 진출이다. 이미 롯데는 러시아, 우즈베키스탄, 베트남 그리고 괌에 진출했다. 그러나 신라호텔만은 국내사업에만 매진하고 있다는 점에 대해 이해가 잘 안된다고 했다.
호텔의 미래는 해외시장 확보에 달려있다고 해도 과언이 아닌데 무슨 이유에서인지 신라만은 트렌드에 반하고 있는 알고 싶다고 했다.
(코리아헤럴드 배지숙 기자)
<관련 영문기사>
‘Seoul hotels should go upscale’
The future of Korea’s hotel industry lies in “going upscale” to establish global and premium-brand hotels satisfying the needs of the spiraling number of business travelers to the country, an expert on the hospitality industry said.
Despite the plethora of budget hotels targeting holidaymakers, the key will be to capture the business travelers who are less sensitive to economic ups and downs, said Akshay Kulkarni, regional director of hospitality at South and South-East Asia of Cushman & Wakefield.
“(If there was no limit in budget), I would build 60 (condominium-type)residences, a 125 room luxury hotel and a business hotel formed of international brands with up to 200 suites,” Kulkarni said in an interview with The Korea Herald.
“The residence will sell because Seoul is in need of something new, and there are people who have money,” he said. The luxury hotel will share its services and amenities with the residence users to keep both kinds of customers satisfied.“
“Then the business hotel will be three-and-a-half to four stars, making the real money. It will have banquet and seminar facilities. High-end restaurants are not necessary because the demand is not so big these days,” he said.
In this way, Korea, with more than 12 million foreign visitors a year, will be able to meet the demands of all kinds of tourists, including business travelers.
“A considerable number of tourists are business travelers. And to them, having a good bed and linen for a good slumber matters. The mid-to-upscale hotels will fit the need,” the real estate developer said. He noted that business travelers are also less dependent on economic ups and downs and have become a stable source of income for the hospitality industry.
Currently there are three “uber-tier” hotels in Seoul: Conrad, Park Hyatt and Banyan Tree. And Canadian-based Four Seasons is scheduled to open in the bustling district of Gwanghwamun next year. International hotel brands including Marriott and Accor as well as domestic players have created heated market competition.
But Kulkarni thinks there’s room for more. “Seoul is a bit overpriced compared to other cities in the world (in terms of hotel prices). It means the demand is higher than supply,” he said.
Kulkarni was aware of homegrown hotels’ mission to go abroad. Currently, Lotte has hotels in Russia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Guam. But Shilla has maintained a domestic scope.
“I am puzzled about Shilla. I am not sure whether they don’t have the money or lack passion, but they aren’t moving. But hotels must expand at some point,” he said.
By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)
‘Seoul hotels should go upscale’
The future of Korea’s hotel industry lies in “going upscale” to establish global and premium-brand hotels satisfying the needs of the spiraling number of business travelers to the country, an expert on the hospitality industry said.
Despite the plethora of budget hotels targeting holidaymakers, the key will be to capture the business travelers who are less sensitive to economic ups and downs, said Akshay Kulkarni, regional director of hospitality at South and South-East Asia of Cushman & Wakefield.
“(If there was no limit in budget), I would build 60 (condominium-type)residences, a 125 room luxury hotel and a business hotel formed of international brands with up to 200 suites,” Kulkarni said in an interview with The Korea Herald.
“The residence will sell because Seoul is in need of something new, and there are people who have money,” he said. The luxury hotel will share its services and amenities with the residence users to keep both kinds of customers satisfied.“
“Then the business hotel will be three-and-a-half to four stars, making the real money. It will have banquet and seminar facilities. High-end restaurants are not necessary because the demand is not so big these days,” he said.
In this way, Korea, with more than 12 million foreign visitors a year, will be able to meet the demands of all kinds of tourists, including business travelers.
“A considerable number of tourists are business travelers. And to them, having a good bed and linen for a good slumber matters. The mid-to-upscale hotels will fit the need,” the real estate developer said. He noted that business travelers are also less dependent on economic ups and downs and have become a stable source of income for the hospitality industry.
Currently there are three “uber-tier” hotels in Seoul: Conrad, Park Hyatt and Banyan Tree. And Canadian-based Four Seasons is scheduled to open in the bustling district of Gwanghwamun next year. International hotel brands including Marriott and Accor as well as domestic players have created heated market competition.
But Kulkarni thinks there’s room for more. “Seoul is a bit overpriced compared to other cities in the world (in terms of hotel prices). It means the demand is higher than supply,” he said.
Kulkarni was aware of homegrown hotels’ mission to go abroad. Currently, Lotte has hotels in Russia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Guam. But Shilla has maintained a domestic scope.
“I am puzzled about Shilla. I am not sure whether they don’t have the money or lack passion, but they aren’t moving. But hotels must expand at some point,” he said.
By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)
