Intercontinental Seoul Coex, An Ihg Hotel

“ClubLounge,ChefMJ,Brasserie(B&L),Bell,Valet,FrDesk,Etc Coex,Gym-Thank you”

Coex is closing. We are helping them close by staying until they close in a few hours. Our stay this about a bit over a week. The service is friendly, pleasant, professional and extremely personable and enjoyable. I mentioned before that this hotel I feel is the APEX Intercontinental. You can re… more

Coex is closing. We are helping them close by staying until they close in a few hours. Our stay this about a bit over a week. The service is friendly, pleasant, professional and extremely personable and enjoyable. I mentioned before that this hotel I feel is the APEX Intercontinental. You can read all about it, as they still remain as my past reviews stand as written. I will mention a few people. Chef Min Jung Kim, Club Lounge, AM- She cooked the best OE Eggs (to my exact liking). All chefs cook their eggs a bit differently, her style matched mine the best, and I mentioned that in passing. I started getting specially prepared tid bits - special salad, demitasse and steak, sandwiches etc... I see promise in her chef future, and hope to see her in a venue that she can show off her prowess as a cook, and would have liked to see how she evolves as a chef. Maybe we will all get a chance to see that. Club Lounge, Mr. Ku - is quiet but extremely professional, hospitality and a pleasant person. We tried to get him to talk more, but he is a quiet person, but stays on the professional tack. Eva Ku, also very pleasant and profesional, but a bit more of a conversationalist, joked around with my wife, as she sneaked us more personal time, which is a difficult thing to manage. Alex Cho, more of a conversationalist, and friendly while maintaining professionalism - Professionalism is something I saw maintained throughout through the extremely busy transition time for them, the whole lounge staff, check in/out staff, concierge, bell and valet. Mary (Bo Young) Kim is a pleasant, addictive laughter, and found time to converse. Helen Cho, another quiet one, but very pleasant, friendly and helpful. Jacob (tall one) is getting married, wish him the best, and would like to thank him for his hospitality. Lily Kim, always smiling and very pleasant. It is fun talking to her, apparently waited over an hour and half for Dubai Chocolate - which she found to be (XXX XXXXX the XXXX). Lena Park, and Hana, we did take some of their time too, are also very pleasant and extremely helpful. Coex is lucky to have them all, and people like Devi, are irreplaceable. Some familiar faces are no longer there, are missed. (I apologize for some who I missed in this review - did not write down everyone's names). Valet - It's been quite hot and fairly humid, but kept their pleasant demeanor throughout, extremely helpful and professional. I know it's their job, but their duty outside cannot be easy, when it's cool and comfortable, just inside on the other side of the door. We do appreciate their diligent work ethic Bell Service and Concierge- It's a large hotel, and their task also large, with a continuous stream of demanding customers. We, customers need to chill a bit you know, it'll make their job a bit easier. Brassiere, we had the honor to have breakfast and lunch. To keep up their professional ethusiam seven days a week, is quite remarkable. (This applies to From,Valet,Bell,Concierge,Lounge of course). Management - To keep the "personality" of the hotel to be as pleasant cannot be easy. I don't know if there is something in their hiring method, or something they do is a mystery, but Coex has a very good personality. Group personality that each individual seem to fit in quite well. If there were issues in the ten or so years, they were resolved quite effectively - kids running around on the floor above (parents - control you kids), you do not have free reign of the hotel just because you pay for it, you still have to use common sense and be reasonable... How they resolve it, I do not know, but the running stopped. We had no complaints related to hotel generated problems, as we encountered none of those. To juggle these issues, while maintaining the pleasantness, show professionalism at its best. Coex is remodeling - and becoming Coex Westin Parnas, apparently. (I personally don't think the Parnus is needed in the Name, not only because it may be confusing for the taxi drivers, but for the first time infrequent guests that do not know any better. The shared Intercontinental name has created come confusing in the past to new taxi (and other) drivers, not to mention guests. I would like a simple WESTIN COEX. WESTIN - I formerly stayed at Westins a lot, so is not an unwelcome change in venue name. Front Desk, when our tier check in/out desk was off duty (like midnight plus/minus), the professionalism of the Front Desk (several months ago, I believe was Mr. Bah?) was friendly pleasant and repeating - professional despite being middle of the night. I think I wrote in one of my previous reviews, but a line formed behind me - and recognized a few as being from the same flight. Mr. Bah had quite a line to take care of and as he saw that, immediately got someone off their break to form two lines. Professionalism shows in these minor details, and knowing what is needed to make our check in a bit more pleasurable. My point is, although I don't interact with the front desk too much, I do find a need to chat with them here and there, and universally, and I mean everyone, is extremely professional and pleasant - (Professionalism and pleasantness - I use a lot in describing Coex). Patrick, who used to work at Coex, we saw him at the Parnas front desk (see Parnas now means there). He learned French in college so speaks the language. I took French in college too, so we joke around talking our learned French... which my wife finds amusing. There are quite a few of them going over to a whether permanently or for the remodeling - not sure, but hope to see them there next time we visit. Some moving on elsewhere, I wish them their best. Those staying to take care of the remodeling - I wish their best also - as it is not an easy thing to manage. I thank Victor Kim who answers our emails, also manages, for his due diligence. Coex has answered every emails (questions) or acknowledged our communication. The rooms are taken care extremely well, is done (the word again) professionally. I know it's their job (repeating again), but they do not only do it, they do it well. The whole hotel, the staff, it's their job but is well done. Chefs cook, but I just mentioned, I really liked how the eggs were done. They don't have to come out a thank me personally, or me thanking and complimenting I like their eggs, but they do. To the other chefs, who I did not mention my likings - thank you, I like your style too, but I am guilty of taking things for granted, and maybe a walk back to acknowledge it, maybe next time. If you ask for runny yolk but cooked whites... you will get them that way. While on the subject, folks try the bread served, at Coex - they are rather on the good side. I think the coffee beans that they choose is to my liking, and their machine works quite well. Special orders like iced-something is quite pleasing as well. IHG I believe is a well run brand. We stay at their Express, HI, Kimpton, etc... they all have their strengths. Intercontintal obviously stand out as their premium brand, and maybe we expect a lot because of that. Coex delivers on that expectations and exceeds it, (Exceeding expectations is a hard thing to do). I will miss this hotel. I hope that the reincarnation lives up to their legacy. I will return as a Bonvoy.

less

“Best stay in korea”

Well i will start with the negative point haha Not really a bad point , just my bad i did read well the address they have two intercontinental. Just make sure to read well the address. Because at the airport they sent me to the other one. But dont worry they are close you can walk. Let get in the … more

Well i will start with the negative point haha Not really a bad point , just my bad i did read well the address they have two intercontinental. Just make sure to read well the address. Because at the airport they sent me to the other one. But dont worry they are close you can walk. Let get in the hotel, the hall is very beautiful and the fragrance smells so goood. I love it. The staff are very kind and sweet, really feel very good. The room are very clean, the bed is big and confortable. Bathroom is big. The room size is good not too small not too big. Got view to the temple. I didnt have time to go to the pool. Too much to do in korea!!!! Even the breakfast i did not have time. Price around 50 euros the buffet breakfeast. On the last day, we went back to the room. We found out a nice chocolate cake for my bff. It was her birthday such a nice gift!!!! So sweet! Really nice stay. Also the hotel is connected to the stanfield mall and metro. Best place ever!!! I hope i ll be back!

less

“Checks all boxes except for rigid check in timing”

Chose to stay at an international hotel brand on my 2nd trip to Seoul and it was definitely a wise choice. The staffs spoke more english than a local hotel brand. My entire stay was pleasant and efficient with the mall connected within the property. The only flaw is their rigid check in procedure t… more

Chose to stay at an international hotel brand on my 2nd trip to Seoul and it was definitely a wise choice. The staffs spoke more english than a local hotel brand. My entire stay was pleasant and efficient with the mall connected within the property. The only flaw is their rigid check in procedure that strictly do now allow check ins before 3pm. Most flights into Seoul are midnight flights from SG and the least you can do is to provide 24 hrs check in service. We are not asking for rooms to be available upon check in, just complete the procedure for us and we can pick up the key card later on? Hope you can be more flexible and logical.

less

“Outdated, inefficient, but good food”

My stay here was decent. Some things were good, others were not. Unfortunately, at check-in one of the front desk staff was very condescending and rude in his approach when I was inquiring about IHG membership points. Also, shortly after checking into the room, we noticed some mold on the shower—i… more

My stay here was decent. Some things were good, others were not. Unfortunately, at check-in one of the front desk staff was very condescending and rude in his approach when I was inquiring about IHG membership points. Also, shortly after checking into the room, we noticed some mold on the shower—it seemed as though they don’t clean the parts that are not directly visible/exposed. That was a shock (please refer to photo for literal black mold on towel from touching the shower.) The breakfast buffet was pleasant; the quality and selection of food was very good. However, the staff seem less than competent. Everyday was a long wait to get a table despite the restaurant being half empty. It was simply a logistical issue and lack of efficient coordination between the staff. Moreover, many of the waiters and the barista almost always got the orders wrong and exhibited an unpleasant attitude. English skills were also lacking. Housekeeping seemed good at first but failed to refill the shampoo, body wash etc and despite still providing a tip after that, they removed our slippers from our room. When we called front desk regarding these issues they were never apologetic or even surprised. Overall, the location of this hotel is great and while it is a very outdated property (think carpets and rooms from over two decades ago) staying here has its merits. The food is nice, some staff can be pleasant and the toiletries provided are of high quality. However, the staff who were unpleasant and inefficient put a damper on things. Additionally, as an aside, I would like to note that they have not properly maintained/made their fire escape plan maps. (If you see in the photo there is no clear indication of which room you are in despite the legend saying it should.)

less