SanDiego1K

Excellent detail, thank you, MSPEconomist and Aventine.

Aventine

You're welcome. Enjoy Seoul and Korea!

DENflyer3

I was not sure which thread to put this in, but I am curious if anyone had any strong opinions staying at either Park Hyatt Seoul or Grand Hyatt from a standpoint of better tourist area. A bunch of us are going to the Presidents Cup this October, and while I have been there before on business, I've never played the roll of tourist, so not sure which hotel we should stay at. Any thoughts?

Aventine

Well the President's Cup is being hosted in Songdo, Incheon so the closest Hyatt to there would be GH Incheon. For being a tourist, I think GH Seoul is better for major tourist places north of the river like all the palaces, Namdaemun, Insadong, traditional markets and much more. PH Seoul is close to COEX and Bongeunsa temple but that's pretty much it. You'll have to use the subway to get up north of the river for a lot of tourist things.

I think if you want to be in Seoul then being at GH Seoul is way better because it's also closer to the highway towards Incheon. Down Hannam daegyo and onto Olympic Expressway.

RichardInSF

Regarding the bus in from ICN, what I've done is find a Hyatt rep at arrivals, any Hyatt rep, doesn't matter what Hyatt it is for, and tell them I am a PH guest who is taking the bus to the city air terminal. Both times I've done this, the PH van has been waiting for me at the air terminal.

DENflyer3

Very helpful info to you both, thanks. ICN GH is booked on awards that weekend and I was going to use some points for the friends, so its out, I am leaning towards the GH because of location, but I still do not like the hotel as much as the PH. Still on the fence. Any further info appreciated.

Aventine

There's a Korean Air airport limo from ICN to PH as well. Email jeremy.song @Hyatt.com and ask for him (GH ICN Director of Rooms) to open some awards for you. They have tons of rooms and it's a much better location for you to see the golf.

kuponuts

Aventine, I have been hesitant in saying this because I was hoping you would come to realize this yourself.

I think exposing the emails and names of General Manager/Director of Rooms (i.e., GH Seoul, PH Seoul and PH Busan) and telling forum members to contact them directly for absurd matters (e.g., opening up awards, upgrading to diplomat suites using DSU) is unreasonable, intrusive and unethical. The higher management is there to ensure the smooth operation of the hotel. If you really know them well, you would know that they are really busy people and would greatly appreciate if people don't send them regular emails asking for special treatment. Special treatment is reserved for special guests and it is called 'special' for a reason.

Aventine

I never said to email for an upgrade to Diplomat suite. That's absurd because I don't even get or ask for that myself. Also, I don't know anyone personally at PH Seoul and dont have any contacts to share. Never met the GM once or had any contact. The only person's email I know is the executive chef and I've never posted that here. I don't recall posting the GMs for GH Seoul or PH Busan either. I may have said their names in text but that's it.

Most people asking are Diamond members in need of help for their stay. Omaha doesn't always have the answers. Hyatt Concierge doesn't always either.

For example, one time a member wanted to know if the Park Twin suite was the only DSU for PH Busan. The Park exec suite would be more ideal and I put him in touch with the departed Mr. Wagner. He could have asked on site but there would always be a chance that they're all gone at that time. The management names are also common information on the internet (Google) and those people are more than willing to help guests have a great stay with their hotel. They don't get enough hands on interaction with Diamonds or English speaking guests since most guests are a) Koreans and b) afraid or don't speak English.

luvFclass

...is unreasonable, intrusive and unethical

Right, wrong, un/ethical, etc...I won't weigh into those issues, but Aventine I have always appreciated your advice on FT about all things hotels & travels within Korea.^

I have found most of the management or Senior front line staff's English language skills in the GH, PH or Westin branded SK hotels, very proficient. Even the room service/ house staff, I can get by fairly well.

Keep the informative advice coming please.

MSPeconomist

Where do you find a Hyatt representative upon arrival at ICN other than the bus driver for the ICN GH?

BTW, asking about the shuttle bus to the GH ICN at a general airport information desk resulted in getting wrong (or at best badly out of date) information about the schedule. I was told the wait would be over an hour (it really runs about every fifteen minutes throughout the day) and that I should take a general airport shuttle bus instead that stops close to a side door to the GH (versus the GH's own shuttle that stops right at the front door of both buildings). I mentioned this to the GH concierge, but I don't have confidence that the GH was able to correct this.

Aventine

Haha the Korean local guests' English skills being poor or nonexistent. NOT Senior management. It would be pretty bad if senior management didn't know a lick of English at Western chain hotels!

Aventine

This is from the GH ICN website straight and I believe it's correct. The berth is on the second platform after crossing the crosswalk.

luvFclass

Sometimes the local staff at "Western" Chains surprise me. In TPE this comes to mind without naming names. Okay I stop trolling now.

Aventine

I've heard China is especially bad . However, Koreans put a lot into English education for a job. There are some who still struggle but the vast majority will be passable/good or even great. The servers at PH's Cornerstone come to mind as quite English capable.