South Korea’s luxury hospitality group Lotte hotels has opened their first business class hotel in Seoul. The Lotte City Hotel offers premium services at business rates. The opening of a business hotel is just one strategy employed by the group to ensure competitiveness in an aggressive market. More properties are expected to open across Korea and Lotte have ventured into Russia with their first property outside of Korea.

The Lotte City Hotel has cut the price of accommodation by one third of that of other major five-star hotels but aims to provide a similar service. This was achieved by cutting back on usual amenities in bathrooms and reducing staffing levels. Alternatively, the hotel offers vending machines selling beverages, bathing products and much more. DIY laundrette facilities have been installed in the property for guests wishing to clean small amounts of laundry.