Lotte Group opens second property in Moscow, announces more ambitious plans for Russia
South Korea’s Lotte Group recently held an official reception to mark the completion of the development of Lotte Hotel Moscow, its second prime project in the Russian capital. The hotel will work in a ‘soft opening mode’ till autumn 2010, when it will go into a full-scale operation regime for guests and media. In the closest proximity to the hotel is the de luxe Lotte Plaza Shopping Mall and Business Center, the group’s first property in Moscow.
With the overall investment totaling over $350mln, Lotte Hotel Moscow has become the most ambitious hospitality property among Moscow hotels. This is reflected in the high quality materials and ultra-modern infrastructure, multifunctionality and refinement of the new-born hotel. The ultimate objective, according to the property owners and management, is for the international Lotte Hotel Moscow, as a symbol of Korean hospitality and Asian approach to luxury and comfort, to offer a range of unique, top-quality hospitality services that Moscow has never seen before.
It seems that the two assets will not be the group’s only projects in Russia, evident from t
he company top executives’ speeches at the June reception. Thus, speaking at the ceremony, Lotte Group Vice Chairman Shin Dong Bin announced the company’s strategic plans to launch the development of five-six more hotels in Russia. “Despite the global economic recession and rough competition on today’s Moscow hospitality market, the South Korean Lotte Hotels & Resorts chain has launched a brand able to lay the ground to a principally new service level and management methods for an upper-upscale segment property.” One of Lotte Hotel Moscow’s core peculiarities, according to other top Lotte Hotels & Resorts chain executives, lies in the new property’s origin. For Moscow, the new hotel will be the first Asian initiative to build and operate a hotel belonging to a world famous company with over 30-year experience in travel and tourism businesses.
The combination and blending of both Asian and European hospitality cultures and traditions are evident throughout the property. Commenting on Lotte Hotel Moscow’s cultural uniqueness, Arie Aizenshtat, the property’s general manager, noted that the group is not just offering merely a luxurious hotel, which is nothing extraordinary for today’s Moscow, but the fact that it has introduced a completely new product aged not only in European traditions, but also based on Oriental hospitality principles. “We have tried to take best from both worlds and route a new hospitality niche, superior to custom five-star level.”
Prime location befitting a prime asset
The new hotel is located in the center of Moscow, on Novinsky Boulevard, traditionally inhabited by the representatives of highborn or wealthy clans since the 19th century. Even at the start of this new millennium, there were almost no lodgings as the majority of the buildings on this street were mansions that preserve the old Moscow look. Nowadays, Novinsky Boulevard represents a booming business and tourism center, with offices, embassies, banks, restaurants, cafes and bars, cinemas and shopping malls.
“For Moscow, the new hotel will be the first Asian initiative to build and operate a hotel belonging to a world famous company with over 30-year experience in travel and tourism businesses.”
The hotel offers 266 standard rooms and 38 suites designed by world-renowned interior creators — Hirsch & Bedner Associates and Wilson & Associates. The minimum area of a standard room is 42sqm, which conspicuously distinguishes it from rooms in a similar category in other hotels. Beige and brown colors of the guest rooms create a feeling of space and comfort. Each room is equipped with a horizontal safe, mini bar and a special touch panel with management functions for controlling lightning, temperature, TV and radio.
The gadget also works as a hotel navigator, shows weather forecasts, region and metro maps, ensures prompt connection with relevant hotel staff and a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign. The hotel’s unprecedented offer is the 490sqm Royal Suite consisting of 13 rooms divided into two groups: public and private. This type of suites in Moscow displays a new concept of luxury based on exquisite interiors and irreproachable services.
A cozy haven for leisure, business events and entertainment
In terms of leisure and entertainment facilities, Lotte Hotel Moscow, according to Song Yong-Dok, the property’s executive managing director, also sticks to the principle of uniting the best practices of top international hospitality brands that are known and respected for their highest quality. “Our target was to find and attract to cooperation leading specialists, who share our values and ambition to create new understanding of quality and service,” he noted. “Besides, we aim to once again emphasize the advantage of the hotel’s Asian roots in a blend with the best of international hospitality standards traced in interior solutions, variety of cuisines, high technology and spa menu,” he added. “None of Moscow hotels can boast that. This is why we are sure that Lotte Hotel Moscow will mark a new de luxe niche on the Moscow hotel market.”
For the first time in Moscow, the new hotel will feature the opening of Les Menus restaurant by a three Michelin star chef Pierre Gagnaire. The uniqueness of the cuisine is based on a blend of recipes classic to the region of the restaurant location and innovative techniques created by the renowned French master. Thus, none of Gagnaire’s new enterprises is similar to the others, with its own rhythm and character. Nowadays, the cuisine of the famous French culinary maestro can be tasted worldwide in Las Vegas, Dubai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Courchevel, London and Tokyo.
Variety of Japanese cuisine is presented on the menu of MEGU restaurant from New York. Unlike Les Menus, there is no star chef here; culinary masterpieces are created by a professional team that underlines the authentic origin and quality of ingredients. Unique cooking technology that uses particular charcoal, seven exclusive Japanese sakes, interior solutions uniting classic tendencies and modern trends are just a few of MEGU’s specialties awaiting guests and visitors. Twice honored by Wine Spectator Magazine with its awards, and bearing the ‘Rolex among restaurants’ title from Fortune, the restaurant is very popular among the American beau monde for eclectics of services, evident both in its interior and menu.
Another novelty of Lotte Hotel Moscow is the Mandara Spa, a brand numbering over 70 centers worldwide in international hotels and resorts in twelve regions across the globe. Its service range covers over 300 therapies, each reflecting aesthetics and uniqueness of Bali and traditional local treatments in its location. The staff comprises both Russian and Balinese specialists, who had undergone special trainings in Mandara Spa’s head office. Guests used to staying fit while traveling will be able to use a most spacious fitness center and a 20 meter-long swimming pool in the hotel. Besides, the hotel also takes into full account the needs, wishes and requirements of traveling business executives. Thus, apart from a business center and a Club Floor equipped with the latest state-of-the-art facilities, the hotel offers six banquet and conference halls to accommodate any reception, from private gatherings to large international events.
With such a bag of rich international experience and highest level of professionalism of both its top management and rank-and-file employees, and also a set unique of services combining the best of Asian and European hospitality traditions and practices, one can say with certainty that Lotte Hotel Moscow has all the chances to become not only ‘a real crown jewel’ on the Moscow hotel market, but also to quickly occupy a place, both fully worthy and befitting it among its equal peers, on this fast-growing segment of the Russian economy.
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