Hotel Spotlight / Fraser Place Fraser Place equipped with state-of-the-art ICT facilities for guests in ideal location The Singaporean-owned Frasers Serviced Residences Pvt. Ltd. has opened its second serviced suites building in Seoul, which is its 16th in the world since the company's launch in 1997. With the opening of Fraser Place on July 18 in downtown Seoul, Fraser is undaunted by the competition in the busy Seoul market for serviced apartments. With its ideal location, just a stone's throw away from Seoul Station, Fraser Place will complement its sister property, the Fraser Suites Insa-dong. Fraser Suites enjoyed over a 90 percent occupancy rate for the most of last year. Unlike Fraser Suites, which caters mainly for family units, the new building will focus on smaller units for single businesspersons and travelers seeking short and long-term accommodation. It is also within walking distance of Seosomoon Park, Deoksu palace and City Hall plaza, as well as nearby Namdaemun Market and well-known department stores like Lotte and Shinsegae. The Fraser Place Central Seoul, a 23- story property, provides 235 spacious apartments, ranging from studio to threebedroom and penthouse units. All suites are furnished with separate living, dining, kitchen and bedroom areas, and also includes a study area. All rooms are equipped with a gourmet kitchen and h i g h - t e c h amenities such as flat-screen televisions in the living room and bedrooms, state-of-the-art audio systems, DVD players, and wireless broadband Internet. The property also provides quality leisure facilities such as a fitness club, indoor swimming pool, and children's playrooms and wading pool. Fraser Place will be equipped with the very latest IT and multimedia connections and equipment according to Mr. Thomas Wong, the General Manager: "Guests will have a choice of either landline or wireless connection for Internet, and also in the lobby, coffee shop and other areas are accessible for wireless IT connection." What is more, according to Wong, "We have LCD television screens in all the rooms, with 20 inch screens in the master bedrooms and 32 inch screens in the living rooms. In fact we are the first to install such state-of-the-art facilities among serviced residences and hotels in Seoul." The serviced residence will offer 24- hour reception and concierge services, daily housekeeping and complimentary shuttle services to neighboring subway stations, business and shopping districts, and limousine airport transportation. The trendy-looking Union Square restaurant serving diverse Asian and western cuisine is located near the main entrance in the same building for the convenience of guests, and is already proving very popular among guests and locals. Fraser has within just eight years grown from humble beginnings to its current leadership position managing an enviable collection of properties in global cities, including Bangkok, Glasgow, London, Manila, Paris, Seoul, Shenzhen and Singapore. Fraser has evolved to be one of the top branded serviced apartment operators internationally and is a highly awarded market leader in providing unique personalized and innovative lifestyle oriented residences in prime locations worldwide. With a culture of care and attentiveness, Fraser offers an attractive alternative to hotels for business or leisure travelers seeking extended stay accommodation, while providing a comfortable, warm and welcoming atmosphere of home. With the opening of Fraser Place Central Seoul, Fraser becomes the biggest Serviced Residence brand in Seoul. It also features a fitness club, including a destressing steam room and sauna, an electric bidet in every apartment, and a BBQ pit on its rooftop. Delivering added convenience to the business traveler is the award-winning Retreat facility, catering to meetings and intimate seminars. Fraser Place Central Seoul also offers a collection of innovative, resident-centric services such as Fraser Friends which organize activities like Residents' Night, and Fraser Kids', Club which feature a dedicated play room for children of all ages, fully complemented by Fraser's' special blend of intuitive services. There will be special promotions to attract guests and raise the profile of Fraser Place through till the end of this year, according to the Singaporean General Manager, and he is confident that it would soon catch up with the occupancy rates of its sister residence in Insa-dong. "We are new and we want to raise our market profile, so we are offering unbeatable daily rates from 137,000 won to 177,000 won (nett of tax) until December 31, 2006, including various attractive complimentary and discounted facilities in Fraser Place. The General Manager was confident that with the growing number of foreign businesspersons coming to Korea, including IT workers from India, the United States, etc., there was huge potential for Fraser Place in the serviced apartments market in Seoul.