Series by Marriott Debuts in South Korea with the Opening of Anook Signature Seoul Guro

Series by Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy's global portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announced its debut in South Korea with the opening of 104-room Anook Signature Seoul Guro, Series by Marriott. The opening marks the latest milestone in the Asia Pacific expansion of Series by Marriott, following the brand’s global debut in India in 2025 and entry into Japan in April 2026. Three additional hotels are expected to join the portfolio in South Korea by the end of 2026, in Insadong (Seoul), Guwol (Incheon) and Haeundae (Busan).

“The debut of Series by Marriott in South Korea marks another important step in the brand’s expansion across Asia Pacific,” said Cristiano Rinaldi, Chief Lodging Product & Services Officer, Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International. “Through Series by Marriott, we are bringing regionally recognized hotel groups into our portfolio while preserving the character and familiarity that have earned the trust of local travelers. Anook Signature Seoul Guro reflects this vision, combining a distinctly local hospitality experience with the quality, care and global connectivity guests expect from Marriott.”

• Brand Milestone: First Series by Marriott hotel in South Korea, following the brand’s launches in India and Japan. Three further South Korea openings planned in Insadong, Guwol and Haeundae by the end of 2026.

• Accommodation & Location: 104 guestrooms and suites, located near Guro Digital Complex, with convenient access to Gimpo International Airport and Incheon International Airport.

• Dining & Wellness: Korean cuisine at Anook Restaurant, plus a sauna and fitness center.

• Meetings & Social Spaces: Meeting facilities for intimate groups, a business center, rooftop lounge and outdoor terrace.

The 17-story hotel is situated in Seoul’s southwestern business corridor, near Guro Digital Complex, where technology, business and everyday local life intersect. Offering convenient access to meetings, dining and events across Guro, Gasan, Yeouido and other west Seoul destinations, the hotel is well suited to short business trips and extended stays. It is located approximately 16 km from Gimpo International Airport and 57 km from Incheon International Airport, providing a convenient base from which to explore the wider city.

A Korean-Inspired Approach to Rest and Renewal

The name Anook comes from the Korean word for coziness and comfort, reflecting the country’s long-standing culture of rest centered on warm water, nourishing food and restorative sleep. At the heart of the hotel experience is a continuous “Recovery Ritual” that takes guests from sauna, to dining, to sleep. Beginning in the hotel’s sauna, guests can ease the tensions of travel and city life before continuing their journey through comforting Korean cuisine and a restful night’s sleep. The experience unfolds within a “Layered Urban Retreat,” where clean lines, warm wood tones and indirect lighting create a calm contrast to the surrounding city. Together, the design and guest experience offer a contemporary interpretation of Korea’s culture of rest and renewal.

Comfortable Guestrooms and Spacious Suites for Business and Leisure Stays

Anook Signature Seoul Guro, Series by Marriott features 104 guestrooms and suites, ranging from Standard Rooms to spacious Junior and Penthouse Suites. Designed for both short business trips and extended stays, accommodations feature individual climate control, a 43-inch LED television and a dedicated work area. Select suites offer separate living areas or an in-room whirlpool, while accessible accommodations are also available.

Korean Dining, Sauna Facilities, and a Complimentary Fitness Center

Guests can enjoy Korean cuisine at Anook Restaurant, while their stay can be complemented by wellness facilities at the hotel including a sauna and fitness center. The hotel also offers meeting space for intimate groups, a business center, rooftop lounge and outdoor terrace, providing flexible settings for work, relaxation and informal gatherings.

Shin Hyun-wook and Kim Jun-ha, Co-CEOs of The Hyusik, said, “We are delighted to bring Series by Marriott to South Korea for the first time through our partnership with Marriott International. Travel demand in Korea is expanding beyond the city center into districts where daily life and business intersect, and Anook Signature Hotel Seoul Guro, Series by Marriott, will offer a new option for travelers seeking dependable, well-executed stays at a reasonable value.” 

Anook Signature Seoul Guro, Series by Marriott participates in Marriott Bonvoy, the award-winning travel program from Marriott International, allowing members to earn points for their stay at the new hotel and at other properties across Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of extraordinary hotel brands. With the Marriott Bonvoy app, members enjoy a level of personalization and a contactless experience that allows them to travel with peace of mind.

Expanding Outbound Opportunities Across Five Key Asian Destinations with the Launch of Linkin South Asia

New destination venture to offer Japan, Taiwan, China, South Korea and Hong Kong from 2 September, with a focus on structured products, human-led service and stronger margins for travel agents

New Delhi, India | September 2026 Linkin Reps is expanding its presence in the outbound travel market with the launch of Linkin South Asia, a new brand focused on five key Asian destinations- Japan, Taiwan, China, South Korea and Hong Kong.

Headquartered in New Delhi, Linkin South Asia will commence operations on 2 September 2026, offering directly operated destination services to Indian travel agents and tour operators.

The expansion marks a new phase in Linkin Reps' journey, extending its expertise in travel representation, sales, marketing and destination development into direct outbound operations. Through Linkin South Asia, the company is establishing a dedicated platform to develop and operate its own destination capabilities across five high-potential Asian markets.

Linkin South Asia is a brand under Linkin Reps, with operations spanning Japan, Taiwan, China, South Korea and Hong Kong. The proposition is built around direct destination operations, giving the business greater control over product development, destination expertise, servicing and the overall experience delivered to its trade partners.

Commenting on the expansion, Komal Seth, Founder and Director, Linkin Reps, said, “We wanted to do something different in the destination management space, and in the process, we realised that the vendor supply gap was particularly large across these destinations. It took us a while to build the right foundation. Still, we have finally succeeded in developing and launching packages where we can offer competitive products while also delivering good margins to travel agents. For us, the objective has always been to create a proposition that works for both the traveller and the trade, with strong products, better servicing and a commercially viable model for our agent partners.”

The launch follows several months of groundwork focused on developing a differentiated proposition for the Indian travel trade. Linkin South Asia aims to create a non-compromising and incomparable service experience anchored in strong destination and product knowledge, minimal exchange of emails, and faster, more structured servicing for travel agents and tour operators.

The five-destination portfolio brings together a mix of established and emerging opportunities within the Asian outbound market. While Hong Kong is an established destination for Indian travellers, the company believes there remains considerable potential to develop new products and experiences around the destination. The inclusion of Japan, Taiwan, China and South Korea further strengthens the portfolio across diverse leisure, cultural, experiential and lifestyle travel segments.

At the heart of Linkin South Asia's proposition is a boutique, human-led approach to destination servicing. The company does not intend to operate primarily through online platforms, recognising that specialised destination services require human intervention, detailed product knowledge, personalised communication and on-ground expertise. Technology will support the process, but the proposition will remain centred on people, relationships and destination knowledge rather than automated booking flows.

For Indian travel agents, Linkin South Asia will introduce structured templates and product patterns designed to simplify the booking process and reduce the back-and-forth traditionally associated with destination servicing. A key commercial focus will also be on offering attractive margins to agents, with particular attention to maximising margins on ground transfers.

Mr Amit Rai, Director of Sales, will head Linkin South Asia and bring 24 years of experience across B2B, B2C and MICE, with leadership experience at UDMC and organisations including Cox & Kings, Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Freedom Travel and Bluemoon Travel to the new venture. He will be supported by Ms Namrata Grover, General Manager of Operations and Sales, based in New Delhi, whose 14+ years of experience spans FIT, MICE, leisure, groups and corporate incentive travel, with expertise in operations, marketing, B2B network development and destination product training.

With the launch of Linkin South Asia, Linkin Reps is expanding its role within the outbound travel ecosystem, moving beyond its established representation and market-development capabilities to build a directly operated destination platform across five strategic Asian markets.

The new venture is designed to give Indian travel partners a more structured, responsive and human-led way of working across Japan, Taiwan, China, South Korea and Hong Kong, supported by dedicated destination knowledge and a clear focus on product development, service efficiency, competitive margins and long-term trade relationships.

A reassuring robot is helping customers enjoy their drink

Key Take Away

Robo-bartenders are shaking up South Korea's cafe and bar culture as the country transitions from intensive social distancing to what the government calls "distancing in daily life".

At the Cafe Bot Bot Bot coffee bar, where the robot arm shakes up mojitos and other cocktails, manager Kim Tae-wan also pointed out that the 'drink bot' can provide consistent quality to their mixes that human bartenders can't.

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economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/a-reassuring-robot-is-helping-customers-enjoy-their-drink/not-entirely-human/slideshow/76211161.cms