- Developer BNT Partners Co., Ltd. continues contract with global hotel chain Marriott (5-star) and designated as project operator by Gangneung City... Project acceleration expected
- Aiming to establish luxury hotel, residence, and commercial facilities by 2026 in line with Gangneung City's vision as an 'International Tourism and MICE Industry City'
[▲ A perspective view of a luxury hotel and ancillary facilities to be built in the area of Anhyeon-dong next to Gyeongpo Lake, featuring 1 basement floor and 34 above-ground floors, with a total of 870 rooms. (The perspective view is subject to change during future development processes)]
Gangneung City aims to leap forward as an "International Tourism and MICE Industry City" by building tourism infrastructure. A tourism complex featuring the global hotel chain Marriott International’s 5-star luxury hotel brand is expected to be developed around Gyeongpo, designated as an Olympic special zone during the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, as early as 2026.
The project operator, BNT Partners Co., Ltd., held a license agreement signing ceremony with Marriott International at the JW Marriott Hotel Seoul in early November last year. Furthermore, on January 27, Gangneung City officially designated BNT Partners as the project operator for the "Gangneung Cultural Olympic Special Zone Green Business and Marine Leisure District Lagoon Town Development Project," accelerating the project’s progress.
[▲ Representatives from each company attending the contract signing ceremony at Gangneung Marriott Hotel]
The project site covers approximately 62,000㎡ in Anhyun-dong, Gangneung City, Gangwon Province. A resort will be developed on the Anhyun-dong site near the East Sea, including a luxury hotel with 34 floors above ground and one basement level, totaling 870 rooms, along with long- and short-term stay residential facilities (residences) and commercial facilities.
In line with Gangneung City’s development purpose of creating a "Green Business and Marine Leisure District Lagoon Town," the resort will be designed as a natural-friendly and artistic high-quality space, establishing itself as a year-round tourist facility.
The project operator plans to begin construction in the first half of next year after completing various impact assessments and obtaining permits related to environment, traffic, and disaster safety. The goal is to open the hotel before the 32nd ITS (Intelligent Transport System) World Congress, scheduled to be held in Gangneung in October 2026.
Known as the "Transportation Olympics," the ITS World Congress attracts participants from 100 countries, generating significant economic ripple effects such as regional economic revitalization, urban brand enhancement, and job creation. Gangneung was selected last September as the third domestic host city after Seoul and Busan.
Jung Beom-sik, CEO of BNT Partners, stated, "The license agreement with Marriott signifies global recognition of Gangneung Olympic Special Zone’s value as a tourism and leisure destination," adding, "Since renowned hotel chains have shown interest, we will make it a landmark that plays a central role in Gangneung tourism."
He also said, "Gangneung boasts a natural environment blessed with mountains, lakes, pine forests, and the East Sea, as well as unique traditional cultural heritage. However, it lacks large-scale complex facilities necessary for hosting international conventions or attracting long- and short-term tourists, unlike other beach cities such as Haeundae in Busan or Songdo in Incheon," and emphasized, "This high-quality resort will support Gangneung’s leap to becoming an ‘International Tourism and MICE Industry City.’"
As a large-scale tourism facility to be developed right next to Gyeongpo Lake, a symbol of Gangneung, it is expected to contribute to regional economic revitalization through job creation, drawing significant attention from the local community throughout the project’s progress.
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