What happened
The Plaza Autograph Collection by Seoul City Hall closed on September 30 and will exit Marriott Bonvoy for Leading Hotels of the World when it reopens in 2029 after a full remodel. Hanwha Hotels & Resorts announced the project in mid-August around the hotel's 50th anniversary, calling it the first extensive construction in 16 years.
Hanwha plans to recast the property as a so-called seven-star hotel, turning former 30-square-meter deluxe rooms into suites and enlarging exclusive lounges. The remodel also calls for fine dining and a rooftop garden the public can reach by a dedicated exterior elevator. The work sits inside a larger Sogong District redevelopment that includes nearby Hanwha buildings.
LoyaltyLobby says The Plaza was a popular, reasonably priced Autograph stay on points and cash in central Seoul, and does not expect those rates to survive the move. Club lounge access had already been restricted in recent years. Drop The Plaza from Marriott stay plans for Seoul, because any return under Leading Hotels of the World is years away and expected to cost far more.
- Announced
- Aug 19, 2026
- Starts
- Sep 30, 2026
- Numbers
- 2029 year: planned reopening
- September 30 date: hotel closing date
- 16 years: time since last extensive construction
- 30-square-meter square meters: former deluxe room size
- Where
- The Plaza Seoul, Seoul, Seoul City Hall, Sogong District
- Takeaway
- Drop The Plaza from Marriott stay plans and use other Seoul hotels; any LHW return is years away and likely far more expensive.