Hotel Onoma, the first five star hotel in Daejeon

I visit Daejeon frequently to see my families who are still living there. I was always eager to leave my hometown and hoped to live in Seoul during my highschool days, because of Tower records in Gangnam and indie clubs in Hongdae. To me compared to Seoul , Daejoen was comfort zone but a mundane place lacking cultural life. When I reached 18, I could finally leave Daejoen and start living at the university dormitory in Seoul. Since then 20 more years have passed, and the change and fanciness of Daejeon have surprised me whenever I visit here.

As a witness of Expo93, I remember the location Daejeon Expo was held was a strawberry field. The government compensated the former residents for the land and all the buildings and facilities were constructed for Daejeon Expo and the Science Museum. For several decades these areas were maintained for tourists and local people, but the city government had grappled with utilizing the out of dated but core place in Daejeon.

Shinsegae group won the bid and finally some part of Expo area transformed to have a department store and luxurious hotel. Daejeon already have Galleria Department Store and Lotte Department Store. Last year, a Hyundai premium outlet was opened in the northern part of Daejeon, and it showed buying power of Daejeon and Choongchun province's residents. Top of that, the complex shopping culture space called Shinsegae Art & Science and Onoma Autograph Collection, the first five-star hotel in Daejeon started their business at the end of August.

Shinsegae Art & Science (Left), hotel Onoma at Expo Tower (Right)

  Onoma means reputation and name in ancient Greek.Hotel Onoma has a total of 171 rooms, including 13 suites. There are also a variety of views to choose from, including a river view (Gapcheon), a mountain view (Woosungyi Mountain), and a garden view (Sky Park at Shinsegae Department Store).
Official site: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/cjjak-hotel-onoma-daejeon-autograph-collection/  

This hotel has 171 rooms from 26th to 37th floors of the Expo tower, and the lobby was located on the 7th floor. It was crowded with lodging people because it was in the midst of the Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) holiday. We arrived past 3 PM (check-in time), but the room was not ready, so the hotel provided healthy juice and macaroons at the lounge. Looking down at the wonderful scenery under the sunny sky through the glass window, I felt fantastic. However, it took an hour and a half to enter my hotel room.

The hotel offers 1 set of capsule coffee, two bottles of water and sparkling water for free. Amenity includes Aussi organic brand Grown Alchemist shampoo, conditional, and body cleanser and eco-friendly bamboo toothbrush, etc. 

Premier Corner Room where I stayed for a night.

Hotel Onoma is operated by Shinsegae coalition with Marriott. As you may guess from the title "autograph collection", a work of a famous photographer is hanging in each room, and I was told each room has a different unique interior.

Day view from Hotel Onama

Looking down at a very familiar place from very high altitude for the first time, it was amazing and at the same time very unfamiliar. I could spotted Science museum, Expo bridge, my alma mater Daeduck middle school and a local library.

A splendid night view from my hotel room

Town house at 7F offer Breakfast and Dinner buffet 

 

I could use the gym and swimming pool at 26 floor without the limitation on the usage number. Main pool's depth is only about 1.5m and there is a bubbling Jacuzzi.

Morning view from Gym in Onama club

Hotel lobby (6f) connecting to 백화점 신세계 (7F)

Shinsegae Art & Science (department store 6F) is connected to Hotel Onoma lobby (7F), so it is easily accessible.

There is the self-deprecating jokes among Daejeon citizen that Daejeon is "NoJam" (no fun) city, but I guess it is valid not anymore. There are so many spots around this hotel, Daejeon Arboretum across the river from the hotel, a science museum across the street, and experiential amusement facilities in Shinsegae department store, to name a few. Daejeon is evolving into a place to visit not only for business trips but also for tourism.