Renewed Partnership Between Hanwha Life Esports and THE PLAZA
Korean esports organization Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) has announced the renewal of its partnership with THE PLAZA hotel.
The partnership entails a special package for HLE fans who book a stay at THE PLAZA Seoul Autograph Collection during HLE match days. This package includes access to LCK tickets for the upcoming LCK Rounds 1-2.
Additionally, fans who take advantage of this package will have the opportunity to enter a draw to win a signed uniform from the team. Although the financial details of the renewed partnership were not disclosed, this collaboration is not the first of its kind between The Plaza and HLE. Similar accommodation packages were offered for the LCK Spring and Summer Split last year.
Furthermore, HLE recently solidified its position as one of the strongest League of Legends teams globally by winning the First Stand tournament, the first international event of the 2025 LoL competitive season. The tournament, held at LoL Park in Seoul, South Korea, attracted over 1 million viewers, making it the second most-watched series of the year according to Esports Charts data, following the LCK CUP 2025.
By triumphing over the European team Karmine Corp in the Grand Final, HLE secured a prize of $300,000 (~£231,722) out of the available $1 million prize pool. This victory also propelled the organization to the top of the game’s global power rankings, surpassing other Korean powerhouses such as T1 and Gen.G.
Hotels and Esports
Over the past few years, hospitality groups and various hotel brands have increasingly collaborated with stakeholders in the esports industry. For example, hotel group Marriot International, which includes The Plaza, partnered with the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) in 2024 as the league’s Official Hotel Partner for the Finals Roadshow.
Additionally, the NIP Group, which owns Ninjas in Pyjamas esports team, entered a seven-year partnership with hospitality company BTG Homeinns to establish and manage esports-themed hotels in China.
Moreover, the Radisson Hotel Group introduced an ‘esports ready’ program earlier this year tailored specifically for teams and players in the esports industry.