Hanwha Life Esports renews hotel partnership with The Plaza

Korean esports organisation Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) has renewed its partnership with THE PLAZA hotel.

The partnership will see the hotel group offer a limited package for HLE fans. By booking a stay in THE PLAZA Seoul Autograph Collection during HLE match days, purchasers will get access to LCK tickets in the upcoming LCK Rounds 1-2.

In addition, fans will enter a draw to try and win a signed uniform by the team. Financial terms of the new partnership were not disclosed.

This is not the first time The Plaza and HLE have worked together on a collaboration. A similar accommodation package was offered for both the LCK Spring and Summer Split last year.

HLE is currently considered one of, if not, the strongest League of Legends teams in the world, having recently won the first international tournament of the 2025 LoL competitive season, First Stand. Taking place at LoL Park in Seoul, South Korea, The match became the second most-watched series of the year, peaking at over 1m viewers, according to data platform Esports Charts, behind the LCK CUP 2025.

With the victory over European team Karmine Corp in the Grand Final, HLE was able to take home $300,000 (~£231,722) from the available $1m prize pool. Moreover, the organisation jumped to the top of the game’s global power rankings, surpassing the other two Korean powerhouses T1 and Gen.G.

Throughout the past few years, hospitality groups and several hotel brands have partnered up with various stakeholders in the esports industry.

Hotel group Marriot International, which also owns The Plaza, partnered up with the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) in 2024 for the Finals Roadshow, becoming the league’s Official Hotel Partner.

Esports and digital entertainment company NIP Group, which owns esports team Ninjas in Pyjamas, also teamed up with hospitality company BTG Homeinns to develop and operate esports-themed hotels in China in a seven-year deal.

Moreover, global hotel company Radisson Hotel Group introduced an ‘esports ready’ programme earlier this year designed specifically for teams and players.