Sono

What Sono does

Sono, doing business as Sono Hotels & Resorts and now operating as Sono Trinity Group, is South Korea's largest hotel and resort operator, founded in 1979 and headquartered in Songpa-dong, South Korea. Through its holding company Sono International (주식회사 소노인터내셔널), the group operates 21 hotel and resort properties across five countries under a five-tier brand portfolio: Sono Felice (premium/Vivaldi Park, Delfino, convention center), Sono Beach (coastal resorts in Yangyang, Samcheok, Jindo, Namhae), Sono Calm (mid-range across Vivaldi Park, Delfino, Goyang, Yeosu, Geoje, Jeju, Gyeongju), Sono Belle (boutique resorts across Korean scenic locations and Haiphong, Vietnam), and Sono Moon (luxury, flagship Sono Moon Haeundae and the new Sono Moon Nagoya in Japan). Distribution runs through the central Sono Reservation Center (+82-1588-4888, 9:00–18:00 year-round), the official website (sonohotelsresorts.com), walk-in channels at properties, and organic social channels on KakaoTalk, Naver Blog, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

In 2025 the group completed the acquisition of low-cost carrier T'way Air (now Trinity Airlines) for 250 billion won, buying out Yearim's stake, replacing the board, and beginning integration of flight services with hotel stays into bundled travel packages. Co-CEOs Lee Kwang-soo (이광수) and Lee Byung-chun (이병천) lead the company, which consolidated teams into a new integrated headquarters in Magok-dong, western Seoul, in May 2026 alongside its rebrand from Daemyung Sono Group to Sono Trinity Group. The company generates revenue primarily from room bookings, event venue rentals (e.g., Sono Felice Convention Center), and associated hospitality services across the multi-brand portfolio, with pricing not publicly disclosed and quoted on inquiry.

Capital structure activity is significant: Trinity Airlines' debt ratio was reduced from 3,500% to 1,950% as of March 2026 following capital injection, and Sono International has filed a preliminary examination for a KOSPI listing with Mirae Asset Securities and Daishin Securities as joint lead underwriters, targeting a public offering of roughly 19.7 million shares (~30% of 65.7 million total). Geographic expansion is a stated priority, with a July 2025 Japan entry via Sono Moon Nagoya (renovation of Compass Hotel Nagoya under a consignment operating agreement with a local operator), an earlier Vietnam entry via Sono Belle Haiphong, and plans for 11 additional Asian properties by 2029.

Name

Sono

Legal name

(주)소노인터내셔널 (Sono International Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://daemyungsono.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sono Trinity Group is South Korea's largest hotel and resort operator, running 21 properties across five countries under five sub-brands (Sono Felice, Sono Beach, Sono Calm, Sono Belle, Sono Moon) and integrating recently acquired Trinity Airlines for bundled flight-and-stay travel services to leisure and business travelers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hotel and Resort Operations

akta.pro primary industry

Beachfront & Island Luxury Resorts (THAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family-Oriented Full-Service Hotels (THAGAAAF)

Keywords

• Hotel resort operations
• Hospitality accommodations
• Integrated travel services
• Multi-brand hotels
• Flight hotel packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Songpadong

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Hotel and Resort Operations: The company operates 21 hotel and resort properties across five countries under multiple brands (Sono Felice, Sono Beach, Sono Calm, Sono Belle, Sono Moon). Revenue is generated through room bookings, event venues, and associated hospitality services.
2. Airline Operations: Following the acquisition of T'way Air (now Trinity Airlines), the group generates revenue from passenger air travel services, integrating with hotel offerings for bundled travel packages.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sono operates a multi-brand hotel and resort portfolio of 21 properties across five countries under the brands SONO FELICE (luxury), SONO BEACH (coastal), SONO CALM (mid-range), SONO BELLE (boutique), and SONO MOON (premium). Following the 2025 acquisition of low-cost carrier T'way Air (rebranded Trinity Airlines), the company offers integrated travel services that combine flights with accommodation across its branded properties, including a dedicated convention venue (Sono Felice Convention).

Product overview

Sono (formerly Daemyung Sono Group, now Sono Trinity Group) is South Korea's largest hotel and resort operator, organized as a multi-brand portfolio under parent company Sono International. The company operates five distinct hotel/resort sub-brands: SONO FELICE (premium), SONO BEACH (coastal resorts), SONO CALM (mid-range), SONO BELLE (boutique), and SONO MOON (luxury). Following the May 2026 rebrand to Sono Trinity Group, the company integrated its acquired low-cost carrier T'way Air (acquired 2025 for 250 billion won) into a unified travel company, creating synergies between flight and stay services. Sono International operates 21 hotel and resort properties across five countries, with expansion plans for 11 additional properties in Asia by 2029.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SONO FELICE: Luxury hotel and resort brand including properties at Vivaldi Park and Delfino
• SONO BEACH
• SONO CALM
• SONO BELLE
• SONO MOON

Products and services

• SONO FELICE Premium/luxury hotel and resort brand with properties including Sono Felice Vivaldi Park (비발디파크), Sono Felice Village Vivaldi Park, Sono Felice Delfino (델피노), Sono Felice Village Delfino, and the Sono Felice Convention center. Targeted at upscale leisure and convention guests.
• SONO BEACH Beach-focused resort brand operating coastal properties in Yangyang (양양), Samcheok (삼척), Jindo (진도), and Namhae (남해). Targeted at leisure travelers seeking Korean coastal resort experiences.
• SONO CALM Mid-range hotel and resort brand with properties at Vivaldi Park (비발디파크), Delfino (델피노), Goyang (고양), Yeosu (여수), Geoje (거제), Jeju (제주), and Gyeongju (경주). Targeted at mid-market family and leisure travelers.
• SONO BELLE Boutique resort brand with properties including Vivaldi Park (비발디파크), Delfino (델피노), Cheonan (천안), Cheongsong (청송), Byeonsan (변산), Jeju (제주), Danyang (단양), Yangpyeong (양평), and Haiphong Vietnam (하이퐁). Targeted at leisure travelers seeking boutique and scenic resort experiences.
• SONO MOON Premium/luxury hotel brand with flagship property Sono Moon Haeundae (해운대) in Busan. Expanded internationally with Sono Moon Nagoya in Japan (opening July 2025 via consignment operating agreement for renovated Compass Hotel Nagoya).
• Sono Felice Convention Convention and event venue operated under the SONO FELICE brand at Vivaldi Park (비발디파크) for corporate conferences, weddings, and large-group events. Targeted at corporate event organizers, MICE planners, and group travel coordinators.
• Trinity Airlines (formerly T'way Air) Low-cost carrier airline acquired by Daemyung Sono Group in 2025 for 250 billion KRW through purchase of shares from Yearim. Now operated as Trinity Airlines within Sono Trinity Group, providing passenger air travel services and enabling bundled flight+stay travel packages.
• Sono Hotels & Resorts Booking Platform Official company website (sonohotelsresorts.com) serving as the primary booking and information portal for all Sono hotel and resort properties, including an integrated reservation system with promotion code functionality. Targeted at direct-booking leisure and business travelers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced Trinity Airlines debt ratio from 3,500% to 1,950%

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Local Hotel Operator (Japan)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Consignment operating agreement with a local Japanese hotel operator for the renovation and operation of Compass Hotel Nagoya as Sono Moon Nagoya. The partner provides local operational expertise and market knowledge for Japanese market entry.
• Trinity Airlines (formerly T'way Air)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2025Acquired low-cost carrier integrated into Sono Trinity Group to create unified travel company linking flight and hotel services. New board appointed and management control transferred following 250 billion won share purchase.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lotte Hotels & Resorts: Lotte Hotels & Resorts is a major South Korean full-service hotel chain operating multiple properties domestically and internationally (under Signiel, L7, Lotte City brands). It is a direct competitor to Sono's multi-brand hotel and resort portfolio targeting both leisure and business travelers in Korea and across Asia.
• Hotel Shilla: Hotel Shilla is a leading Korean luxury hotel operator (Shilla Seoul, Shilla Jeju) and listed parent (Hotel Shilla, 008770.KS). Comparable to Sono as a premium Korean hotel operator with international brand ambitions and domestic market leadership.
• Paradise Group: Paradise Group operates Paradise Hotel, Paradise City integrated resort, and casino properties in Korea. Comparable to Sono as a domestic Korean hotel/resort operator competing for premium leisure travelers, particularly in regional destinations like Jeju and Busan.
• Hanjin Hotels (Haeundae Centum Hotel): Hanjin Hotels operates full-service Korean hotels, including properties in Busan, historically linked to Korean Air via Hanjin Group. Comparable to Sono as a Korean hotel operator and particularly relevant as a historical example of hotel-airline integration in Korea.
• HDC Hotels & Resorts (HDC Holdings): HDC operates hotel properties and resorts in Korea. Comparable to Sono as a domestic Korean hotel/resort operator with multi-property portfolios targeting both leisure and family segments.

Broad incumbents

• Hyatt Hotels Corporation: Hyatt is a major global full-service hotel chain with growing Asia-Pacific presence (Park Hyatt, Andaz, Hyatt Regency brands). Comparable to Sono as a competitor in the international expansion markets (Japan, Vietnam) and in the multi-brand full-service segment.
• Marriott International: Marriott operates the world's largest hotel portfolio with extensive Asia-Pacific coverage across luxury, premium, and select-service brands. Comparable to Sono as a competitor in the broader full-service hotel space, particularly in international expansion markets.
• Hilton Worldwide: Hilton operates a global multi-brand hotel portfolio (Conrad, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree, Hampton). Comparable to Sono as a global incumbent competing across the same price tiers and in the same Asian expansion geographies.

Regional players

• Minor International (Minor Hotels): Minor International is a Thailand-based hospitality and lifestyle company operating Anantara, Avani, Oaks, and Tivoli hotel brands across Asia-Pacific. Comparable to Sono as a regional Asian hotel operator with multi-brand strategy and aggressive international expansion ambitions.

Emerging players

• Jin Air: Jin Air is a South Korean low-cost carrier subsidiary of Korean Air. Comparable to T'way Air (Trinity Airlines) as a Korean LCC and relevant as the closest analog for benchmarking T'way's operational and financial trajectory within Sono Trinity Group.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/daemyungofficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/sonohotelsresorts
• Instagraminstagram.com/sonohotels

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sono