Kim Rahn is the managing editor of The Korea Times. Since joining the company in 2003, she has covered various beats including the presidential office, Seoul city government, the Bank of Korea and the tourism industry. In 2014, she won the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) award for her coverage of the ordeals of migrant women in Korea.
Hotels offer services for young guests
By Kim Rahn
Hotels are not just a place for adult guests anymore. Families take their children to hotels, as they have become a place where they can enjoy their weekend or holiday with accommodation, food and somewhere to play all available.
For such guests, hotels are preparing special services and programs to provide comfort for baby and child guests, their “future customers.”
The Imperial Palace Hotel offers the Very Important Baby (VIB) service for the convenience of its guests.
Various amenities for babies, such as customized cribs with mobiles and a 100 percent cotton bumper, bottle sterilizer, nursery set and baby tub, are available at no additional charge. The hotel also provides complimentary diapers, handkerchiefs, wet tissues and pacifiers as gifts.
By Kim Rahn
Those requiring the service are required to make a reservation.
The hotel’s buffet restaurant Familia is equipped with a nursery room with diapers and wet tissues, as well as a playroom which is available on weekends and national holidays. It also offers one complimentary meal for children for all families of four or more through Aug. 31.
The restaurant has a variety of items for children, including colorful macaroons, hand-tossed pizzas, and shaved ice with red beans that children can make their own.
For more information or reservations for the VIB service, call 02-3440-8000 or visit www.imperialpalace.co.kr.
The Ritz-Carlton Seoul has adopted a special program for guests with infants, named “Protect Our Little Ones” (POLO).
Guests with accompanying babies will have baby wash, lotion, wet tissues, baby powder, and diapers in their guest rooms without additional charge.
They can also borrow a baby stroller free of charge by leaving a piece of identification at the bell desk.
Prior notice is required when making reservations. For more details, call 02-3451-8000 or visit www.ritzcarltonseoul.com.
The Sheraton Grande Walkerhill provides a program for child guests, called “Little Hotelier Package.”
In the two-day fun-packed and educational program, child guests can experience firsthand the life of a hotelier, taking part in general hotel duties at the door, the bell desk, the front desk, as well as learning the basics of housekeeping duties.
They can visit the general manager’s office, kitchens and the R&D center, experiencing the behind-the-scenes services.
During dinner, accompanying their parents on the first evening, children can learn table etiquette. At a buffet breakfast, a special cooking class is presented.
The child guests will also receive a Walkerhill doll and a keepsake album recording their special experience.
The package starts from 540,000 won for two adults and a child. For more information or reservations call 02-2022-0000 or visit www.sheratonwalkerhill.co.kr.
The Lotte Hotel Jeju on the resort island has the privilege to accommodate families, where they can enjoy various leisure activities.
To satisfy family demands, the hotel has opened Hello Kitty Character Rooms and an indoor and outdoor Kids World.
The Hello Kitty room is decorated with items featuring the famous cat, from the bed and other furniture to the wallpaper and carpet.
The indoor Kids World has a multi-purpose hall with board games, blocks, doll house and toys, Nintendo Wii, a jungle gym and ball pool and a mini library. At the outdoor Kids World children can play with radio-controlled cars.
Various programs are also available such as drawing, painting on T-shirts and making a cookie house, organized by the hotel’s Active and Creative Entertainers (ACEs). Parents can leave their children in good hands of the ACEs and spend some quality time themselves.
The hotel also offers a “Summer Kids Camp” from July 15 to Aug. 31 for children aged between five and 10.
The camp, taking place at the indoor swimming pool and Kids World, is composed of water play, corrugated cardboard art, water rocket-making and a picture diary.
Three sessions are available with the morning one at 30,000 won, the afternoon 40,000 won and all day costing 80,000 won.
Throughout July, the “Kids Experience Program” is also held, with seven different classes including English reading, the outdoor radio-controlled car experience and doll-making. The program, priced at 10,000 to 15,000 won per person, is available from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and guests can choose the classes.
For more information call 1577-0360 or visit www.lottehoteljeju.com.
The Novotel Ambassador Gangnam operates Kid’s Corner, a playroom for children, 24 hours a day.
Decorated with characters from the animation “Finding Nemo,” the corner features blocks and a mini-library and plans to add a game zone and more books in the near future.
As an Accor chain hotel, the Novotel Ambassador Gangnam also follows Accor’s policy to allow children under 16 a complimentary stay when accompanied by parents. For more information call 02-567-1101 or visit www.ambatel.com/gangnam.