Santa Claus is coming to hotels!
Children can make Christmas desserts during cooking classes at the Hyatt Regency Incheon.
By Kim Rahn
Spanish flamenco show, Carmen Mota’s “Fuego,” will be presented at the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill’s Walkerhill Theater from Dec. 17 to 23.
It’s hard to believe, but, yes, another year is almost over and Christmas and the holiday season are just around the corner.
If you want special events or programs to boost the holiday spirit, take a look at these.
Shows, events
Sheraton Grande Walkerhill introduces top-end performing arts, Carmen Mota’s “Fuego,” an authentic Spanish flamenco, at the Walkerhill Theater.
Fuego is a top quality performance created by the collaboration of Mota, legendary flamenco choreographer, and Wayne Fowkes, the director of long-running musical “Notre Dame de Paris.” The show was performed in Korea in 2005, 2008 and 2009.
With a beautiful setting and choreography on a state-of-the-art stage, the dinner show will run from Dec. 17 to 23 except on 19, the presidential election day.
The Lotte Hotel Seoul offers four different packages for couples, family and friends.
The Ritz-Carlton, Seoul presents a concert by opera singer Kim Dong-kyu and a countdown party on New Year’s Eve.
From 7 p.m. on weekday and 6 p.m. on weekends, a champagne reception and a Spanish royal cuisine will be offered for an hour before the performance, which will be presented afterward for 100 minutes. The price is 266,000 won. For reservations, call (02) 455-5000.
For those wanting to stay overnight after the show, a package is available, featuring a one-night stay, breakfast, a show with giveaway present, and a flamenco DVD with Mota’s autograph, for 629,000 won. For inquiries, call (02) 2022-0000.
Hyatt Regency Jeju offers children’s programs on Christmas Eve and Christmas.
The hotel’s popular children’s activity program, Kids Village, presents an arts and craft class in which participants can make their own Christmas costumes and take part in a fashion contest.
For guests who make reservations, Santa Claus will visit their rooms between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 24 and deliver presents to the children.
A cafe in front of the hotel will also be decorated like a gingerbread house, selling roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes, hot chocolate and tangerine tea. For more information, call (064) 733-1234.
Hyatt Regency Incheon offers Christmas Kid’s Cooking Class.
Wearing Victoria & Friends aprons and hats, children will cook Christmas desserts, such as gingerbread house and cupcakes, with special recipes from French pastry chef Pascal Cialdella. They will receive a Polaroid picture of themselves cooking.
The classes will take place on Dec. 15, 22, 23 and 25 at the Terrace Room. Children aged between six and 11 are welcome to join. The entry fee is 70,000 won. For reservation, call (032) 745-1713.
At the Ritz-Carlton, Seoul, a countdown party will be held on New Year’s Eve following a concert from opera singer Kim Dong-kyu.
The dinner concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the ballroom. After an opening performance, a six-course meal will be offered. Then Kim’s concert will run from 9 p.m. to 10:50 p.m., with around 15 of his best-loved songs, ranging from opera classics to jazz. It will be followed by a lucky draw, with prizes including accommodation and dining vouchers.
Guests will then welcome the New Year at the countdown party in the foyer outside of the ballroom with champagne and finger food.
The dinner concert is priced at between 190,000 and 220,000 won. For inquiry, call (02) 3451-8233.
F&B
Two restaurants of Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas offer special menus on Christmas Eve.
French restaurant Table 34 presents a dinner by chef Bertrand Combe. His creation will include foie gras terrine with hazelnut, lentil soup with langoustine, truffle egg and truffle toast, beef cheek meat boiled in cacao sauce and hanwoo tenderloin.
The meal is priced at 200,000 won. For inquiries, call (02) 559-7631.
At the Mediterranean cuisine part of Marco Polo is offered a set menu. Arabic mezze and Spanish tapas collection come first, followed by foie gras terrine with port wine jelly, hanwoo tenderloin and lobster thermidor. The menu is 180,000 won. For inquiries, call (02) 559-7620.
Grand Hyatt Seoul’s European restaurant, Paris Grill, holds Festive Lounge Party on Dec. 24 and 31.
Christmas decorations, live performance of DJs, and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne and snacks will enhance the party spirit. The party begins at 11 p.m. through 2 a.m. and is priced at 220,000 won. For more information, call (02) 799-8161.
At Grand Hilton Seoul, Christmas promotions are on offer at three dining outlets.
The Christmas Wonderland promotion at the Buffet Restaurant presents Hungarian salad, smoked duck with mango chutney, rosemary Cajun chicken and beef fondue, as well as cookies and puddings, during December. For inquiries, call (02) 2278-8271.
Guests at Atrium Cafe can enjoy a salad buffet and a choice of main dish between beef tenderloin and turkey. For information, call (02) 2287-8270.
Those planning a party with friends can buy a gift hamper of smoked turkey, cake, pies and chocolate at Alpine Deli. Call (02) 2287-8274.
The Oakwood Premier Coex Center Seoul’s Residents’ Lounge presents three different set menus for its Candlelight Dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for 70 guests.
With a glass of champagne, the menus include coppa ham with honeydew melon, oyster gratin, chicken gelatin with beluga caviar, garden salad, grilled sirloin steak with sauteed vegetables and grilled tenderloin with a herb crust. Instead of steak, roast turkey is also available. Prices start from 60,000 won. For inquiries, call (02) 3466-7203.
Packages
Imperial Palace Seoul offers Sweet Christmas Package from Dec. 22 to 24.
The package features a one-night stay, breakfast for two, a limited gift set of LUSH, a box of chocolate and free access to the swimming pool and fitness center.
The price starts from 280,000 won and those staying for more than one nights can have a 20-percent discount for the second night and afterward. For inquiry, call (02) 3440-8000.
JW Marriott Seoul’s package includes a one-night stay in superior room, breakfast for two at buffet restaurant The Cafe, a CH Carolina Herrera leather bracelet, which was worn by Jacqueline Kennedy, and free use of the fitness center and swimming pool.
The package is available from Dec. 21 and 25, with the price starting at 330,000 won. For reservations, call (02) 6282-6282.
Lotte Hotel Seoul offers four types of White Christmas & Year-End packages from Dec. 10 to 31.
The Snow Bear Deluxe Package (400,000 won) features a one-night stay in deluxe room, Delica-Hans’ Christmas cake, Lotte gift card worth 50,000 won, wine and fruit, and a teddy bear created by artist Joanne Oh exclusively for Lotte.
The Snow Bear Club Package (480,000 won) adds a room upgrade to deluxe club room, club lounge privileges for two, room service voucher worth 100,000 won and two Lotte Cinema tickets to the benefits above.
The Party with Snow Bear Package (580,000 won) includes a one-night stay in a junior or corner suite, free extra bed, Snow Bear ice wine, cheese plate room service, four Lotte Cinema tickets, wine, fruit, cake, teddy bear and party decorations.
The Celebration with Snow Bear Package (680,000 won) is for couples. In addition to the benefits of the party package, guests can enjoy club lounge privileges for two, and a choice of two Lotte Cinema tickets for the Charlotte Theater, dinner for two at La Seine or Lotte gift card worth 200,000 won. For inquiries, call (02) 759-7311.
Renaissance Seoul Hotel offers two types of Festive Season Package from Dec. 21 to Jan. 6.
For couples, a Festive Dining Package is prepared to offer a one-night stay in a deluxe room, dinner and two glasses of house wine at the Manhattan Grill, free in-room Internet, free use of fitness center, swimming pool and sauna, and Fruit & Passion aromatherapy gift set. The price is 429,000 won.
The Festive Ladies Package offers a one-night stay at a Corner Suite, access to the club lounge for Happy Hour snacks and breakfast, free in-room Internet and free use of fitness center, swimming pool and sauna. For room service, six bottles of Bernini wine, margarita pizza, fruit platter with honey cinnamon syrup and a set of Jenga game are offered.
The price starts from 369,000 won. For inquiries, call (02) 2222-8500.
The Plaza offers two So Lovely Night Packages on Dec. 22 to 24 and 29 to 31.
The first package (430,000 won) features a one-night stay in a premier suite and in-room dining. The second offers accommodation and an eight-course dinner and wine at Xystum House on the 22nd floor of the hotel that offers a romantic city view. The second option is only available on Dec. 24 (550,000 won) and Dec. 31 (500,000 won). For reservations, call (02) 310-7710.