Welcome the New Year at hotels

By Kim Rahn

The end of 2011 is near and people are busy preparing to greet the New Year.

For those who want to close 2011 and welcome 2012 in a special and memorable way, hotels present countdown celebrations, packages and many other offerings.

The Grand Hilton Seoul offers two “Countdown to the Dragon” packages. The year 2012 is the Year of Dragon according to the Chinese zodiac, and it is said that this is not an ordinary year of the dragon but the year of the “black dragon” that comes once every 60 years.

With the Welcome Black Dragon package (165,000 won), guest can enjoy a one night stay in a deluxe room and free tickets for two for the countdown party at Club Babalu including two cocktails. Lucky Black Dragon package (215,000 won) users will receive the benefits plus buffet breakfast for two and two tickets for 2012 Arts Concert.

Other benefits for both packages are two mini bottles of Jagermeister, a cheese platter, and a discount VIP voucher for the High One Resort in Gangwon Province.

The packages are available from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1. For more information, call 02-2287-8400.

At J.J. Mahoney’s at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, a holiday party named “X2 Snow in JJ’s” will take place on Dec. 30 and 31.

The entertainment bar will be decorated with holiday decorations, and covered with a flurry of glittering ice mint snowflakes. Live music performances by JJ’s house band Jal and BD will boost the holiday spirit, with lucky draws for hotel room and restaurant vouchers and a best couple contest available as well. All guests will receive a welcome drink and a stuffed toy animal. Prices for the party are 50,000-70,000 won. For more information, call 02-799-8601.

On the night of Dec. 31, the hotel will also hold a “New Year’s Eve Fireworks” event. Between 6 p.m. and 1 a.m. the next morning, the event will include skating on the ice rink, a snack buffet, a skating demonstration by junior Korean national skating team, dance performances, games, a lucky draw, and a fireworks display.

The event is priced at 85,000 won for adults and 58,000 won for children. For more information, call 02-799-8112.

Guests at the Millennium Seoul Hilton will be able to enjoy the countdown party on the last night of 2011 and have a meal on the first day of 2012 at the hotel’s two restaurants.

The hotel’s English-style bar, Oak Room, will host a New Year’s Eve Countdown Party on Dec. 31, along with a live band performance, champagne, and a lucky draw. For more information, call 02-317-3234.

The next day on Jan. 1, the Mediterranean all-day dining restaurant Cilantro will host a special brunch between 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It is priced at 67,000 won for adults including a glass of champagne, and at 34,200 won for children. For more information, call 02-317-3062.

W Seoul-Walkerhill will hold a New Year Party with DJ Belzebass at WooBar on Dec. 31 from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. The DJ, a former member of the New Metal Band, will fill the night with nu-rave. Tickets for the party including a welcome drink are 50,000 through Interpark and 60,000 won on the door. For more information, call 02-2022-0333.

For those wanting a memorable last dinner of 2011, the New Year’s Eve Dinner will be available at the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant Kitchen from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The six-course meal, at 150,000 won, includes cavier, pate de foie gras, lobster and wagyu beef. For more information, call 02-2022-0111.

The Japanese restaurant Namu will also present a buffet in two time slots of 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. for 150,000 won. For more information, call 02-2022-0222.

The Ritz-Carlton Seoul offers an All Night package on Dec. 31. The package includes a one night stay in a deluxe room with a balcony, two tickets for a party at Club Eden and a bottle of wine for 330,000 won. For more information, call 02-3451-8114.

For those seeking a luxury moment, the Lotte Hotel Seoul presents a Luxury Holiday package on Dec. 30 and 31.

The price of the package starts at 1.5 million won, but the benefits are worth 3.2 million won. They include a one night stay in club luxury suite, access to the Club Lounge for two, a dinner for two at Pierre Gagnaire a Seoul worth 850,000 won, a Prima Classe passport holder for two worth 300,000 won, a Lotte diary and a toy bear.

Free use of the swimming pool and gym, a 50 percent discount for the driving range and a 10 percent discount for restaurants are also available. For more information, call 02-759-7311.

At the hotel’s buffet restaurant La Seine, a Countdown Dinner will be offered with dishes most favored during the year.

The buffet, with unlimited red and sparkling wines, will be available in two time slots from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Dec. 30 for 125,000 won. One more slot will be added to Dec. 31 from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. with unlimited red wine for 100,000 won. For more information, call 02-771-1000.

The Hyatt Regency Incheon will hold a Countdown Party at the Vy Bar on Dec. 31.

Starting at 9 p.m., the party will continue through 1 a.m. along with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine, rhythmic music and a lucky draw.

Admission is free. After the party, a shuttle bus service will be available to the New Airport town. For more information, call 032-745-1234.