HOTEL LOBBY

Hotels to join Earth Hour

Twenty hotels in Korea are participating in Earth Hour, a global environmental movement to turn off lights for an hour, Saturday.

The movement is organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature, also known as WWF.

The list of participating hotels are Conrad Seoul, W Seoul-Walkerhill, Grand Hyatt Seoul, Novotel Ambassador Gangnam, The Westin Chosun Seoul, Grand Hilton Seoul, Millennium Hilton Seoul, THE PLAZA, Lotte Hotel Seoul, The Ritz-Carlton, Seoul, The Palace Hotel Seoul, Ibis Ambassador Seoul Insadong, JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul, Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel, Sheraton Grand Walkerhill, Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Pangyo, Grand Hyatt Incheon, Grand Ambassador Seoul, Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo and Hyatt Regency Jeju.

Launched in 2007, Earth Hour encourages individuals, communities and businesses around the world to turn off non-essential lights between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on the last Saturday in March.

Some hotels offer Earth Hour events — check out their websites for details.

Hanwha Hotels & Resorts has appointed Kim Young-cheol, the hotel’s former head of management, as THE PLAZA’s new general manager on March 19.

Kim, 55, joined Hanwha Development Seoul Plaza Hotel, Hanwha Hotels & Resorts’ old name, in 1987, and moved up the ladder within the company, overseeing finance, marketing, food service management and hotel business support among others.

The general manager received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in tourism development and hotel management at Kyonggi University.

The Westin Chosun Seoul’s The Circle Lounge offers strawberry special.

The selection includes strawberries Romanoff made with fresh strawberries and fluffy orange whipped cream, white and dark chocolate strawberry fondue, strawberry cream puff choux with a rich custard filling, strawberry cheesecake, strawberry tart, strawberry brownie and strawberry cake with whipped cream. The afternoon tea set is available from the dessert buffet and includes strawberry smoothies, strawberry lassi and chamomile “strawberryade.”

The special is available noon and 5 p.m. every day until April 12. The prices are 60,000 won for two persons during weekdays and 90,000 won during weekends. For more information and reservations, call The Circle Lounge at (02)317-0365.

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul offers Happy Easter package.

The package, available only on April 4, includes a one-night stay in a Superior room with a special Easter brunch for two at JW’s Grill, an authentic Western restaurant, and a box of chocolates. JW’s Grill also has special Easter Sunday menu, which includes roasted turkey and egg custard.

Happy Easter package also includes late checkout at 2 p.m., access to the swimming pool complex, which includes a natural spring water-fed therapy pool, and the fitness club, which is the largest in Asia.

The package costs 390,000 won, excluding tax and service charges. For more information and reservations, call (02)6282-6282.

Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel offers “Bridal Shower” packages.

Package No. 1 includes a bottle of sparkling wine, fresh fruit juice, canapes and desserts in a balloon-decorated Hospitality suite for four hours. Three guests will receive corsages made by a professional florist.

Package No. 2 is ideal for more intimate parties. It includes a one-night stay in the Hospitality suite, a bottle of sparkling wine, fresh fruit juice, canapes and dessert, as well as breakfast at the hotel’s Club Lounge.

Both packages are available throughout the year. The first package costs 480,000 won, while the second costs 1.5 million won (tax is not included). For information and reservations, call (02)2211-2100 or visit www.sheraton.com/seouldcubecity.