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Wyndham sets sights on local cities in Korea

The Ramada Encore by Wyndham Jeju Seogwipo EastBy Kang Seung-wooIn the supposedly saturated Korean hospitality market, where international and domestic hotel chains have flocked to Seoul and its surrounding areas, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, the world's largest hotel franchise company, is taking a different approach: going to cities outside the capital region.Wyndham, which runs the Ramada and Howard Johnson hotel chains, has 42 hotels across the country, with 35 of them located outside Seoul.Joon Aun Ooi, Wyndham's president and managing director of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim“We are at the forefront of hotel development in Korea and expanding our presence in line with the country's larger strategy to drive both domestic and international travelers into secondary cities,” Joon Aun Ooi, the company's president and managing director of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim, said in an interview with The Korea Times. According to the Malaysian, Korea is a key market for the group, as it is one of the top outbound destinations from China, the world's largest tourism sour

Nov 28, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Wyndham sets sights on local cities in Korea

W13.2 billion: Kim Whan-ki's 'Universe' makes history

Kim Whan-ki's 1971 diptych "05-IV-71 #200 (Universe)" fetched 13.2 billion won (HK$88 million) at the 20th Century and Contemporary Art Evening Sale by Christie's Hong Kong on Saturday. YonhapBlue dot painting sold for 13.2 billion won in Hong Kong auctionBy Kwon Mee-yooKim Whan-ki has done it once again, breaking his own record price for most expensive Korean artwork. His painting in question became the first art piece by a Korean artist to be sold for over 10 billion won.Kim's 1971 diptych "05-IV-71 #200 (Universe)" fetched 13.2 billion won (HK$88 million) at the 20th Century and Contemporary Art Evening Sale by Christie's Hong Kong on Saturday.The 254-by-254-centimeter painting consists of two canvases painted in Kim's iconic “Whanki blue” dotted style. The auction house described it as "painted with a thin calligraphic brush in the manner of traditional Asian ink paintings and epitomizes the peak of both spiritual and technical maturity in Kim's Pointillist works."With "Universe" becoming the most expensive Korean art piece ever auctioned, Kim dominated the top 10 lis

Nov 25, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo

W13.2 billion: Kim Whan-ki's 'Universe' makes history

Rice links food culture in Korea, Italy

Rice grains in a carrier blanket/ Korea Times photo by Jung Hae-myoungRice is staple food for Koreans, Italians from birth to deathBy Jung Hae-myoungFor Koreans, rice is at the beginning and end of their lives. It is not just a food ingredient but a source of life. From the first birthday of a child, to their last day in this world, rice plays a critical role to sustain their lives with its symbolic meaning. We find similar importance of rice in other countries that we might not have thought of ― such as Italy. Italy is known to be home to pasta, yet there are also many dishes that involve rice because of its long history. Some say that crusaders brought it to Italy, and others credit Arabians as the ones to bring it to Sicily through Spain. Until early medieval times, people considered rice as a medicine, and by the end of 1300, a lot of recipes were made using it. At an event during the “2019 Italian and Korean cuisine and culture exchange week,” held at the Korean Cuisine Culture Center, Tuesday, the theme of the occasion was “Italian food meets Korean.” Gu

Nov 21, 2019

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-wooGrand Hyatt Incheon hosts Italian wine dinnerThe Grand Hyatt Incheon will host an Italian wine dinner with chef Enzo Carbone, recipient of the Ambassador of the Culinary Arts award from the Italian Premio Guido Alciati Turin, at Restaurant 8, Dec. 6.Enzo found his passion in the expression of family-style Italian cooking. Now he has been creating culinary wonders professionally in kitchens for nearly 20 years, experience that has provided him with a unique outlook and passion for food. Following extensive studies in Italy and Switzerland, Enzo's rich experience in the culinary arts has taken him from England to New Zealand, Hong Kong and then to Shanghai in 2000, where he opened Cucina at the Grand Hyatt Shanghai. In 2005, he received the Ambassador of the Culinary Arts award ― a rare recognition of his contribution to the love of regional Italian cuisine throughout the world. In 2006, he joined the Salvatore Cuomo Group as corporate executive chef and managing director for Asia-Pacific. Under Enzo's management, the group opened multiple restaurants in Korea, China,

Nov 21, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Local hotels ditching global brand

The Grand Hilton Seoul will be rebranded to the Swiss Grand Hotel staring next year. / Courtesy of Grand Hilton SeoulBy Kang Seung-wooKorean hotels are parting ways with global hotel brands as they believe the brands themselves are losing appeal with customers.The latest property to join the movement is the Grand Hilton Seoul. It will use the Hilton brand until the end of the year and be rebranded as the Swiss Grand Hotel starting next year. The hotel has been connected with the U.S. hospitality company since 2002. “Thanks to growing interest in staycations, the number of local customers has been increasing steadily. Given that they choose a hotel based on comfort, location and benefits over a brand itself, we believe we could be competitive in the market with an independent hotel brand,” a Grand Hilton official said. “We are set to provide the highest level of service that meets the five-star rating.” The Namhae Hilton also changed its name to the Ananti Namhae in January 2018, while the Hyatt Regency Jeju also converted to the Shore Hotel Jeju. Two Walkerhil

Nov 21, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Various tourism promotions offered ahead of ASEAN-Korea summit

By Kang Seung-wooStarting today, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is launching a welcoming week that will provide tourists from Southeast Asia with multilingual information services and discount coupons for the nation's major attractions on the occasion of the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit.The southern port city of Busan is scheduled to host the meeting Nov. 25 and 26.During the ASEAN Welcome Week until Dec. 11, the KTO, along with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will offer information services in Vietnamese, Thai, Burmese and Indonesian for tourists at the arrival immigration area in Incheon International Airport.Five tourist information centers for ASEAN tourists will be set up at the airport's two terminals as well as Myeong-dong in central Seoul and Haeundae Beach and Gimhae International Airport in Busan.At these information centers, visitors from ASEAN countries will receive a welcoming gift including souvenirs, a travel guide booklet with coupons for a number of services, and information on how to reach the tourist information hotline 1330.The coupons provi

Nov 19, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Various tourism promotions offered ahead of ASEAN-Korea summit

INTERVIEW Mother-daughter team takes Korean jerky to new level

Jerky brand Jung Yook Po is leading a new culinary trend in Korea. Korea Times photo by Lee Min-young, Kim Kang-minBy Dong Sun-hwaVideo by Lee Min-young, Kim Kang-minBeef jerky is rising as a new culinary trend in Korea, with the brand Jung Yook Po leading it by sticking to a time-consuming traditional recipe. Ironically, it is urbane-looking former brand promoter Kim Ji-yoon who leads the “tradition-bound” Jung Yook Po (meaning “proper beef jerky” in Korean.) Behind her 20-month-old venture is Kim Jeong-ja, her mother, who has catered to select customers for Korean delicacies ― jerky included ― for more than 30 years. Kim's motto is to follow established recipes without cutting corners.The mother-daughter team's product is made, according to Ji-yoon, first by drying beef naturally and slowly in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province ― site of the 2018 Winter Olympics ― the mountainous region northeast of Seoul. “We dry beef strips by sunlight and wind, with a temperature of 0-15 degrees Celsius,” she said during a recent interview with The Korea Times in I

Nov 15, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa

[INTERVIEW] Mother-daughter team takes Korean jerky to new level

KTO names '30 unique MICE venues'

Just KPOP, an entertainment restaurant in eastern Seoul where visitors can enjoy a variety of Korean cultural content including music, performances and food, was included in the Korea Tourism Organization's list of unique venues for MICE events. /Courtesy of Korea Tourism OrganizationBy Bahk Eun-jiA growing number of people are coming to Korea for meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions (MICE). Instead of hotels or convention centers where such events usually take place, event participants these days are seeking special experiences, and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced a list of 30 “unique venues” across the country that can be used for such big events and offer unique cultural experiences.The 30 places include Inje Speedium within the Inje Auto Theme Park in Inje County, Gangwon Province, where visitors can experience motor racing; the Royal Room, a traditional Korean-style hanok hotel in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province; and Cosmo 40, a cultural complex in Incheon which was renovated from empty f

Nov 11, 2019By Bahk Eun-ji

Travel satisfaction levels regarding Japan sharply decline

Jeju Air's baggage drop-off counter for Japan stands empty at Incheon International Airport, Aug. 4. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooNot only have the number of Korean tourists to Japan declined but so have the travel satisfaction levels of those who still choose to travel there amid the ongoing anti-Japan movement, according to a recent survey, Thursday. Consumer Insight, a local tourism industry research lab, carried out a poll in September on the overall satisfaction levels regarding overseas tourist destinations of 13,958 people who traveled abroad from September 2018 to August 2019. The index was comprised of questions assessing the satisfaction they felt regarding their destinations and their intent to recommend those locations to others.The poll found that Japan fell out of favor with Koreans as it dropped to 28th out of 32 countries after collecting 675 out of a full 1,000 points. The neighboring country ranked 18th last year with 740 points.The 32 countries were the destinations that at least 60 or more Koreans visited during the period and the researcher included Hawaii, Guam and

Nov 7, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Travel satisfaction levels regarding Japan sharply decline

'Boycott Japan' loses steam amid aggressive promotional events

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-wooSheraton D Cube offers 'Turkey to Go' for Thanksgiving, year-end partiesThe Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel presents its “Turkey to Go” set comprising of roasted turkey, assorted side dishes and fine wine.For a party at home, all you need to do is simply heat the turkey along with a delectable menu of grilled macaroni cheese, raisins and sunflower seeds, grilled pumpkin with roasted potatoes and chestnuts, bacon and Brussels sprout and a corn roast, perfectly enjoyable for four to five adults. Also, this year's promotion is rich with wine that is good for pairing with turkey. It is available through a reservation on Naver or a phone call. InterContinental Seoul Parnas provides turkey promotion Grand Deli of the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas offers “Holiday Turkey” prepared in traditional American style to celebrate Thanksgiving Day and year-end parties. As “Holiday Turkey” presented by Grand Deli is cured in natural sparkling water, it has a deliciously meaty texture that makes it stand out. The meat is coated with premium h

Nov 6, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Travel & Food

Travel & Food

Wyndham sets sights on local cities in Korea

W13.2 billion: Kim Whan-ki's 'Universe' makes history

Rice links food culture in Korea, Italy

Hotel Lobby

Local hotels ditching global brand

Various tourism promotions offered ahead of ASEAN-Korea summit

INTERVIEW Mother-daughter team takes Korean jerky to new level

KTO names '30 unique MICE venues'

Travel satisfaction levels regarding Japan sharply decline

Hotel Lobby

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