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Everland to host'scary' Halloween events

Zombie actors pose at Everland amusement park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Everland said it will hold Halloween season events for 73 days from Aug. 31 to Nov. 11. / Courtesy of EverlandBy Baek Byung-yeulWhile it is still hot and humid, Everland amusement park unveiled its Halloween season schedule for those who plan to have an awesome autumn outing.The country's largest theme park said Tuesday it will hold Halloween season events for 73 days from Aug. 31 to Nov. 11. It is located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.For this year's Halloween season, Everland will operate a second season of Blood City event. During the Halloween period, the amusement park's 100,000-square-meter site will turn into a scary world that features zombies and ghosts.Everland rolled out the Blood City event for the first time last year and it was received well as the zombie craze, which has been spreading around the world for years, is still in effect.The Blood City event will take place in the amusement park's Alpine area, Safari World and the Amazon Express. To offer a more vivid experience to visitors, Blood Cit

Aug 28, 2018
Everland to host'scary' Halloween events

Myanmar to allow visa-free entry for Korean tourists from October

Bagan in Myanmar / Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoMyanmar will start granting visa-free entry to Korean tourists in October as part of efforts to invigorate the tourism industry.According to reports from local media early this month, tourists from Korea and Japan will be able to stay in the country for up to 28 days without a visa once the new rules come into force on Oct. 1.The Myanmar government said it will be a one-year trial policy.But tourists from the two countries will be required to show that they are carrying $1,000 in cash on arrival.The Southeast Asian country is home to many tourist attractions and considers tourism a key source of foreign currency.But the number of European travelers dwindled in recent years following international criticism of the military crackdown on the Rohingya Muslims in retaliation for an insurgent attack. Currently, Myanmar does not require tourist visas for people from only eight countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Aug 23, 2018
Myanmar to allow visa-free entry for Korean tourists from October

Taipei appeals to Koreans with winter programs

By Kang Seung-wooTaipei's average temperature is 15 degrees Celsius, which is hotter than the winter time in Korea, making it an ideal tourist destination for Koreans in the season, according to the Department of Information and Tourism (DIT) at the Taipei City Government.The DTI hosted a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday, to promote the Taiwanese capital's winter travel courses and packages for Korean tourists, in addition to its already famous convenient transportation system and a wide variety of food.Chen Su-yu, right, director of the Department of Information and Tourism (DIT) at the Taipei City Government, poses with Taiwanese actor Jasper Liu during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday, to promote the city's winter travel packages for Korean tourists. / Courtesy of the Department of Information and Tourism at the Taipei City GovernmentIn partnership with China Airlines, Korean travel agency Mode Tour and e-commerce travel platform KKday, the DIT introduced flight and hotel packages, semi-guided tour packages and self-guided tour packages. It added that those tour packages and

Aug 23, 2018
Taipei appeals to Koreans with winter programs

Korean hotel market still has more room to develop

Craig Smith, president of Asia Pacific for Marriott International, speaks during an interview in Seoul, Aug. 2. / Courtesy of Marriott InternationalMarriott plans to bring luxury hotels back hereBy Kang Seung-wooThere are growing whispers that the Korean hotel industry has already reached a saturation point, with a great number of hotel brands -- both domestic and international -- setting up a closely contested battlefield. However, Marriott International's Asia-Pacific President Craig Smith is shrugging off the concerns, believing there is more room to grow. “I keep hearing everybody in Korea say the hotel market is saturated. Our increase this year is more than gross domestic product. How can we be saturated?” Smith said in an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul.According to him, there are 21 Marriott brand hotels here and they average 80 percent of occupancy.“This year, we have already opened five hotels. Imagine five hotels in one year and six hotels are coming soon. I think we have two large Fairfields opening in Busan and so we will see the Korea

Aug 23, 2018
Korean hotel market still has more room to develop

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-wooSheraton launches anniversary packageCelebrating its seventh anniversary on Sept. 16, the Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel has created a Sheraton Seventh Year Anniversary Package.It includes complimentary access to the Sheraton Club Lounge and the continental breakfast buffet.Guests also receive a Sheraton Sweet Collection set, an assortment of sweets and nine beautiful signature desserts of the season packed in a custom-made box as a gift.The price for the package including a one-night stay in a club room is 270,000 won ($241), or 370,000 won for staying in a honeymoon suite.Grand Hilton Seoul presents autumn promotionThe Grand Hilton Seoul is offering the Relaxing Autumn Package until Nov. 30. It includes a one-night stay in a room overlooking a mountain, buffet breakfast for two and the hotel's eco-bag and a picnic mat. Customers who purchase the package will be given free access to the swimming pool and fitness center as well as a 50 percent discount at the property's sauna.The price starts at 163,000 won. Two-night package launched at Park Hyatt SeoulThe Park H

Aug 23, 2018
Hotel Lobby

'Spirit of hula' helps hotelier

Members of Hula Mau Loa, including Na Do-yeon, right, perform the traditional Hawaiian dance at the Seoul Citizens' Hall on a regular basis. / Courtesy of Na Do-yeonBy Kang Seung-wooMarketing director Na Do-yeon of European-style luxury hotel Le Meridien Seoul does not fit the typical hotelier image. She is also a hula dancer. Na, is shrugging off the stereotype and preaching about what the traditional Hawaiian dance is contributing to her job, hoping many will follow in her footsteps.“I am exposed to a variety of stressful situations because I am engaged in the hospitality industry, where I have to deal with people from all walks of life and crack a smile all the time,” Na told The Korea Times.“However, dancing hula helps me keep composure under any circumstances and feel less stressed, which is thanks to the aloha spirit which means mutual regard, affection and warmth in caring.“In that respect, I think the aloha spirit is almost identical to the spirit of hospitality.”Na's journey with hula came from out of nowhere one day in 2012, when she was ill in

Aug 17, 2018
'Spirit of hula' helps hotelier

In Seoul, master watchmakers carry on legacy

Watch craftsman Jang Chung-rak holds an escapement and balance wheel of a watch. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Kwak Yeon-soo“Fancy and extravagant watches catch most people's attention these days, but sometimes gazing at simple, yet classic timepieces can be just as enchanting,” said Yoon Hyung-sik, a vintage watch collector and a regular visitor to the backstreet of Yeji-dong, a narrow alley lined with watchmakers' workrooms and vintage boutiques. Yoon said that he's fascinated by the color, history and individuality of vintage watches, and these factors arouse nostalgia in him. “They bring back memories of when I was in my 20s and 30s, so it's a nice feeling. It's all associated with memories that are important to me. Trends come and go, but I can't help but smile any time a classic watch gets a revamp,” he said.While many people such as Yoon in Korea relish their mechanical watches, getting them fixed may become difficult in the coming years: The older generation of watch craftsmen, skilled in repairs, is retiring, and few of the younger generations

Aug 16, 2018
In Seoul, master watchmakers carry on legacy

Millennium Seoul Hilton to present tempura-only omakase

By Kang Seung-wooGenji, the Japanese restaurant at the Millennium Seoul Hilton, and its new head chef Goo Min-sool are ready to wow fine diners as the establishment plans to offer an industry-first tempura-specialized “omakase” bar starting September.Goo Min-sool, a veteran chef with 23 years of experience, will offer an industry-first tempura-specialized omakase menu at the Millennium Seoul Hilton's Japanese restaurant Genji starting September. / Courtesy of Millennium Seoul HiltonOmakase means “I'll leave it up to you” in Japanese, through which patrons sit back as the chef decides what dishes to serve them. To offer the new dining experience, the hotel recently recruited veteran chef Goo who has 23 years of career, while it is currently remodeling the restaurant. “The Millennium Seoul Hilton will be the first property in Korea to set up a counter with a tempura-only omakase menu,” Goo said in an interview with The Korea Times. “As far as I know, there is only one non-hotel restaurant with the same concept in Seoul, with another set to com

Aug 16, 2018
Millennium Seoul Hilton to present tempura-only omakase

Expedia unveils Add-On Advantage in travel-loving Korea

Aaron Price, Expedia's senior vice president of global marketing, speaks during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooTravel company Expedia has introduced a new service that it believes will help Korean travelers save time and money on booking hotels. The Expedia Add-On Advantage, introduced in the United States in June, offers customers hotel discounts of up to 51 percent if they purchase their plane ticket on the platform.Marking the seventh anniversary of opening shop in Korea, the U.S.-based company held a press conference, Tuesday, with Aaron Price, its senior vice president of global marketing, and other executives participating.Price said the new feature will help fulfill Korean travelers' desires. “Around nine-and-a-half hours is the average time Korean travelers spend planning and booking a four-day trip,” he said, adding that 30 percent spend more than 15 hours.“In addition, Koreans pick reasonable price as extremely important when purchasing travel services.”According to an Expedia survey, 70 percent of Koreans chose price

Aug 16, 2018
Expedia unveils Add-On Advantage in travel-loving Korea

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-wooWestin Chosun launches champagne promotionThe Ninth Gate, Korea's oldest French restaurant at the Westin Chosun Seoul, presents the Champaign Vacance that is available every Friday and Saturday.The promotion guests are offered an exclusive glass of wine upon entrance, and can enjoy three kinds of champagne from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. The three are Louis Roederer Brut Premier, Drappier and Delamotte.The signature menu of The Ninth Gate also includes crab cake, which is cooked with seasoned king crab, truffle French fries and a seasonal salad. Haevichi Jeju unveils autumn package The Haevichi Hotel and Resort Jeju presents the Fall in Haevichi package from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30. Either two hotel guests or three resort guests can benefit from the seasonal promotion. The package features a one-night stay in a superior hotel room or a premier twin resort room, free access to indoor and outdoor pools and complimentary bicycle rental. It also includes a 50,000 won ($44) voucher for the in-house restaurants.Conrad presents spa promotionThe Conrad Seoul offers an after-vacation trea

Aug 16, 2018
Hotel Lobby
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