1.3 Million Won Kids Room, So Popular It's Always Fully Booked

Grand Josun Jeju 1.3 Million KRW Kids Suite Fully Booked
Lotte Hotel World Character Rooms 80~90% Occupancy on Weekends
Seoul Shilla Hotel Weekday Guests Increase with Kids Baking Program

The 'Chosun Junior Kids Club' program is being held at Grand Chosun Jeju
[Photo by Chosun Hotel & Resort].

The hotel industry’s VIB (Very Important Baby) program is gaining popularity. As domestic overseas travel increases in the endemic phase (periodic outbreaks of infectious diseases) and it takes time for the full recovery of foreign tourists, hotels are targeting demand by opening their wallets generously for children, and this strategy is proving effective. Unique experience and play programs for children are receiving continuous reservation inquiries, and kids' suite rooms priced at 1.3 million KRW per night are in a situation where they are 'fully booked and unavailable.'

According to the hotel industry on the 27th, the Grand Josun Jeju, operated by Chosun Hotel & Resort, is recording full occupancy during the spring break in February for its 'The Suite,' the first kids-specialized suite room in Korea, despite the high price of around 1.3 million KRW per night. The overall occupancy rate for this month also exceeded 85%. The Suite is designed with a kids' bedroom resembling a spaceship, a kids' bathroom, and a hideout-concept play area separated from the parents' space, moving parents who want to gift their children a 'fantastic day.' The hotel stated, "Since launching the new kids package 'Joy in Earth,' the occupancy rate of kids' rooms has significantly increased compared to the previous year," adding, "steady reservations are coming in for the spring season of March and April as well."

Lotte Hotel World also saw positive results by increasing the number of character rooms preferred by families with children to 52, the largest among 5-star hotels in Seoul, through a full renovation of all rooms last year. The diversification of characters such as Bread Barber Shop (22 rooms), Lotty & Lori (10 rooms), and Kakao Friends (20 rooms) broadened the choices, and the creation of the 'Wonder Door' directly connected to Lotte World Adventure, along with a one-time re-entry chance for guests, contributed to its popularity. The hotel said, "Character rooms have been consistently popular, showing weekend occupancy rates of 80-90% since reopening."

Children are participating in the 'Kids Cooking Class' at the Seoul Shilla Hotel.
[Photo by Hotel Shilla].

Programs for children to enjoy during 'Kikangseu' (Kids + Hotel Vacation) have also become more diverse. Seoul Shilla Hotel recently introduced a 'Kids Baking Program' in the kids lounge, where children can enjoy baking classes free of charge, wearing chef outfits and hats to experience being a patissier, receiving positive feedback from guests. It is a weekday-only program and is said to have a positive effect on increasing weekday occupancy rates. The outdoor heated pool 'Urban Island,' popular among guests with children, is also seeing increased inquiries focused on family cabanas and kids cabanas ahead of its opening on the 11th of next month. The hotel stated, "We will operate unique seasonal activities in the kids lounge to nurture children's imagination and sensitivity, attracting guests with children."

The Grand Josun Jeju’s kids care programs, Half-Day (3 hours) and All-Day Kids Care, are popular because parents can enjoy free time while their children participate in various activities with the hotel’s dedicated activity team 'Grand Joy.' The Half-Day Kids Care program fills up quickly on weekends on a first-come, first-served basis, showing strong demand. The 'Chosun Junior Kids Club,' equipped with various themed play spaces and experience programs, sees an average daily usage of 150 to 200 children. This means guests with children use it more than once a day.

Haevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju’s kids educational play space 'Moru' has also maintained steady popularity this month after usage increased about twice compared to the same period last year. The hotel explained that the number of guests with children and users of shared facilities surged with the onset of the endemic phase. The hotel said, "Families staying at the hotel who want to use over 3,000 children’s books, toys, and play teaching tools, as well as paid programs like children’s cooking classes and doll-making, are also responding very positively."

A hotel industry official said, "Although we are in the endemic era, the risk of COVID-19 remains, and families with children still often prefer domestic travel," adding, "To capture parents who do not hesitate to spend more on their children than on themselves, hotels’ kids-specialized services will evolve into more diverse forms."