Fairmont Ambassador Phone Reservation Sale
Conrad·Hotel Naru Special Package Launch
"Administrative Sanctions Should Be Considered"
Ahead of the World Fireworks Festival to be held on the 7th of next month at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul, nearby hotels are refraining from setting accommodation rates for that day and are only accepting waiting lists via phone calls, engaging in 'price weighing.' In this process, there are concerns that price hikes at some hotels have peaked, with daily rates for some high-floor rooms soaring up to 6 million won.
According to a compilation of Asia Economy's coverage on the 19th, the daily accommodation fee at Fairmont Ambassador Seoul in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the 7th of next month ranges from a minimum of 650,000 won to a maximum of around 6 million won. The rates vary depending on the floor of the room (11th to 16th floor) and whether breakfast and dinner are included. Among these, the suite room located on the highest 16th floor (for 4 people, including breakfast and dinner) has a rate that has risen to 6 million won. Currently, Fairmont Ambassador Seoul is not accepting online reservations for guests staying on the 7th of next month and is only taking waiting lists via phone calls.
A representative from Fairmont Ambassador Seoul stated, "On October 7th, when the fireworks festival is held, reservation inquiries surged early on, so we are taking waiting lists considering various options and contacting guests sequentially." They added, "We cannot guarantee whether the fireworks will be visible depending on weather conditions and room views on the day of the festival, but we are accepting reservations from those who wish to book regardless."
Conrad Seoul, a representative 5-star hotel in Yeouido, is also selling package products about twice as expensive as regular room rates for customers wishing to stay on the 7th of next month. According to a representative, the premium room (15-pyeong size, Han River view) package including breakfast and dinner costs 1.26 million won, and the same room with breakfast and room service included costs 1.08 million won. Considering that the rate for the same room (including breakfast) was 570,000 won as of the 18th, the price on the event day is about twice as high. However, the hotel explains that it cannot guarantee whether the fireworks will be clearly visible from inside the room on the day of the event. A Conrad Seoul representative said, "Currently, reservations for the night of the 7th of next month are only accepted via phone calls and are almost fully booked," adding, "Whether the fireworks will be visible on the event day is uncertain, and the hotel does not take responsibility."
Hotel Naru Seoul M Gallery in Mapo-gu, Seoul, which used to open its pool free of charge to guests, has decided to sell a special package only on the 7th of next month. In the case of Hotel Naru Seoul M Gallery, the fireworks festival can only be viewed from the pool, not from the rooms, due to its location. The package fee, which includes one night in a deluxe river room overlooking the Han River, pool access, snacks, and champagne, is 935,000 won. Another popular fireworks viewing spot, Seoul Dragon City (Novotel Suites, Novotel, Ibis Styles), has launched four room packages ahead of the festival. The Novotel package, which includes a Han River view room, dinner buffet, and unlimited wine, is the most expensive at around 780,000 won, while the Ibis Styles package, also with a Han River view room and including one bottle of wine, meat, cheese, and cookies, is the cheapest at around 510,000 won.
Experts point out that although consumers' inconvenience is increasing every year due to excessive price hikes by some hotels, there are realistically no proper measures to regulate this. Lawyer Lee Jin-wook of Palma Law Office explained, "Unless Yeouido hotels collectively collude to raise prices, it is impossible to regulate room rates determined by supply and demand principles through the Fair Trade Act," adding, "However, if this problem repeats every year, the government could consider stepping in to decide the extent of price increases through administrative sanctions."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
