Major Hotels in Seoul to Operate Strawberry Buffets Starting Next Month
Strawberry Prices Surge... Up to 30% Increase Compared to Last Year
With the winter strawberry season underway, major hotels in Seoul have started operating strawberry buffets. However, due to a sharp increase in strawberry prices, buffet prices have risen by up to 30% compared to last year, which is expected to increase the burden on customers.
According to the hotel industry on the 26th, places operating strawberry buffets this year include Lotte Hotel Seoul, Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, Seoul Dragon City, and JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul. The strawberry buffets, which start in early December, will run until April next year.
The Peninsula Lounge & Bar strawberry buffet at Lotte Hotel Seoul offers a special price of 135,000 KRW per adult for the month of December, a 5% increase from the previous year. From January to April, the price per adult will be 115,000 KRW, up 29.2% from last year's 89,000 KRW.
Lotte Hotel Strawberry Buffet
The strawberry dessert buffet at Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul’s Granum Dining Lounge, starting on the 2nd of next month, is priced at 95,000 KRW per adult this year, which is 15.8% higher than last year.
Novotel Suites 'The 26' at Seoul Dragon City will operate the 'Strawberry Dessert Studio' on weekends and holidays starting from the 9th of the same month. The price per adult has increased by 12.5%, from 80,000 KRW last year to 90,000 KRW.
The 'Salon de Strawberry' at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul, launching on the 2nd, is priced at 77,000 KRW on weekdays and 87,000 KRW on weekends per adult, which are 10% and 13% increases respectively compared to last year.
The two InterContinental hotels operated by Parnas Hotel, known as the original strawberry buffet, are scheduled to start their strawberry buffets in January next year, with prices expected to rise slightly. Last season, the price per adult was 120,000 KRW at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas and 100,000 KRW at InterContinental Seoul COEX.
Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul Very Very Very Dessert Buffet [Image source: Capture from Banyan Tree Club & Spa official website]
The reason for the sharp rise in strawberry buffet prices this year is the significant increase in strawberry prices due to a decrease in strawberry shipments.
According to the Seoul Agricultural & Marine Products Corporation, as of the 24th, the auction price for strawberries at Garak Market was 52,814 KRW for 2kg (premium grade), up 42% from 37,044 KRW a year ago. The auction price for a 500g pack is 13,203 KRW, suggesting that the retail price for a pack of strawberries could reach 20,000 KRW.
Strawberry shipments in November decreased by 6% compared to the previous year. This was due to delayed supply caused by unfavorable weather conditions during the summer, combined with the aging of farming households and an overall reduction in cultivation area due to rising management costs. Additionally, hotels explained that rising labor costs and upgraded menus and services compared to last year made it inevitable to raise buffet prices.
Prices of hotel cakes made primarily with strawberries are also on the rise.
The premium strawberry cake at Lotte Hotel Seoul’s Delica Hans increased from 75,000 KRW last year to 85,000 KRW, and has risen again this year by more than 10,000 KRW to 98,000 KRW. The strawberry shortcake at Seoul Shilla Hotel’s Pastry Boutique rose from 80,000 KRW to 94,000 KRW, and the fresh cream strawberry cake at Westin Chosun Seoul’s deli increased from 85,000 KRW to 95,000 KRW. The Paradise City Signature Strawberry Tree, although the same product as last year, saw its price rise by 18.3% to 110,000 KRW.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
