Fairmont Ambassador Seoul, Customized Hanbok Gift
"First Overseas Trip with My Wife, The Korea I Love"
As the first Major League Baseball opening game held in Korea came to an end, the special service at the hotel where MLB's "1 trillion won man" Shohei Ohtani (30, LA Dodgers) and his wife Mamiko Tanaka (28) stayed has become a hot topic.
Shohei Ohtani and his wife Mamiko Tanaka are attending a dinner party held at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul Hotel on the 16th. [Photo by John Suhu Instagram]
The hotel chosen by the LA Dodgers was the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul. Since this visit to Korea was regarded as a honeymoon trip for the world-renowned sports star Ohtani, the Fairmont Hotel's preparations were exceptional. The hotel formed a welcoming task force (TF) for the team one month before their stay, and upon learning of Ohtani and his wife's marriage before their visit, they gifted them custom-made hanbok.
As a welcome gift, the hotel prepared traditional Korean sweets in lacquered mother-of-pearl boxes inscribed with the players' names. The players were impressed by the choice of traditional snacks instead of fruit in the boxes. The hotel also took great care with the diet, which directly affects performance. In particular, natto prepared by the hotel was provided to Japanese players including Ohtani, showcasing meticulous attention to detail.
The most touching moment for the team was the surprise hospitality prepared by the staff. The team and officials were invited to Mariposa and M29, the most famous 29th-floor observatory restaurants at the Fairmont, where all hotel staff wore LA Dodgers uniforms to welcome the players.
Earlier, on the 16th, Ohtani said at a press conference, "This is the first time I have traveled abroad like this with my wife. Since I like Korea, I think it will be a good memory."
Ohtani and the LA Dodgers team flew back to the United States on a chartered plane on the morning of the 22nd.
In December last year, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract (approximately 920 billion won) with the LA Dodgers, the highest amount ever for a sports athlete. Showing outstanding skills both as a pitcher and a batter, he has been praised as "reminiscent of Babe Ruth." According to NBC's analysis of Major League statistics, games in which Ohtani pitched sold about 2,000 more tickets in 2022 and over 3,000 more tickets last year. Tickets for this Major League Seoul Series also sold out early.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
