"I Couldn't Get Married at a 5-Star Hotel, But at Least for My Child"… First Birthday Party Reservation Battle [Luxury World]

Tips from a Mom Who Just Finished a Doljanchi 'Dolkkutmom'
5-Star Hotel Doljanchi Room Reservation Battle
Booked 2-3 Months in Advance, Sometimes Sold Out in 5 Minutes

"Even if we couldn't have the wedding here (at the hotel), we decided from the start that we must have the first birthday party at least for the photos. Here’s a great tip for reservations..."

This is a part of a post shared by a 'Dolkkeutmom' on social networking services (SNS) for 'Doljunmoms.' Dolkkeutmom is a shortened term for a mom who has completed the first birthday celebration, and Doljunmom refers to a mom preparing for it. These moms invest time and money to prepare a meaningful first birthday party for their child.

Since preparing for the first birthday party is quite a hassle, vivid reviews from Dolkkeutmoms are essential guides for Doljunmoms. This is why related posts and videos flood internet communities, blogs, and social networking services (SNS). The most popular reviews these days are about first birthday parties held at five-star hotel food and beverage venues.

A first birthday party table setup arranged in the 'Super Spa Suite Room' at Vista Walkerhill Seoul. [Photo by Walkerhill Hotel & Resort]

According to the hotel industry on the 3rd, to hold a first birthday party at Shilla Hotel’s Chinese restaurant 'Palsun,' one must engage in a reservation battle starting two months in advance. Palsun accepts reservations on the 1st of every month at 9 a.m. through the Shilla Hotel website and application (app). Palsun has private rooms called 'Sharon' and 'Selvia,' and during popular time slots such as Saturday lunch and Sunday lunch, all reservations are filled within five minutes after the reservation opens. Other time slots also fill up quickly, so those who succeed in booking at Shilla Hotel Palsun are even said to have passed the 'Palsun exam.'

The situation is similar at other hotels. While Palsun is a traditional stronghold, Walkerhill Hotel’s food and beverage venues have recently become popular places among moms. Walkerhill Hotel offers first birthday parties at three food and beverage venues: Korean (Myeongwol-gwan), Japanese (Moegi), and Chinese (Geumryong). Reservations are accepted by phone at 10 a.m. on the 1st of two months prior. The reservation process is so fierce that the entire family and friends have to make countless calls to get through once. Because of this, the reservation rate for first birthday parties at these three venues surged by 143% compared to last year.

The Westin Chosun’s first birthday party venue 'Jajeonghyang,' which can be set against the backdrop of the old building Hwanggungwoo, also saw a 100% increase in reservation rates compared to last year. Reservations are accepted starting two months in advance. It is gaining attention from parents seeking small-scale luxury first birthday parties due to its appropriate fusion of Korean tradition and modern design. Banyan Tree’s 'Festa by Mingu,' operated by the owner chef of the Michelin 2-star restaurant Mingles, is also considered a popular venue for parents looking for a modern design first birthday party location. Reservations are only possible by phone, and in reality, the entire family has to make over 500 calls to get a single chance to speak, making it one of the most challenging reservation gateways.

The reservation battle for first birthday parties has intensified because more parents want to hold luxurious celebrations. As the perception of having one child and raising them well expands, parents want to spend their child’s first birthday meaningfully at a hotel. The trend of not inviting company colleagues or distant relatives as in the past, but rather inviting family and close friends for a small-scale party of about 10 to 15 people, has also influenced this. Additionally, the frequent exposure of influencers and celebrities holding hotel first birthday parties on SNS seems to have increased interest in luxury first birthday parties.

A representative from a five-star hotel industry said, "Since COVID-19, family-centered small-scale first birthday parties have become a trend, and many people want to hold the party at hotels that are good for taking photos," adding, "Weekends are very busy, and reservations are basically fully booked on the day they open."

The relatively low price resistance also seems to have increased demand. While weddings, one of the major family events, require over 100 million KRW if held at a hotel, first birthday parties cost less than one-tenth of that. Considering that you can take photos at various hotel facilities and enjoy high-quality food, it is a reasonable price. In fact, for a hotel first birthday party with about 10 to 15 people, the deposit costs around 2 to 3 million KRW. Considering that the course meal costs around 200,000 KRW per person, ordering alcoholic beverages and additional dishes to match the deposit amount is common.

The costs for the first birthday table (estimated at 1 million KRW), hair and makeup (over 500,000 KRW), hanbok rental (1.5 million KRW), snap photos (1 million KRW), and return gifts are separate. These can be arranged through vendors affiliated with the hotel or prepared individually. Taking all these into account, the expected cost of holding a first birthday party at a five-star hotel is about 7 to 8 million KRW.

The hotel industry is launching related packages as demand for hotel first birthday parties increases. Walkerhill Hotel operates the 'My Little Star' room package, which allows private first birthday parties in guest rooms. Guests can enjoy staying in a super suite room, the birthday party event, and dinner at the fine dining buffet 'The Buffet.' They also hold birthday party fairs to provide consumers with explanations about the birthday party packages. Seoul Dragon City held its first 'First Birthday Fair' on the 2nd, where customers could preview the birthday party package products. A company representative said, "We planned the fair to respond to the steadily growing demand for first birthday parties."