"Department Stores at 100 Million Won, Here VIP Memberships Range from 400,000 to 5 Million Won"…The World of Luxury Hotel Memberships [Luxury World]

The World of Hotel Memberships
From 400,000 to 5 Million Won
Includes Dining Vouchers, Room Stays, and More

500,000 won is enough. While the qualification for a department store 'VIP (Very Important Person)' membership is only available to customers who have purchased over 100 million won, major luxury hotels in Seoul offer special benefits at much lower costs than department stores.

Lotte Hotel World Buffet Restaurant La Seine.

Major hotels in Seoul operate 'paid memberships.' Paid memberships are systems where customers pay a certain amount to enjoy hotel benefits. Upon joining the membership, benefits are provided when using hotel rooms and facilities. In addition to hotel buffet meal vouchers, room usage vouchers, and wine exchange vouchers, a certain percentage discount is also applied when using hotel outlets. Memberships can be joined even without prior hotel usage. Membership prices range from a minimum of 400,000 won to a maximum of 5 million won. Benefits vary according to the membership price. The higher the membership price, the more frequent the benefits or the higher the discount rate.

Although membership prices have been rising annually due to inflation, the popularity of hotel memberships remains strong.

According to the hotel industry on the 26th, the hotel operating the most expensive paid membership among luxury hotels is Shilla Hotel. Shilla Hotel operates a membership called 'Shilla S,' which is divided into Brown and Black tiers. The Brown tier costs 750,000 won, and the Black tier costs 5 million won. The membership was revamped last June, raising the Brown tier price from 600,000 won to 750,000 won.

The main benefits of the basic Brown membership include one accommodation voucher, 200,000 points for food and beverage outlets, a 10% discount on room rates and packages, a 10-25% discount on food and beverage items, and a 10% discount at the pastry boutique. The accommodation voucher can also be exchanged for a 400,000-point dining voucher.

Hotel Shilla Membership Card

The deluxe room at Seoul Shilla Hotel costs in the 400,000 won range, and the dinner price at the buffet outlet Parkview is around 190,000 won. For two people to stay and dine, about 800,000 won is needed, but joining the membership allows usage at least 50,000 won cheaper. A Shilla Hotel representative said, "The response to membership benefits has been good, so we newly launched the Black Luxury tier last year," adding, "Although the price increased, benefits worth about 210,000 won were added, and customers continue to join steadily."

Chosun Hotel operates the 'Club Chosun VIP' membership. Chosun Hotel offers four membership tiers by benefits: ▲Premier Gold ▲Platinum ▲Black, and also operates the 'Grand Chosun' membership usable at resorts in Busan and Jeju Island. Chosun Hotel is characterized by providing accommodation vouchers and discounts on rooms and food and beverage outlets for each membership tier.

The most expensive Black tier (2.6 million won) provides two royal accommodation vouchers, 800,000 won worth of room and food and beverage discount vouchers, and six valet parking tickets. The Grand Chosun membership is the most expensive at 4 million won and offers six accommodation vouchers usable during peak seasons at Busan and Jeju resorts, plus four regular accommodation vouchers.

Lotte Hotel operates the 'Trevi Club.' It is divided into a room-focused Classic type and a food and beverage-focused Dining type. The most expensive Premium (3 million won) type provides three premium room usage vouchers, two buffet meal vouchers, and seven restaurant meal vouchers worth 50,000 won each. Walkerhill operates the 'Prestige Club' with Oak (500,000 won), Maple (1.2 million won), and Noble Pine (1.7 million won) tiers.

The number of membership subscribers is steadily increasing. Although exact numbers cannot be disclosed, for customers who use hotel rooms and food and beverage outlets more than twice, joining a membership is more economical.

The period with the highest actual membership sign-ups is when preparing for a hotel doljanchi (first birthday party). Hotel doljanchi demand is so high that reservations are difficult even with hundreds of phone calls. Typically, about ten family members hold a doljanchi at a hotel food and beverage outlet, and using membership allows discounts on the usage amount. Since weekend food and beverage prices are higher than weekdays and members can also use room vouchers to stay overnight during the doljanchi, inquiries about membership sign-ups are increasing. In fact, posts asking for introductions to hotel staff for membership sign-ups are often seen on internet community sites.