[Report] Five-Star Rooms and Thrilling Water Activities... One Day Is Not Enough for a Rainy Season Hocance

Inspire Resort in Yeongjongdo: A Review of the Stay
Combining Dining and Entertainment... Non-Casino Expansion Strategy
Indoor Glass-Dome Water Park Splash Bay Newly Renovated
Enhanced Water Activities Including Aqua Racer
Summer-Exclusive Packages Targeting Families and Couples

On June 12, I visited Inspire Entertainment Resort. As a newly established integrated resort now in its second year of operation, the corridors lined with orange carpets and lighting, along with the wood-toned interiors, immediately stood out. Inspire’s rooms are divided into three towers?Forest, Sun, and Ocean?and received a five-star certification last year.

Family-type room within Inspire Entertainment Resort. Photo by Heungsun Kim

The rooms are available in sizes of 44 square meters (approximately 13 pyeong), 55 square meters (about 17 pyeong), and 60 square meters (about 18 pyeong). The family rooms in the Forest Tower feature high ceilings and large windows that offer an unobstructed view of the outside, providing a sense of openness that makes the 13-pyeong size feel even larger. An Inspire representative explained, "Since an American company is responsible for the development and operation, the ceilings are higher and the movement space within the rooms is more generous to reflect local cultural preferences, making the rooms appear more spacious compared to other hotels."

The mattresses and bedding on the orange bed frames were neatly arranged. In all rooms throughout the resort, guests can choose from goose down, allergy-free, or latex pillows upon request. For families with young children, the family-type rooms are equipped with a separate room featuring a bunk bed and a television.

Dining room of the 'Villa' room within Inspire Entertainment Resort. Photo by Heungsun Kim

'Villa' room inside Inspire Entertainment Resort. Photo by Heungsun Kim

Inspire also features a secret area called the 'Villa,' which is not accessible to regular guests. Upon entering the interior, which alone spans approximately 992 square meters (about 300 pyeong), the grand and luxurious decor is striking. The Villa includes a resident butler for convenience, two bedrooms, a dining room, a yoga room, an entertainment room, and other dedicated spaces. There is also a jacuzzi outside the living room. The nightly rate alone reaches tens of millions of won. An Inspire representative stated, "World-renowned artists who have performed at the Inspire Arena, such as Hans Zimmer and Maroon 5, as well as foreign casino VIPs, have stayed here."

Targeting the peak summer season, Inspire is promoting 'hocance' (hotel + vacation) packages designed for families, couples, and friends to enjoy together. Leveraging the integrated resort’s unique combination of accommodation, dining, and entertainment, Inspire emphasizes the advantage of being able to create memories in a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces, regardless of weather conditions such as the rainy season or heat waves.

Visitors are riding the new facility 'Aqua Racer' at Splash Bay, the indoor water park of Inspire Entertainment Resort. Photo by Heungsun Kim

The most popular facility among visitors is the indoor water park, Splash Bay. The glass dome-shaped roof, which allows a clear view of the sky, rises to the height of four floors, creating an impressive sense of openness. In March, Splash Bay underwent a renewal, expanding its activity zones, relaxation areas, and convenience facilities.

On the fourth floor of the water park, visitors can ride the two-person water coaster 'Aqua Racer,' which resembles a bobsled. Riding a two-person tube, guests complete a circuit around a 178-meter circular slide in about 30 seconds. Parents with children, couples, and friends all cheered as they experienced the speed and thrill of the ride. One visitor remarked, "The long wait times make it difficult to ride multiple times, but it offers the same excitement as a theme park attraction."

Inspire offers packages under the concept of 'One Day Is Not Enough at Inspire,' encouraging guests to stay at least one night in the resort’s five-star hotel and enjoy a variety of facilities and food and beverage services, including the water park. The flagship package available until August 31 is the 'Family Summer Adventure Package,' designed for a two-night stay. Available for check-in from Sunday to Wednesday, the package includes an all-day Splash Bay pass, admission to 'Bounce The First,' a popular indoor activity for children, and tickets for three attractions at the arcade facility 'Jjang Land,' all bundled with the room.

Guideboard inside Inspire Entertainment Resort. Photo by Heungsun Kim

During the same period, the 'Romantic Summer Stay Package' is available for couples or friends. For a one-night weekday stay, guests receive a complimentary suite room upgrade, in-room dining breakfast for two (with Western menu options ordered and delivered via in-room electronics), and a 50,000 won dining credit usable at 11 food and beverage outlets within the resort.

Inspire is working to reduce its reliance on the foreigner-only casino and strengthen its non-casino business by expanding programs that utilize its rooms, activities, and arena infrastructure. The goal is to balance the overall resort revenue between casino and non-casino segments at a 50:50 ratio. This month, Inspire will open a medical center in partnership with plastic surgery clinics, dental clinics, and stem cell treatment facilities, targeting medical tourists from Japan, China, Southeast Asia, and other regions who are interested in K-beauty. This is the first time such facilities have been introduced within an integrated resort.

According to Inspire’s 2024 fiscal year results (from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024) released in January, the resort recorded total revenue of 219 billion won from its casino, hotel, food and beverage, entertainment, and retail businesses. Of this, non-casino revenue reached 111.1 billion won, surpassing the 107.9 billion won generated by the casino segment.

An Inspire representative stated, "During holidays, weekends, and other peak periods, it is difficult to book rooms due to the influx of family guests. There is also a growing trend of group bookings by foreign tourists, linked to large-scale performances, exhibitions, shopping, and corporate events."