Shilla Hotel Reverses Early November Wedding Cancellations
China Cancels Full Venue Reservation During APEC Summit
Seoul Shilla Hotel, which had previously canceled wedding reservations for November due to a national event, has reportedly informed customers that weddings can now proceed as originally scheduled.
According to Hotel Shilla and related sources on September 29, Shilla Hotel notified customers whose weddings had been canceled that it is now possible to hold their ceremonies on the original dates. The hotel explained that customers can choose to proceed with their weddings on the original dates or on the rescheduled dates, according to their preference.
Previously, Shilla Hotel had informed some customers who had booked weddings for November 1-2 that their reservations had to be changed due to a scheduled national event, effectively canceling their wedding dates.
The hotel stated that its standard contract includes a clause allowing for cancellations in the event of government functions, so no compensation or penalty fees would be provided. However, as a matter of ethical responsibility, the hotel pledged to cover the full cost of the wedding for customers whose dates were changed.
However, the sudden cancellation notice led to controversy when affected customers, who had already arranged photography and honeymoons around their wedding dates, shared their experiences on social media.
At the time, Shilla Hotel was widely expected to be the accommodation for Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled to take place in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, the following month.
The Chinese side was reportedly coordinating its schedule with the possibility that President Xi would hold a Korea-China summit and other meetings in Seoul after attending the APEC summit. However, it is reported that the Chinese delegation recently informed the hotel of their decision to cancel the venue reservation, making it possible for wedding ceremonies to proceed again.
Nonetheless, Shilla Hotel plans to provide the previously promised support for wedding costs and other related expenses to customers who have already changed their wedding dates.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
