[Gyeongju APEC] Lotte Hotel & Resorts Provides Protocol and Catering Services with 300 Experts Deployed

Embodying the Identity of Korea and Gyeongju
Symbolically Representing Harmony and Unity

Lotte Hotel & Resorts announced on November 2 that it contributed to the successful hosting of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit and major events, including the APEC CEO Summit, held in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, by providing protocol and catering services.

Employees of Lotte Hotel & Resorts are taking a commemorative photo after the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit event. Provided by Lotte Hotel & Resorts

For this event, more than 300 outstanding professionals specializing in rooms, food and beverage, culinary, and banquet services were selected from chain hotels nationwide to welcome heads of state and delegations from each country.

The food and beverage team delivered meticulous and high-quality service, supported by systematic pre-event training and simulations based on international service manners, country-specific protocol guidelines, and response manuals for various situations.

The specially formed "APEC VIP Protocol Team" was led by veteran concierges who have been awarded the "Golden Key" by the International Concierge Association, along with room service experts with extensive international protocol experience, to provide exceptional hospitality services.

Lotte Hotel & Resorts passed on its expertise accumulated through years of protocol experience by conducting service training for local hospitality workers in Gyeongju in June, followed by pre-dispatch training for staff and on-site training for 150 official accommodation personnel.

The culinary team, including Master Chef Kim Songgi and several certified master chefs, personally visited Gyeongju to source local specialty ingredients. They prepared the banquet after more than ten rounds of internal review and menu development. All ingredients used for the event were directly supplied by the hotel and underwent rigorous same-day inspections for foodborne bacteria. Most tableware and cooking utensils were also provided by the hotel.

The luncheon menu for the summit began with smoked salmon and lobster accompanied by Gyeongju apple coleslaw, followed by the main course of premium "Gyeongju Cheonnyeon Hanwoo" tenderloin steak, representing the history and tradition of Gyeongju. For dessert, "Smile of Silla" combined rich chocolate mousse, seasonal fruits, and ice cream to express the unique Korean sense of aesthetics.

The summit dinner featured a Korean course meal that highlighted both tradition and regional flavors, such as "Gyeongju Cheonnyeon Hanwoo Galbijjim" with Wando abalone and "Namul Bibimbap." The nutty pine nut pie and caramel dessert with Injeolmi flavor symbolically represented the harmony between East and West.

Doo Kyungtae, General Manager of Lotte Hotel Seoul, stated, "We made every effort to ensure the successful completion of the event based on the professional and systematic capabilities of Lotte Hotel & Resorts," adding, "It was very meaningful to introduce Korea's diverse cuisine and hospitality culture to the world through the 2025 APEC Summit dinner."

Meanwhile, Lotte Hotel Busan was responsible for the official catering of the "APEC CEO Summit Welcome Dinner" and various receptions.