Ananti Cove Hotel in Busan
Gifted at the Request of the UAE Delegation
It has been reported that the delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who visited Korea to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju, became enamored with stir-fried kimchi and even had it packed in bulk to take home.
On November 3, Yonhap News reported that a series of behind-the-scenes stories have emerged, particularly centered around luxury hotels in Busan where some of the foreign dignitaries who attended the Gyeongju APEC Summit stayed.
Khalid, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, UAE, who attended the Gyeongju APEC Summit as a guest country representative, stayed at Ananti Cove in Busan. It was reported that the Ananti staff held overnight meetings over several days to prepare for the delegation’s stay, conducting halal standard checks, various hygiene inspections, nine simulations, and ten rounds of facility inspections.
President Lee Jae-myung shakes hands with Khalid, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), before their meeting at the Gyeongju Hwarang Convention Center in Gyeongbuk, the venue of the APEC Summit, on October 31. Photo by Yonhap News
The Crown Prince stayed in the Presidential Suite (PRS), which is 1,540 square meters (approximately 460 pyeong) in size and is known to be the largest suite in Korea. The UAE royal family and delegation, who stayed at the hotel, were said to have particularly enjoyed the stir-fried kimchi among the Korean dishes provided by the hotel.
They even requested to take the stir-fried kimchi back to their home country, so the hotel vacuum-packed a large quantity as a gift. A hotel official said, "The delegation jokingly asked what secret ingredient was used, and the staff replied, 'a lot of heart.' All the staff did their best with the mindset that they were contributing to summit diplomacy."
In addition to Ananti, hotels in the Busan area played a significant role in alleviating the shortage of accommodations during the Gyeongju APEC Summit. The Philippine delegation stayed at Signiel Busan, while the Brunei delegation stayed at Park Hyatt Busan. Park Hyatt Busan reportedly designated all rooms on floors 23 to 29 as a private area for the Sultan of Brunei, the prince, and the foreign minister, and even arranged for some meals to be delivered directly from Busan to Gyeongju.
Hotels reportedly made various efforts to accommodate the numerous requests of diplomatic envoys within a short period. A hotel official said, "Although it is difficult to disclose specifics, there were many requests to adjust the temperature of the suite, as well as the water temperature and pressure in the bathroom, to certain specifications. Many delegations even brought their own tableware, beds, and home appliances for the heads of state from their home countries."
An official from Ananti explained, "We deployed 600 staff for the events in Gyeongju and Busan, and 80% of them were from the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region. We continuously transported support staff, food ingredients, tableware, and equipment from Busan for the Gyeongju APEC Summit." It was also reported that local hoteliers shared their expertise from hosting the 2005 APEC Summit and the 2019 Korea-ASEAN Special Summit.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
