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cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:46 am Post subject: Five-Star Hotel Discrimination (See Update on Page 4) |
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The longer I'm here the more things Koreans do seem like a good idea: I used to think it was stupid for a Seoul resident to partake in one of the Chuseok packages at a Seoul hotel: a room plus a meal for much less than the usual price. This year I decided I wanted to do it, so I Googled the numbers for every five-star hotel in Seoul. Most have no such packages, but some do. I've written a letter I intend to mail (not email) to the Ritz-Carlton hotel about their discriminatory policy regarding their Chuseok package. Check it out:
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September 28th, 2009
[name and address redacted]
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C
4445 Willard Avenue, Suite 800
Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815
To whom it may concern,
I am contacting you to inform you of a most insulting incident that occurred at your hotel in Seoul, South Korea on September 25th at approximately 4:50 pm, Korea Standard Time (KST). I had called to inquire about special room rates for Chuseok, the Korean holiday of thanksgiving and the biggest holiday of the year. Upon being connected to the reservations desk and making my inquiry, I was informed that while there is a special package to commemorate the holiday, it was reserved "for Koreans only." I replied that I would be travelling with a Korean citizen, but this was apparently still unsatisfactory: she explained to me, in a mildly discourteous tone and manner, that all persons must be Korean for this package. In other words: no foreigners allowed.
I am appalled that an international hotel chain of such prestige would not only have such a policy, but employ a receptionist who would state it so bluntly. I have always received superlative service while at other five star hotels in Seoul, and I had expected the same from your hotel as well. I also wonder: do your hotels in the United States, for example, have packages reserved exclusively for Americans? Do you check identification to keep Koreans and other nationalities from participating in them? If not, why do you have such discriminatory policies here?
As an occassional patron of fine Seoul hotels, I would have enjoyed spending Chuseok and dining at your Oksan Buffet restaurant at the Seoul Ritz-Carlton Hotel; fortunately, all the other hotels I contacted that have packages for this holiday are not so discriminatory. I would appreciate an explanation as well as an apology for this incident. Thank you in advance for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
[name redacted] |
I understand why the package is targeted to Korean consumers: foreign visitors to Korea are presumably going to stay there anyway and don't need a Chuseok package as enticement. But shouldn't a distiction be made between foreign tourists and foreign residents? If not, what about the fact that I'd be staying with a Korean? That, at least, was enough for the Shilla hotel anyway.
Last edited by cdninkorea on Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:32 am; edited 1 time in total |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:28 am Post subject: |
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Deleted...
Sorry op
Last edited by stevieg4ever on Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:57 am; edited 1 time in total |
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krd
Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Location: Daegu
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:35 am Post subject: |
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| It's disgraceful that they can have such discriminatory policies. |
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proustme
Joined: 13 Jun 2009
Location: Nowon-gu
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:39 am Post subject: |
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Disgusting. Write to newspapers in Korea about this.
Last edited by proustme on Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:42 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Xuanzang
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:42 am Post subject: |
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| That`s appalling. I guess it means your wife or gf doesn`t count as a Korean. Try the W Walker Hill hotel. Their suites are fabulous and I can`t say enough about the dining options. Exquisite. |
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Forward Observer
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Location: FOB Gloria
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:46 am Post subject: |
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You should have your gf/wife/friend register you guys and if they ask for her partner's name - give a fake Korean name. Then when you show up, bring a video camera and get it on film when they try to enact the 'Korean-only' policy. Then forward that to the appropriate news agencies back in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Or just have her register you with your real name and get that conversation on tape. Either way, the Ritz is gonna have some 'splainin to do.
*But really, we all know what they'll say to corporate HQ and the media:
"It was a mis-communcation!" |
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benji
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:48 am Post subject: |
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| stevieg4ever wrote: |
Surely many cultural and religious minority groups in western countries have the same don't they. Beit Roshashona, Eid, Chinese New Year, Diwali, Ramadan etc etc where they only get their own kind.
Its funny because in the UK there are always public celebrations for some of these festivals (especially Diwali and Chinese New Year) but these are just a front for the main celebrations and festivities that go on behind closed doors in cultural centers, people's homes and the like.
Sorry to sound like an apologist but this stuff happens a lot in the west and I think your enquiry will fall on deaf ears. |
I think you dont understand whats going on. This isnt some cultural celebration at someone's home, or at a private club, or community center.
This is a hotel room. No Korean will have to interact with Whitey whatsoever. And Koreans wont even celebrate anything with each other. It's just people in their hotel rooms and hotel restaurant.
Totally dispicable but never surprising here in Korea. Tell your story high and low OP. |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:54 am Post subject: |
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Oh he just wants a room?!? Right yeah I did misunderstand thanks Benji 
| benji wrote: |
| stevieg4ever wrote: |
Surely many cultural and religious minority groups in western countries have the same don't they. Beit Roshashona, Eid, Chinese New Year, Diwali, Ramadan etc etc where they only get their own kind.
Its funny because in the UK there are always public celebrations for some of these festivals (especially Diwali and Chinese New Year) but these are just a front for the main celebrations and festivities that go on behind closed doors in cultural centers, people's homes and the like.
Sorry to sound like an apologist but this stuff happens a lot in the west and I think your enquiry will fall on deaf ears. |
I think you dont understand whats going on. This isnt some cultural celebration at someone's home, or at a private club, or community center.
This is a hotel room. No Korean will have to interact with Whitey whatsoever. And Koreans wont even celebrate anything with each other. It's just people in their hotel rooms and hotel restaurant.
Totally dispicable but never surprising here in Korea. Tell your story high and low OP. |
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grunden
Joined: 18 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:36 am Post subject: |
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Do this.........
Go to Itawon, next Friday night, and round up as many Nigerians as you can find. Invite them all to a special high noon tea in the RITZ hotel cafe bar. Tell them that there will be strippers. Tip a BBC reporter that something big is going to happen at exactly 11:59am. On Saturday...meet the group at the family mart near the Ritz... have them all dress in traditional African attire. Bring a bunch of the cheapest dong dong ju you can find and get everyone feeling good. Then, start your journey. As you and the 'victims' approach the hotel, start playing drums and traditional African instruments....walk slowly..with dignity.. to the front desk... and at 11:59 exactly, pull out your KEB bank card, and in your best John Wayne voice, inform the attendant that you and your guests will be having tea, and afterwards you want to reserve a room for a two hour post chusook celebration. If you are refused, (which you will be) start a riot, using anything you can (excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr...I have a dream speech, photos of the 'strippers' that are supposed to be waiting in the cafe)
I give you my word..my friend......this will change your life. You will forever be known as the 'Ghandi' of South Korea. You will one glorious day have your own statue in that very lobby, and children from all over the world will know your name.
Good luck my brother, good luck! |
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victorology
Joined: 10 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:42 am Post subject: |
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| Hotels in Hawaii have special rates for Hawaii residents. I agree with the OP's argument that this special should be available for all residents of Korea. |
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Murakano
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:46 am Post subject: |
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disgraceful.......is it the one in Gangnam?
update us if you get any reply you get from them... |
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cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:47 am Post subject: |
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| grunden wrote: |
I give you my word..my friend......this will change your life. You will forever be known as the 'Ghandi' of South Korea. You will one glorious day have your own statue in that very lobby, and children from all over the world will know your name.
Good luck my brother, good luck! |
Even though I think I have legitimate reasons for being upset about this issue, I can still laugh at sarcasm when it's written so eloquently.  |
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NightSky
Joined: 19 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 6:59 am Post subject: |
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yep. I think I posted something similar to this before...
a year or two ago, when I called the Hilton asking about their chuseok packages, they originally said it was for koreans. then when I said I would be travelling with a korean there was a brief hesitation and then the girl said it would be okay. there was nothing on their website regarding who could or couldn't take advantage of the package, but the next time I happened to check the website, it said this:
" 내국인 및 외국국적동포국내거소신고증(외국인 등록증) 소지자에 한해 이용 가능 합니다."
I'm quite sure that hadn't been on the website before, so I think they decided to clarify their policy. |
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sharkey
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 7:00 am Post subject: |
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| throw a rock through their window during the night... and you're even |
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qwerty
Joined: 10 Sep 2007
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