Korean Job Discussion Forums

in_seoul_2003 · Joined: 24 Nov 2003

I'm not sure cheaper accomodations is a major impediment to more foreign tourists. Afterall, plenty of tourists are filling up the $300-$400 per night hotels in other Asian destinations.

It's more likely that no one could justify Seoul's expensive accomodations for the low level quality of tourism that they get.

If I've got the money, I'll spend $300 per night in Bangkok's Oriental, or Tokyo's Peninsula BUT not in Seoul, even if it is the Shilla.

To add insult to injury, none of Korea's hotels have any character. The Shilla (and only the Shilla) made it onto the list of best hotels in Asia, BUT it was like number 50.... of 50! And in a book I was looking at in the bookstore, (something about the most monumental hotels in Asia--a book more about architecture and history than price) no Korean hotel was represented despite almost every other Asian country being on the list (India, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, etc.).

If not architecture, history, or an attractive city, what justifies Seoul's expensive hotel prices?

http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/09/117_31016.html

Seoul Hotels Most Expensive in Asia

A survey showed that Seoul is the most expensive among the 10 major Asian cities in hotel accommodation expense.

According to the 2007 Corporate Travel Index, it costs $235 to stay at a hotel in Seoul, making the city the most costly among the 10 major Asian cities.

Per-night hotel cost was $205 in Tokyo, $193 in Hong Kong, $174 in Taipei, $159 in Shanghai, $152 in Beijing, $152 in Osaka and Kobe, $149 in Singapore, $133 in Bangkok and $112 in Hanoi.

Rep. Byun Jae-il of the opposition Democratic Party, who is a member of the National Assembly culture, sports, tourism, broadcasting and telecommunication committee, made public the data which he received from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The lawmaker said the high accommdation expense is one of the most serious impediment to attracting more inbound travellers, urging the government to make more loans available to hotels so that they can build more economic accomodations for foreign travellers.

in_seoul_2003 · Joined: 24 Nov 2003

They also need to remember that Bangkok may have ample $50/night hotels, but alot of them are nice, with rooms equivalent to 4-star hotels. So just having a $50 price tag attached to a hotel doesn't necessarily guarantee anything.

victorology · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

The comparison isn't totally fair. A room at the Peninsula Tokyo starts at over $500USD per night. The same goes for other top hotels in Asia like the Park Hyatt Tokyo and the Peninsula & MO Hong Kong. Rates for the top hotels in Seoul start at about half that price.

What makes the average room rate more expensive in Seoul is there aren't many inexpensive options. Even in Japan, there are many business hotels where rooms run in the $100 to $200 range.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

How do they get those numbers? No way it is the total average, because if it were, Hanoi would not be $115. Not with hundreds of hotels with $15 a night rooms.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Will never understand why anyone pays a fortune for a room, unless rich or paid for by company. I dunno, the idea of sleeping for 100 or more bucks per night, then walking past hungry beggars does not appeal to me. Maybe on special occasions? With that special someone? 50 bucks can get ya a fine spot anywhere.

(Think I may have spent a bit more once, in Japan, in a bind. Not knowing your way around, first time in foreign country, language trouble, etc.. yeah OK, but 100 bucks is a lot anywhere I believe.)

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

What the hell kind of hotels are they looking at? I've seen plenty of hotels within Seoul city limits that are less than 100 000 won that are pretty fancy.

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

I was just at the Grand Hyatt today eating brunch, and a guest staying at that hotel that I met told me his room is 180,000 won per night. That could be a Chuseok special, but from my understanding foreign tourists (ie people not Korean or on a work visa) aren't eligible for holiday specials.

I honestly don't know, but I would figure a five star hotel in the West would be a lot more than $180 per night. Anyone?

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

victorology · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

VanIslander · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 5:03 pm Post subject:

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

they are talking about the brand hotels! hilton, ritz, hyatt etc..
there are plenty of motels which cost 70-100 a night, upper scale love motels...
and then of course we have love motels which run you average 40-50 a night.. this is where businessmen stay who dont have their company picking up the tab..

bangbayed · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Location: Seoul

I have a feeling they probably took 3-5 stars hotels only and averaged the costs amongst them. That would explain why 30-50,000 won yeogwans would not be accounted for and 50-70,000 won business hotels in Japan would. For a typical traveller, Japan is way more expensive, but if you take out cheaper accommodations like yeogwans and average it out, all those business hotels will lower Japan/Tokyo's average in comparison. Same goes for other cities too, I reckon.