The Korea Herald

Starwood Hotels and Resorts to open a new hotel in Korea in 2014

The recent surge in the number of foreign tourists to Korea offers unprecedented opportunities for the growth of the hotel industry in the country. Both domestic and international hotel chains plan to open new properties in the country and upgrade their products and services to meet the growing number of foreign tourists and their evolving tastes. Hoyt Harper II, global brand leader for Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, also expects the local opening of its sister brand Aloft in Suwon, Gyeonggi Provi

Sept. 28, 2012

Starwood Hotels and Resorts to open a new hotel in Korea in 2014

The making of a president: Barack Obama’s Hawaii

HALEIWA, Oahu ― If you’ve vacationed in Hawaii, you know the come-hither scent of flowers, the trade winds cooling the peaks and the warmth of the southern ocean.Now imagine growing up here, where Barack Obama was born, exposed from the first to a culture where the impossible has evolved: a multi-racial society, tolerant of differences and busily pursuing the delights and challenges of daily life.For voters still wondering why Obama stays cool, thinks things through and keeps an eye focused on p

Sept. 28, 2012

The making of a president: Barack Obama’s Hawaii

History lives in the Yucatan

YUCATAN PENINSULA, Mexico ― What’s the Mexican drug-war body count now? 47,000? Ever since the killings began to escalate in late 2006, I’ve been visiting the country less and choosing spots more carefully.But the Yucatan Peninsula was an easy call. One of the safest and most rewarding places in Mexico these days is the same steamy, lizard-ridden Maya stamping ground where ritual sacrifice was once business as usual, where the alleged apocalypse ― the end of the Maya calendar ― is barely 100 sho

Sept. 21, 2012

Marine park takes shape in Pacific

AVARUA, Cook Islands (AFP) ― An ambitious plan to link marine parks across a vast swathe of ocean ― whose surface area would equal that of the Moon ― is slowly coming together piece by piece, say conservationists. Former international rugby league player turned environmentalist Kevin Iro is a driving force behind the part of the park that will encompass the Cook Islands ― a nation whose combined landmass is barely bigger than Washington D.C.“When I was a kid, this was all alive,” said Iro, grima

Sept. 21, 2012

Tourism Australia launches new campaign

Tourism Australia launched a new marketing campaign “There’s Nothing Like Australia” to present a stronger image of Australia to global tourists. Created as an online campaign in 2010, it invited Australians to upload their travel stories and photos to www.nothinglikeaustralia.com, which are now being used as an interactive and digital map of Australia, giving tourists around the world ideas about their holiday. The new campaign will start with TV advertisement showing attractive tourist destina

Sept. 21, 2012

The Ananti Club Seoul opens camping program

The luxury golf resort Ananti Club Seoul opened a camping program, which runs till Dec. 2. The country club located in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, offers visitors a chance to rest in a camping zone surrounded by a thick pine tree forest.The club serves barbecue dishes to each tent and offers fun game materials with which families and friends can play at their camp site. Those who want more adventure can play tennis at a tennis court. The price for camping program is 200,000 won per two persons,

Sept. 21, 2012

K-pop fans visit Korea on trip arranged by KTO

About 130 K-pop fans from nine countries will visit Korea on a trip arranged by the Korea Tourism Organization. The fans, dubbed “Korea Supporters” by the KTO, consist of bloggers or managers of K-pop fan clubs in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, France, Germany and Russia. The supporters will visit Gyeongju, where the “Hallyu Dream Concert” will be held on Sunday, and see tourist attractions in the historical place as well as the hip and trendy Gangnam area in Seoul till

Sept. 21, 2012

Macaron dessert buffet at Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel

The hotel is presenting the “All about Macaron” dessert buffet at the lobby lounge bar located on the 41st floor where guests can enjoy a variety of colorful macarons with coffee or tea. Macaron, one of the best-known French desserts, is a sweet confectionery made with almond powder and characterized by its wide variety of flavors and colors, crisp shell and soft, moist interior texture. Flavors range from blueberry and lemon to coffee, green tea, strawberry, raspberry, orange and hazelnut. “All

Sept. 21, 2012

Macaron dessert buffet at Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel

Statue of Liberty interior to re-open next month

NEW YORK (AP) ― Visitors to the Statue of Liberty will once again be able to go inside the monument, starting next month.David Luchsinger, superintendent of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island, made the announcement Tuesday.He said the interior of the statue would be open to the public again starting Oct. 28. That’s the Statue of Liberty’s 126th birthday. The interior had been closed off to visitors since October 2011 as part of a renovation project.

Sept. 14, 2012

Sheraton Macao offers special package

New Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central, offers a special package in celebration of its opening from Sept. 21-Dec. 31.The Sheraton 75th Celebration Package includes a one-night stay for two in Deluxe Room, breakfast or lunch buffet for two, choice of one-way CotaiJet Cotai Class ferry ticket from Macau to Hong Kong or a HK$100 offer at Shine Spa for two and special Sheraton 75th anniversary commemorative memento. The package is available for $180 (HK$1,398) per room per night and subject to 10 p

Sept. 14, 2012

KTO invites Asian bloggers to promote Korea Tourism

The Korea Tourism Organization is inviting bloggers across Asia to a special tour event to promote Korean tourism from Oct. 22-26. Those who wish to attend should choose one thing they want to do, see or listen to in Korea and create a video clip or write a post about the topic. They get extra points if registered with the Facebook, Twitter and Weibo page of the KTO and promote the event through the channels or their blogs. The application period is from Sept. 10-23 and finalists will be announc

Sept. 14, 2012

KTO opens Istanbul office

The Korea Tourism Organization opened an Istanbul office this week in response to the surge in Korean tourists to Turkey and the growing popularity of Korean pop culture among young Turkish people. The KTO expects the office will promote Korean tourism to Turkish people by introducing Korean dramas, movies and music. It also plans to draw more business travelers to Korea. Last year, 17,298 Korean tourists visited Turkey and a total of 70,266 people visited the country during the last five years,

Sept. 14, 2012

Learning to love Disneyland again

ANAHEIM, California ― As we walked across the broad, brick-paved plaza, a burst of music swelled, the strings rising to cinematic heights amid a pounding of kettle drums. A man in a crisp white shirt waved and beamed. Perfectly manicured flowers swayed in the breeze.It felt, for a moment, that we had accomplished something greater than simply walking out the gates at Disneyland in Southern California.But that is the trick of Disneyland, I learned after a recent trip to the “Happiest Place on Ear

Sept. 14, 2012

New regional tourism network launched in Korea

A group of nine provincial governments and a private “micronation” created a regional tourism network this week to promote diverse travel programs in different provinces in Korea. Nine mayors of provincial governments and the CEO of the Republic of Naminara, a privately owned island in Chuncheon, Gangwo n Province, launched the travel consortium The United Nations of Imagination to promote regional tourism.“Nami Island declared itself a micronation in 2006; it has become a famous tourist destina

Sept. 14, 2012

New regional tourism network launched in Korea

Six Flags near Atlanta to build tallest ride in park’s history

AUSTELL, Georgia (AP) ― Six Flags Over Georgia outside Atlanta is planning to build the tallest ride in the theme park’s 45-year history.Park officials announced that SkyScreamer, an extreme swing ride, will spin guests at 65 kph atop a 24-story tower.SkyScreamer will be four stories higher than Goliath, the roller coaster that climbs higher than many of the skyscrapers in downtown Atlanta.Six Flags is in Austell, just west of Atlanta off Interstate 20.Six Flags officials also announced a new ri

Sept. 7, 2012

New Berlin airport opening faces delay again

BERLIN (AP) ― The opening of Berlin’s new airport looks set to be delayed for the second time this year, with local officials considering further postponement to fall 2013.The new Willy Brandt Airport will replace the aging Tegel and Schoenefeld airports, which served West and East Berlin respectively during the Cold War. But construction has faced technical problems and it has become an increasing embarrassment to local politicians.The airport’s planned June 3 opening was scrapped with just a f

Sept. 7, 2012

Global hotel prices up by 4 percent in first half

Hotel prices went up by 4 percent in the first half of the year, showing a recovery in the hotel industry, according to the Hotel Price Index by Hotels.com.But that means travelers paid more on average for their hotel rooms during the first six months of 2012 in all parts of the world, with Europe and the Middle East region showing a 1 percent increase in hotel prices, 6 percent in the Pacific region, 5 percent in North America and 4 percent in Asia. “The hotel industry bounced back in the first

Sept. 7, 2012

KTO holding riverside concerts in Gwangju, Daegu

The Korea Tourism Organization is holding a concert at riverside parks from Sept. 8-9 in Gwangju and Daegu as part of efforts to facilitate tourism near river areas. The concert titled “Two Wheel Concert” will feature bike ride events and musical performances by top Korean and foreign singers and musicians such as pop diva Kim Wan-seon, girl group Dal Shabet, New Age pianist Yang Bang-eon and Latin jazz band Nueva Manteca for the Gwangju concert, and singer JK Kim Dong-wook, Kim Tae-woo and Arab

Sept. 7, 2012

France to hold second international food festival

‘Fête de la Gastronomie’ attracts epicureans worldwide with its finest delicacies“A successful dish is a thing of beauty and balance, born of the spirit and hand of man,” said Michel Gurard, renowned French Michelin three-starred chef and a founder of Nouvelle cuisine, an innovative method of cooking to create food low in calories. Not only is he a world-famous chef, he is also the patron of an upcoming international food festival that will be held across France in late September. France is a ce

Sept. 7, 2012

France to hold second international food festival

Sarasota: Where culture, nature share the stage

SARASOTA, Florida ― It is a still, hot day on Sarasota Bay as we slide our kayaks into the water. Too lazy to use our oars, we drift a little and watch the mullet jump while we wait for the last members of our tour to arrive. Suddenly a pelican swoops down and grabs a silvery fish, startling us.We set off a few minutes later, seven of us with little or no kayaking experience. Kelly, our guide, points his oar in the direction he wants us to go, then stays in the middle of our disorganized pack, s

Sept. 7, 2012