The southwest region of Jeju Island is one hour from the international airport and home to several top-shelf resorts and golf courses.
The Shilla (429 rooms) is an oceanfront resort spread over two wings. All guestrooms contain digital frames that are popular with organisers for posting greetings, agendas and uploading event images. Facilities include a grand ballroom seating 500 for banquets and a poolside area that hosts 300 for receptions.
Hyatt Regency (224) is nearby and offers two ballrooms seating 400 and 200 delegates in theatre style respectively. Its Cliff Garden can host 8,00 for banquets. Lotte (500) is an integrated resort with a large lawn for receptions of 1,000 people.
Haevichi Hotel & Resort (268) is an impressive property southeast of this cluster. Its ballroom seats 1,000 delegates theatre style and there are several supporting halls seating up to 900 people each.
For groups stopping over in Jeju City, Jeju Grand (512) is a good option.
PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE
Jeju Convention Bureau (Jeju CVB), though new, is one of the region’s most active. In the six months since its inception, the bureau has launched an e-newsletter, is developing the island’s incentive product offering, lobbying for more international direct flights, and training the local hospitality industry and suppliers on how to host international business events. In April it hosted local and international MICE buyers for the inaugural Jeju Green MICE Week.
CONVENTION FACILITIES
International Convention Centre Jeju (ICC Jeju) opened in the island’s southeast in 2003 and recently upgraded its interiors.
Featured on the first floor of the seven-storey facility is 2,500 sqm of exhibition space. The largest convention space is Tamna Hall, which has fixed, tiered seating for 1,500 delegates and space for 2,800 more theatre style. There are two smaller halls and a VIP lounge on the third floor, as well as 17 meeting rooms. There are plans for a five-star hotel with 500 rooms for 2012.
The in-house catering team is experienced in providing for Korean, Chinese and Western palates.
OFF-SITE VENUES
Spirited Garden is a popular destination for visiting world leaders, largely due to its charismatic owner, BY Sung. The elderly founder still tends the 2,000 bonsai garden each day. Its latest venue is a wide lawn seating 300 people beside a waterfall, with a VIP reception hall nearby.
Another popular choice for groups is the live-action show, Nanta, which runs year-round in a purpose-built theatre seating 336 people. Four kitchen staff must prepare dinner against the clock, and they get the audience involved in the process.
There are plenty of adventure options including sailing and jetboating at Jungmun Marine Park. Cultural experiences include seeing
haenyo (female divers) diving 20 metres underwater without a breathing apparatus in search of abalone, octopus and other seafood.
GETTING THERE
Shanghai and Beijing both have direct flights to Jeju via Korean Air and China Eastern Airlines. Tokyo, Osaka and several other cities in Japan are also directly connected.
Groups flying into Seoul will need to transfer to a domestic connection, of which there are more than 40 return flights each day.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
Jeju Weekly is a fortnightly publication containing profiles and updates on venues, attractions and MICE developments on the island.