Buffet Restaurant Without Buffet... Room Packages for Commuters Also Available

Hotel Industry Suspends Buffet Operations at 'High-Risk Facility' Level During Social Distancing Stage 2
Hotels Replace with ? La Carte Menus
Breakfast Packages Also Offered as ? La Carte
'Commuter-Type' Package Products Released

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spreads nationwide, hotels that have had to close their buffet operations are coming up with creative solutions. Buffets were included among high-risk facilities, forcing an abrupt halt to their operations. Amid the widespread adoption of remote work, a new concept of commuting-style accommodation packages has emerged for office workers who have lost their usual places between home and work.

According to the hotel industry on the 29th, JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul’s all-day dining restaurant 'Tavolo24' recently introduced seven Korean set menu dishes including hot stone pot bibimbap, LA galbi grilled ribs, and Eonyang-style bulgogi. They also prepared a European-style home-cooked set centered on five main dishes such as steak, BLT (bacon, lettuce, tomato) burger, and jambon brioche sandwich.

Ramada Plaza Jeju shortened the operating hours of its buffet restaurant and converted the breakfast buffet into ? la carte single-item menus. The restaurant 'The Blue' offers ? la carte single-item menus, while 'Tammora' changed its offerings to Korean set meals such as 'Jeju Morning Set,' 'Tammora Set,' and 'Bareut Abalone Porridge Set.' A simple salad and dessert self-bar are also operated separately.

Many places have switched their basic breakfast buffets to single-item menus to allow hotel package customers to enjoy a morning set meal. Kensington Hotel Yeouido’s buffet restaurant replaced the breakfast buffet with an 'American Breakfast' including egg dishes, hash brown potatoes, and coffee. They also provide an 'Egg Benedict passing service' where dishes are delivered directly to customers’ tables. Prices remain the same as before: 25,900 KRW for adults and 19,900 KRW for children.

At Rolling Hills Hotel in Hwaseong, part of the Haevichi Hotel group, buffet operations have been temporarily suspended in accordance with social distancing level 2 guidelines. Customers using packages that include breakfast buffet are instead offered set table meals. Customers can choose between Korean and Western set meals. The Korean single-item set includes assorted mushroom bulgogi, grilled fish, rice and soup, four Korean side dishes, egg dishes, bacon, sausage, salad, and juice. The Western set includes egg benedict, soup, three types of bakery items, cereal with milk, fruit salad, yogurt, and two types of juice. Children’s and under-48-month set menus are also available.

The hotel industry is under pressure because a 'gathering ban' order was issued for 12 types of high-risk multi-use facilities. Local governments nationwide have taken action following the government’s nationwide expansion of 'social distancing level 2.' Buffets are included among high-risk facilities, placing hotels’ food and beverage (F&B) businesses under significant impact. A hotel industry official said, "Since the COVID-19 outbreak, urban hotels have seen a sharp decline in room occupancy rates, making the F&B business even more important. Everyone is looking for ways to survive."

With large corporations fully adopting remote work systems due to the COVID-19 spread, unique package products targeting office workers have also been introduced. Moxy Seoul Insadong launched the 'Office in Moxy' package. It allows weekday check-in at 8 a.m. and check-out at 7 p.m. the same day, enabling guests to spend the day as if commuting to work. Simple snacks are provided, and guests can enjoy coffee in the exclusive lounge on the second floor.

Meanwhile, hotels are complying with safety guidelines such as temperature checks, mask-wearing, QR code check-in, maintaining distance while seated, providing disposable gloves and disinfectants, in accordance with the government’s social distancing level 2 guidelines and their own quarantine rules. They are also conducting disinfection cleaning throughout the entire hotel facility. Hotels pay close attention to rearranging customer flow and providing guidance inside restaurants to ensure safe social distancing practices.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.