"'Akangs' Instead of 'Hokangs'... Exhibitions to Enjoy at Hotels Are Rising"

Major Hotel Booking Rates Soar
‘Akangs’ Enjoying Exhibitions Gain Popularity

As we enter the endemic era, the hotel industry is beginning to stretch its legs in earnest, and 'Arcance (Art + Hokangseu),' which allows guests to enjoy cultural exhibitions within hotels, is emerging as a new trend. This targets customers' desire to gain physical and mental rest in the comfortable spaces of hotels, and related products are pouring out.

According to the industry on the 21st, with the easing of COVID-19 quarantine guidelines, the reservation rates of major domestic hotels this year have recovered to levels comparable to those before the pandemic. The reservation rate in January, which included the Lunar New Year holiday, increased by 404% compared to the same period last year, and the reservation rate for the first quarter of this year also rose by 51% compared to last year. As of October last year, the number of foreign tourists also surged by more than 415% year-on-year to about 476,000, leading to many analyses predicting a boom in the domestic hotel industry this year.

Kaws' representative series 'Companion' exhibited at the Walkerhill Hotel 'Kaws Exhibition'
[Photo provided by Walkerhill Hotel & Resort]

Accordingly, the industry is also launching unique products one after another to attract visitors. In particular, Arcance products targeting the 'Hokangseu' group, who prefer to minimize outdoor activities and stay in hotels to heal, are gaining popularity.

Recently, Walkerhill Hotel & Resort launched the 'Vista X Print Bakery' package, which allows guests to enjoy both a stay at Walkerhill and visit the 'KAWS Collection Exhibition.' Customers who purchase this package can view the KAWS Collection Exhibition free of charge at the Vista Walkerhill Print Bakery flagship store until June 7. The exhibition is known to display a total of 51 works, including print series and art toys by the world-renowned pop artist KAWS. Walkerhill explained that the package was prepared to convey a new healing trend called 'Art Hokangseu.'

The Westin Chosun Seoul also introduced the 'Edward Hopper Exhibition' package, allowing guests to enjoy both Hokangseu and cultural life simultaneously. Customers who purchase the package receive a room stay voucher and tickets to Edward Hopper's 'On the Road' exhibition held at the Seoul Museum of Art, enabling them to enjoy both a hotel stay and cultural activities. InterContinental Seoul COEX has also been running an event since the end of last month, offering VIP tickets to 'Picasso and 20th Century Masters,' where guests staying in classic rooms can see original works by 20th-century masters such as Picasso, Andy Warhol, and Marc Chagall.

An industry official said, "Recently, hotels are evolving into complex cultural spaces that combine food, sights, and entertainment," adding, "As the weather gets hotter, the demand from visitors who want to enjoy exhibitions in city hotels while experiencing a vacation atmosphere is expected to increase."

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