Name: Byung-Tae Kim
Title: CEO and president
Company, city: Seoul Tourism Organization
Number of employees: 125
Recent project: Creating local, authentic experiences for MICE visitors through new initiatives
First job: Ahead of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, I noticed the only atlas maps were in Korean, and I published the first atlas maps of Korea in English, Chinese and Korean just in time for the event.
Little-known fact about you: For my mandatory military service, I was stationed in the DMZ, quite rigorous and tough but a rewarding and memorable experience.
Your Business
What innovations/initiatives do you foresee in the industry over the next years? Travelers no longer want to merely observe the local culture but rather immerse in it. That’s why we launched two new initiatives. The Discover Seoul Pass allows visitors to customize what they want to see; they can visit 16 top Seoul attractions in 24 hours for $37, and a 48-hour pass will be released soon. OneMoreTrip.net enables visitors to book unique local experiences like Korean brewery tours, barbecue tours and traditional tea drinking with foot baths. Following the mobile IT trend, the Pass offers an official mobile app that displays detailed information about attractions and the time left on the pass, while One More Trip lets sellers and purchasers conduct transactions on the website.
Best career advice you’ve received: There’s always something to learn by observing others. Don’t just pick up the strengths and best traits from talented and successful individuals but also observe aspects to avoid to prevent making the same mistakes.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the field? I strongly believe in the benefits of partnerships and wrote a book on the topic. There’s a limit to what you can achieve on your own, but the possibilities are endless when you partner. A good partnership makes up for each other’s weaknesses and strengthens each to do more.
Byung-Tae Kim as a Traveler
Favorite travel memory or story: As a travel agent, I took a VIP fam tour in Canada with a big group. When we had the opportunity to zipline, I volunteered to go first. Everyone was surprised, but they didn’t know that in my military service I rappelled from helicopters in the air. That, and the colorful socks I wore, apparently made an impression, as I was nicknamed “Mr. Socks” and even received bright red socks as a parting gift!
One travel tip you cannot live without: I research the destination beforehand including its history, top attractions and popular trends. It helps me appreciate the destination even more
Best advice for business travelers: Don’t overlook your health. Preparing your body before a trip with plenty of rest, exercise and a good diet ensures you’re at your best and ready for business as soon as you arrive.
About Seoul Tourism Organization
What can premium travelers expect from a visit to Seoul? Business and leisure travelers alike can expect a complete convention city, fulfilling their transportation needs with subways, buses and Uber to a range of accommodations from boutique hotels to large luxury complexes. They can shop at the largest range of duty-free stores in Seoul or experience our casinos. For a traditional view, travelers can walk through one of the royal palaces or the Korean War Memorial Museum and take tea at traditional tea houses. The experience starts with Incheon Airport, which has won best airport for 12 years and will expand as Terminal 2 is completed next year.
Tell our readers about Seoul Sky. Seoul Sky is part of the larger Lotte World Tower complex that fully opened in April. It’s currently the fifthtallest building in the world, and Seoul Sky is the world’s third-highest observatory, giving 360-degree views of Seoul and as far away as Incheon to the west. The deck will have a glass bottom for the more daring traveler.
What MICE offerings are available for travelers to Seoul? Seoul’s MICE program has a complete support system. We offer groups a range of tools and support from promotions, bidding, subventions and site inspections to welcome messages for guests at their airport arrival. STO can provide customized city tours that work best for your group and stay, with options like a full day of gastronomy experiences or a tour of palaces over a few days.
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Jul 26, 2024Accor Unveils Its First Handwritten Collection Brand in the United States
San Francisco, a city renowned for its commercial hubs and cultural sites, will become the first destination in the United States for one of Accor's newest brands, Handwritten Collection. The city’s Hotel Stratford San Francisco, Handwritten Collection is a European-style boutique property located near Union Square on the famous Powell Street cable car line. The area will now have the Handwritten Collection name behind it. The property becomes Accor's third hotel in San Francisco, joining the Fairmont properties atop Nob Hill and at Ghirardelli Square.
Sponsored Content
Why Buy Annual Travel Insurance?
One affordable plan can protect an entire year of trips: business or pleasure, short or long, domestic or international.
Global City Guidebook 2024
Jul 26, 2024Bask in Nature’s Tranquility at The Spa at Four Seasons Tamarindo
When the two of us entered The Spa at Four Seasons Tamarindo, past the backlit boutique items and local artisan-painted wood carvings, the place wrapped us in a feeling of tranquility. Its stone walls, earth tones, woven wall hangings and furniture made of natural materials reminded us we are part of nature’s spectrum, the abundant windows showing native plants and trees outside.
Daily
Jul 26, 20244 Boutique Hotels with Exclusive Wedding Buyout Offerings
Couples looking for an over-the-top wedding, consider one of these properties around the world, offering total property buyouts to say your “I do’s.”
Sponsored Content
Hotel Indigo: The World’s Neighborhood Hotel
Part of the IHG Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, Hotel Indigo is the world’s neighborhood hotel that celebrates how guests can discover, or rediscover, some of the most inspiring and culturally rich neighborhoods around the world. When staying at a Hotel Indigo hotel, it's not just about visiting a place — it's about being fully immersed in the neighborhood and wanting to take a little bit of it home. When traveling for business, Hotel Indigo offers a unique experience tailored to each location, making it the perfect choice to stay while traveling for work. With IHG Business Edge, travel managers have exclusive access to enticing perks, comprehensive travel metrics and carefully curated educational resources. It also includes a guaranteed discount on both business and personal travel for managers and employees, alongside an automatic upgrade to IHG One Rewards Silver Elite status after the initial IHG Business Edge stay.
Airlines
Jul 26, 2024BermudAir Maximizes Choices for Travelers with New Options
BermudAir announced an expanded fare structure, allowing customers to choose from five fare types across economy and business class, up from the previous three options. Travelers can now select fares based on their preferences for lounge access, checked baggage, change fees, refunds and priority boarding.
Discover Hvar, Croatia’s, Best-Kept Secrets
Daily
Jul 25, 2024Daily
Jul 24, 2024SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites Introduces Custom Wine Itineraries
SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites offers guests personalized journeys to Mendoza’s finest wineries from Susana Balbo’s family. Immerse yourself in bespoke wine itineraries recommended by Balbo, Argentina’s first female winemaker; her son and third-generation winemaker, José Lovaglio Balbo; and her daughter, hotelier and wine tourism marketer, Ana Lovaglio Balbo.
Sponsored Content
L’Ermitage: Your Beverly Hills Self-Care Haven
Nestled amidst the palm-lined boulevards of Beverly Hills, L'Ermitage exudes refined elegance and unparalleled service. This haven, a Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond and, most recently, Two Key MICHELIN Guide recipient, continues to captivate discerning travelers and Angelenos with its unwavering dedication to personalized hospitality and self-care.
eFlyer Reviews
Jul 24, 2024Althoff Grand Hotel Schloss Bensberg Review
After a long drive from our previous destination, it was a relief to see Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg in our view. When we pulled into the hotel court, I felt like we were pulling up to a royal palace. Considering the hotel was originally built as a castle for Prince Elector Johann Wilhelm II of Duesseldorf and his wife, Maria-Luisa of the Medici family, my thought wasn’t that far off.
ShareThis