Seoul is a city not content to rest upon its laurels. This year, the South Korean capital was ranked fourth worldwide in the Union of International Associations meetings statistics report for 2013, and it also entered the International Congress and Convention Association's top 10 city rankings, placing ninth.
Further advancing the city's growing reputation as a global MICE destination, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has developed and released a long-term, three-phase "Master Plan" for continuing to evolve Seoul into a global business and events hub. With so many new developments taking place here, it's no wonder that its reputation as a meetings destination continues to grow.
The Master Plan's first phase, which included the debut of two innovative venues -- the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Floating Island complex -- is already in full swing. Opened in March, Dongdaemun Design Plaza was designed by Pritzker award-winning architect Zaha Hadid, and has nearly 932,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The second phase, which is scheduled for completion in 2020, will include the addition of Seoul's largest meetings complex in the Yeongdong area, which is also home to the Coex Convention and Exhibition Center, as well as the city's famous Gangnam district. As part of phase three, a separate MICE zone in the Magok area, located near Seoul's Gimpo International Airport, will be added by 2030.
The variety of world-class accommodations in Seoul is also expanding. In February, the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square, Marriott's second JW Marriott property in Seoul, opened. The city's first Aloft hotel is slated to open in October. Next May, Seoul will welcome its first Four Seasons, and in 2016, Hyatt Place is expected to debut.
Many services and support offerings are available to international event planners. The Seoul MICE Alliance (SMA) comprises 143 partners made up of Seoul's major convention centers, hotels, corporate entertainment agencies, tourism services, and various other businesses. Planners who utilize SMA member companies enjoy additional benefits if they receive public assistance in attracting, holding, and promoting events.
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