South Korea bets on Paradise

US rock band Guns n’ Roses were thinking more about “green grass and pretty girls” when they recommended a trip to Paradise City in their song of that name. But the Paradise City Hotel & Resort in Incheon, a coastal city neighbouring Seoul, has other amusements in mind.
For one, there’s a giant yellow pumpkin sculpture in the lobby by celebrated Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.
In fact the resort complex, which boasts a five-star hotel, convention halls, shopping area, casino and high-end restaurants, is big on art.
“We wish to create a place where guests can experience all aspects of Hallyu, from culture, beauty and fashion to food,” says Shin Im-chul, marketing director of Paradise Sega Sammy. 
“Even a casual visit is highly entertaining because people can look around as if they were in a vast art gallery.”
The resort is designed for what the company calls “art-tainment”, combining the experience of viewing art along with various other forms of entertainment.
The plan is to eventually exhibit 2,740 artworks and most are already on display. These include works by British conceptual artist Damien Hirst and Italian architect Alessandro Mendini, whose gigantic sculpture of a chair greets visitors to the convention centre.
Sculptures and paintings are spread across the 339,000-square-metre complex a five-minute shuttle-bus ride from Incheon’s ultramodern airport.
Advice to first-time visitors: Just past the lobby, upon reaching the giant spiral staircase, look up. Korean designer Mioon’s diamond-shaped lighting composed of crystals is a sight to behold at any moment, but once an hour the entire structure changes shape.
A little further you see jazzy colours and the pinging sounds emanating from the casino. At 15,000 square metres it’s got room for 1,200 players among 450 gaming machines. There are separate rooms for VIP guests available on request. 
Unfortunately for local folks hoping to try their luck, the casino only lets in people carrying foreign passports, but it’s hardly the only facility worth visiting.
A spacious indoor-outdoor pool, fitness centre, family lounge and bowling alley are some of the features. In the Kids’ Zone, children can take part in various theme games.
The convention centre has one of the largest ballrooms in the country, along with various meeting rooms and event halls.
What’s said to be Korea’s only Royal Salute and Perrier-Jouet lounges are located on the second and third floors, where guests can indulge in fine drinks.
The presidential suite, royal suite, pool villa and grand deluxe pool villa come with hefty price tags, although the multiple bedrooms, in-house conference room, dining area and luxurious bathroom will tempt you.
In a bid to attract a wider range of guests, until June 22 the hotel is offering promotional packages that start at 300,000 won (Bt9,000) for a one-night stay, breakfast buffet for two and access to the fitness club and Sony PlayStation Zone. Packages for hotel members who pay an annual fee start at 230,000 won.
Of course visitors have to come prepared to spend much more, with Paradise City hosting seven restaurants, including the Michelin-star Chinese restaurant Imperial Treasure.
As an added bonus, guests staying in airport-side rooms can enjoy views of planes taking off and landing. The windows are bolted shut due to concerns about noise.
In July 2018 the resort will open more facilities, including a shopping area called Time Plaza, the Wonder Box gaming facility for families with young children, the Cimer spa and the nightclub Chromite.

Find out more at www.P-City.co.kr.