New York City and Seoul Announce City-ho-City Partnership to Stimulate Travel

10/4/11


NEW YORK CITY AND SEOUL ANNOUNCE CITY-TO-CITY PARTNERSHIP TO STIMULATE TRAVEL BETWEEN THE TWO DESTINATIONS



Korean Air Offers Limited Time KRW 1,310,000 Fare from Seoul to NYC and USD $1,295 Fare from NYC to Seoul



—Partnership Marks First Time New York City has Signed a Joint Tourism Agreement with a City in Asia—



 



Seoul, South Korea (October 4, 2011) – The Seoul Metropolitan Government today joined NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, and Korean Air, to announce a first-ever city-to-city partnership to boost tourism between Seoul and New York City. Acting Mayor of Seoul Young-Gyu Kwon, NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta, and Korean Air Managing Vice President Kee-Hong Woo made the announcement this morning at Seoul City Hall. The one-year agreement—the first of its kind between New York City and a city in Asia—includes a reciprocal multimedia marketing exchange between the two destinations and a special, limited-time Korean Air airfare deal of starting from KRW 1,310,000 for flights from Seoul to NYC, and starting from USD $1,295 for flights from NYC to Seoul. Bookings can be made by visiting nycgo.com, the official tourism website for New York City.



“Seoul will be able to formulate a base in becoming one of the top 5 global cities and will be able to attract 10 million tourists while New York will establish the grounds to attract 50 million tourists and create new jobs as a result of the economic stimulation. We are certain it will become a model project for advanced city-based marketing,” said Young-Gyu Kwon, the acting Mayor of Seoul, as he congratulated the Seoul and New York collaborative agreement.”



“Korean Air will join forces to connect Seoul and New York, thus boosting traffic between the cities and resulting in cultural exchange and the increased awareness about each other’s cultures. I hope to see great things happen in this collaborative effort with Korean Air and New York City,” added Mayor Kwon.



“Our new partnership with Seoul in collaboration with Korean Air is an innovative alliance, which will help us build tourism between our two cities, creating demand for the holiday and winter travel periods, including the Lunar New Year. With South Korea’s status as a visa waiver country, there’s outstanding potential to further grow the volume of travel between two of the world’s great cities.  We look forward to cultivating this important partnership to enhance our respective economies and to showcase the vibrancy and excitement our two cities share,” said George Fertitta, NYC & Company’s CEO.



The special, limited-time Korean Air flights from Seoul to New York City must be purchased by October 31, and travel must be taken between November 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012 (restrictions apply; prices exclude fuel surcharges and taxes). Flights from New York City to Seoul must be purchased by October 28, and travel must be taken between November 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012 (restrictions apply; price includes fuel surcharges, but not taxes). To book, go to nycgo.com, the official tourism website for New York City. See attached addendum for Korean Air’s Terms & Conditions.



“We are delighted to be able to play a part in the promotion of tourism between Seoul and New York City, and foster closer collaboration between these two cities. Through this joint marketing effort, it will see the relationship between the two cities strengthened, and we hope that this will create an opportunity for both cities to learn from each other’s culture. We will work hand-in-hand to make this partnership a success,” noted Mr. Kee-Hong Woo, Korean Air’s Managing Vice President and Head of Passenger Business Division.



The city-to-city marketing exchange includes a swap of outdoor media and online assets. In Seoul, 133 posters promoting NYC will appear in the financial, shopping and entertainment districts such as Jongno (downtown area), Gangnam (South of Seoul targeting consumers with high income bracket), and in the main train station, 'Seoul Station'. In New York City, 70 posters promoting Seoul with an estimated 31 million impressions will appear throughout the City; in addition, digital ads will appear on the Clear Channel Spectacular screen in Times Square.



As part of the new agreement, New York City and Seoul will also share best practices in tourism management in an effort to increase the number of visitors between both markets in the year ahead.   



In 2010, New York City welcomed 223,000 visitors from South Korea, a 10 percent increase over the previous year.  Visitors from South Korea spent an average of $2,800 per visit and collectively $624 million in 2010.  Seoul welcomed 653,000 visitors from the U.S. in 2010, a 7 percent increase over the year before.



To better communicate with Korean consumers, NYC & Company today unveiled a new Facebook page promoting the NYC destination and all the five boroughs (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx and Staten Island) have to offer.  The new page can be viewed at facebook.com/nycgo.kr.



Korean Air recently debuted its new A380 equipment for daily service between Seoul and New York’s JFK Airport in September 2011.  The airline’s Boeing 777 aircraft will be used for the other flights.



South Korea was admitted to the U.S. Visa Waiver program in November, 2008. In July 2007, NYC & Company established its representative tourism office in Seoul.



 



About NYC & Company:
NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide. For the official source on all there is to see and do in New York City, go to nycgo.com.



 



About Seoul :
Seoul is the capital city of the Republic of Korea and it is the place where Korea’s traditional and modern cultures coexist. Geographically, it is an extraordinary example of a good location, as mountains, rivers, and urban spaces all combine to produce a picture-perfect city. Recently, Seoul was appointed a UNESCO City of Design. For more information, go to: http://english.seoul.go.kr



 



About Korean Air:
Korean Air, with a fleet of 139 aircraft, is one of the world's top 20 airlines, and operates almost 400 flights per day to 116 cities in 39 countries. It is a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance, which together with its 15 members, offers its487 million annual passengers a worldwide system of more than 14,500 daily flights covering 916 destinations in 173 countries.
 
In 2010, Business Traveler named Korean Air the best Asian airline for the fourth consecutive year and best transpacific business class for the fifth straight year, while Global Traveler awarded the airline with best business class seat design and best airport staff/gate agent. The carrier won the 2010 global travel catering distinction award by Pax International magazine while World Traveler magazine rated it as having the world’s best inflight service.  Travel & Leisure magazine readers say it is one of the world’s top 10 international airlines and readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine voted Korean Air one of the world’s top ten global airlines.
 
More on Korean Air's programs, routes, frequencies and partners is available at koreanair.com.



 



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Contact:   Chris Heywood/NYC & Company   212-484-1270