Cancellations by FIFA hit Seoul hotel occupancy

One of the South Korean capital's biggest hotels has lower occupancy than normal during the World Cup and is blaming cancellations by football's ruling body for the shortfall.

Occupancy at the 1,300-bedroom Lotte hotel in Seoul is lower than last June. General manager Francois Cnockaert said: "We were expecting a higher occupancy for the World Cup."

Cnockaert said FIFA's action had left little space for his regular business and travel agency bookings. The hotel is now 80% full, compared with 87% in June last year.

A FIFA spokesman would not comment on this specific case but said the organisation had not brought fewer delegates to Japan and South Korea than planned. He added that they were based at 20 hotels in the two countries.

"No one could predict what would happen. It's the first time the World Cup has been held in Asia and the first time it has been held in two countries."

Cnockaert commented: "June is a strong month for Japanese tourists visiting Seoul. This year, because of the high tariffs and because the football is also taking place in Japan, they are staying at home."

Six World Cup games take place in Seoul. Cnockaert is one of three Europeans at the hotel, which employs 2,500 staff.

By Ben Walker

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 6-12 June 2002