Staycation Craze: Why More Koreans Prefer Hotel Holidays Over Travel

With the development of social media, sharing one’s daily life with others has become the norm. Among the trendsetting generation, staycations are gaining popularity. A staycation is a portmanteau of stay and vacation, meaning a vacation enjoyed at a hotel. Without traveling far, one can feel like they’re on a trip just by staying at a hotel, making it an appealing option for short periods.

It is easy to find recent hotel visit stories on Instagram and online communities that give different perspectives of their stays. Traditionally, hotels were primarily used for accommodation during travel or business trips. However, the new generation enjoys hotels as a form of play, taking advantage of the food and various facilities rather than just resting.

Hotel Shilla, led by the CEO of Samsung Group Lee Boo Jin, is often mentioned as a leading player in the staycation trend. Hotel Shilla, a representative tourism company in South Korea and a hotel operator, first opened the Seoul Shilla Hotel in Jangchung-dong in 1979. With a long history, it is recognized both domestically and internationally. In 2009, it was selected as one of the World’s Top 100 Hotels by INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR, and it was the first in Asia to win a Golden Award from the LHW Leaders Club. In Korea, it received a government award for sustainable management in 2023.

Due to its popularity, a search for Hotel Shilla Staycation on social media yields various reviews. One review by a user known has become a hot topic. The post received 35,000 likes. The room the reviewer chose at Hotel Shilla was the Executive Business Deluxe, known for offering guests access to a luxurious penthouse-style business space. The total amount paid, including value-added tax, was $870.20.

The reviewer documented their schedule from check-in until check-out which is from 3:00 PM until 11:00 AM. The reviewer also shared their experience using the hotel’s facilities which has been touted as a model for staycations in this generation. After checking in, the reviewer visited the lounge to enjoy the afternoon tea service. Then, they waited to enjoy Happy Hour in the evening with a great view.

The reviewer also enjoyed a workout at the hotel gym and visited the hotel pool the next morning, wrapping up their two-day and one-night staycation.

According to industry insiders, not only the current generation but also the “Yold” generations are increasingly visiting hotels as the travel industry recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Yold is a portmanteau of Young and Old, referring to seniors who are young at heart and in body compared to their age.

With ample financial resources and time, they are actively investing in staycations for themselves, emerging as an influential group in the industry.

According to one hotel, the number of hotel guests over 50 increased by 56% in January and February of last year compared to the same period the previous year. Also, the number of people over 50 joining the Euro Membership increased by about 15%. The industry believes that the current generation, who enjoyed staycations, brought their parents and expanded visitation.

On the other hand, there has been controversy recently as hotels stopped providing amenities due to regulations on disposable items. Users had to pay an additional fee to use the existing amenities, which generated criticism.