Hotels offer year-end dance parties

Major Seoul hotels want to help people see the outgoing year off joyfully and to make a fresh start for the new year with diverse events.

The Swiss Grand Hotel will hold a ¡°Play Party¡± that young lovers can participate in with less burden at its Grand Ballroom on Dec. 30. The programs will feature the performance of underground rock band Why Not, a club dance, teaching couples how to dance, and a dance concert, a contest for participants. The party will open at 6 p.m. through 2 a.m. the next day.

For a year-end party held at a hotel, the admission fee is rather cheap at 25,000 won per couple, which will cover one cocktail, a glass of beer, a glass of juice and snacks. Six-hundred people will be admitted on a first-come-first-served basis through telephone reservations (822-2287-8059), and the hotel will offer party bags as gifts to all participants.

The Seoul Renaissance Hotel has prepared its Year-end Dance Party to open at 7 p.m. Dec. 30 through 1 a.m. the next day, featuring a first-class buffet and performance by a Philippine rock band.

The party will feature a talent contest with the participants, to be emceed by a popular disc jockey, and draft beer and beverages will be provided indefinitely. A lottery will be held for prizes such as tickets for a tour of two nights and three days to the Philippines and lodging tickets for domestic hotels.

The price is 80,000 won per person, and 250 couples are expected. Telephone: (822-2222-8700).

The Seoul Hyatt Grand Hotel will hold Dance Zone 2001 featuring a fashion show and dance shows to music of hip hop, techno and disco styles, from 8:30 p.m. Dec. 30 to 3:30 a.m. Dec. 31 at its Grand Ballroom.

Admission fee is 30,000 won per person. Beverages and dolls will be offered to customers. On New Year¡¯s Eve, the hotel will hold a colorful Countdown Show, including indoor fireworks. For further information, call (822-799-8475).