Wintertime in Gangwon Province

Located in the northeast corner of the Korean peninsula, Gangwon Province is rich in natural retreats. The coastal area is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the nation, and its many mountains make it a popular destination for skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports. The province even hosted the Winter Olympics back in 2018, inviting thousands of athletes and guests from all around the world.

Today, groups can visit the same ski resorts used for the Olympic Games and test out their skills on the slopes. Even first time skiers can have a good time, with slopes ranging in difficulty from beginner to expert, plus lessons available for groups. With activities, accommodation, and meeting facilities all in the same location, Gangwon’s ski resorts offer a convenient option for MICE groups.

In this month’s feature article, we share a selection of ski resorts in Gangwon Province, perfect for large scale incentives, conventions, and more. Read on to get ideas for future winter events!

 

Phoenix Pyeongchang

 

 

 

If you caught any of the snowboarding events at the 2018 Winter Olympics, you’re already familiar with Phoenix Pyeongchang, an integrated resort complex located in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. The resort hosted the freestyle skiing and most of the snowboarding events for the Olympic Games, so the snow park is equipped with Olympic standard snowboarding facilities.

 

 

As an integrated resort, Phoenix Pyeongchang offers much more than just the snow park. The resort is equipped with its own country club and water park, plus plenty of accommodation options. The snow park is home to the second largest number of ski slopes in Korea with a total of 22 slopes, ranging in level from beginner to expert, to accommodate all levels of skiers.

 

 

 

For groups staying overnight, three condominium buildings (756 rooms), one hotel (141 rooms), and four villa buildings provide plenty of space even for large incentive groups. Delegates can ski and snowboard to their heart’s content, and head right to their hotel room to unwind after a long day. Groups can also hold events or meetings inside any of the 13 convention halls located throughout the resort. Snowboard like an Olympian at Phoenix Pyeongchang!

[Official site]

 

 

 

Alpensia Ski Resort

 

 

 

Located in Pyeongchang, Alpensia Ski Resort is a popular venue for MICE events, with its own private convention center inside the resort grounds. Alpensia hosted the cross-country skiing, biathlon and ski jumping events for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, and also served as an Olympic Village for the athletes.

 

 

 

The resort is ideal for group events as there is a convention center onsite. The Alpensia Convention Center provides a total floor space of 48,900 m2. The main hall can accommodate up to 2,500 guests and 14 meeting rooms are available to be used as break out rooms.  

In addition to the convention center, a unique feature which sets Alpensia apart is the Ski Jumping Center, which has been selected as a Korea Unique Venue. For a memorable experience, groups can hold events at the center’s observation deck, which can accommodate up to 150 standing or 50 banquet style. The observation deck provides a 360-degree view of the entire resort from above. For extra large-scale meetings, such as incentive groups, the ski jumping center’s grass field can accommodate over 10,000 standing and 5,000 banquet style.

 

  

 

There are three accommodation facilities on-site, so groups can choose whichever option suits their needs. For a luxury option, the five-star Intercontinental Alpensia Pyeongchang Resort offers luxury accommodations with 238 rooms. The Holiday Inn Resort offers rooms specialized for families and groups with children, and is directly connected to the convention center for easy access. Also available is the Holiday Inn Suites with 419 rooms.

[Official site]

 

 

 

Yongpyong Ski Resort

 

 

 

Yongpyong Ski Resort was the first ski resort to open in Korea back in 1975. It is the biggest ski resort in Korea, with a total of 31 slopes. The venue hosted the alpine competitions for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.

 

 

 

In addition to the slopes, the resort is home to a 45-hole golf course, hotels, condominiums and a water park. There are plenty of activities for those who are not a fan of skiing or snowboarding, including the Mount Balwangsan cable car which offers a breathtaking view of Balwangsan Mountain and the resort, a luge, a sledding hill, a mountain coaster, zipline and more.

 

 

 

The venue has been a popular filming location for Korean dramas, including the classic “Winter Sonata” and the more recent favorite, “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God”. The resort was one of the main locations for “Winter Sonata”, so many of the locations throughout the resort appeared in the drama. Fans of the drama can even do an entire themed tour around the resort.

 

 

 

Accommodations include the Dragon Valley Hotel, three condominiums, five residences and a youth hostel for a total of 2,274 rooms. The resort also offers a number of meeting spaces in various sizes, including the Grand Ballroom. Also available is the ‘Yongpyong Dome’ for large events such as the Winter Asian Games. It is also a good option for movie projections, awards shows and concerts.

 

[Official site]

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