Major hotels in Gyeongju are turning the afterglow of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit into tourism products. They are repackaging the meals and rooms used by world leaders and first ladies during the summit as tourism content.
According to the industry on the 6th, Sono Calm Gyeongju is considering offering to general customers the menus served at the Korea-Canada leaders' luncheon and the Korea-Canada first ladies' tea meeting.
The luncheon featured a course that harmonized ingredients from both countries, including Canadian lobster, premium Korean beef, known as hanwoo, tenderloin steak, and five-color jeon, with desserts such as Wolmyeong cake, Promise of Wolji, and Gyeongju glutinous barley gava. In particular, Wolmyeong cake was praised by President Lee Jae-myung as "the taste is excellent," and the Canadian prime minister also noted it was "the best meal."
At the Korea-Canada first ladies' tea meeting, macarons embossed with both countries' flags, traditional gangjeong, Hwangnam bread, and barley gava were served. Barley gava is a tea brewed from roasted glutinous barley like coffee beans, a menu that highlights local specialty ingredients. After the event, inquiries about the menu surged, and Sono Calm is considering launching a formal menu that recreates the course from that time.
Hilton Gyeongju is reportedly preparing a package built around the room and meals used by former U.S. President Trump during the APEC meetings. It plans to launch as a formal menu the cheeseburger that the former president ordered through room service, reflecting the original order exactly, including extra American cheese, plenty of ketchup, and no vegetables.
Lahan Select will offer a lodging package that recreates the rooms used by Japan and Indonesia's leader-level dignitaries, while Kolon Hotel will present a Korean course meal using local ingredients paired with a wine program.
Buchang Confectionery's "Lee Jang-woo walnut cookies" were served as the official dessert during the APEC meetings and drew attention. During APEC, they served as the official dessert at major sessions such as the Concluding Senior Officials' Meeting (CSOM), the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Foreign Affairs and Trade (AMM), and the APEC CEO Summit. Hwangnam bread became a local specialty after Chinese President Xi Jinping mentioned it directly, drawing crowds of tourists.
An official in the tourism industry said, "With APEC as a turning point, a foundation has been laid for Gyeongju's cuisine and lodging resources to grow into global tourism content."