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1. Introduction 2. Major Activities
3. Special Activities

4. Offices 5. Staff
1. Introduction
The KTO Chicago office is the first stop for information about travel to Korea. We provide maps, travel guides, itinerary suggestions and other items to assist in planning a successful trip to Korea. The states served by this office are: AL, AR, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, ND, OH, OK, SD, TN, TX, WI.

We work in conjunction with our travel trade partners. Agents can request collateral material, office displays, posters and planning guides. We work with our tour operators and airlines to help create and promote travel products in various ways including joint promotions, KTO sponsored events, FAM trips to Korea, co-op advertising and other programs.

Our press releases and presentations keep travel journalists abreast of the latest happenings in Korea. We provide a large range of high-quality photos for press distribution through our www.photo-korea.org web site.

All of KTO's materials and services are provided free of charge.
2. Major Activities
[ MEDIA RELATIONS ]
• Advertising: We advertise various travel products and or images of Korea in various media including newspapers, magazines, billboards, TV and radio to help promote Korea as an exceptional travel destination in Asia for business, adventure (skiing), shopping, Buddhism/Temple stay, leisure, history, pop-culture 'Hallyu' ('Korean Wave', i.e. movies, TV programs, TV commercials, music, k-pop & fashion/shopping), culture/pottery/etc and culinary delight.
• Promotions: We promote Korea to special interest groups i.e. Taekwondo enthusiasts, Korean adoptive families, Korean War Veterans, clubs, associations, universities, groups and the travel industry, such as airlines, travel agencies, meeting planners, incentive travel and to the general public at large.
• Travel/Trade shows: The KTO Chicago branch office is extremely active in attending travel and trade shows and we also have the IT&ME, which is the largest Travel industry show here in Chicago every year. In 2005 we have attended the IT&ME (Chicago), United Airlines Vacations product Launch, Carlson Wagonlit Travel Expo, MAST, ASTA, PATA, NAFSA, ISTTE Conference, and etc
• Public Relations: The KTO head office in conjunction with the Chicago KTO branch office, work to develop positive media publicity for Korea domestically to leverage Korea's advertising/promotional campaigns, and increase public awareness of Korea as a tourism destination. Activities include identifying media coordinating media tours (FAM tours) throughout Korea, and serving as a central information source for press releases and feature article materials. The primary objective of this program is to generate Korea travel-related feature articles by working with regional, national and travel trade publications, and establishing relationships with television producers and radio programs to create opportunities to promote Korea.
• Press releases (Click here!): On a regular base we send out press releases to major media and also post our press releases on our website at www.tour2korea.com to inform people about upcoming events, promotions and activities. We specifically try to show what the KTO Chicago branch office is doing in its efforts to promote Korea as a tourist destination and more specifically to send Americans to Korea.
• Public Speaking: On occasion we will go to various functions, meetings, public libraries, congresses, conferences, schools, etc and give presentations on Korea. We do not charge for this service and we find that it is very beneficial to increasing the general public's awareness of Korea especially in a positive light.
[ TRAVEL PRODUCTS & PROGRAMS ]
• Co-Promotions: The Chicago branch office has had the pleasure to work with the airlines below to jointly promote Korea and have made several different packages and have run several sales promotions and for the most current promotions please contact our office.
  1. United Airlines: (2004, 2005 &, 2006). Please contact us for current promotions.
  2. United Vacations: (2005 & 2006). Please contact us for current promotions.
  3. Japan Airlines: (2005). Please contact us for current promotions.
  4. Asiana: (2005 & 2006). Please contact us for current promotions.
  5. Korean Air: Please contact us for current promotions.
• MICE: The Chicago office KTO strives to promote Korea's world class, state-of-the-art convention centers to American groups, organizations, conferences, meeting planners and associations. Korea has had the pleasure to host numerous international events.

1. Meetings/Meeting Planners/Incentive Travel: The central part of the United States is headquarters for many national and international associations planning international meetings. Chicago is the location for the largest meeting and incentive trade show in the country and KTO organizes a pavilion to showcase travel to the country on an annual basis.

2. Conventions/Congresses/Conferences/Exhibition: Korea has excellent convention facilities through out Korea. Listed below are the major convention centers.
2.1 Seoul: Seoul is the capital of Korea with over 600 years of history. It is the heart of Korea's culture and education as well as politics and economics. Seoul is unique in that historical sites such as Gyeongbokgung Palace and modern cultural facilities coexist in harmony. Seoul is a world-class city with numerous amenities and shopping districts such as Myeong-dong and Apgujeong.
COEX: COEX is a world-class, state of the art international convention and exhibition center. The center has 12 multi-function exhibition halls, around 100 conference rooms including the Convention Hall which can hold up to 7,000 people. The COEX has already proved itself by hosting many of important international conferences, including ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) and International Geographical Congress.
KINTEX: Through our inaugural functions and the opening exhibition of the Seoul Motor Show, KINTEX grabbed the full attention of the people. By attracting more than one million visitors and generating greater economic ripple effects than expected, the grand opening of KINTEX has illustrated the Korean exhibition industry's potential to achieve success. KINTEX has already induced top 5 exhibitions of Korea. We have made a big progress in combining exhibitions of similar types into unified world-scale trade shows. Through these achievements we have secured a basis for enabling participants to obtain maximum ROI for their endeavors.
CONVEX: ConvEx Korea Inc. stands for Convention and Exhibitions in Korea. Since its foundation in 1998, ConvEx has organized many important conventions and symposia for such organizations as the Federation of Korean Industries, UNDP, Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Fisheries, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Busan Metropolitan Government, Gyeonggi-do Provincial Government, and the Japanese government, Education Broadcasting Corporation (EBS), Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) and Korea Gas Union.
2.2 Daegu: Daegu is one of the largest cities in Korea and it is a basin surrounded by mountains. The major tourist attractions include, Donghwasa Temple, Mt. Biseulsan Provincial Park and Mt. Palgongsan Provincial Park. In Mt. Biseulsan Park, there is a plain four kilometers in diameter where the blossom of the azalea and purple eulalia offers exquisite scenery in the spring and fall.
EXCO: EXCO offers more than 11,000 of highly flexible exhibition space arranged in a series of 3 levels: 1st, 3rd, and 5th floor. The exhibition hall on each level can be divided into two small halls. The column-free convention hall on the 5th floor, with the space of 3,872, is specially designed for varied large events like conventions, exhibitions, and music concerts.
2.3 Changwon: Gyeongsangnam-do is rich in tourist sites, particularly the mountains and national marine parks. Haeinsa Temple and Tongdosa Temple provide visitors the opportunity to visit two of the largest temples in Korea. Busan is the second largest city in Korea and plays a major role in international trade and cultural exchanges.
CECC (Changwon Exhibition & Convention Center): The CECO is equipped with integrated service systems and staffed by the best exhibition and convention professionals, enabling international exhibitions, conventions and various events to take place. We look forward to participating in successful business ventures with you.
2.4 Busan: Busan is the second largest city in Korea. As a major port city, there is a myriad of sea routes offering gateways to Japan and to the rest of the world. Busan also boasts scenic visions of nature with Nakdonggang River flowing in the west adjacent to the ocean at the south and Buddhist Temples like Beomeosa Temple in the surrounding mountains. Its landscape includes a coastline with fine beaches (Songjeong Beach, Haeundae Beach, and Gwangalli Beach) scenic islets and tall mountains. The Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF) is held annually and attracts movie buffs enthusiasts from all over the world.
BEXCO: We intend to maximize the momentum to be gained on the occasion of hosting the 2005 APEC summit, even as we upgrade the quality of international events already situated in Busan into world-class exhibitions such as the Busan Int'l Motor Show, the Korea Railways & Logistics Fair, the Marine Week and the Busan Int'l Machinery Technology Fair.
IOCONVEX: IOCONVEX, a professional conference, exhibition, hospitality, and event planning company is a board member of Korea Convention and Event Association as well as Korea Exhibition Association. At the same time, it is an official promoting company of Reed Exhibitions, one of the world's leading exhibition organizers. We, at IOCONVEX provide the optimum convention service through our professional know-how, manpower, and expertise critical for organizing a convention (international conferences, exhibitions, events and hospitality). If you are serious about organizing a successful convention, IOCONVEX is the answer.
2.5 Jejudo Island: Jeju-do is the premier tourist destination in Korea because of the stunning natural scenery and superior tourist amenities. Scenic beaches, waterfalls, cliffs and caves lie in harmony, and the mild weather makes Jeju-do an even more ideal tourist destination. Mt. Hallasan in Jeju-do has flora and fauna of both temperate and tropical varieties, coexisting on the mountain. The Jungmun Tourist Complex is a comprehensive tourist resort and provides top-quality accommodations and tourist facilities including several super deluxe hotels (Lotte, Shilla, and Hyatt Regency).
ICC Jeju: ICC Jeju is the optimal venue for important convention requiring a high degree of security or escape from the madding crowd, in a wonderful resort setting, together with a spectacular natural environment. ICC Jeju is the most beautiful convention center in the world, in the most exciting destination in Northeast Asia. We opened in March 2003. With meticulous professionalism, state-of-the-art facilities, and faithful cooperation from local residents, we guarantee a most satisfying meeting environment. Please avail yourself of our facilities.

• Education Market: The Chicago office has been working diligently in this new area in partnership with Global Tracks Travel agency to help send groups of students to Korea for short trips, especially focusing on Executive MBA & MBA groups. We have sent two groups in 2005, with one going only to Korea for an in-depth tour (NDSU) for video highlights of the NDSU 2005 trip to Korea, [Click here] of Korea and the other to Korea and China for a comparison contrast trip (Loyola University Chicago). There was also a group of 70 from (Rollins College). For more information please contact us for a brochure.
• Taekwondo & Sports Tours: KTO has taken exhibit space and participated in several sporting events to support Taekwondo Tours to Korea and World Cup preparations.
  1. Bally Total Fitness TKD Tour: please contact us for a brochure.
  2. TKD Tours: please contact us for a brochure.
• Adoptive Families: Families returning to Korea with their adopted Korean-American children has become a busy business for several agencies in the Midwest. KTO works with these groups to support their marketing and tour success. We also work with the 20+ "kimchi camps" in our region.

1. Dillon International Inc.
Dillon International offers adoption tours with a personal touch!Travel in small groups and visit cultural and historical sites including Seoul, Gyeongju and Busan. Visit schools and spend the evening in the home of a Korean family. Experience "hands on" cultural activities. Visit the Eastern Social Welfare Society and other agencies, birthplaces and foster parents. Search assistance and counseling is provided. Escorted by adoptive parents adult adoptee and social workers.

2. Children's Home Society of Minnesota
Established in 1889 and over the past 30 years, about 8,000 Korean Adoptee have been adopted through the Children's Home Society of Minnesota.

3. Tempo Travel
  * Korean Ties Program
    - Visit child's agency & foster family
    - Ties Program "Talk Times"
    - Child friendly & "Adoption Aware"
    - Assistance locating people & places important to each family

4. World Travel
• Homeland Tours: KTO Chicago works very closely with our Korean travel agencies and airlines to promote joint marketing efforts in the Korean communities. We were a major sponsor of the Korean Street Festival in Chicago, participated in the Korean Festival in Dallas, and distributed information at cultural performances and other gatherings. Click on the link for information on the Family Ties Program.
• Temple stay/Buddhism/Zen Meditation/Martial Arts Tours: Our office is happy to help introduce groups of people wanting to go to Korea for temple stay tours that can be tailored to your individual tastes by participating travel agencies specializing in temple stay. For more information, please click here.
• Veterans Tours: With the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War in progress, KTO has been actively recruiting veterans groups for Anniversary Tours to Korea. We have been working with the national organizations of American Legion and VFW, as well as local chapters of the Korean War Veterans Association and the Chosun Few to encourage more visits by veterans. KTO offers a medal ceremony and dinner in Korea for each veteran group. Please contact us with inquiries about veteran's group tours to Korea and let us assist you in planning your trip, please click here.

1. A Revisit Korea Tour for Korean War Veterans: 2006
The Korea Tourism Organization presents the AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE MEDAL & OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION CERTIFICATE. This package is 11 nights and 13 days and includes round trip airfare, hotels, meals and all transfers along with an English speaking guide. Please contact us for information on departure dates and cost.
3. Special Activities
• FAM Tours (Familiarization Tours): We have been actively sending media and travel agency groups to Korea to help promote Korea. These groups are usually sponsored by the KTO, Ministry of Culture & Tourism, national and regional local governments and non-governmental groups, including hotels, airlines and associations. If you work for a media company (newspaper, magazine, TV station & etc) or a large travel agency please contact us about possible future upcoming FAM trips to Korea.
• Korea Promotions: We are actively working with Korean city and provincial governments to help promote specific destinations in Korea in conjunction with special promotions, such as the visit Gangwon-do Province 2005 or the 'Korean Wave' marketing event of 2005 by the KTO head office in Seoul.
• Korean Festivals: There are a plethora of Korean festivals held every month through out the Republic of South Korea. Please follow the link above or contact us for a brochure on Korean festivals.
• Public Speaking/Presentations: We provide guest speakers to groups who wish to know more about Korea. Contact us if you would like a guest speaker to come to your organization. This service is based on location and availability.
• Membership & Affiliations:
  1. PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Midwest Chapter
  2. ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents)
  3. SITE (Society of Incentive Travel Executives)
  4. MPI (Meeting Professionals International) Chicago Chapter
  5. ISTTE (Int'l Society of Travel & Tourism Educators)
  6. NACTA (The National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents)
  7. BAC (Broadcast Advertising Club of Chicago)
  8. MTSA (Midwest Travel Suppliers Association)
  9. PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association)
  10. MBTA (Midwest Business Travel Association)
  11. NBTA (National Business Travel Association)
4. Offices
• Address
  737 N. Michigan Avenue Suite 910 Chicago, IL 60611
• Tel
  312-981-1717 or 800-868-7567
• Fax
  312-981-1721
• E-mail
  chicago@kntoamerica.com
• Hours
  Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (Closed Holidays)
* The office is located in the building above the Neiman Marcus department store (Olympia Center). Access is through the entrance on Chicago Avenue.
5. Staff

 

 

Manager
Soyeon Mun

Information Officer
Jinny Han
 

 
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