“Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit, der gemutlichkeit…Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit, der gemutlichket…Qans, Zwoa, drei!........G’Suffa!! Prost”
Annual Grand Hilton Seoul 2014 Oktoberfest blared with great fanfare in the Saturday evening, on Sep. 20th 2014 at the Convention Center, Grand Hilton Seoul with 1,200 guests & some distinguished dignitaries who included Germany Amb. Rolf Mafael, New Zealand Amb. Patrick John RATA, & Mme Reding (spouse of Swiss Amb. Jorg Alois REDING). O'zapft is - The 181st Oktoberfest in Germany has started! from Sep. 20th as well, ending on Oct. 5th in Germany.
▲ Flanked by right, Germany Amb. Rolf Mafael & left, Lufthansa German Airlines Country manager Christopher Zimmer, Grand Hilton General manager Bernhard Brender (center) heralds the opening of the 2014 Grand Hilton Oktoberfest.
Through its official opening ceremony held at 7.30 pm, General manager Bernhard Brender of the Grand Hilton Seoul expressed his gratitude for the participation of over 1,200 guests on behalf of Hilton International. Touching upon the 17th Incheon Asian Games which began on Friday, GM Brender quoted that the slogan of the 17th Incheon Asian Games is ‘Unity in diversity.
▲ Speed beer drinking competition
Tonight’s slogal too is ‘Unity in diversity’, he said, expressing his special thanks for the sponsors which included Lufthansa, Paulaner, Bosch, TUEV, Nespresso, Jaegermeister, & BECK’s, to name just a few. Germany Amb. Rolf Mafael who joined it with his wife, said with Korean: “I sincerely hope all of you will enjoy a pleasant time” through his welcoming remarks. Country manager Christopher Zimmer of Lufthansa German Airlines, Dr. Michael Grund of Merck Ltd. Korea, Dr. Stefan Dreyer of Goethe Institute, & Representative Bernhard Seliger of Hans Seidel Stiftung were on hand from German side. Starting from its welcome performance by the Oktoberfest Band (The Paulaner Band) at 8.00 pm, participants enjoyed arm wrestling competition (men & women) , hammering (men & women), and speed beer drinking (men & women) etc.
▲ Dance time
Giant raffles which included Lufthansa airline ticket to Europe & accommodation of Hilton Munich City, Taipei Landis Hotel accommodation (2 nights 3 days), 1 night stay in a Junior suite accommodation at Grand Hilton Seoul and more, added the pleasure of Oktoberfest in addition to Oktoberfest additional beverages such as German Schapps & Jaegermeister’s glass & bottle sales.
The Major of Munich tapping the first barrel.
On Saturday, 12 o'clock - high noon in the "Schottenhamel" beer tent: By tapping the first barrel of beer, Dieter Reiter started the 181st Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, according to the website of German Oktoberfest. Giving his debut at the Oktoberfest, Dieter Reiter, Mayor of Munich, has started the Oktoberfest by tapping the first barrel of beer in the Schottenhamel tent.
▲ Amb. & Mme. Mafael of Germany (center & second from left) pose at the podium with guests including former president Lee Cham of Korea National Tourism Organisation & his daughter (second & first from right) before the opening ceremony of the 2014 Grand Hilton Oktoberfest.
With four strikes, Reiter drove the tap into the barrel and spoke the magic words: "O'zapft is!" - "It's tapped!" The first mug of beer was then handed to the Bavarian Prime Minister, Horst Seehofer. Diter Reiter ended the opening ceremony by wishing everyone a peaceful Oktoberfest.
