[Essential Pension Insights] EP.2 Pool Villas

Hey there! ONDA here — the digital backbone of Korea's accommodation ecosystem.

📍Essential Pension Insights: 4 must-know tips for pension operators

Welcome to Episode 2 of this series.

Demand for distinctive stays beyond standard hotels and pensions is rising — and pool villas have become Gen Z and Millennial favorites.

Why do they stay so popular?

According to Open Survey's H2 2022 research on domestic travelers, "excellent facilities" ranked #1 (across 1st/2nd/3rd choice) for why people choose premium pensions and pool villas.

The runner-up? "Great amenities."

In other words, the main draw is the facility itself — specifically, pool access.

So how can pool villa operators maximize guest satisfaction and revenue?

1. Run the pool year-round

"Water fun is a summer thing. No one's swimming in winter, right? We can just close it down."

If you've shut your pool for winter, rethink why guests pick pool villas in the first place.

Internal ONDA data shows that November–December 2022 pool villa bookings dropped only ~15% compared to peak summer (July–August).

Translation: winter demand isn't much lower than summer.

As we said: the whole point of a pool villa is the POOL.

No pool access = no reason to stay.

2. Keep the water pristine

Imagine arriving pumped to swim — only to find debris floating on the surface or settled on the bottom.

Guests will question not just water quality, but the entire property's cleanliness.

Satisfaction plummets. Bad reviews follow.

Changing the water after every check-out isn't realistic, especially for multi-unit properties.

That's why ongoing water maintenance matters.

Summer outdoor pools, if neglected, get slimy — or worse, algae blooms.

How do you maintain clean water?

Korea's Sports Facilities Act enforcement regulations spell it out:

3. Prevent accidents with clear safety rules

Diving mishaps, slips, falls — pools are inherently risky.

If an accident happens, liability hinges on whether you posted depth markers and "No Diving" warnings.

To prevent incidents, display safety guidelines prominently around the pool — like this:

4. Fight aesthetics with aesthetics: Market on Instagram

Your property's perfect — design, hygiene, water quality, safety signage — but bookings are still underwhelming?

You need to show up where your guests are.

Pool villas appeal most to Gen Z and Millennials who crave "aesthetic stays" — and they live on Instagram.

Instagram marketing is non-negotiable for this demographic.

With ONDA Pension Plus, you can list on up to 40 domestic and international channels — boosting revenue — plus receive ₩1.5M in marketing support.

Want to expand distribution AND get marketing support?

Inquire now