South Korean rapper Psy performs his massive hit Gangnam Style live on NBC’s Today show, Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, in New York.Jason DeCrow/The Associated Press
You know the song. You also know the dance thanks to the most viewed YouTube clip ever. Now the Seoul Tourism Organization has posted its own video on the site, hoping that the frenzy over rapper PSY's Gangnam Style will bring visitors and conferences to the district. The new video features lots of Gangnam Style cavorting, but the hard-sell message emphasizes that Gangnam is a trendy hangout known for its nightlife, shopping, leisure, business and conventions.
Sleep past checkout
An Australian hotel chain is giving a new meaning to late checkout. From Dec. 16 to Jan. 13, three five-star Art Series Hotels in Melbourne will give guests the chance to keep their room for a few hours or for one or more nights free, provided it is not already booked. Conditions apply. It's the first guests to phone reception between 8 and 11 a.m. who get to stay until the next guest arrives.
Louvre north
The Louvre, the most famous museum in Paris, has opened a branch in Lens, an impoverished town in northern France best known for its abandoned coal mines and closed businesses. Exhibits include Cycladic sculptures, Egyptian statues, Italian church mosaics and Leonardo da Vinci's The Virgin with child and Saint Anne. Officials hope the glass and aluminum showplace will draw 700,000 visitors a year and bring the local economy back to life.
Sources: Art Series Hotels, Seoul Tourism Organization, The Canadian Press