news

IAAPA Expo 2023: Industry legends to share insights as panel explores launch of Universal Beijing during global pandemic

A panel of legends representing the elite of the attractions industry will share strategies utilised by Universal Beijing Resort to successfully open despite facing major challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic

The Legends Panel takes place on November 15, during the IAAPA Expo in Orlando, Florida

At this year’s IAAPA Expo, the always-popular Legends Panel will explore the trials faced by the Universal Beijing Resort before its opening in 2021.

Taking place on November 15, this year’s panel will share the “valuable lessons, tools and strategies” utilised by the resort to successfully open despite facing major challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting global lockdowns.

The panel, helmed as always by attractions industry icon and BRC founder Bob Rogers, includes legends such as Tom Mehrmann, who served as president and general manager of Universal Beijing during its development, as well as president of Habas Entertainment, Sylvia Hase, and former president of Universal Creative, Mike Hightower.

The group will discuss the ingenuity, creativity, problem-solving and leadership that went into the development of Universal Beijing, as well as share unique insights and valuable life lessons that attendees can apply to their own work.



All three legends are prominent figures in the attractions industry and have worked extensively with Universal.

Mehrmann currently serves as president and chief operating officer of Universal Destinations and Experiences, Pacific Rim. During his tenure as president and general manager of Universal Beijing, he worked alongside Universal Creative, the Chinese government and other Chinese partners to develop the resort’s operations teams and strategies.

His experience also includes a 13-year stint as CEO of Ocean Park Hong Kong, competing against the likes of Disney Hong Kong. Mehrmann also authored the book Taming the Mouse, in which he details his experiences competing against Disney and shares the leadership and management practices “instrumental” in Ocean Park’s success.

As president of Hasbas Entertainment, Hase has created an impressive body of award-winning events and live shows in the US, Asia, Europe and South America, including Universal Beijing’s Thea Award-winning ‘Untrainable – The How to Train Your Dragon Stage Spectacular’, as well as the park’s daily ‘Universal on Parade’, which features floats and characters based on several IPs including Despicable Me, Minions, Shrek and Kung Fu Panda.

Hightower, now retired, was named president of Universal Creative after 26 years with Universal Parks and Resorts, where he oversaw the creation of several Universal theme parks, resorts and CityWalk attractions in Singapore, the US, Spain, Dubai and China. As Universal Parks and Resorts’s senior VP, Hightower was also responsible for the delivery of the division’s largest property to date; Universal Beijing Resort.

The Legend’s Panel forms part of this year’s IAAPA Expo, which takes place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, US, from November 13 - 17.

---

IAAPA Expo 2023

The premier event for the global attractions industry, this year’s IAAPA Expo features a sold-out trade show floor made up of more than 1,100 exhibitors from around the world alongside a comprehensive education programme with more than 100 sessions led by industry experts across a multitude of topics, the Expo represents the largest gathering of amusement park and attractions professionals anywhere in the world.

Carrying on from Vienna, Austria, where it served as a key media partner for IAAPA Expo Europe in September, Planet Attractions will be in attendance as a media partner in Orlando, bringing you the latest news and updates directly from the show floor and meeting the many companies that bring visitor attractions to life.

To book a meeting with Planet Attractions at IAAPA Expo please contact our publisher Paul Thorman at [email protected] – we’d love to see you!