Hong Kong Disneyland names new managing director 4 mths after opening

[HongKongDisneyland]

HONG KONG (AFX) - Hong Kong's troubled Disneyland resort has shaken up its management team, replacing managing director Don Robinson less than four months after the park opened, a company statement said.

Robinson, who is leaving to manage a holiday resort in the Bahamas, will be succeeded by Disney veteran Bill Ernest, who over 12 years with the American entertainment park company has been vice president of operations and helped launch Disney Cruises.

The reshuffle comes after an investigation by the South China Morning Post last year claimed the park was operating at around half its capacity of 30,000 visitors a day.

Hong Kong Disneyland refuses to reveal visitor figures for the 3.0 bln usd park, which is 57-pct owned by the Hong Kong government.

Disney is hoping to attract 5.0 mln customers in its first 12 months and around 10 mln every year after. The government has pinned its hopes of turning Hong Kong into a premium tourist destination on the park, aiming to attract a third of visitors from China, a third from overseas and the balance from home.

Disney, meanwhile, hopes the park will be a springboard to sell its other products -- including movies, merchandise and clothing -- in the growing Chinese market.

[tloolgb]

Originally Posted by HongKongDisneyland

HONG KONG (AFX) - Hong Kong's troubled Disneyland

God. The international news is just like American news. There is no good news like bad news. Yikes. Troubled? That's opinion, not fact, but it sure is stated as fact in that article.

Thanks for sharing this though.