EDUSessions at IAAPA Expo Asia 2022

10:15-11:15 a.m.

Many attractions use IP to further connect with audiences. Join this panel discussion to hear from IP licensors on their experiences with the design and approval process. They’ll cover a wide range of topics from best practices, mistakes to avoid, how to decide whether to license an IP for your location, and IP resources to take advantage of along the way. 

Speakers

• Natalie Chan, Director, Branded Experience and Promotion Partnerships, Hasbro (APAC)
• Evi Sari, Vice President, Nickelodeon Experiences Asia

Moderator

• Linda Dong, President, China Leisure

11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Join this session with an industry expert to get everything you need to know about water parks. This talk is intended to provide solutions, inspiration, and awareness of the latest trends, developments, safety requirements, and opportunities for water park attractions. 

Speaker

• Alan Mahony, Vice President, Marine and Waterpark Operations, Atlantis Sanya Resort, China
• Daan Duijm, Director of Operations & Set Up, Sun World Holding
• Daniel Jackson, Principal, Master Planning, ProSlide Technology Inc.

1:45 – 2:45 p.m. 

As for theme parks, decreasing opening days will directly result in loss of income, and this has become a tough challenge to all theme parks due to the global pandemic. Leisure and entertainment facilities always face a dilemma -- they usually get affected by economic downturn the soonest, but on the other hand, benefit from economic growth the slowest. In most cases, an increase in income will lead to an increase in profit, but under the current circumstances where it is unclear which way the leisure and entertainment preference will go, we do not have sufficient sources to secure the continuing increase of income. In this case, the theme park probably should, instead, consider how to reserve the profit maximally.

Speakers

• Stella Liu, Managing Director, Qing Consulting Shanghai
• Nagano Masaru, Professor, Keio University Japan

3:15 - 4:45 p.m.

Sustainable development calls for concerted efforts towards building an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for people, the planet, and the attractions industry. 

This Sustainability Lab will look at how the attractions industry takes full account of its current and future economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts. For sustainable industry development to be achieved, it is crucial to harmonize these three core elements and are interconnected and are all crucial for the well–being of individuals and societies. 

Speaker

• Chris Yoshii, Vice President and Global Director of Economics, AECOM
• Bryan Howard Fish, Executive Director, Ocean Park Water World
• David Thompson, Director, Corporate Environmental Department, Panasonic USA

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. 

The future strategy will see a complete transformation of the Ocean Park into a major resort and leisure destination with 3 focuses on animal attractions, education programs, thrill rides, and experiential retail. 

We will look into how these strategies drive the transformation of the new destination into the leisure crown jewel in the beautiful southern side of Hong Kong.

Speaker

• Timothy SK Ng, Executive Director, Guest Experience & Education, Ocean Park Corporation

12 – 1 p.m. 

In this session, we will look at how Surf Parks entered the Asia Pacific market and build its new trend, from capital investment to operations and to a broad spectrum. Attendees will get a better overview of the surf park model and how it will contribute to the attractions industry. Including the differences between current technologies, how to raise capital for a surf park, and the elements to ensure a successful surf park with the right ancillary revenue options.

Speaker

• Damon Tudor, Chief Executive Officer, URBNSURF Australia's first surf park

1:15 – 2:45 p.m.

Change is taking place at unprecedented speed and scale amid economic and uncertainty. This new landscape presents a host of risks, but it also presents huge opportunities for those willing to seize the upside of disruption.

Industry lines are blurring as disruptive technology connects businesses, governments and societies in new ways. Join this session on how our industry pioneers uses intelligent automation, advanced analytics and other technologies are opening up new possibilities for the attractions industry.

Speaker

• Jack Chan, Sales Director, Asia Pacific, Accesso

3 – 4 p.m. 

In this session, the largest tourism group in China, which serves 60 million visitors with total assets of over 150 billion yuan annually, will share the experience of creating distinguished products, cases of scenic innovation and enhancement of Shapotou 'Desert Star Hotel’ product series, Detian, Guangxi Transnational Night Tour 'Wonderful Detian Midnight', Haiquan Bay hot spring series products enhancement. And look into its diversified business model of encompassing travel service, tourism investment, and operation, duty-free retail, hotels, tourism finance. 

Speaker

• Cheng Li, General Manager of Product Development and Design Department, CTG Investment Management Corporation Limited

9 - 10 a.m.

As we all rebuild following the global pandemic, the theme park industry faces challenges in discovering new ways to attract and engage customers whose expectations have shifted and evolved during the extended closures. To succeed in an ever-changing entertainment landscape, businesses must discover their super powers and make the most of them to not only attain pre-pandemic levels, but soar past them. 

Join President & Managing Director Hong Kong Disneyland Michael E. Moriarty as he provides a compelling overview of how Disney leverages the power of story and the Cast Members who bring those stories to life as their super power to surprise and delight millions of guests at Disney Destinations across Asia in all new ways in post-pandemic age. 

He believes in maintaining optimism in an unpredictable world and that Disney has always been a place where people connect with others and make memories together that last a lifetime. As the world regains its footing, having a place to reconnect with each other is more essential than ever before.

Speaker

• Michael E. Moriarty, President & Managing Director, Hong Kong Disneyland

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. 

Via a case study method, this session will provide a practical and comprehensive approach to what goes behind transforming brands in the Asia Pacific market. Most brands in this industry are dated and offer a subpar guest experience, as it only has a handful of operators that offer a modern social experience in their attractions.

This session will showcase what goes behind a successful brand transformation, in focusing for Family Entertainment Center professionals and the leadership team to understand how brands are transformed as it helps elevate the status of the industry further, to review the current offer and explore opportunities in the respective markets for a more commercially sustainable product.

Speakers

• Sonaal Chopra, Group Chief Executive Officer, The Entertainment and Education Group (TEEG)
• Nesh Sleva, General Manager, Timezone Singapore & Vietnam

12 – 1 p.m.  

It has been a transformative time for retail, food and beverage, and the entire hospitality industry in the Asia-Pacific region. Discover how the industry has reengineered itself, important aspects of this transformation, and new growth opportunities that have presented themselves during these changes.

Speaker

• Christopher Chan, Assistant Vice President (F&B and Retail Services), Hengqin Laisun Creative Culture City Co. Ltd.

1:15 – 2:45 p.m.

Change is taking place at unprecedented speed and scale amid economic and uncertainty. This new landscape presents a host of risks, but it also presents huge opportunities for those willing to seize the upside of disruption.

Industry lines are blurring as disruptive technology connects businesses, governments and societies in new ways. Join this session on how our industry pioneers uses intelligent automation, advanced analytics and other technologies are opening up new possibilities for the attractions industry.

Speaker

• Jack Chan, Sales Director, Asia Pacific, Accesso
• Simon Fraser, Managing Director, Ptarmigan Integration
• Alvina Shuo Li, Vice President of Projects, Unlimited Snow, Netherland