Ocean Park Chief the Star of New Speaker Series

 

The new “Business Leaders Series” featured Mr. Tom Mehrmann, Chief Executive of Ocean Park Corporation, as the inaugural speaker on the evening of Wednesday, 18 May. Organised by the Alumni and Corporate Affairs Office, the event was held in a lecture theatre at Yasumoto International Academic Park (YIA), attracting a full house of 150 alumni, students and faculty members who wished to learn from the insights and wisdom of this theme park tycoon.

Prof. Kalok Chan, Dean of the CUHK Business School, said, “It was our great honour to welcome Mr. Mehrmann to inaugurate the ‘Business Leaders Series’, which is organised to inspire alumni and, in particular, current students, through the philosophies of distinguished speakers who are game-changers within their respective industries. I believe the audience will learn from Mr. Mehrmann’s stimulating presentation; not only his advice about doing business in a competitive environment, but also tips on becoming a successful business leader through personal charisma.”

Originally from the US, Mr. Mehrmann has spent almost four decades in the theme park industry, starting off as a sweeper at Knott’s Berry Farm in California. He joined Ocean Park in 2004 and, over the last 12 years, has developed the must-go tourist attraction into a key player in the theme park industry in terms of annual attendance, guest experience and exceptional results in conservation, education and entertainment. In his presentation, entitled “Trends That Are Shaping the Theme Park Industry”, Mr. Mehrmann discussed 10 key global trends and how they shape Ocean Park management decisions for strategic planning as it adapts to the rapidly-changing tourism landscape. After the interactive Q&A session, the event concluded with rapturous applause.

Reflecting on his experience on speaking to the Business School, Mr. Mehrmann said, “It is my honour to have been invited as a speaker for the inaugural ‘Business Leaders Series’ event. The forum was a wonderful congregation of students, alumni, professors and professionals, who were not only graciously attentive, but dynamically engaged with a series of inquisitive and insightful questions about my presentation. I trust my sharing of the tourism development and the transformation journey of Ocean Park was compelling and impactful for the attendees.”

This article was first published in the alumni website by the CUHK Business School’s Alumni and Corporate Affairs Office on 8 June 2016.