LPWire: Hong Kong Disneyland CMs Travelling to WDW for Immersive Training
Hong Kong Disneyland Cultural Representatives Learn How to Bring the Magic to Life from the U.S.
Hong Kong Disneyland bid farewell to
the first group of its 500 Cultural Representatives at Hong Kong International
Airport today as they embarked on a training program at Walt Disney World in
Orlando, Florida.
The Cultural Representatives represent the largest group of Cast Members
(Disney’s term for employees) in Disney’s history to be sent to another Disney
theme park to train in their roles before opening a brand new park. The program
is an opportunity for Hong Kong Disneyland’s first generation of cast members to
be immersed in the magical Disney culture while sharing their own Chinese
customs and traditions with Walt Disney World guests.
The program will play an important part in Hong Kong Disneyland’s cast member
training process, and supports the company’s philosophy that its people are its
most important asset.
As Walt Disney himself once said: “You can dream, create, design and build the
most wonderful place in the world but it requires people to make the dream a
reality."
“Hong Kong Disneyland is proud to be providing this invaluable training
opportunity for the people of Hong Kong. The Cultural Representative program
demonstrates our commitment to being an employer of choice that offers
tremendous opportunities for career development,�? said Greg Wann, Hong Kong
Disneyland Vice President, Human Resources.
The program will present the Cultural Representatives with a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to be trained according to the standards set by the Walt Disney
Company worldwide.
“It highlights our magical Disney culture – ‘the Disney Difference’ - that
stresses the importance of guest service training, and which has become the
cornerstone of our Disney parks,�? said Wann.
Upon returning to Hong Kong in the
summer, the Cultural Representatives will be offered the opportunity to become
permanent Hong Kong Disneyland cast members, and will create history as the
first generation to spread magic throughout Hong Kong, China and beyond.
The 500 Cultural Representatives were carefully selected out of 5,000
applications with the ability to convey the Disney passion a key requirement.
Strong communication skills, an excellent guest service attitude together with a
strong Disney passion were also important criteria in making the selection.
While in Orlando, the Cultural Representatives will have the opportunity to work
in various facets of Walt Disney World’s hospitality and entertainment
businesses, including merchandise, food & beverage, Park operations, custodial
and hotels.
The program’s completely immersive approach will allow the Cultural
Representatives to fully experience the legendary Disney guest service and
Disney quality standards.
“The magical Disney culture inspired
me to join Hong Kong Disneyland and I am looking forward to bringing the Disney
guest service culture to Hong Kong after I complete the Cultural Representative
program in the summer. This is definitely a unique training opportunity for me!�?
said Jolland Chung Hin-lun, one of the Cultural Representatives who will play a
role in the operations of Walt Disney World.
“I am excited and proud to be among the first 500 Cultural Representatives to
experience the Disney culture in Orlando and I look forward to meeting guests
from all over the world and being part of the Disney family,�? said Jaime Chan
Lai-yin, who will bring magic to guests in the merchandize section at Walt
Disney World.
About Hong Kong Disneyland
The Hong Kong Disneyland project was announced in 1999 as a venture between The
Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong SAR Government. With the completion of
reclamation for Hong Kong Disneyland Phase I by the Hong Kong SAR Government,
theme park and resort construction began in January 2003, with the project now
scheduled to open on 12th September, 2005. At opening day, Hong Kong Disneyland
will comprise a theme park and two hotels.
The Phase I build-out includes a projected 10 million annual visitor
Disneyland-style theme park, 2,100 hotel rooms, and an area for retail, dining
and entertainment. The project is estimated to create 18,000 new jobs at opening
(both Disney and other employment) growing to 36,000 once the first park reaches
build-out. The Hong Kong SAR Government estimated that the first phase of the
project will generate a present economic value of HK$148 billion (US$19 billion)
in benefits to Hong Kong over a 40-year period.
--Posted January 19, 2005
Source: Hong Kong Disneyland