Legends Panel 2023 Guests and Topic Announced
Photo: Courtesy of BRC Imagination Arts
(eap) Held as part of the IAAPA Expo in Orlando/Florida, this year’s “Legends Panel”, curated and moderated by Bob Rogers (Founder & Chairman of BRC Imagination Arts), is titled “Universal Beijing Resort – The Untold Story of Triumph over Trying Times; Covid, Lockdowns, Quarantines, and More”. In this year’s panel discussion, attendees will learn how Universal Beijing Resort was able to open as a new theme park in Beijing in 2021 despite the Corona pandemic and curfews, and how the destination overcame challenges through creative problem solving, perseverance, and strategic leadership from ground-breaking to opening.
Speakers will be Tom Mehrmann, Sylvia Hase and Mike Hightower. Tom Mehrmann was President and General Manager of Universal Beijing Resort during the park’s development. Today, Mehrmann serves as President and COO of Universal Destinations and Experiences, Pacific Rim. Sylvia Hase is President of Hasbas Entertainment. At Universal Beijing Resort, she is responsible for the show “Untrainable – The How to Train Your Dragon Stage Spectacular” as well as for the staging of the daily park parade “Universal on Parade”. Mike Hightower is the retired President of Universal Creative, where he oversaw the planning, design and creation of Universal Theme Parks & Resorts worldwide. In his previous role as Senior Vice President at Universal Parks & Resorts, Hightower was responsible for the delivery of the Universal Beijing Resort.
The panel discussion will take place during IAAPA EXPO in Orlando on November 15, 2023, from 4-5:30 p.m. in the “Learning Hub” at Orange County Convention Center. ■
