http://www.asiaone.com/Business/Office/Learn/Story/A1Story20090414-135249.html
Wed, Apr 15, 2009
The New Paper
Resort spends $5m for them to have fun
WHEN Miss Joanne Phang, 23, visits the US next month, she'll be very busy with work.
She'll be taking every ride at the Universal Studios theme park in Orlando.
That's right, for her, that will be work.
And of course, a lot of fun as well.
The operations manager, a 'theme park virgin', is one of 42 staff members from Universal Studios Singapore who will be sent on an all-expenses paid training stint to Orlando.
Their mission? To learn all they can about having fun at Universal Studios theme park there.
So they can be worthy hosts when the US-based theme park opens at Resorts World Sentosa next year.
World-class standards
Resorts World Sentosa is so serious about achieving world-class standards that it is spending about $5 million on the training programme.
Mr Jason Horkin, 33, assistant director of park operations for Universal Studios Singapore, said: 'I hope the team that goes up will be able to see what a world-class theme park looks like and how it is run. We want them to be instilled with a sense of pride, knowing that they will be coming back to Singapore and building the same thing here.'
For park operations supervisor Vincent Tan, 31, the Orlando trip is doubly special - it will not only be his first visit to a theme park but also his first time travelling out of Asia.
He said: 'I'm really excited, this trip is really worth the 31-year wait.'
But is he worried that at his age, he might have outgrown the rides at the theme park?
A beaming Mr Tan said: 'I don't think anyone will ever be too old for a Universal Studios theme park.'
When Mr Tan's friends heard that he was going there on a three-month stint, he said they turned green with envy, and asked him whether there were any more positions available at the company.
His colleague, Mr Nicholas Cordeiro, 33, an area manager, who will be going to Orlando for three weeks of training, had much the same experience with his friends.
'When we're in the business of thrills, it is inevitable that people will be envious of us. After all, our job is to have fun, and make sure people have fun too,' Mr Cordeiro said.
'Of course, we're fun people already, but we're going up to Orlando to enhance our fun personalities.'
To prepare for his trip, Mr Tan is spending his free time familiarising himself with the protocol and practices of the theme park.
And while he will enjoy taking the rides at the park, Mr Tan said he will be focused on learning as much as he can from his counterparts there and from interacting with the guests.
Supervisors, who will undergo three months of training, will start at the bottom, and work their way up to the positions they hold. This will allow them to experience how the jobs at each level are done.
Area managers will shadow the general manager at the park to learn how they handle situations.
Resorts World Sentosa's assistant vice-president of communications, Mr Robin Goh, said: 'The fact that we are investing so much in training shows that we are a world-class product and that we are committed to (training) our employees.'
Mr Goh, who wishes he was also going for the trip, added that he was glad his colleagues would get the chance to immerse themselves in the 'melting pot' of cultures at Orlando.
This would prepare them to interact with guests from all over the world when Universal Studios Singapore opens for operations.
Mr Goh said: 'We are developing a skills set that has never been seen in Singapore, to ensure the safety of our guests, and deliver a memorable and great experience for them.'
This article was first published in The New Paper.
Wed, Apr 15, 2009
The New Paper
Resort spends $5m for them to have fun
WHEN Miss Joanne Phang, 23, visits the US next month, she'll be very busy with work.
She'll be taking every ride at the Universal Studios theme park in Orlando.
That's right, for her, that will be work.
And of course, a lot of fun as well.
The operations manager, a 'theme park virgin', is one of 42 staff members from Universal Studios Singapore who will be sent on an all-expenses paid training stint to Orlando.
Their mission? To learn all they can about having fun at Universal Studios theme park there.
So they can be worthy hosts when the US-based theme park opens at Resorts World Sentosa next year.
World-class standards
Resorts World Sentosa is so serious about achieving world-class standards that it is spending about $5 million on the training programme.
Mr Jason Horkin, 33, assistant director of park operations for Universal Studios Singapore, said: 'I hope the team that goes up will be able to see what a world-class theme park looks like and how it is run. We want them to be instilled with a sense of pride, knowing that they will be coming back to Singapore and building the same thing here.'
For park operations supervisor Vincent Tan, 31, the Orlando trip is doubly special - it will not only be his first visit to a theme park but also his first time travelling out of Asia.
He said: 'I'm really excited, this trip is really worth the 31-year wait.'
But is he worried that at his age, he might have outgrown the rides at the theme park?
A beaming Mr Tan said: 'I don't think anyone will ever be too old for a Universal Studios theme park.'
When Mr Tan's friends heard that he was going there on a three-month stint, he said they turned green with envy, and asked him whether there were any more positions available at the company.
His colleague, Mr Nicholas Cordeiro, 33, an area manager, who will be going to Orlando for three weeks of training, had much the same experience with his friends.
'When we're in the business of thrills, it is inevitable that people will be envious of us. After all, our job is to have fun, and make sure people have fun too,' Mr Cordeiro said.
'Of course, we're fun people already, but we're going up to Orlando to enhance our fun personalities.'
To prepare for his trip, Mr Tan is spending his free time familiarising himself with the protocol and practices of the theme park.
And while he will enjoy taking the rides at the park, Mr Tan said he will be focused on learning as much as he can from his counterparts there and from interacting with the guests.
Supervisors, who will undergo three months of training, will start at the bottom, and work their way up to the positions they hold. This will allow them to experience how the jobs at each level are done.
Area managers will shadow the general manager at the park to learn how they handle situations.
Resorts World Sentosa's assistant vice-president of communications, Mr Robin Goh, said: 'The fact that we are investing so much in training shows that we are a world-class product and that we are committed to (training) our employees.'
Mr Goh, who wishes he was also going for the trip, added that he was glad his colleagues would get the chance to immerse themselves in the 'melting pot' of cultures at Orlando.
This would prepare them to interact with guests from all over the world when Universal Studios Singapore opens for operations.
Mr Goh said: 'We are developing a skills set that has never been seen in Singapore, to ensure the safety of our guests, and deliver a memorable and great experience for them.'
This article was first published in The New Paper.
