Disney Explorers Lodge Celebrates Its Grand Opening with About 300 Travel Trade Partners

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) yesterday celebrated the official grand opening of Disney Explorers Lodge, a new 750-room resort hotel dedicated to the spirit of exploration. Guests looking for an exotic getaway with a dash of Disney magic will find Disney Explorers Lodge a one-of-a-kind experience unique to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. The resort also hosted the prestigious "Celebration of Sales Excellence 2016", to recognize the unfailing support of the travel trade throughout HKDL’s journey.

"Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is committed to investing in new experiences across our resort, inspiring our trade partners to develop new products that give guests new reasons to visit Hong Kong," said Terruce Wang, vice president, sales and hotel operations, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. "The new Disney Explorers Lodge brings the best of our famous creativity and legendary guest service and delivers a resort hotel experience unlike anything we’ve ever created."

First-in-Hong Kong exotic getaway destination

The story behind Disney Explorers Lodge takes place in the grand era of exploration and tells of explorers who built a lodge based on their adventures around the world, adding their own artifacts and specimens gathered during their lifetime of travels. At Disney Explorers Lodge, every detail supports the story – from more than 1,000 artifacts and memorabilia on display throughout the hotel to the four distinctly themed outdoor gardens, featuring Oceania, South America, Africa and Asia. The gardens envelop the four hotel wings with a matching theme. The hotel’s three restaurants present sumptuous choices from Chinese delights at Dragon Wind to international cuisine at the World of Color Restaurant and laid-back dining at Chart Room Cafe. Guests can also cool off in the Rain Drop Pool and purchase more than 20 exclusively designed exploration-theme items at The Trading Post.

Complete Disney vacation experience ideal for international guests
Disney Explorers Lodge and its exotic facilities not only provide yet another reason for guests to stay on-site at the resort, but also stay longer for a complete Disney vacation experience. Besides having convenient access to the park, guests can also enjoy exclusive resort experiences that immerse them in the ultimate Disney magic, as they can join the fun activities organized at all three resort hotels throughout the day. Join Goofy for a morning tai chi exercise near the Mickey Maze at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, and then join the pool party with Disney friend at Disney Explorers Lodge’s Rain Drop Pool in the afternoon. Head over to the Piano Pool of Disney’s Hollywood Hotel in the evening and enjoy classic Disney movies while sitting in a miniature car, a re-creation of a good ol’fashioned American drive-in theater! Hotel guests will also receive a Priority Admission Pass for selected attractions and seat reservations for stage shows in the park.

Leveraging these exciting developments, the resort has partnered with travel trade to launch attractive offers for guests, providing 3-Day-2-Night resort products only Disney can deliver. For guests looking to stay two consecutive nights or more at any of the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort hotels, travel trade partners can book the "2 Nights Plus Offer", valid till December 20, 2017. Guests may enjoy Play and Dine Ticket Combo including 1-Day tickets and a meal voucher, available from now until July 14, 2017.

Encouraging feedback on new resort experience from travel trade

Disney Explorers Lodge had received encouraging feedback from the travel trade partners who were invited to experience the new hotel during Test Stay period in April. Among more than 300 travel trade partners who had stayed in Disney Explorers Lodge, almost all of them (96%) rated their staying experience enjoyable, while 92% remarked that their guests would stay in Hong Kong Disneyland Resort with the launch of the new hotel, 97% believed their guests would enjoy the new hotel and 95% would recommend Disney Explorers Lodge to their customers.

Immerse trade partners into Marvel Universe to Celebrate Sales Excellence

Other than witnessing the grand opening of Disney Explorers Lodge, about 300 VIP guests from the travel trade industry and media were trained as S.H.E.I.L.D. Agents in the Marvel-themed "Celebration of Sales Excellence 2016". The event honored the continued trust and support of top travel trade partners throughout the resort’s development. In true Disney fashion, the immersive entertainment for the night was tailor-made and exclusive, featuring a lineup of interactive first-hand Marvel experiences and heroic encounters with Captain America, Iron Man and Spider-Man. Guests were mesmerized by the event’s vibrancy and convivial atmosphere, and took with them unforgettable memories of the award ceremony.

"Following the Disney Explorers Lodge launch, yet another exciting new experience is on the way – guest will be immersed in the Marvel Super Hero Summer starting from next month. The resort sees great opportunity to engage both local and overseas guests who are looking for something new, diverse and fun. The on-going support of our travel trade partners, who are the toast of tonight’s Celebration of Sales Excellence, is the key to the resort’s success. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with industry partners to develop more travel products through new offerings and entertainment, taking our business to new heights together through new business opportunities," Wang added.

During the Awards Ceremony, HKDL presented a total of 26 awards to recognize trade partners’ exceptional sales performance over the past year – 20 outstanding partners were presented with Sales Excellence Award, while five partners received Sales AdvancEAR Award. The highest honor, Top Sales AchievEAR Award, was bestowed on lvmama.com. In a special treat, Marvel’s beloved Super Heroes, Iron Man, Captain America and Spider-Man, gathered on stage to congratulate the top winner, bringing the ceremony to a magical climax.

More Marvel fun on the way

The resort also unveiled the Marvel Super Hero Summer program lineup to travel trade partners at the event of "Celebration of Sales Excellence."

Earlier this year the all-new Iron Man Experience opened to guests and is already the most popular attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland. To elevate the Super Hero experience, Iron Man will be joined by Captain America and Spider-Man when meeting with guests! Furthermore, a brand-new walk-through experience in the Pavilion will completely immerse guests in the Marvel Universe as they go through a one-of-a-kind Avengers Agent mission in a story set uniquely in Hong Kong. Guests will also join Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Dr. Strange and Star-Lord to recover the Portal Nexus before Hydra can get their hands on it. A great variety of themed F&B items and Marvel-themed merchandise will be introduced for the summer program, including Super Hero costumes, toys and personalized products.