(19 September 2012, Hong Kong) Setting trends in large-scale Halloween celebrations across the region for a 12th year, Ocean Park today hosted Ocean Park Halloween Bash – BOC Charity Night for the Chest to officially launch Hauntingly Hip Halloween – Asia’s trendiest Halloween Party, with all-new and the most technologically innovative attractions for Ocean Park Halloween Bash . Attended by the city’s trendiest luminaries, the event successfully raised over HK$2 million for The Community Chest of Hong Kong. Adding to the festive atmosphere, Ocean Park announced that July attendance exceeded 800,000 guests, the highest ever for the month of July. Even more remarkable, the Park welcomed over one million guests in August, setting a new single-month attendance record in the Park’s 35-year history. Total revenue during the summer period also saw a 15% year-on-year increase.
Among tonight’s guests of honour were: Dr. Allan Zeman, Chairman of Ocean Park; Mr Jason Yeung, Deputy Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong); Dr. Simon Kwok, BBS, JP, Campaign Committee Chairman of The Community Chest of Hong Kong; Mr. Tom Mehrmann, Chief Executive of Ocean Park; Mr. Matthias Li, Deputy Chief Executive of Ocean Park; local celebrities Ms. Kelly Chen and Mr. Nicholas Tse; Mr. Wyman Wong, Hip Halloween Master; and Ms. Helena Law Lan – all dressed up as hip Halloween spirits for the occasion.
Donning a sparkling costume inspired by a legendary imperial burial suit, Dr. Zeman announced Ocean Park’s latest good news. “The fiscal year that began in July jumped out to a record-breaking start. The newly launched Polar Adventure was met with an overwhelming reception, buoyed by a series of targeted promotional initiatives, including an igloo-themed exhibition in a prime Causeway Bay location and night tickets at discounted pricing. It all combined to produce record-setting attendance during this past summer period, which also saw a 15% year-on-year increase in total revenue. These achievements testify to the effectiveness of our marketing strategies and the success of our Master Redevelopment Plan (MRP). I would like to express our sincerest gratitude to the people of Hong Kong and visitors from all corners of the world, as well as our dedicated staff and other business partners that contributed to our development,” said Dr. Zeman.
Dr. Zeman added, “We are proud to join hands with The Community Chest of Hong Kong to present Ocean Park Halloween Bash – BOC Charity Night for the Chest. The theme of this year’s Halloween Bash is ‘Hip’ and we have introduced new types of night tickets to cater to the needs of different Halloween fans, from veterans to rookies. Regular night tickets for Halloween Bash are priced at the same level as last year’s, even though guests not only have access to all the haunted attractions, they can also enjoy all the new attractions that opened over this past year. Given the fantastic value we offer, ticket sales has proceeded extremely well, energising the entire Ocean Park family.”
Dr. Simon Kwok, BBS, JP, Campaign Committee Chairman of The Community Chest of Hong Kong said, “Since its inception, every Ocean Park Halloween Bash has been a talk-of-the-town event and presented many exciting extravaganzas to its guests. Thanks to Ocean Park Hong Kong and BOCHK Charitable Foundation for initiating this Charity Night, The Community Chest is able to raise funds for 153 member social welfare agencies; and share this festive atmosphere with over 1,000 under-privileged people from the local community.”
Mr. Jason Yeung, Deputy Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong), said, “Ocean Park Hong Kong is a theme park well-received by the general public. BOCHK Charitable Foundation is very pleased to co-organise this creative and caring charity endeavour. In addition to donations, Bank of China (Hong Kong) also mobilised nearly 100 volunteers to pair up with the Chest’s beneficiaries to experience the haunted houses, making the event even more meaningful.”
To better understand the needs and preferences of Halloween Bash fans, Ocean Park commissioned Consumer Search to interview over 600 guests during last year’s Halloween Bash. As the survey shows that 60% of respondents were female, the Park specifically made ‘Fashion’ a key element of this year’s event, so that its female guests can showcase their trendiness and sense of fashion alongside this year’s chic and creepy ghosts. Since nearly 90% of the respondents in last year’s survey were locals, Ocean Park has also extended its tradition of creating locally themed haunted attractions by presenting Sliver Screams and Ghostly Legends of Hong Kong to enhance the appeal of this year’s event.
Last year’s research also revealed that more than half of the respondents were repeat guests, who particularly enjoyed the performances of the Park’s ghastly characters and overall ambience. Hence, Ocean Park focused efforts on designing brand new haunted houses, new performances and new characters – as it has done every year. Applying its creativity to the innovative use of technology for a fresh experience of frightful fun, Ocean Park has put together the most technology-driven haunted attractions ever for this year’s event, including a 5D haunted house. To broaden the appeal of Halloween Bash to guests who wish to immerse themselves in the Park’s frightful ambience without entering the haunted houses, Ocean Park has for the first time introduced Halloween Bash Lite tickets, available at 35% off regular night tickets.
This year’s Ocean Park Halloween Bash will be held on 23 event nights from 21 September to 31 October. Five hundred chic and creepy ghosts will present guests with 23 frightfully fun experiences spread throughout the Park. Featuring 8 haunted houses, including 5D Journey to the Underworld, the world’s first 5D haunted house; Terror of the Tombs, the world’s first haunted house to combine high-tech kinetic games with interactive projection technology; 14 street shows and a daytime kids activity zone, Hauntingly Hip Halloween is set to give everyone unforgettable experiences of frightful fun. With three new attractions enjoying their first Halloween – Thrill Mountain, Old Hong Kong and Polar Adventure – this year’s Halloween Bash also promises to be the most exciting ever!
