Asia-Pacific
Gags, pranks and global humour W
ith its iconic and highly instagrammable entrances and fun interactive experiences, Ripley’s Entertainment has been a well-
known attraction operator for over 85 years. The very first Odditorium premiered during the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago, and since then, the company has developed more than 100 attractions spread across 11 countries worldwide, and welcomes more than 13 million guests per year. Mark Wijman talks to Victor Danua, director of development & operations, Asia-Pacific. “My role at Ripley’s is split,” Danau explains. “In addition to
finding new partners and locations, a significant part of my role is helping our franchisees and our company owned location in Australia share and incorporate best practices. My background in operations definitely helps shape my perspective for both. On the development side, I’d say the main advantage is being able to see the final guest experience from the beginning. When we’re scouting for a new location, my mind is already rushing through parking, trash cans, cash
management, and all the other million details that it takes to put together a world class attraction. The benefit for our partner is that I get to be there from the beginning and help guide them all the way through opening and beyond, acting as a liaison between them and our awesome design, legal, and operations teams in the US.”
The Ripley’s product One of the first questions that invariably comes to mind when talking about Ripley’s Believe It or Not is of course where the company manages to source their unbelievable, quirky and unique exhibits. “A good chunk of our 300,000+ collection was acquired by Robert Ripley himself as he travelled to more than 200 countries in the 1930s and 40s,” elaborates Danau. “Another chunk of it simply finds us. Folks from around the world reach out to us on a regular basis with their strange art and talents, hoping to make our annual books or into the collection. We also have a team of explorers, headed by our VP of Exhibits, Edward Meyer, who look for new oddities, which I think is one of the greatest jobs in the world.” Exhibits from shrunken heads to a bikini made of human hair. Danau is partial to Ripley’s collection of Vampire Killing Kits. “These are actual survival kits, similar to a first aid box, that were sold to American tourists traveling to Eastern Europe in the 19th Century. They featured highly practical and lifesaving tools like a bottle of Holy Water, wooden stakes, and garlic powder” explains Danau of his preference for this curious exhibit.”
Adapting Ripley’s to the APAC market Ripley’s has been active in the Asia-Pacific market for a long time now, with attractions in South Korea, Australia and Thailand.
44 MAY 2018
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