Industry Infl uencer
Universal Beijiing Resort - artists impression
A remarkable theme park experience
Park World editor Becci Knowles speaks to Tom Mehrmann, president and general manager, Universal Beijing Resort, about his life in the entertainment industry and asks what guests can expect this blockbuster resort destination opens its doors in 2021.
Tom, how did you fi rst get into the industry? Was it by accident or design?
Tom Mehrmann
I had no intention of being in the industry when I started, as it was a summer job, as a sweeper, when I was still in high school, so I would call it an accident. I was planning to only work the summer, then quit and begin college with no thought of a career at that time. I found the job was fl exible with my school schedule and it allowed me to work and grow, while going to school. When I graduated from college, I was the supervisor of the sweeper department and assumed it was time to go fi nd a “real” job. I found there were opportunities within Knott’s and was promoted and moved to manager of admissions and guest relations, and began to realise that I really did have a career potential in the industry, as one role and opportunity led to another. While working as the manager of ride operations and a rotating operations manager, I had the opportunity to pariticipate in the deisgn, development and eventual operation of Knott’s Camp Snoopy in Mall of America (currently Nickelodeon Universe), in Bloomington, Minnesota as director of operations, entertainment and revenue operations (Merchandise). The role led to a promotion
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and relocation back to Knott’s Berry Farm in California in 1994 to VP Operations and Entertainment.
You were vice president of park operations and entertainment at Knott’s Berry Farm for 21 years. You must have really enjoyed your time there? What did the industry look like when you joined the park in the late 70’s and how did it - and Knott’s Berry - evolve during your tenure?
When I began working at Knott’s Berry Farm, it was 1977 and the industry was still evolving quickly with new parks opening around the country. The thing that struck me then, as I refl ect back, is the nature of the visitation was signifi cantly different to today. Then, the guests
DECEMBER 2020
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