Hong Kong’s struggling Ocean Park expects launch of Marriott resort hotel to provide lifeline

Boss Matthias Li targets double-digit growth in visitor numbers and revenue after 471-room Ocean Park Marriott Hotel opens on June 13

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The Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel. Photo: Handout

Published: 4:03pm, 7 Feb 2018Updated: 10:21pm, 7 Feb 2018

Hong Kong’s Ocean Park is striving to transform itself into a landmark resort destination in a bid to rescue its ailing business with its first hotel slated to open on June 13.

Announcing the launch of the 471-room Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel, the theme park’s chief executive, Matthias Li, said on Wednesday he expected the project to give visitor numbers and revenue a double-digit boost.

Ocean Park announces HK$234.4 million deficit along with 9 per cent fee increase

“This will be a milestone for Ocean Park,” he said. “This will bring a more holistic and diverse experience to not only the tourists but also locals. We expect to attract more visits and longer duration of stay. Our target is double-digit growth in visitor numbers and revenue.”

He made the upbeat forecast despite the Aberdeen park struggling to keep its business afloat.

The park recorded a deficit of HK$234.4 million in the financial year ending June 30 last year. That was a slight improvement on the HK$241.1 million loss the year before, but attendance figures fell 4 per cent to 5.8 million.

The hotel will have 471 guestrooms. Photo: Handout

Li said the HK$5-billion hotel would transform Ocean Park into a premier resort from its traditional role as a theme park. “We’ll launch more educational programmes to attract more families to visit the park, including those from overseas,” he added.

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