(Hong Kong – 13 January 2011) Ocean Park today unveiled a series of brand new retail and dining offerings specially launched to complement the widely-anticipated 27 January opening of its new flagship theme zone Aqua City. Guests can choose from over 20,000 merchandise items, in the comfort of 15,000 square feet of shopper-friendly, themed retail environment. To appeal to wider customer segments, Ocean Park has developed new exclusive product lines, including jewellery and items bearing conservation messages, and created with Chocolate Rain a unique collection available only at Ocean Park. Aqua City will also feature Ocean Park’s first personal health and beauty store to meet guests’ needs. Catering for the diverse dining needs and tastes of guests, Aqua City will have three distinctive outlets, including Hong Kong’s first and only fine dining location within an aquarium. With the opening of Aqua City, a day at Ocean Park promises to offer fresh experiences in all aspects of theme park enjoyment.
Integral to the iconic and whimsical design of Aqua City are two buildings positioned like a pair of stretched arms to greet all guests when they enter and leave the Park. On one side is the East Retail Building, home to four shopping outlets including Waterfront Gifts (apparels and accessories), Celebrity Store (decorative gifts , hard goods, plush toys and kids’ corner), Ocean’s Charms (jewellery) and Aqua City Crafts (premium gifts). The seven product categories are presented in distinctive theme zones that guests can conveniently traverse without leaving the building.
The West Retail Building, on the other side of the main entrance, houses two unique retail outlets. Ocean Potions is Ocean Park’s very first personal health and beauty product store, offering guests a variety of products for their daily needs. For guests who want to create beautiful images of their wonderful time at the Park, there is Shutters, Ocean Park’s first dedicated photography studio.
Shirley Louie, Senior Retail Manager of Ocean Park, said, “Ocean Park has greatly expanded its retail offerings to satisfy the diverse needs and tastes of our guests. For instance, we have introduced a line of premium goods that ranges from neckties, home decorations to jewellery accessories. There are also beautiful new items for weddings, baby showers and more. To further enhance product variety and enable guests from the Mainland to shop for daily necessities, we have created our first-ever personal health and beauty store. Guests visiting the new flagship theme zone Aqua City will not only come away with wonderful memories, they will also be able to take home fantastic new gifts and souvenirs for themselves or for families and friends.”
Education and conservation are two important elements of Ocean Park. The Park therefore also offers retail items like games, books and puzzles that nurture the mind, and donates a percentage of proceeds from panda related products to Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong, to support panda habitat rebuilding efforts and conservation.
As Hong Kong’s People’s Park, Ocean Park has always been supportive of local creative talents. On the occasion of the opening of Aqua City, Ocean Park is unveiling a new collection of products developed in collaboration of Chocolate Rain, the internationally renowned homegrown design brand, whose works have been exhibited at some of the most prestigious museums in Europe and the United States. Exclusively available at Aqua City, this new collection includes tote bags, coin purses, key holders and tee shirts.
Prudence Mak, one of the founders and designers of Chocolate Rain, said, “We are thrilled to work with Ocean Park as Chocolate Rain is inspired by childhood dreams and wonderland adventure, two themes that the people of Hong Kong have been associating with Ocean Park. The collaboration will not only increase our brand exposure to the millions of tourists that visit Ocean Park, it will also encourage local design talents in their creative work.”
The opening of Aqua City will also mark a new chapter in culinary experience at Ocean Park as the new Grand Aquarium will feature the 210-seat Neptune’s Restaurant, Hong Kong’s first and only aquarium exhibit-side restaurant. Guests will be able to savour the finest gastronomic offerings while enjoying panoramic views of a majestic underwater world. Among the Chinese, Japanese and Western delectable items on the menu are a series of Healthy Stone Cook items such as Australian Wagyu Sirloin, Kagoshima Pork Loin and New Zealand Lamb Rack, as well as Japanese Bento Boxes. To support and promote the conservation of endangered marine species, Ocean Park not only made available a number of sustainable seafood dishes as menu options for diners, items red-listed in WWF’s sustainable seafood guide have also been removed from all menus.
Aqua City will also feature Ocean Park’s first-ever bakery. Aqua City Bakery, located at the West Retail Building, offers guests a relaxing moment of rest and reflection during a day of festive fun to enjoy a wide variety of homemade baked goods, such as cookies and quiches, as well as Hong Kong’s world-famous egg tart and sago pudding. Visitors to Hong Kong thus will not have to leave Ocean Park in order to sample truly authentic local foods. Those who take delight in alfresco dining would be glad to know that they can take in spectacular fountain shows while seated under the marquee of the Lagoon Lakeside Snacks Kiosk.
Stephen Chow, Food & Beverage Operations Manager of Ocean Park, said, “The opening of Neptune’s Restaurant marks a new chapter in the culinary landscape of Hong Kong as guests will certainly be carried away by the stunning view of our underwater marine world, just as the launch of Aqua City will take marine-based theme park experiences to new heights. Local guests and overseas visitors celebrating special occasions will soon have one more great reason to visit Ocean Park!”
