Shanghai Disney Resort General Manager: Shanghai - a win-win land where dreams come true

People are fascinated by China today, not only by the culture but also by the potential of the market, and by the opening of the market to the rest of the world. In recent years, thanks to Shanghai’s openness to business and foreign investment, Philippe has witnessed the center of business and the economy in Asia go from Singapore to Hong Kong, then to Shanghai. Shanghai has become the top choice for foreign investment.“For many businesses, being in Shanghai is essential because of the practicality and all the opportunities that the Shanghai government has given to companies, to help us develop, grow, partner, and establish relationships that are critical to succeed in the long-term in a country like China.”

Win-win development between Disney and Shanghai

While most of Philippe’s stories in Shanghai relate to Shanghai Disney Resort, his most unforgettable Shanghai story was the day that Shanghai Disney Resort opened its gates on June 16, 2016.

Twenty-two years ago, Disney entered the Chinese mainland, which was at the time a small market. Back then, the company only had an operations team in Beijing. For most Chinese, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck were just cartoon characters on TV screens. Who would expect that one day they would set foot on the mainland?

(A finale shot of Shanghai Disney Resort groundbreaking ceremony on April 11, 2011 [Photo/Shanghai Disney Resort])

Shanghai Disney Resort is the first Disney resort on the Chinese mainland. For the project, Disney and its Chinese partners made a record investment of USD $5.5 billion, thereby creating the largest cooperation project between China and the US since China launched their reform and opening up policy in 1978.