Happy 20th Birthday Sea World Resort!

On Wednesday evening, 16 July, 240 special VIP and industry guests filled the lobby of Sea World Resort to celebrate its 20th anniversary on the Gold Coast.

Guests enjoyed a red carpet welcome by Sea World stars Elmo and Cookie Monster and Warner Bros. Movie World characters, Batman, Catwoman, Shrek and Austin Powers.

Star MC, Channel 9’s Jillian Whiting, officially welcomed partygoers, including heavyweight boxing champ Joe Bugner, former Broncos star Tony Carroll and introduced key speakers, Mr John Kirby (Chairman Village Roadshow Ltd), Mr John Menzies (CEO Warner Village Theme Parks), Councillor Daphne McDonald (Deputy Mayor of the Gold Coast) and Mr Ernst Pfister (General Manager of Sea World Resort).

In his speech, Mr Pfister gave thanks to all supporters of Sea World Resort including long serving team members plus made special mention of repeat guests, Mr and Mrs Underhill (present) who had been guests of the resort over 50 times in the last 20 years. 

Guests enjoyed some enlightening statistics in Mr Pfister’s speech. “In the last 20 years Sea World Resort has hosted 5 million guests who have eaten 150,000kg of prawns, consumed 100,000 bottles of wine and 500,000 stubbies of beer.”  “The resort has spent $17 million spent on cleaning, $5 million on electricity bill and changed $180 000 worth of light bulbs,” he continued. 

In 1988 Sea World Nara Resort became the first (and still, only) theme park resort in Australia. Since that time the resort has seen a number of changes including a name change to Sea World Resort in 2006 and a major refurbishment at the end of 2007 which included the construction of a $1million “WaterPlay aqua playground.  However, throughout this change, Sea world Resort has only ever had one General Manager and QHA Hall of Fame recipient Mr Pfister will celebrate his 21st anniversary with the resort later this year making him the longest serving General Manager of any Queensland hotel or resort.

The resort’s lobby underwent a stunning transformation for the event with striking lighting and décor compliments of Staging Connections, Coastal Productions and Style on Q. Numerous live cooking stations provided a visual and gastronomic feast for guests who enjoyed dishes that reflected the styles of Sea World Resort’s signature restaurants – seafood from the Shoreline Restaurant, modern appetizers from The Melrose and a selection of sushi and tempura prawns from the Hatsuhana Japanese Restaurant.

Over the years Sea World Resort has become the recipient of some 170 plus awards recognising excellence in accommodation, dining and training.

Photo: Cookie Monster, Mr Ernst Pfister General Manager Sea World Resort, Mr John Kirby Chairman Village Roadshow Limited, Mr John Menzies Chief Executive Officer Warner Village Theme Parks and Elmo cut the cake to celebrate Sea World Resort's 20th Birthday.

IMAGES AND INFORMATION AVAILABLE

Contact: Lisa Brown, Marketing and Communications Manager

07 5591 0045 / 0419 896 732 / lisab@seaworldresort.com.au