MADAME TUSSAUDS COMES TO BANGKOK

Global Leisure Giant Merlin Entertainments Partners With Siam Piwat to Bring US $15m Iconic Visitor Attraction to Bangkok


The world’s second largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin Entertainments (Merlin), announced today that it is planning to bring its most iconic and popular attraction to Thailand for the very first time - Madame Tussauds Bangkok will open in the Siam Discovery in September 2010.. The US $15m visitor attraction will be the company’s tenth Madame Tussauds worldwide, and the third to open in Asia, joining very established and successful sister attractions in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

One of the most famous, unique and best loved ‘celebrity’ brands in the world, Madame Tussauds Bangkok is destined to be the “must do” attraction for all visitors. Madame Tussauds is looking to work closely with Bangkok tourist and leisure organisations to promote the opening, and to ensure that in the future the attraction plays a key role in encouraging visitors both from overseas, and from other parts of Thailand and the region, to the City. The original wax attraction, Madame Tussauds’ world class wax figures will also be at the centre of a planned major redevelopment of the Siam Discovery and surrounding area.
200 Years of Quality

Madame Tussauds Bangkok will be the ultimate celebrity experience, and not like any other attraction. Its sculptors produce wax figures of such quality and so lifelike that visitors, and celebrities alike, often have to do a double take. With no bars, ropes or barriers around the figures visitors have no problem believing that they really are standing beside, or even ‘acting/competing’ with their heroes in some of the exciting interactive parts of the attraction which have become such a popular part of what the attraction offers

This is the result of 200 years of Madame Tussauds’ expertise and painstaking research for every figure. Each one takes a minimum of 3 months to make, and many are produced following sittings with the celebrities themselves. They are all produced as a result of hundreds of separate measurements, hours matching skin tone, eye and hair colour - with every individual hair inserted separately. Celebrities themselves and film studio wardrobe departments often supply clothing for the figures, or designers will reproduce significant or iconic outfits as exact replicas for us. A famous example of this is HRH Princess Diana’s wedding dress which was on display in the London attraction the day after the wedding and was made in tandem with the original dress by the designers – and with her approval. No one else has this relationship with the famous – who regard inclusion in Madame Tussauds as a huge honour and recognition of their status and achievement.

Most importantly each of the Madame Tussauds’ attractions is quite different from one another, reflecting not only the culture, people, history and colour of the City in which they are located; but also featuring global figures from politics, entertainment, music and sport which have helped to shape the world. Madame Tussauds Bangkok will be no exception, the company is already working with a number of top Thai celebrities and has lots of very exciting plans for the City which will be revealed at a special preview event next Spring

Merlin Entertainments Midway Managing Director Glenn Earlam said: “We are delighted to be opening a Madame Tussauds in Bangkok which is such an exciting and vibrant city, and which gives us so much scope to create what I believe will be one of our best attractions ever. It will be a unique attraction, in a unique City.’

‘We are particularly delighted to be working with the team at Siam Piwat, the owners of Siam Discovery, who have done so much to make this project a reality. Their plans for the redevelopment of the Siam Discovery are very exciting and we are proud to be a part of it. This is a super prime location in one of the leading shopping centres and busiest and most important malls in Bangkok. I have no doubt the attraction will be hugely successful. ’

Mrs. Chadatip Chutrakul, President and CEO of Siam Piwat Company Limited, commenting on the Siam Discovery redevelopment plan said, “We are preparing a major renovation of both the interior and exterior of Siam Discovery, introducing an exciting element to the heart of Bangkok’s most prominent shopping area. It is also our great pleasure to welcome the world renowned visitor attraction operator, Merlin Entertainments which will be bringing its most iconic and popular attraction --Madame Tussauds Bangkok, to Thailand. Being entrusted by such a respectable multi-national company is a reflection of Siam Discovery’s great potential, and we take pride in drawing large foreign investments to Thailand and contributing to the growth of the country’s economy and tourism.”

The Bangkok project is one of three new attractions – on three continents - which Merlin has scheduled to open in 2010 – the others are a LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Manchester, UK; and a SEA LIFE aquarium in Phoenix Arizona, USA. This is in line with the company’s strategy to roll out its primary ‘midway’ brands (short stay, indoor attractions) around the world. Madame Tussauds Bangkok will be the Group’s 61st attraction globally, and underlines the importance of Asia and the Far East as a key development market for Merlin.