UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD OPENS OFFICE IN
'DISNEY LAND'
Universal Studios Hollywood has opened a new
sales office in Anaheim, Calif., smack in the
middle of Disneyland territory.
Universal's Vice President of Sales Heidi Geier
said a few factors led to the decision to open
the Anaheim sales office, which is located about
two miles from Disneyland between the Anaheim
Convention Center and Anaheim Stadium.
"We were going to bring the fan club in-house
and we could either do that on Universal's site
(in Universal City) or somewhere else; and we
were planning to expand our regional offices,
so the next logical site was the Anaheim area,"
Geier said. The large amount of convention,
travel industry and corporate account sales
that emanate from the Orange County region also
made Anaheim a logical site for a regional office,
Geier said.
"We have sales reps assigned to the Orange
County region, and instead of driving back and
forth, they can just work out of that office
and they can service the clients better,"
she said.
Getting in the face of Disneyland, where Geier
had been employed before coming to Universal,
was not a factor in the decision, she said.
"That's not the impression We want to
give anyone," said Geier. "We're working
closer with Disney than we ever have before
on ways to sell Southern California as a travel
destination. We spend so much time (in Orange
County) servicing accounts that it made sense
bringing an extension of Universal closer to
our clients."
The office will be staffed by two assistant
sales representatives and two sales managers,
with sales manager Melanie Karell responsible
for the office. It also will be open to the
general public for Universal Studios ticket
sales.
Disneyland spokesman John McClintock said the
theme park is not particularly concerned about
Universal establishing a presence in its front
yard.
"Our attitude is that we all serve each
other in drawing people to Southern California
as a vacation destination," he said. "We're
competitors, sure, but I don't think anyone
here has a problem with them having an office
down here. We don't challenge their right to
be here and do their bit for Southern California
tourism."
As for any plans for Disneyland to open a sales
office in Universals neck of the woods, McClintock
said Disney already has a presence there since
the company's corporate offices are in nearby
Burbank. "I don't think we need to open
a separate office up there," he said.
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By James Zoltak
.
