Disney Veteran Gets Top Spot at Hong Kong Park

Walt Disney Co. veteran Bill Ernest has been elevated to the top job at Hong Kong Disneyland, replacing Managing Director Don C. Robinson, who left to become president of Baha Mar Resorts Ltd. in Nassau, Bahamas.

“Bill’s in-depth understanding of the brand, his focus on the quality of the guest experience and his demonstrated ability to manage complex operations will be a tremendous asset in driving the continued growth of the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort,” Jay Rasulo, Disney parks and resorts chairman, said Monday in a statement.

Ernest, who has been with the Burbank-based entertainment giant since 1994, was managing director of operations at the Hong Kong theme park, which opened in September.

He played a key role in launching Disney Cruise Line in 1998. Before joining Disney, Ernest opened more than 40 Marriott hotels in the United States.

Robinson, who had been with Disney for 34 years, will take over as president of Baha Mar Resorts on Feb. 1.

Dubbed a “one-of-a-kind project” by its developers, the 1,000-acre resort at Cable Beach in the Bahamas was announced last year as a joint effort of Baha Mar Resorts, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. and Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. Plans call for five hotels and a casino.