As Mega Adventure celebrates its 15th anniversary on the island of Sentosa, we chat with its founder about his life and entrepreneurial journey.
“‘Challenge by choice’ is the philosophy we follow. People of all ages come to Mega Adventure Park to find an environment that’s both exciting and out of the ordinary. Like any adventure, there is a lot of fun and self-discovery involved, mixed perhaps with a little bit of fear. It’s a unique experience that makes the heart race.
Our main attraction is the MegaZip. From a 75-metre hill top, you soar over the treetops and down to Siloso Beach at 60 kilometres per hour, finishing on a small offshore island. We were the first zipline in the world to introduce speed-limiting technology, allowing for a steep and dramatic but controlled 450-metre ride.
We also have the MegaJump and MegaClimb – a three-level high ropes course with 36 exciting obstacles which give you a great workout. With MegaJump, you’re taking a leap of faith and falling vertically from a height of 15 metres. Rather like a parachute landing, without having to find a plane to take you up!
Before I founded Mega Adventure, my first job was in The British Army. I was in the infantry, and part of my duties was to train recruits and young soldiers. I served for 10 years, leaving in 1989. My first visit to Singapore was in 1986 to play rugby for a Combined Services Team. That was also my first visit to Sentosa, which was somewhat quieter in those days!
Post-army, I travelled with different organisations around the world. I helped set up a mine clearance operation in Afghanistan called The HALO Trust. I also worked with Abercrombie & Kent, who organised safaris in Tanzania and Kenya.
In the early nineties, I returned to Hong Kong where I had spent a couple of years as a soldier. I worked in financial publishing and education with a friend, and together, we set up a company that trained financial analysts around Asia. We sold it after several years, and I returned to the UK in 1997.
I moved to London to work on a start-up publication, Financial News, with the same friend from Hong Kong. We built the brand over 10 years before selling it to The New York Times in 2006. By then, I was keen to exercise my entrepreneurial abilities on something completely different.
In the army, we trained soldiers at height to build confidence under stress, often without the aid of belay systems and harnesses. I would reflect on the possible commercial applications. If you could offer these experiences in a controlled environment and make it safe and fun, it could be a great business opportunity…. if you found the right location.
I researched various models being practised in the UK, Europe and Australia, but found little available in Asia. I took a gamble, moved the family to Thailand, and travelled to possible sites.
It soon became apparent that Singapore was perfect for this kind of thing. Its climate allowed year-round operation, a concentrated accessible energetic urban community, high tourist footfall, a thriving corporate market and an honest and well-regulated business environment which spoke English as its first language. Ideal.
And Sentosa Island, with its dramatic scenery and growing status as a resort destination, offered the perfect location. In 2006, I met with Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) and shared my vision.
After internal discussions, a proposal was put to NParks (as Mount Imbiah is a protected zone). Once approved, a tender was issued. There were a number of good and experienced applicants, so I was both elated and relieved when in January 2008, I was informed of our successful bid. 18 months later, we launched.
No man is an island, and throughout the Mega story, I have been assisted and guided by many wonderful people without whom the project would never have been completed or managed with such success.
An early tip in my business career was that my key role was ‘to find people more intelligent and talented than you are’. Not so difficult in my case! I have been enormously lucky with the talent that I found or that found me.
Some are no longer part of my journey, but without exception they have gone on to create their own paths to success, and I cannot thank each of them enough. You know who you are.
So Mega Adventure turned 15-years-old on 9th September. It has been an extraordinary personal and business journey. Not always smooth sailing and full of lessons, but anything worthwhile is. In 2018, we welcomed 150,000 guests, making it the busiest park of its kind outside North America.
COVID obviously casted a long shadow, and the consequential impacts in a changed world remain apparent. But I am confident about the future and also in the robust and conscientious approach that Singapore has taken to protect both its people and businesses.
Sentosa is an exceptional environment. There are very few places in the world where a single landlord works with such a diverse range of independent businesses to provide a holistic experience and coordinated product offering.
There is a culture of partnership rather than competition, united by the common goal of attracting visitors, both local and foreign, by delivering superior service and an outstanding customer experience.
Plans for the future? Well I am happy to share that Mega Adventure will stay put in Sentosa for another 5 years until 2029. Whether I remain here until then or beyond is still a bit of a mystery.
But I would say this – for a period of my life, I woke up early, got on the train in sub-zero temperatures, and worked in an office in London all day. I have to pinch myself when I consider how lucky I am to be working on a tropical resort island, surrounded by dramatic scenery.
In addition, there is such a positive vibe generated by people on holiday, and the team we employ are mostly young, with loads of energy and a passion for being in the great outdoors. It’s a great combination of circumstances which I am in no hurry to leave behind.
In more immediate terms, our guests are becoming increasingly aware and conscious of environmental issues, which is a good thing. Sentosa has made great strides in this direction in becoming the first destination in Asia to be Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)-certified. As an attraction on Sentosa, we want to follow suit as soon as possible.
Looking back on everything, glorious serendipity has played its part. I didn’t plan this path. One thing led to another, and here I am today. That is why I think it’s very important for all aspiring entrepreneurs to say yes to opportunities that come their way. We are risk takers by nature.
I think a companion philosophy to ‘challenge by choice’ is ‘just say yes’, even if it’s uncomfortable doing so. There’s always a chance that something is not going to work, but you’ll never know if you turned down the chance. So just say ‘yes’ as often as you can.” – Alex Blyth
Interview by Arman Shah
Justine and Michael
To take risks, to follow your gut, to have the courage to explore and take chances. A great reminder about not being scared to take that leap of faith. Thank you Alex and Arman for this story. Justine and Michael.