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Nick Winslow, the spokesperson
for the Shanghai World
Expo 2010’s U.S. Pavilion |
After watching Beijing bask in the glory of the 2008 Summer Olympics, Shanghai has jumped into the fray by hosting the 2010 World Expo, which opened on May 1 and runs for six months. Nick Winslow, president of the company that designed, built and operates the $61 million U.S. Pavilion, gave TravelAge West insight into the international event.
How is the expo different from the Beijing Olympics?
At the 2008 Summer Olympics, China was showcasing itself to the rest of the world. This time, at the expo, the whole world is coming to China.
How important of an event is the expo?
I’d be only half-joking if I said that this is the biggest event in human history. Just look at the numbers. It’s bigger than any World Expo/World’s Fair in the past, bigger than the Olympics and bigger than the World Cup. Shanghai is expecting more than 70 million visitors, and there are almost 250 countries and organizations represented.
What does the U.S. Pavilion have in store for visitors?
The entrance comprises two wings. On the upper level of the entrance there is an urban farm that is modeled on Michelle Obama’s White House garden. Once inside, you pass through several theaters with different themes, but my favorite is the one with five giant screens that form a cylinder in a 60-foot high room. It’s pure Hollywood. I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s full of surprises. Let’s just say that there are a lot of special effects. You’ll experience a major storm with all your senses as you sit in the audience. It’s very dramatic. We’ll also have a quick service restaurant on the second floor with typical American fast foods, such as those from KFC and Pizza Hut. There’s also a VIP room for special catering.
There was quite a bit of controversy about the funding for the U.S. Pavilion, which almost didn’t happen. Since the law prohibits using government money, how were the funds finally raised?
It was very hard at first. Most sponsors wanted to see how the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics went. And, they wanted to get an idea of how important the Expo was to the U.S. government. In surveys, we found that the first choice of most potential visitors was to see the U.S. Pavilion. Then when Hillary Clinton came to Shanghai in 2009, she got a real earful. After that, we got some strong statements of support from the State Department. Some calls were made, and that’s how we got it done.
What do visitors need to know before they go?
Visitors need a minimum of two days to see it all. My recommendation is to go before it gets too hot, but the best time to go is on July 2 when the University of Southern California marching band and other headliner entertainment will be there to help us celebrate. Also, if visitors buy a VIP ticket to the expo, it will speed them into the pavilions. It’s a highly recommended way to go, and so is going with a group.
