Disney Picks One of Its Own to Run Disneyland Hotel

Twenty months after gaining control of the Disneyland Hotel, the Walt Disney Co. took another step toward making its mark on the property by appointing a top company executive as vice president and general manager.

In the new post, Hideo Amemiya will oversee all marketing, finance and operations of the 1,174-room hotel, which is the second-largest in Anaheim and is next to the Disneyland amusement park.

Amemiya also will be in charge of the hotel’s $35-million renovation scheduled to be finished next summer, hotel officials said Thursday. And he will oversee Disney’s Vacationland Campground, an adjacent recreational vehicle park, and the nearby Tennisland Racquet Club.

Amemiya, who took over Aug. 2, most recently was director of resort operations at Walt Disney World in Florida, which includes seven hotels. He assumed that job only a few months ago, when he was promoted from being general manager of Disney’s Polynesian Resort, an 855-room hotel at Disney World.

Amemiya is a Japanese native who joined Disney in 1971. Since then, he has held a variety of management positions, including an assignment at Tokyo Disneyland. He declined to be interviewed this week.

He replaces Michael A. Bullis, who had headed the Disneyland Hotel and its 1,600 employees since 1982. Bullis, a former president of the California Hotel and Motel Assn., was on vacation Thursday and could not be reached for comment.

His resignation three weeks ago apparently came as a surprise to hotel staffers. Charleen Thompson, Bullis’ former secretary who now works for Amemiya, said Bullis will be “doing some consulting work” for Disney but had “no new position that I’m aware of.”

Bullis had been president of Wrather Hotels Inc.--which included managing the venerable Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles--in January, 1988, when Disney and a joint venture partner completed the $152.3-million purchase of Wrather Corp. That purchase put Disney in charge of the Disneyland Hotel. Three months later, Disney bought out the partner, gaining total control of the hotel as well as exclusive use of the Disney name on hotels in Southern California.

At the time of the acquisition, Bullis was expected to head the Disneyland Hotel at least through 1990 under a four-year employment agreement that was signed in January, 1987. His salary at the time was at least $175,000 a year.

No reason was given for Bullis’ departure. “I think he felt he wanted to pursue other interests,” said Shannon Stewart, marketing manager for the hotel. “It was a really pleasant parting.”

Bullis leaves at a time that Disney is trying to breathe new life into the hotel, which is on a 60-acre tract and includes a convention complex.

Before Disney’s acquisition, the Disneyland Hotel had begun to show its age. In early 1988, it had been downgraded from a Four Diamond to Three Diamond rating by the American Automobile Assn.

The current renovation project is aimed at helping the hotel retain its healthy occupancy rate of 80 to 85%--among the best in the Anaheim area.

In addition to upgrading guest rooms and meeting space, the project also involves sprucing up the lobbies in all three towers with new carpeting, furniture and fixtures in a California theme. The redesigned lobby lounge will be relocated to overlook the hotel’s marina. Disneyland conceptual art and memorabilia also will be displayed.

HIDEO AMEMIYA

Vice president and general manager.

18 years with Walt Disney Co.

Former director of resort operations at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Oversees Disneyland Hotel operations as well as an adjacent recreational vehicle park, Disney’s Vacationland Campground, and the nearby Tennisland Racquet Club.

NEW MANAGEMENT FOR DISNEYLAND HOTEL

Built in 1955 as a 99-room structure.

Now includes 1,174 rooms and a convention center.

1,600 employees.

Occupancy rate: 80-85%

Now undergoing a $35-million renovation that will upgrade guest rooms, meeting space, lobbies, lounge area and add Disneyland museum display from Disney archives.

Purchased by the Walt Disney Co. in 1988 from Wrather Corp.