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Park People
Q Lines
Chip Cleary
whereby the whole executive committee and the
board have begun travelling all over the world
meeting with our local members. We now hold
executive committee and board meetings in
conjunction with our trade shows, safety seminars
and meetings across the world.
On a personal note, in the last year I have had
the opportunity to visit China, Europe and Australia
in support of IAAPA. This winter I plan on visiting
South America and meeting with our members and
team in that region.
How has the current economic climate
affected park attendance, per cap
spending and investment in new
attractions?
That is a big question to answer because things are
different for our regions and different constituents. In
broad strokes, the 2009 season has really seen
everything but the kitchen sink thrown at it. Come to
think of it the kitchen sink may have gone by also!
James (Chip) Cleary, 58, is What are your goals for the coming year at A challenging world wide economic climate, some
the incoming chairman of IAAPA? really awful weather in many regions of the US and
the International Association The role of the chair is evolving as IAAPA evolves. some sobering financial challenges directly affected
of Amusement Parks and We have become a very data driven organisation in a number of our members. There were dynamic
Attractions (IAAPA). Born in recent years. Our approved Strategic Plan is the shifts in marketing plans, discounting, operating
New York City, he serves as document all of us at IAAPA use to guide all of our strategies and most importantly a consumer who
senior vice-president of decisions in the coming year. radically changed its spending patterns virtually
Palace Entertainment, a So to answer your question, my goals are the overnight.
division of Parques Reunidos. same goals as stated in the association’s 2010 I have heard that some regions of Europe had the
Palace Entertainment hosts Strategic Plan. I will focus on expanding our best operating seasons in years, and some had
over 14 million visitors services to our members in Latin America, Asia decent operating seasons. Many areas of
annually at its seven theme and Europe and making sure the association the US seem to have had a better August
parks, 10 waterparks and 21 responds appropriately to the world but not enough to make up for the
family entertainment centres economy. In many regions and on many dreadful early months. So as we all begin
across the United States. platforms it has been a very challenging year to meet at our events around the world I
Prior to joining Palace, he to do business. am sure we are going to hear the good,
created Splish Splash In Asia, the Asian Advisory Committee the bad and the ugly stories from the
waterpark in Riverhead, New is really doing great work in framing out 2009 season.
York (now part of Palace the future of IAAPA in their region. In On the topic of investment in new
Entertainment) as well as South America we have just hired our first full time attractions, this is a capital intensive business.
spending 12 years with team member, Paulina Reyes, who will be based There are many projects going on or just recently
Adventureland Amusement there and service the needs of our members there announced around the world. The current economic
Park, Farmingdale, New from a new office in Mexico City. And last but not cycle is definitely making financing more
York. Chip and his wife Kathy least, in Europe our team headed by Andreas challenging and as a result of this only the strongest
live in Port Jefferson, New Anderson has really established our presence in that projects will pass the test. But from my vantage
York, with Galileo the cat. region. These efforts make the “I” in IAAPA really point there look to be some great new attractions
Chip took time recently to stand for International. opening in 2010.
talk to Park World about his As challenging as this season has been, August in
vision for IAAPA How important is that international focus to many of the regions that my company operates was
you and the association? encouraging and reaffirmed my faith that the
I believe actions speak louder than any words. In the consumer is looking for great entertainment and will
last few years we have had dynamic chairpeople come out in good volume when properly stimulated
from all over the world. They began a process to do so.
36 NOVEMBER 2009
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