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www.parkworld-online.com
e dessert!
Also featured as part of the overall WOW RAK development will be a selection of upscale ocean-view accommodation. Further phases will include a shopping mall, hotel and ride park. An exclusive profile of Ice Land will feature soon in Park World.
www.icelandwaterpark.com
WORLD EXPO NOW OPEN
Shanghai’s eagerly-awaited World Expo 2010 opened on May 1, and is expected to draw more visitors than any other event in world history – 70 million in just six months.
According to its creators, one of the most anticipated national pavilions at the Expo is the USA Pavilion. Built with a $61 million budget, it spans more than 6,000 square meters and entertain over 35,000 guests a day. Inside, the experience design and production was created by BRC Imagination Arts and is played out across four shows – an overture and three acts – to tell a uniquely American story of freedom, democracy, opportunity, diversity, innovation and success. The USA Pavilion is a working prototype for the sustainable building of tomorrow and includes solar panels, water capture systems and a rooftop urban farm. There will be cultural performances throughout the day, exposing guests waiting in line to a wide range of entertainment from dance to music.
The USA Pavilion, an artist’s impression
ParkBloggin’
by W Frank Crissey
Cultural exchanges
benefit park operators
Much like the resort and hotel industry, theme park operators have embraced and continue to strongly support international exchange programmes that foster an improved understanding between countries. The short-term jobs that park operators provide have allowed this cultural exchange to succeed, with substantial benefits for all participants. The most popular in North America is the J-1 Work and Travel
Program, which allows overseas college students to visit and work in the US for up to four months, and also encourages a reciprocal program where American college students can spend their summer working and living overseas.
In general, international college students are available in winter from South American countries, in spring from Asian countries and in summer from European countries and China. Typically, participants are warmly welcomed into the local community. My company, Janus International, is one of the leading US designated exchange sponsors, with over 95% of students successfully completing their placements. The thousands of e- mails we receive each year from participants reflect a positive view of their experience and their exposure to the culture of another country.
in time for Expo 2010!
address including a contribution from the Shanghai World Expo Bureau. Also planned throughout the day are sessions on public-private partnerships, sustainable development, masterplanning, attraction positioning, Chongming tourism island and forecasts for Chinese industry in the next five to 10 years. On Tuesday there will be two seminar tracks running throughout the day. Of interest to readers of this publication will be the session on successful theme park operation, delivered by representatives from Universal Parks & Resorts (Asia) and Essel World in India. Also promised are sessions on planning world class attractions, the importance of hotel brands, multimedia technologies, sports tourism, property investment and government relations. Delegates will also be presented with details of a number of “must see” tourism property projects.
Speakers and VIP guests confirmed for the summit at the time of writing included
Jun Yao from OCT Holdings, Peter Wong of Universal Parks & Resorts, Li Ming of Fantawild, Mark Trevor Manteit from Phillip Island Nature Parks, Shirish Deshpande of Essel World, Zhenxuan Fei from the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Trade Association, Fei Shen of the National Real Estate Association and Asia-pacific Tourism organization, senior tourism representatives from China, Thailand, Malayasia and Indonesia. Also due to participate are several senior hotel group executives.
The full speaker programme, together with registration details and fees, can be found at
www.tourism-attraction.com Park World is an official media partner.
MAY 2010
Employers are equally enthusiastic, as it offers them both a seasonal staffing solution and a positive public relations activity by contributing to the cultural exchange between countries. Amy Forest, a department manager in Wisconsin Dells writes, “They get along terrific, their English is outstanding, they enjoy each other’s company and really seem to not mind the work, either. They are all very motivated and self- starters.” For students, an extensive orientation seminar is provided before they travel. Janus works closely with each participant to provide guidance and encouragement, especially during the first two or three weeks after their arrival. Typically, this is the most challenging time for students, as they adjust to a new culture, food, language, job and friends, while often missing family from home. Most problems and homesickness virtually disappear after the first couple weeks.
Substantial efforts are also made throughout the students’ stay to enhance the experience and provide fun for participants by arranging additional cultural exchange group activities. These have included attending sporting events, cooking challenges, language classes, tours of major cities and local attractions and an end of season celebration.
W Frank Crissey is the founder of Janus International, which works with partners in more than 15 countries to provide exhange programmes to employers and interested participants.
www.janus-international.com
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