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Atlantis lost!
Kerzner forfeits Bahamas resort Atlantis The Palm Dubai
Kernels
The WSJ reports that Kerzner now wants to sell its 50% stake in the US$1.1 billion Atlantis The Palm, a showpiece part of Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah manmade island, to local partner Istithmar. The investment arm of Dubai World already owns 31% of Kerzner International.
The luxury resort operator Kerzner International has been forced to surrender ownership of its Atlantis resort in the Bahamas and may have to do the same in Dubai, writes The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Struggling to refinance the debt of a 2006 buyout, the South African-based company announced that it would it forfeit the flagship Atlantis Paradise Island, its ocean-themed hotel, waterpark and casino development in the Bahamas, to Brookfield Asset Management. Two smaller resorts were also involved in the deal.
The Crane Dance
If the sale of Atlantis The Palm goes ahead, Kerzner will be left with stakes in six smaller One & Only branded resorts, plus contracts to manage Atlantis in the Bahamas and a number of other properties. Kernzer chairman and CEO Sol Kerzner made his name with the once controversial Sun City casino resort in South Africa. Opened in 1998, Atlantis Paradise Island is described as one of the busiest casino resorts outside Las Vegas, but has been suffering from falling hotel occupancy in recent years. Atlantis The Palm, which due to local restrictions does not feature any gambling, debuted in 2008 with an ostentatious multi-million dollar opening ceremony featuring the singer Kylie Minogue. The resort’s Aquaventure waterpark now outperforms Dubai’s established Wild Wadi waterpark in terms of attendance.
Singapore was one of several worldwide attractions that has just been selected for a Thea Award from the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA).
The Crane Dance is a multimedia show featuring two mechanical cranes brought to life in a love story as that transforms them into real birds. Performed six nights a week on the waterfront of Singapore’s integrated resort at Sentosa island, the installation was created and choreographed by Jeremy Railton of the Entertainment Design Corporation, while Bob Chambers of The Producers Group acted as senior technical director.
Described by Edward Marks of The Producers Group as, “truly a one-of-a-kind attraction,” The Crane Dance at Resorts World Sentosa in
Polin Magic Spheres
Polin Wareparks & Pool Systems has launched a new waterslide series. Magic Spheres offers something fresh in terms of its geometry and riding path, with riders experiencing a new path each time they ride. Guests start the journey inside a four-person raft.
Passing through the tunnel part, they experience a big drop into the sphere at an angle of 32º, reach a speed of 32mph. Inside the giant sphere, they follow a “fuzzy” path. Riders oscillate up and down and then the raft follows another tunnel slide to a splash pool or a dry-out below.
Due to its spherical geometrical shape, it makes a 24 Video of the show is available on the Resorts
World Sentosa website or YouTube. For a full list of Thea Award winners, see page 31.
good match with any theming and colouring. Polin's natural light and special pattern effects can be applied for additional customisation, along with audio effects. Furthermore, Magic Sphere is produced by Polin's special Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) technology to produce an aesthetically-pleasing finish, shiny on both sides.
Congratulations to the Pleasure Beach in Blackpool, which picked up a Brass Ring Award at IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando for best print advertising for its ”My Map” distributed to all guests on arrival at the British park. Pleasure Beach non-executive director John Collins OBE was also inducted to the IAAPA Hall of Fame.
The former owner and president of Skee Ball and the Philadelphia Toboggan Company has passed away. Samuel H High III, 77, of Sellersville, Pennslvania, died at home on November 8. He was born March 8, 1934, and is survived by his wife of 53 years Linda (Vaughn) High, daughter Laurel High "Lolly" Yocum and her husband G Mack Yocum III, his son Samuel H High IV and wife Rebecca H High, six grandchildren and two sisters.
Followings its unveiling this summer of Freischütz at Bayern Park in Germany, both American and Chinese clients have expressed an interest in Maurer Söhne’s new Flying Launch Coaster, according to the German manufacturer.
The Taiwan-based Nice Group, operator of the country’s Janfusun Fancyworld theme park, is expand into China by investing US$46 million in a 485,000-sq m site in Jinan, capital of the Shandong province. Its plan includes the Shandong Sun World Family Edutainment Park and Shandong Black Pottery Culture Innovation Park. Construction is scheduled for completion by the end of 2014.
Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury, Connecticut, will add a Zamperla tea cup ride for the 2012 season, its 104th season of operation.
The leading Chinese manufacturer Golden Horse Amusement has introduced a number of new rides in recent months including its biggest ever shoot-the-chute ride at a park in Korea, a new freefall tower with magnetic brakes and a motorbike-themed launch coaster. The latter is very similar in appearance to Zamperla’s Motocoaster and has been installed at parks in Xiamen and Chengdu (both in China).
Huss Park Attractions has a new sales director in the shape of Jens Hilger.
Following the unveiling of the new look Star Tours at Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland in Japan will now revamp its version of the simulator attraction. Star Tours: The Adventures Continues will open in spring 2011 within the park’s Tomorrowland area.
Following its work on the new Landora park in Istanbul, Turkey, Orlando’s Valerio Mazzoli Studio recently completed the design of a new rooftop park in Sofia, Bulgaria. Located on top of a shopping mall, the project is currently in construction.
Merlin Entertainments has appointed its first group creative director. Paul Moreton, who starts in January, was previously general manager of UKTV. Elsewhere at the world’s second biggest attractions operator, Scott Williamson is the new marketing director for “Midway: openings supported by Amanda Starmer, marketing manager for new openings. Rebecca Hamilton and Sarah Taylor take on the new roles of global head of marketing for Dungeons and Sea Life respectively, while Jenny Blask becomes marketing director of Midway attractions in Germany.
DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012
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