Park News
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Maja on Holiday
Construction has started at Holliday World, Hassloch, Germany, on a new themed area called Majaland. The €9 million addition to the park follows the introduction last season of Maja the Bee attractions at sister parks in Belgium operated by Studio 100 under the Plopsa brand. The new land at Holiday Park will cover a 30,000 square metres and feature 11
family-focused attractions including Schmetterlingsflug (Butterfly Flight) and Tulpen (Tulip) Splash. A new entrance is also planned for the park featuring Studio 100 characters including Wickie the Viking and Tabaluga. Pictured here getting work underway are Plopsa park group managing director Steven van der Kerkhof (right) with construction manager Luc van der Biest. The new land will be available for the start of the season on March 31.
Ocean Park marks anniversary with
record attendance Fresh from clocking up its highest ever attendance, Hong Kong’s home-grown theme park was due to celebrate its 35th birthday with a special float in Cathy Pacific’s Chinese New Year Night Parade on January 23.
The float showcased new areas of the park including Polar Adventure and Thrill Mountain alongside signature animals such as the dolphin, harbour seal and giant panda as it wished the people of Hong Kong a lucky and prosperous Year of the Dragon.
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, Ocean Park recorded nearly 5.9 million guests – a 16% increase over the previous year. Park revenue also broke the billion dollar mark for the very first time, finishing the year at HK1.2 billion.
Disney cast member enjoys
55 years’ service Oscar Martinez, who recently celebrated his 55th year as a “cast member” at Disneyland in California, has been honoured with a Snow White-themed service award.
Martinez, a cook at Carnation Café on Main Street USA, began his Disney career as a bus driver and is the first Walt Disney Parks & Resorts employee to achieve the 55-year milestone. Over the last half century, he has trained thousands more cast members and has become a favourite of the many guests who visit him year after year.
Merlin identifies takeover target in Asia-Pacific
Building on its acquisition last year of the Sydney Attractions Group, Merlin Entertainments wants to increase its foothold in the Asia-Pacific region with the proposed acquisition of the Living and Leisure Australia Group (LLA).
Subsidiary Merlin Australia has made a recommended takeover offer for the group, which operates nine leisure attractions in the region including aquariums in Melbourne and the Gold Coast in Australia, Bangkok, Shanghai and Busan, South Korea. The group also boasts a number of winter sports resorts and treetop adventures in Australia plus a management contract in Dubai. “The acquisition of LLA would open up new markets to us and facilitate the continuing roll out of the Sea Life, Madame Tussauds, Eye and Legoland brands in the Asia Pacific region,” notes Merlin chief executive Nick Varney.
livingandleisure.com.au
12
FEBRUARY 2012
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