Park News
parkworld-online.com
MERLIN ANNUAL REPORT Earnings up in 2013, new Legoland parks coming in 2016 and beyond
Merlin Entertainments spent £95 million ($158m/€114m) on new attractions in 2013, helping it record a growth in revenue of 6.7%, or 6.3% EBITDA (after tax and other deductions). That’s a total of £1.19 billion ($2bn/€1.4bn), or £380 million EBITDA. And, as reported widely, the company finally floated on the London Stock Exchange in November, selling a 30% stake in the business for just short of $1 billion ($1.6bn/€1.2bn).
Combined visitor numbers across the group’s 99 attractions last year were 58 million, up from 54 million in 2012. New rides such as The Smiler at Alton Towers and Zufari at Chessington World of Adventures in England and the Land of Chima at Legoland Florida are cited as contributing to the uplift, but there were also six brand new ‘Midway’ outlets added to the portfolio, including the relocation of the London Dungeon.
Already this year the group has opened its 100th attraction, a Sea Life aquarium in Charlotte, North
Atlantis coming to China
The Chinese island province of Hainan has been earmarked for the world’s third Atlantis resort. Atlantis Sanya will be realised as a result of a deal between operator Kerzner International and the Chinese conglomerate Fosun International. The 62 hectare resort is scheduled to open in 2016.
Concept drawings for the US$1.5 billion development show that thel 5-star hotel component will be of a more futuristic design to the existing Atlantis resorts in Dubai and the Bahamas. As at those two venues, however, an Aquaventure waterpark and marine life activities will be form an integral part of the offering. “The anticipation is that there will be a strong bias towards Chinese tourists but it’s an opportunity [for tour operators] to include as part of programmes for European travellers,” Kerzner’s Brett Armitage told Travel Weekly. Located on the South China Sea, Hainan Island is already a popular tourist destination with Chinese families and it also set for a marine park from the Australian operator Village Roadshow.
Carolina, and further Midway openings are planned in 2014 including Madame Tussauds in Beijing, Singapore and San Francisco, the San Francisco Dungeon and a Legoland Discovery Centre in Boston. New hotel accommodation is promised at Legoland Deutschland and Chessington Wold of Adventures as part of Merlin’s plans to add 200 “keys” to its estate each year. A new Midway format will debut in London in 2015 dedicated to Shrek, with more to follow around the world. Next year will also see the relaunch of the Turkuazoo aquarium, which Merlin plans to use as the foundation for the roll out of further Midway attractions in Turkey including a Legoland Discovery Centre.
There was strong trading during 2013 at
Legoland Malaysia, its first full year of operation, when it added a hotel and a waterpark. In the US, a hotel also opened at Legoland California, and one is now on development for Legoland Florida. Looking ahead to 2016 and Merlin is expected to
Legoland Malaysia performed well in 2013
open Legoland Dubai under a management contract, with new Lego parks in negotiation for Japan and South Korea, and further projects under consideration for China and the USA.
ATLANTIS COMES TO CREALY
It’s an enduring theme that has inspired attraction designers far and wide (see left). Now Crealy adventure park in Devon, southwest England, has opened an Atlantis-themed attraction too. Launched during the February “half-term” school holidays, The Lost World of Atlantis is part of a £1 million investment being made this season as part of the park’s 25th anniversary celebrations. The heated indoot facility will also allow the park to stay open year-round. Featured in the undersea-themed world are such rides as the Shark Bay rollercoaster, Dolphin Drop tower ride, Neptune’s Sea Cups and Super Sub flying submarines – all supplied by the SBF/Visa Group – in addition to a large soft play area for younger children. A further two new attractions are planned to open at the park, in March and May respectively. “We will also be introducing a new animal encounter show, as well as a bug and creepy crawly experience,” details Crealy managing director Chris Down. “We will be continuing to invest heavily in our food offering and adding a self-service option as well as expanding our ever popular Mamma Mias Pizza Pasta buffet. There will be additional healthy options and a change to our coffee brand. We anticipate creating another six to eight jobs as a result of the investment this season, our biggest to date.”
crealy.co.uk
RIGHT, FROM TOP: Crealy MD Chris Dean takes a ride on the Shark Bay rollercoaster, Super Sub and Dolphin Drop
8 MARCH 2014
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