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David Willrich (pictured) has been selected to become the next president of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). The UK-based managing director of AV specialist DJ Willrich Ltd, who previously served as TEA president for Europe and the Middle East, will suceed Steve Birket of Birket Engineering in November.
Dubai Parks and Resorts will officiallly open its gates to the public on October 31, it has been confirmed. The region's largest theme park complex featues almost 100 rides and attractions,
spread across three parks and a waterpark Those parks are Motiongate Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai, Legoland Dubai and Legoland Water Park. The resort will also feature the Riverland dining and entertainment district and Polynesian-themed Lapita Hotel. “Nothing of this magnitude has ever been done before, and we look forward to offering our guests close to 100 unforgettable rides, attractions and experiences,” notes Dubai Parks and Resorts CEO, Raed Kajoor Al Nuaimi. More info at
dubaiparksandresorts.com
The opening date for Ferrari Land at PortAventura World in Spain has been announced as April 7 next year – just in time for Easter. The motorsport and automobile themed park will be the third park on site at the PortAventura resort. Unlike Ferrai World Abu Dhabi, all its key attractions – including an Intamin Accelerator LSM launch coaster that will be the tallest and fastest rolllercoaster in Europe – will be located outdoors.
Village Roadshow Theme Parks has signed a consultation and management agreement to operate the first ever Lionsgate “themed immersive experience centre” at Henqqin island in southern China. The attraction will be featured as part of the wider Novotown being developed by Zhuhai Hengqin Laisun Creative Culture City Co Ltd, part of the Lai Sun Group. The 22,000 sq m attraction is set to open its doors to the public by the end of 2018. Located in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, Henqin has been designated
special tourism status and will soon be connected by a road bridge to Hong Kong and Macau, which sits immediately across the water. Already the Chimelong group operates its popular Ocean Kingdom Resort on the island.
Opened in December 2014 at a cost of RMB 3.8 million ($570m/€435m), Wanda Movie Park in China has closed for refurbishment after just 19 months in business. Along with the Han Show theatre, the indoor facility in Wuhan (Hubei Province) was supposed to be a showpiece attraction for the Dalian Wanda Group, and one of its first theme park projects. It closed on July 31 for “renovation and upgrade works to better serve our guests with better quality content, as well as with a brand new experience”. No timescale for reopening has been offered.
FORREC has revealed that it is acting as lead design consultant for Six Flags Dubai, opening in 2019 as part of the Dubai Parks and Resorts development. “Six Flags is the largest regional theme park company in the world, and their Dubai park will be a showplace for their brand,” says FORREC executive vice- president, Steve Rhys.
Legoland Deutschland will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2017 with the addition of Ninjago World – the largest capital investment since the German park opened in 2002. Located in Günzburg, Bavaria, it will become the fourth park in the Legoland portfolio to feature such a themed area, dedicated to the Ninja-inspired Lego Ninjago toy line. As with the existing Ninjago Worlds at Legoland Billund, Legoland California and, as from November, Legoland Malaysia, a 4D dark ride will be the central attraction, featuring gesture-based interactive technology from Triotech (see page 37).
The world's first Star Trek themed rollercoaster will touch down at Movie Park Germany in 2017. Mack Rides will supply the launch coaster at the heart of the attraction.
Never short of new ideas or ways communicate with its guests, Germany's leading amusement park has started a web-based radio service. Launched in July, Europa-Park Radio broadcasts around the clock, featuring contemporary music and radio typical content such as news on the hour alongside interviews with celebrities and the operating Mack family, greetings to and from park guests and updates on new attractions. The service was created in partnership with the Offenburg-based broadcaster Ortenau and can be heard in Europa-Park's shops, restaurants and hotels, as well as via the park's website and app, various online radio streams. “Tune in” at
radio.europapark.de
The UK holiday park operator Pontin's recently added a rotating climbing to the its Camber Sands site in East Sussex courtesy of Veqtor.
As a novel way of publicising its offering to local holidaymakers, Oakwood amusement park in South Wales is operating two bouncy castles on the beach of the nearby seaside resort Tenby. The inflatables are themed on Oakwood’s Peter Pan- themed Neverland attraction and its Hook’s House of Havoc indoor adventure play area. “This will be the third year we have operated the bouncy castles in Tenby as part of our outreach to the local community,” explains Oakwood’s Natalie Hunt. “The town’s beaches are renowned for their beauty and cleanliness and are always very popular with families. Having a base in Tenby throughout the season helps us to promote what Oakwood has to offer to a wider audience and adds something a extra for youngsters to do on the beach.”
Premier Parks has acquired Wild Water Kingdom in Brampton (Greater Ontario), a 100-acre waterpark and entertainment facility which has not operated since 2014. The enormous population base of the Toronto market, lack of standalone waterparks, and Canadians’ fondness for a resort experience are all cited as contributing factors in the Premier's decision to purchase the park. Led by former Six Flags chairman and CEO Kieran Burke, Premier Parks operates 12 amusement parks and waterparks across North America, including Wet ‘n’ Wild waterparks in Hawaii, Palm Springs, Phoenix and Houston, plus two resort properties with lodging, a marina and adventure park.
Josef Haas has been appointed executive vice-president and chief operating officer at Stand Rock Hospitality, where he will oversee the operations of several North American hotel and resort properties including Wilderness at the Smokies in the Smoky Mountains, Tennessee; Camelback Lodge & Indoor Waterpark Resort in the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania; and Hampton Inn & Suites Milwaukee West in West Allis, Wisconsin. Prior to joining Stand Rock, Haas was COO of Kalahari Resort, general manager for Blue Harbor Resort, owned and operated at the time by Great Wolf Resorts, and executive vice-president for Keystone Resort.
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AUGUST 2016
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