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Mack 8
Kernels Next generation steps up at Europa-Park
Michael and Thomas Mack have bee appointed to the board of directors at Europa-Park, the family business that last year consolidated its postion as Germany's number one amusement park by hosting more than 5.5 million visits. As members of the Mack family’s eighth generation, Michael and Thomas have already been
actively involved in managing Europa-Park for some years. Michael Mack is responsible for construction management, park operations, marketing and the in-house design department Mack Solutions, while Thomas Mack leads the entertainment department, hotel and food services, and logistics department. Projects such as Hotel Bell Rock, the 2-star Michelin restaurant Ammolite and Europa-Park’s first musical, Spook Me!, were all completed under his leadership. Michael and Thomas Mack's appointment to the board of directors will ensure continuity in
the company’s corporate policy. “In doing so, we are ensuring that the Mack family’s more than 235-year-old business will continue developing successfully,” Roland and Jürgen Mack said in a joint statement, “based on that solid foundation, we carry on fulfilling our core business – exciting visitors every day.” Located in the town of Rust near Freiburg iInvestments in new attractions and infrastructure continue Europa-Park including a planned waterpark and hotel expansion. Besides the park and on-hotels, the Mack group also includes the manufacturer Mack Rides. More than 3,700 employees are working in these companies at various locations. Another promotion was announced recently at Europa-Park as the graduate economist Klaus
Hauer, who has been heading the park’s finance and controlling department for many years, has been given additional responsibilities and is now in charge of procurement.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Jürgen, Thomas, Roland and Michael Mack
Hong Kong Disneyland reported a loss of HK$148 million (US$19m) for the last fiscal year. Amid a challenging period for many attractions in Hong Kong, there was also a 9.3% overall decline in attendance, due to a drop in the number of visitors from Mainland China. “The park’s first descent into the red in five years was followed by the sudden departure of its long-time managing director Andrew Kam, which was never fully explained and raises questions about its future with competition in the form of the Shanghai Disney Resort, due to open in June,” noted a commentator in the South China Morning Post. Hong Kong Disneyland is part-owned by the Hong Kong Government, which also runs the competing Ocean Park.
Following the announcement that is to develop a Nickelodeon FEC in Murcia, Spain, Parques Reunidos has confirmed it will develop a second outlet at the Lakeside shopping mall in Thurrock outside London. The 5,240 sq m (1 acre) facility is expected to open in 2018. In the north of England, families can already enjoy the larger Nickelodeon Land at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Parques Reunidos, meanwhile, operates Blackpool Zoo.
The LA-based firm Rhetroactive is working on the masterplan of a theme park for Discovery Communications. Inspired by the Discovery Channel, the facility will feature media-based content in what Rhetroactive chief creative officer Tim Rheault tells us will be a “non movie park.” The biggest challenge, he tells Park World, “is how to allow guests to experience the epic journeys of adventure that Discovery’s shows portray, most of them much too dangerous for the average guest. We can’t really talk about anything yet, but with the stories and themes we’re developing, it’s going to really stand out in a marketplace full of movie parks.” Sounds intriguing!
Angenvoort Asia Pacific is a new company founded by Christian Angenvoort, formerly of Theming & Animatronic Industries (TAA). With offices in Lisbon and Hong Kong, the company will work with attractions and kids clubs in Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. “We will support clients from networking to turning opportunities into projects,” notes Angenvoort. “Additionally we provide temporary project management, concept design, planning and procurement.” More details at
angenvoort.com
Development Forum Middle East The second Theme Parks & Entertainment Development Forum Middle East took place last month in Dubai, following the inaugural event in Abu Dhabi back in June 2015. Staged at Atlantis The Palm on May 23 and 24, the latest event came just one month after the DEAL trade show and conference and featured a selection speakers key to the parks and attractions in the United Arab Emirates, preceded by a backstage of tour of the new IMG Worlds of Adventure theme park on Sunday, May 22. Presided over by chairman Phil Taylor of Team Leisure, speakers on Monday and
Tuesday included IMG's Lennard Francois Otto, Douglas True blood from Dubai Parks and Resorts, Marco Savegnago of Auxel, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi (FWAD) marketing director Manuri Anthonis, Margaret Papamichael from AECOM, Mrinal Anand of PriceWaterhouse Cooper and Roland Zieher of FWAD/Yas Waterworld/Marvel theme park operator Farah Experiences. On Tuesday afternoon there was also a site visit to Atlantis' on-site Aquaventure
Waterpark, followed by a post event masterclass on May 24 lead by Phil Taylor, in which delegates were invited to examine various case studies and examples of global innovation and benchmarking. Organised by IQPC Middle East, the Theme Parks & Entertainment Development Forum is expected to return in spring 2017.
26 Theme Parks & Entertainment
ProSlide has appointed a new business development/account manager for Europe. Geert van Heugten will be based in Amsterdam, working alongside European VP Lars Lenders, and arrives after previous roles with Merlin Entertainments and Holiday Park Kownaty in Poland. Geert’s first professional exposure to the industry came via a bachelor’s degree course in theme park management at NHTV Breda University. “Given the strong growth that we are seeing in Eastern Europe, we believe that now is a perfect time to expand our sales team,” says Lenders.
The TAA Group has appointed Roque Grau as its new sales manager for the Europe and Asia-Pacifi, replacing Christian Angenvoort, who has left the theming firm after more than eight years to start his own company.
Johnston Amusements has deployed a new ticketless payment system sing mini tablets from Janam Technologies. The US carnival operator, which tours fairs and festivals in central and northern California, wanted a virtual ticket solution that would eliminate fraud, provide up-to the-minute data on operations and reduce waiting lines for its 50+ rides and attractions. Now Instead of the tearing off the right number of tickets for each ride, guests can purchase a ride card that is scanned with the tablets. The new system improves transaction efficiency and reduces the risk of human error and is already saving Johnston Amusements up to eight man hours daily.
JUNE 2016
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