Park News
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IAAPA goes to Orlando (and this time it's for good)
November until 2030. Both were approved by the IAAPA board of directors when they met last month during Euro Attracttions Show (EAS)
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in Barcelona, and there are several key reasons why: • IAAPA has outgrown its current office in Alexandria, and a move to different space is necessary to facilitate the continued growth of the association's products, services and staff.
• As IAAPA nears its 100th anniversary in 2018, this will allow it to create a new vision for the next 100 years. • Orlando is widely viewed as the “global epicentre” of the theme park and attractions industry, and so a natural home to the industry's worldwide trade association.
• The new location will make it easier for staff to effectively engage with members on an on-going basis. “I cannot think of a better place to build our future than in Orlando, the theme park and attractions capital of the
world,” says current IAAPA chairman of the board, John McReynolds. “Our new headquarters will become a global gathering place where industry leaders will connect to conduct business, learn from each other, address challenges and imagine the attractions that will put smiles on people’s faces for many years to come.” “IAAPA represents what everyone knows about Orlando – we have a thriving theme park industry,” confirms David
Fuller, Orlando Economic Development Commission chair. “How appropriate that they are now part of our regional narrative that tells the story of our growing number of company headquarters locating here because of our outstanding assets and business climate.” “Orlando is not just a place to have fun, it’s also a great place to conduct serious business and that’s a winning combination for IAAPA,” adds Paul Noland, the association's president and CEO. The Central Florida location will also make it easier for IAAPA staff when they travel to the region to meet with
industry suppliers and to see some of the latest industry innovations at the state's varied attractions. IAAPA estabished a regional US east coast office in Orlando last winter, working out of the headquarters of Ripley Entertainment. Regional IAAPA offices exist around the world in Mexico Cirty (serving Latin America), Brussels (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Hong Kong (Asia Pacific). But before the big move takes place, IAAPA will be back in Orlando next month for the annual Attractions Expo from November 14 to 18 (see our preview on page 28). The event, which has been held continously in the city since 2010 (and for many years on a rotating basis before that) had been set to stay until 2025, but now it gets a five-year extension following a fresh deal with the Orange County Convention Center. The economic impact of the 20-year agreement is expected to exceed $1 billion.
Conneaut Lake Park lives to ride
another day The bankruptcy reorganisation plan of Western Pennsylvania's Conneaut Lake Park's has been approved. The non-profit corporation that oversees the amusement park’s operations filed for federal bankruptcy protection in December 2014 to halt a planned sheriff’s sale of the park to settle real estate taxes, interest and penalties owed to the local school district and governments that dated back to 1997. Court records show creditors holding more than $3.1 million of the more than $3.4 million total secured and unsecured debt voted in favour of the plan. Conneaut Lake Park made a profit during its 2016 season, which came to a close last month. The reopening of its Splash City waterpark contributed to the financial gains. The main park was set to reopen this month for a three-day Pumpkin Fest (October 14 to 16),
newconneautlakepark.com
he International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions is to relocate its global headquarters from Alexandria, Virginia (near Washington DC) to Orlando. The move will begin in 2017. The association has also announced tha its annual conference and trade show, IAAPA Attractions Expo, will remain in the Florida city each
Kynren
an epic tale of success
The new night show launched this summer in England in partnership with famous French park Puy du Fou finished its inaugural 12-week season last month, welcoming more than 100,000 audience members during 15 live performances. Kynren – An Epic Tale of England was
launched at Auckland Castle in County Durham back in July as part of a local regeneration plan by the charity Eleven Arches. The 90-minute open air production takes place on a 7.5-acre stage and immerses audiences in a story that encompasses 2,000 years of British history, myth and legend, involving ships, steam trains, mass choreography, pyrotechnics, light and water effects. The show is brought to life by more than 1,000 professionally-trained volunteers, including a cast of 600 humans, horses, sheep, pigs, cattle and ducks. The production was the first full night spectacular outside France co-produced by experts from Puy do Fou, including artistic director Nicolas de Villiers. Performed weekends after dark, the show
played each night to crowds of up to 8,000, with audience members coming from as far away as the USA, Canada, New Zealand, the Middle East, South Africa and China. “We are thrilled that so many people of all ages and from far and wide have enjoyed the show,” reports Eleven Arches CEO, Anne-Isabelle Daulon. “The scale of our ambition was audacious, if not daunting, and we believe we have pulled off something quite incredible; not just the quality of the show itself, but the positive impact it has had on the community.” On TripAdvisor, 96% of reviewers rated Kynren
as “excellent” or “very good”, while The Daily Mail reported it was “Stirring, patriotic – and quite wonderfully bonkers”. Planning for the 2017 run, which will start again in July but probably feature extra shows, is already underway and volunteer recruitment will start soon.
OCTOBER 2016
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