ATTRACTIONS


Attractions Management launches AM2 magazine


Leisure Media and Attractions Management have officially launched AM2 – the first jobs and news magazine for the global visitor attractions industry – as of 1 June. AM2 will be published every two weeks,


but will keep readers up to date in between each edition with a whole raſt of digital news feeds and exciting services, includ- ing a new website – www.am2.jobs – an ezine, instant news alerts, RSS feed and social media infrastructure on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest. Te magazine will be produced in a wide


range of formats so you’ll be able to enjoy it on the Digital Turning Pages system, as well as by downloading a PDF. Or if you prefer paper, you can subscribe to the print edition. In addition, AM2 will also offer a full


recruitment advertising service man- aged by Ricky Popat (+44 (0)1462 471907. Details: http://lei.sr?a=R7a9a


Chester Zoo: major new expansion


Jamie Christon, MD of Chester Zoo, has revealed the masterplan for the attraction’s second wave of expansion, which will follow the com- pletion of the zoo’s Islands project in December this year. Islands is scheduled to open to the public in May 2015. The 111 acre (50 hect-


are) zoo has earmarked an additional 389 acres (157.4 hectares) of space for its sec- ond wave of development. Christon revealed ambitious plans are in the works,, say- ing “We have outline planning permission for a 150-bedroom hotel and we’re also planning to remaster the core zoo to bring it up to the same standard as our Islands project.” Once open, Islands will be “one of the top five zoo projects anywhere in the world,” according to Christon. Te Islands project, which will be the same


size as seven full-size football pitches, will be an immersive experience, themed as an expedition through Indonesia, “following in the footsteps of the explorers and adventurers as you travel and explore between the various islands.” Christon said the idea behind the Islands


Torpe Park has had an Angry Birds makeover


Visitors flock to Thorpe Park for new Angry Birds attraction


The Angry Birds brand has nested at Torpe Park following the opening of the brand new Angry Birds Land, with a large area of the park having been redeveloped to include the globally popular IP. Te park now includes the world’s first


Angry Birds 4D experience, telling the tale of the Angry Birds through a high-paced experience, including timed air gusts, water jets, smoke blasts and more, to immerse guests in the themed adventure. Torpe Park’s 100ſt (30.4m) drop tower


has undergone the Angry Birds rebranding, while a new dodgems attraction, plus retail and catering outlets are now also adorned with the Angry Birds’ colours. Coming from humble beginnings as an


iPhone app, Angry Birds has been a major hit since its emergence in 2009, with a number of branded attractions coming to market and even an animated movie due to be released at some point in 2016. Details: http://lei.sr?a=m9e8P


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project is to raise public awareness on the plight faced by animals in the Indonesian region and to show people what conservation efforts are


Chester Zoo has a number of big plans beyond its Islands project


being made by the zoo and other parties. Architectural firm Dan Pearlman – which has


also worked on zoos in Hannover and South Korea – is leading the project, while engineer- ing company Laing O’Rourke was awarded the build aſter a nationwide tender process. One of the zoo’s most significant develop-


ments is its Heart of Africa project – an area which will match Islands in size, with a projected opening of 2020. Designs originally included a £90m Rainforest Biome, though plans have been revised due to funding cuts and are still being formulated. Te zoo is also planning to refurbish Victorian mansion Oakfield House. Details: http://lei.sr?a=N8u5A


Plans revealed for planetarium build in Kent


Plans have been outlined for what would be one of the UK’s largest space centres, with an observatory and 200-seat planetarium, to be constructed in Ashford, Kent. Te multi-million pound scheme


would be located to the south of Ashford, in an area where visitors to the centre can benefit from lower light pollution. Te facility would also include a research laboratory with six state-of-the-art telescopes that could be used remotely by sci- entists from across the globe. Visitor attractions would include a cin-


Romney Marsh is one of the UK’s best locations for stargazers


ema and hands-on exhibits, while conference facilities will also be included. Ashford Astronomical Society (ASS) has already put in funding bids for the development, though an exact figure has not been released. “I am confident this will become a real- ity,” said Drew Wagar, AAS chair. “We have


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital


submitted some funding bids and we are already looking at planning regulations, where the centre could be located and transport links. “We haven’t got an exact location as


yet, as that will depend on the availabil- ity of land, but it will likely be away from the town, out towards Romney Marsh where we have these amazing dark skies.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=C9S5J


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2014


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