ATTRACTIONS


UNESCO adds further 24 sites to World Heritage list


UNESCO has announced the annual update to its register of sites worthy of world heritage status, adding 24 new loca- tions to its global list of more than 1,000. Well-known visitor attractions, includ-


ing France’s Champagne wine region, Te Alamo and Scotland’s Forth Road Bridge are all new additions to the list, with lesser- known sites added to the list now hoping for a boost in tourism numbers. Denmark, France, Iran and Turkey had two allocations apiece, leading the way in new additions. Te Forth Bridge is the sixth Scottish landmark to gain heritage status, having been used to carry trains over the Forth since 1890. Details: http://lei.sr?a=Z4D4Z_O


Port Lympne targets top safari spot


Port Lympne Wild Animal and Safari Reserve in Kent, has launched a unique set of luxury treehouse lodges as the visitor attrac- tion strives to become Europe’s number one safari short-break provider. Designed by Ray Hole


Architects with interi- ors by Tara Bernerd + Partners and Malcolm Charles Construction act- ing as main contractor, the Treehouse Hotel is com- prised of 10 separate luxury lodges, designed for four people. Each is comprised of two bedrooms, a bathroom and an expansive open planned sitting room/kitchen, which leads out onto a private balcony, offering views of the expan- sive reserve and Kent countryside, as well as the animal paddocks sitting below the lodges. “When we decided we were going to do


treehouses we wanted to put our own spin on it,” said Bob O’Connor, managing direc- tor at Howletts & Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks, speaking at the launch. “Tis is the icing on the cake as far as we’re concerned. It’s our


Te Smiler has been closed since the June incident


Smiler incident could cost Merlin as much as £50m


Merlin Entertainments has said the roll- ercoaster crash that seriously injured four people in June could affect profits by up to £50m, with the tragic incident having an adverse effect on trading at the start of an important period for the operator. The accident on the Smiler ride at


Alton Towers – which saw two peo- ple each require a leg to be partially amputated aſter a carriage full of people collided with an empty one – led to the temporary closure of Alton Towers for several days. Te Smiler is yet to reopen. Profits for Merlin’s theme parks division


in 2015 are expected to be between £40m and £50m, compared with £87m in 2014. A £40m result would represent a £50m short- fall on the £90m figure predicted for 2015. In addition to the closure of Alton


Towers, Merlin also suspended promotions advertising its theme parks. One positive note for Merlin is that


better-than-expected trading results across the wider Merlin portfolio may yet help to offset the Smiler losses. Details: http://lei.sr?a=J6g9B_O


6 Green light for £16m Concorde centre


Concorde is to be the crown jewel in a £16m aerospace museum, aſter the proposed attraction in Bristol was granted planning permission by the local authorities. To be housed on the for-


mer Filton Airfield – one of the birthplaces of the British aviation industry – the Bristol Aerospace Centre by Purcell will comprise two refurbished World War One aircraſt han- gars, to be transformed into a heritage museum, learn- ing suites, archives and workshops. Purcell have also designed a new Concorde hangar. Te new centre will tell the story of Bristol’s


Each treehouse leads out onto a private balcony with views of the Reserve


biggest, our most expensive, our most luxuri- ous product and it takes us one step closer to our ultimate goal of becoming the leading ani- mal short-break provider in Europe.” Te lodges offer a new take on the treehouse


model, sitting at the top of an escarpment, rather than-in-and among the trees. All of the units sit on a precipice and have been designed to look out over the tops of the trees with each positioned as such that it offers a different view and perspective on paddocks in the area. Details: http://lei.sr?a=U8q8k_O


Purcell have designed a new hangar to house Concorde


aerospace industry from 1910 to the present day and into the future, displaying several important heritage collections. It will create a permanent home where people can access Concorde 216, the last British Concorde assem- bled at the Filton site which led the design, testing and production of the supersonic air- liner. Nottingham-based Focus Consultants


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


are project managers, cost consultants and funding and business planning advisors. Te plans – which have been in the works


since 2003 when Concorde made its final flight – were approved by South Gloucestershire Council, whose leader Matthew Riddle said the development would “become one of the most popular visitor attractions in the West, bring- ing many economic benefits to the region.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=A6m3q_O


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2015


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