Merlin buys London AquariumSea Life owner snaps up County Hall attractionPublished: 02 May, 2008Merlin Entertainments has bought the London Aquarium from County Hall Entertainment. The move makes perfect sense for Merlin, as not only does the operator own the largest aquarium brand in the world – Sea Life – but also the London Aquarium is located next to the London Eye, the group’s iconic observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames.
Tripsdrill unleashes MammutThe “all German” woodiePublished: 02 May, 2008Tripsdrill, the Germany family park near Stuttgart, this week ramped up the thrill factor when it unveiled Mammut – the first all-German wooden coaster to be built in living memory and the park’s largest investment to date.
Canobie LakeWaterside survivorPublished: 24 April, 2008Just as there are a handful of oceanside parks remaining in America, so there are only a handful of lakeside American amusement parks left. Where real estate values on any body of water drove out most of 1,500+ plus American amusement parks during the 1920s, Canobie Lake Park still sits by the lake, clean, beautiful, and thriving. Gary Kyriazi pays a visit.
- Have the large money funds that have been buying amusement parks in recent years overpaid for the properties?Published: 21 April, 2008
Dennis Speigel, International Theme Park Services: The “roll up” of the industry began officially when Premier Parks bought Six Flags and the subsequent park properties. They severely over paid for many of the parks in their quest to become the largest regional theme park operator. Unfortunately their business plan was flawed and created the problem that the current management is living with today – incredible debt. As soon as Prermier took over Six Flags they began losing money on a company-wide basis and never showed a profit, placing one of the industry icons in a disastrous positions. They paid too much. Today companies such as Parque Reunidos, who have been very active in the acquisition of leisure attractions, are paying reasonable multiples of EBITDA for properties. This is a prudent approach to business and to the industry. Managing the debt is a problem that acquirers have to address. “Biting off too much debt” can be a problem no matter how polished an operator you may be.
Glow in the ParkNew Six Flags parade coming soonPublished: 12 April, 2008Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey, is preparing to introduce Glow in the Park, a new nighttime parade by Gary Goddard Entertainment. Transforming the park into a fantasyland of light and sound will be a cast of drummers, puppeteers, singers, dancers and kinetic stilt walkers.
How difficult was it finding staff for the new season?
- 12 - 15 May, 2008
AALARA CONFERENCE - Gold Coast, Australia - 12 - 13 June, 2008
ASIA TOURISM PROPERTY & ATTRACTIONS SUMMIT - Shanghai - 14 - 15 July, 2008
ASIA TOURISM & ATTRACTIONS SUMMIT - Macau - 16 - 18 July, 2008
ASIAN ATTRACTIONS EXPO - Macau - 10 - 12 September, 2008
FUN EXPO - Las Vegas - 23 - 25 September, 2008
LIW 2008 - Birmingham, UK - 30 September - 02 October, 2008
EURO ATTRACTIONS SHOW - Munich, Germany - 29 - 31 October, 2008
INTERSCHAU / TECHNOFOLIES - Stuttgart, Germany - 29 - 30 October, 2008
WWA TRADE SHOW - Las Vegas - 18 - 21 November, 2008
IAAPA ATTRACTIONS EXPO - Orlando, Florida






