SPLASH ISLAND WATER PARK IN ST. LUCIA WELCOMES 100,000 VISITORS

BY GABRIELLE

More than 100,000 visitors have enjoyed the fun on offer at Bay Gardens Resorts’ Splash Island Water Park. The waterpark opened near the iconic Reduit Beach in St. Lucia four years ago.

Since opening, Splash Island has been constantly upgrading its offerings to visitors. In 2019, a new slide, roundabout and twist attractions were installed at the park. Other key attractions include a climbing wall, trampoline, hurdles, monkey bars, and a water volleyball area.

The water park also hosts ninja warrior competitions, water sport events including the Caribbean Premier League T20 Beach Olympics, and reality TV shows.

The popular waterpark was named one of the ‘7 Amazing Water Parks in the Caribbean’ by Osyster.com.

The resort was also rated as a number one activity in Gros Islet in the north of St. Lucia, on TripAdvisor.

Julianna Ward-Destang, managing director of Splash Island Water Park, thanked visitors for their support of the resort since it opened.

“We wanted to create a unique, action-packed attraction for all ages that allows locals and visitors alike to enjoy the natural beauty of St. Lucia’s favourite beach in a safe environment,” said Ward-Destang.

LEGOLAND FLORIDA RESORT ANNOUNCES LINE-UP OF FESTIVITIES

BY GABRIELLE

Legoland Florida Resort has announced a spirited line-up of Halloween and Christmas events, kicking off with Brick or Treat.

This child-friendly Halloween event will feature brand-new themed entertainment, ghoulish treats and plenty of candy for young guests to enjoy.

Visitors to the Brick or Treat event can go trick or treating along a Lego trail, lined with playful scary character interactions.

Lego scarecrow will be present inside the Duplo Valley. Coca-Cola fans will be able to enjoy sipping on their favourite drink in style with an event-themed Coca-Cola cup, accompanied by Pumpkin flavoured ice-cream, Granny’s apples Fries and other Halloween-inspired treats.

Another key feature of Brick or Treat will be the tale of Captain Dreadbeard’s adventure to defeat the Imperial Navy during a flamboyant firework display.

To mark the opening of the Pirate Island Hotel in spring 2020, children from ages 2 – 12 who attend the first weekend of Brick or Treat dressed as pirates, will receive a complimentary ticket to visit the theme park before the end of year.

On October 12, the Brick Dash 5k will take place, with participants encouraged to dress in fancy Halloween costumes to raise money for Merlin’s Magic Wand, aimed at helping children who are facing challenges due to serious illness, disability or adversity.

From November 29 to December 31, the Holidays Presented by Hallmark Channel event will be held at the resort, featuring a combination of seasonal shows, treats and sparkling lights.

Guests can dance, sing-along and enjoy two interactive shows, visit Santa’s workshop with his elves in a family-friendly musical during Holly Jolly Jubilee.

A 30-foot-tall Lego Christmas tree, a Lego Santa and a Toy Soldier, alongside giant holiday-themed Lego builds, promise to add to the merriment.

AVECS AND ITEC ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP TO DRIVE THEME PARK DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH KOREA

BY GABRIELLE

ITEC Entertainment Corporation, a world leader in the creation of global entertainment solutions, has teamed up with AVECS, a Seoul-based experience marketing agency. The strategic partnership is designed to develop expansion of theme park projects in South Korea.

The partnership means AVECS is an exclusive partner of ITEC Entertainment for the acquisition, planning, design and development of high-profile projects and relationships within the theme park market in South Korea.

Bill Coan, president and CEO of ITEC Entertainment, spoke of the agreement:

“This new relationship with AVECS will help ITEC Entertainment continue our strategic growth in Asian regions.

“We see the demand for our unique approach to design and deliver innovative technologies expanding beyond theme parks and attractions and into major urban and resort destinations within the growing market of South Korea.”

Daniel Park, founder and CEO of AVECS, is equally enthusiastic, commenting:

“We are immensely proud of this partnership. It’s clear that ITEC Entertainment will provide unparalleled experiences to our Peace Park project, Holy Land development and theme park developer(s).

“We believe ITEC’s experience in designing and producing immersive spaces is truly unique, combining experiential storytelling with innovative technology,” Park added.

‘HORROR NIGHTS – TRAUMATICA’ TO SHOW AT EUROPA-PARK

BY GABRIELLE

The internationally-distinguished horror event, ‘Horror Nights – Traumatica’ is showing at Europa Park this autumn.

From September 25 to November 2, 2019, evil will ascend on Germany’s largest theme park., as five rival groups in a post-apocalyptic world battle for power and to find their place in the hierarchy.

Visitors are very much at the heart of this interactive show, having to choose which group they will fight for – The Fallen, The Ghouls, The Pack, The Shadows and The Resistance.

Will guests at this iconic horror event fall for the madness of The Fallen, or will they lose their human features with The Ghouls?

Perhaps they will fight for power with The Resistance, or chase innocent beings with The Pack? Or maybe they will join forces with The Shadows.

This interactive horror show takes place on Fridays and Saturdays from September 27 – November 2, 2019 and daily on September 25, October 2, 3, 13 and 20 and on October 24 – November 2, 2019, expect on October 28 and 29.

PURSUIT TO EXPAND ITS FLIGHT RIDE EXPERIENCE TO TORONTO

 BY GABRIELLE

Pursuit, developers of inspiring experiences in iconic destinations, has announced it will expand its flight ride concept to Toronto.

Based on the company’s highly successful FlyOver attraction in Vancouver, the new FlyOver Canada attraction will enable guests to enjoy a new flight ride experience, which features Canada’s most iconic locations, natural wonders and stunning landscapes.

Pursuit won the bid to expand its flight ride experience to Toronto, following a competitive selection process. The selection process was carried out by Canada Lands Company, a federal Crown corporation, which specialises in real estate, development and attractions management.

Lisa Adams, vice president of FlyOver Attractions by Pursuit, commented:

“Through a visually stunning flight ride experience inside a soon-to-be-built landmark building, we will share the story of Canada and its people in an inspiring way that is accessible to everyone.”

John McBain, president and chief executive officer of Canada Lands Company, said:

“FlyOver Canada aligns with Canada Lands Company’s vision to celebrate the CN Tower precinct as a world-class tourism and entertainment destination, showcasing Canada at its best.

“FlyOver Canada fits with our commitment to creating unforgettable, accessible and meaningful experiences to guests coming from all over the world and we look forward to seeing their attraction come to life in downtown Toronto.”

The new FlyOver Canada attraction will be built near the base of Canada’s famed CN Tower. Construction is expected to begin in 2020, with the launch of the attraction due in 2022, subject to standard City of Toronto approvals.

ALTERFACE APPOINTS GILLIAN BASSO AS CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

BY GABRIELLE

Alterface, a leading manufacturer of interactive and media-based attractions around the world, have announced the appointment of Gillian Basso as new chief information officer.

The appointment is aimed at developing Alterface’s innovation across interactive attractions in the themed entertainment market.

With a master’s degree in interactivity and a doctorate in Artificial Intelligence, Gillian will lead Alterface’s software division and will streamline the recast of the Alterface Salto show control software, supporting more immersive and customised experiences for customers.

Benoit Cornet, CEO and founder of Alterface, commented on the new appointment:

“We are very pleased to welcome Gillian to our team. He brings a wealth of technology expertise and know-how in the fields of simulation and interactivity. His mission is to keep Alterface at the forefront of interactive technology so we can continue to offer the most innovative user-centric attractions.

“With our Erratic Ride we have just engineered a new platform for simulation and show control of more complex situations, which shows the extensive capabilities of our interactive tools. It’s now time to structure this in such a way that it can be further optimised,” Cornet added.

HENGDIAN WORLD STUDIOS DEBUTS ‘DREAM BUND’ MOVIE STUDIO AND THEME PARK

BY GABRIELLE

Hengdian World Studios, China’s ‘film and television capital’, premiered the grand opening of the ‘Dream Bund’ movie studio and theme park.

The opening of Dream Bund in Hengdian, China’s ‘City of Film and Television,’ marks the continued expansion of the largest film and TV shooting site in the world.

The studios are renowned for their collection of full-scale sets, and intricate recreations of a number of iconic Chinese sites and palaces.

The new theme park is designed in the style of Shanghai’s iconic waterfront district during the first half of the 20th Century.

The theme park is designed to enable attractions to operate concurrently with up to twenty film and television productions, at any given time.

The park is due to be rolled out in phases over the next year. Its opening day program will include the signature Trolley Tour, a historical museum, and the Broadway Hotel, modelled on the Broadway Mansions building in Shanghai.

Legacy Entertainment, US-based theme park and resort designers, helped with the design of the 280,000 square metre project.

Barry Kemper, partner and chief operating officer at Legacy Entertainment, commented on the challenges of the project:

“Capturing the inherent beauty and romance of Shanghai’s yesteryear was the easy part for us. Balancing the operational demands of both a movie studio and a theme park, each complex in and of itself, was not.

“We sincerely enjoyed our collaboration with Hengdian World Studios, as they are not only one of China’s best tourism operators, but their attention to detail is second to none in the market.”

Abu Dhabi launches ‘mega events fund’ to drive more tourists to its entertainment sites

 BY GABRIELLE

In a bid to boost tourism and diversify the economy away from oil, Abu Dhabi has launched a new $163.4 million “mega events” fund to finance potential global entertainment partners.

Abu Dhabi is already home to a number of iconic theme parks and waterparks, including Ferrari World, Warner Bros World and Yas Waterworld.

However, the UAE’s capital has set a goal to “turn the emirate into the world’s best destination for leisure, business, sports and events, and to offer new experiences to its residents.”

The launch of the ‘mega events fund’ is designed to start developing entertainment facilities, including the city’s theme parks and waterparks, so they will attract big ticket events to the region.

As Saeed Al Saeed, director of destination marketing at the Department of Culture and Tourism, comments:

“Abu Dhabi, as a city, is trying to expand its offering in terms of mega events. We have recently announced a Dh600-million (fund) just to bring major events into the city. We are trying to get all such events that will not only appeal to our community but will also draw tourists to the city.

“There will be massive campaigns to promote not just an event but Abu Dhabi as a city to a wider audience,” Al Saeed added.

Legoland California announces The Lego Movie World

BY GABRIELLE

Whilst celebrating its 20th birthday, Legoland California Resort announced its biggest addition in the park’s history – The Lego Movie World.

The Lego Movie World’s flagship ride is the Masters of Flight, where guests board Emmet’s triple decker flying couch to embark on a memorable adventure.

The Masters of Flight boasts pioneering technology, including a 180-degee turn. The suspended ride with a full-dome virtual screen, whisks guests away on, as they soar above enchanting lands, including Middle Zealand, Pirates Cove, Outer Space and Cloud Cuckoo Land.

Riders will encounter many a well-known face during their journey, such as Sweet Mayhem, one of The Lego Movie 2: The Second Park’s star characters.

Peter Ronchetti, general manager at Legoland California Resort, shared his excitement for The Lego Movie World.

“The Lego Movie World is Legoland California Resort’s largest Park addition ever and we are thrilled to create an interactive experience that fully immerses guests into a world that was so brilliantly created by LEGO and celebrated by the hugely popular Lego film franchise from our friends at Warner Bros.

“We can’t wait to see the faces on all the children as they interact within the creative world of Bricksburg and experience the incredible Masters of Flight ride which is taking the traditional soaring-type of ride to new heights,” said Ronchetti.

TRANS STUDIO CIBUBUR THEME PARK PREPARES FOR LAUNCH OF IMMERSIVE THEATRE DARK RIDE

BY GABRIELLE

Trans Studio Cibubur theme park in Jakarta, Indonesia is gearing up for the grand opening of the ‘Pacific Rim: Shatterdome Strike’, a mega dark ride that is centred on the hit motion picture franchise from Legendary Entertainment.

Hailed as the “world’s first immersive theatre dark ride,” the experience runs for almost 20 minutes and occurs of four distinct parts, as guests go face-to-face with three new deadly Kaijus, each of which has unique powers and abilities.

The experience will start at the launch ceremony for the Pan Pacific Defense Corp’s first Mark VII Jaeger, the innovative Storm Garuda.

Due to a combination of 3D film sequences, practical effects, and state of the art ride vehicle technology, guests will have the chance to pilot the most advanced mobile weapon in the PPDC’s fleet. A surprise twist also takes place midway through the ride.

Legacy Entertainment, Hollywood-based specialists in the design and creation of innovative attractions, teamed up with media producers, Lay-Carnagey Entertainment (LCE), a media production team, to direct and produce the attraction’s media components.

Drew Von Bergen, manager of franchise management at Legendary Entertainment, spoke about the new attraction.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Trans Studio on the world’s first ‘Pacific Rim’ dark ride. Their commitment to both creative ambition and quality of execution has made for an experience that we believe will thrill and delight parkgoers.”