INNOVATIVE LEISURE LAUNCHES SKY TRAIL HIGH ROPES COURSE AT WEST PARK LEISURE CENTRE

BY GABRIELLE

Innovate Leisure, specialists in adventure attractions, has opened its latest Sky Trail high ropes course at West Park Leisure Centre in Long Eaton, Nottingham, UK.

The new attraction debuted at the leisure centre just before Christmas 2019. The ropes course brings a unique visitor experience to the leisure site, which is home to more traditional sporting activities.

The Sky Trail course comprises of the seven pole, double level Discovery model, featuring a rolling log and walk the plank, alongside other challenging elements, making the attraction suitable for both adults and younger visitors and adults.

It is also the first course in Britain to feature the new Roller Rail element from RCI Adventure Products. This innovative feature involves participants sitting in a harness and pulling themselves to the other side of the structure via hanging ropes.

Justin Palfrey, assistant regional director of North and Midlands, for Parkwood Leisure, the operators of West Park Leisure Centre, commented: “This is a great new attraction for the whole family and compliments facilities at West Park LC. If our customers are looking for an adrenaline rush, they can rise to the challenge and navigate around the rope, bridge and beam course.”

Phil Pickersgill of Innovative Leisure said: “We are increasingly seeing local authorities and operational partners such as Parkwood Leisure looking to alternative leisure activities to offer their customers. The new high ropes course at West Park Leisure Centre is a perfect example of this and brings to the venue another fun, physically challenging activity which will appeal to the whole family.

“It’s something children of all ages can participate in with their parents too, so fits extremely well with all the other facilities available. We are delighted to have completed the project and to now see it being enjoyed by visitors to the leisure centre,” added Pickersgill.

FIRST-OF-THEIR-KIND SAFARI LODGES ARE COMING TO WEST MIDLAND SAFARI PARK

BY GABRIELLE

Eight luxury ‘Safari Lodges’ are being built at West Midland Safari Park, which is part of the first phase of the park’s brand-new development, which includes onsite accommodation and upgraded animal facilities.

The exclusive Safari Lodges will be integrated into the newly updated animal habitats. Designed to provide guests with a truly up-close and personal wildlife experience like no other, the lodges will overlook African elephants and cheetahs.

The accommodation is located in its own secluded area, immersed within the wildlife reserves. Six of the lodges will offer the only overnight accommodation experience with elephants in the UK. The two remaining lodges will provide incredible views of the park’s cheetahs, and again will be the only experience of its kind in the UK.

Chris Kelly has joined the safari park’s management team as accommodation and venues director, to oversee and drive the development forward. Talking about his new appointment, Kelly said: “I am delighted to be joining the team at West Midland Safari Park, at such an exciting time. I grew up in the Midlands and the Park has always been a favourite place to visit, since I was a youngster. To be operationally delivering the new wildlife development project and lodges, is such a fantastic opportunity for me and something I am already very passionate about.”

“This amazing project will grow into something spectacular over the next four to five years, but to start with we are focussing on the elephants and cheetahs. Not only will the new lodges offer guests the opportunity to stay onsite overnight for the first time, they also allow us to create upgraded, stimulating and enriching environments for the animals,” Kelly continued.

The elephant lodges are equipped with thatched roofs, large, open-plan living areas with a lounge and dining area, plus a downstairs bedroom, as well as a large balcony with outdoor seating. These lodges are designed for up to six guests.

The two single-story, detached cheetah lodges have a large window, which spans one side of the building and provides panoramic views of the cheetahs in their new habitat. A floor-to-ceiling window offers similar, incredible views in the bedrooms. These lodges will also sleep up to six people.

ACCESSO TEAMS UP WITH ITV TO OFFER ACCESSO PASSPORT TICKETING SUITE

BY GABRIELLE

accesso, an award-winning provider of technology for attraction operators, has formed a strategic agreement with ITV Broadcast, to implement a ticketing suite known as accesso Passport.

The suite provides a number of interactive experiences to connect ITV’s experiences and tours with prospective customers around the world.

The accesso Passport ticketing suite will be available across ITV’s Coronation Street The Tour and the Daytime Studios Tour, as well as a new attraction opening in Manchester.

The innovative ticketing suite will enable ITV to manage transactions seamlessly and simultaneously build customer loyalty via a wealth of intuitive membership tools.

Designed to drive revenue, the ticketing suite provides easy up-sell, cross-sell and quick-sell prompts while helping guests seamlessly plan their visits to ITV tours and attractions.

James Penfold, ITV controller of partnerships, commented on the new partnership with accesso: “In accesso, we’ve found an essential platform for our ticketing and distribution operations, which are crucial to both our company’s success and the full satisfaction of our valued guests.

“With their worldwide client base and team’s dedication to client services, we are incredibly excited for all the benefits this partnership promises,” Penfold added.

Steve Brown, accesso CEO said: “ITV Broadcast is an industry icon that brings its guests’ dreams to life each and every day, both through its rich programming and unique behind-the-scenes experiences.

“We are proud to partner with such a forward-thinking company, helping open doors to even more passionate fans and supporting ITV’s continued dedication to excellence in entertainment,” continued Brown.

PLANNING APPROVED FOR WELLBEING RESORT THERME MANCHESTER

BY GABRIELLE

Plans have been unanimously approved at a meeting of Trafford Council’s planning committee to build the first city-based wellbeing resort in Manchester. Global wellbeing group, Therme Group, are to construct Therme Manchester in Peel L&P’s TraffordCity.

The wellbeing centre will be home to hundreds of water-based activities, as well as wellbeing treatments, art, nature and technology, to create a never-seen-before experience in the UK.

The project is estimated to cost around £250m. Therme Manchester is expected to attract up to two million visitors per year, within five years, making it Europe’s most visited water-based attraction.

The wellbeing site will extend over 28 acres, equivalent to 19 football pitches. It will be located opposite intu Trafford Centre next to Barton Square, with a Metrolink station directly outside.

Central to Therme Manchester will be its focus on nature, with thousands of plants and trees occupying the site, created by world-leading architects, artists, designers and engineers. A two-acre wellbeing garden shaped as a rose, England’s national flower, will be a focal point of the site, where petal-shaped terraces will be flanked by water features and pools, acting as a place for learning, discovery and socialising.

Stelian Iacob, senior vice president of Therme Group Worldwide and CEO of Therme Group UK, commented: “We are delighted that planning has been approved so we can bring the UK’s first Therme Group city wellbeing resort to Manchester. This will transform life for city residents and people further afield, creating a fun and accessible experience with profound health and wellbeing benefits for all.”

Therme Manchester is due to open in 2023.

‘A PATH LESS TRAVELLED TOUR’ COMES TO DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM FOR LIMITED PERIOD

BY GABRIELLE

Disney’s Earth Month activities are to include a new onstage walking tour which will take place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for a limited period.

‘A Path Less Travelled Tour’ will inform visitors about the construction and design of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Guests will also have the chance to meet experts in animal care and learn about how the animals in the park are cared for.

The temporary tour is designed to give visitors a glimpse of the culture of care and conservation at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The ‘A Path Less Travelled Tour’ is running daily from March 29 until May 2, 2020 from 8am to 10am.

The tour is part of Earth Month, where Disney resorts join together to celebrate the world we share through an emphasis on conservation and caring for the planet.

NEW ATTRACTION LAUNCHED AT XPLOR PARK, MEXICO

BY GABRIELLE

A new attraction known as the Underground Expedition, has opened at Xplor Park in Mexico.

The Underground Expedition comprises of a 2,450 ft. long journey that takes guests on an adventure along the River Maya in an underground cavern that’s adorned in ancient and inspiring stalactite formations.

Guests will encounter caves filled with translucent water, they will traverse through verdant jungle landscapes and experience the Rivera Maya.

Visitors have the opportunity to choose one of two routes, both of which offer different landscapes that weave around natural water, gaping cavers and hidden canyons.

At the end of the journey, guests can slide down two thrilling water slides.

Xplor Park is home to six other attractions, including ziplines, rafts, amphibian vehicles, hammock splashing, stalactite river swimming and spelunking, which is hiking through caverns and caves.

The park will be launching another new attraction, the Tobaganxote, which involves guests going on four different types of descents on board a raft before landing in a wave pool.

TIVOLI APPOINTS SUSANNE MØRCH KOCH AS NEW CEO

BY GABRIELLE

Tivoli’s board of directors has announced the appointment of Susanne Mørch Koch as the new CEO of Tivoli A / S. Susanne Mørch Koch is replacing Lars Liebst as CEO.

Susanne Mørch Koch is an experienced CEO, having held the title at Danske Spil since April 2017. Mørch Koch graduated in International Business Administration and Modern Languages from Copenhagen Business School in 1999 and went on to become a consultant at McKinsey & Company. In 2013, she was appointed CCO of DSB and joined the Group’s leading management. Susanne is a board member of COOP Denmark and Scandic Hotel Group.

Tom Knutzen, chairman the board of directors of Tivoli A / S, commented on the new appointment:

“At both DSB and Danske Spil, Susanne Mørch Koch has proven her strengths as a leader of complex organisations in fast-changing times, when she had to secure future-proof traditional companies and at the same time live up to customers’ and the public’s high expectations for operations, renewal and good experiences.

“Like Danske Spil, Tivoli is in great shape at the moment, but competition for people’s free time has never been tougher. That is why Susanne is the perfect match to follow Lars Liebst and continue the fine balance that lies between giving the guests in Tivoli the new experiences they expect, while always being reminded of the many happy hours that they have spent in the amusement gardens,” Knutzen added.

Susanne Mørch Koch will be joining Tivoli by at least September 1, 2020.

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS LAUNCHES MICKEY & MINNIE’S RUNAWAY RAILWAY

 BY GABRIELLE

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction is now open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The innovative ride-through attraction takes guests on a journey through a recreation of the Chinese Theatre and into the world of Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts.

The attraction features Walt Disney Imagineering’s original ‘Perfect Picnic’ story, where Mickey and Minnie try and find the perfect location to have a romantic picnic as they drive through Runnamuck Park in their red convertible. The story is accompanied by the new song ‘Nothing Can Stop Us Now.’

On the journey, guests will attempt to avoid a twister, visit a carnival, escape an exploding volcano, drive through a waterfall and experience a stampede through the Wild West.

Josh D’Amaro, Walt Disney World’s president, spoke about the opening of the new attraction: “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a crowning achievement in the multiyear transformation of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

“What was once a theme park that took you behind the scenes, now puts you in the centre of your favourite stories,” D’Amaro added.

MOVIE PARK GERMANY UNVEILS NEW ATTRACTIONS

BY GABRIELLE

The film and TV show-themed Movie Park Germany has announced some new attractions and features to mark the beginning of their 2020 season. Guests can look forward to two new rides and an interactive laser walkthrough, with the theme park also investing heavily in new infrastructure and catering facilities.

The first new ride will open to visitors during the spring and will be themed around the puppy rescue team from the popular Nickelodeon TV series PAW Patrol. The new ‘Skye’s High Flyer’ ride takes all members of the family on an exciting flying adventure in the Adventure Bay area of the park. It becomes the third PAW Patrol attraction at the park, with the former Team Umizoomi ride receiving a PAW Patrol makeover as well.

Another ride undergoing a makeover is the MPXpress in the Old West area, which will be rebranded  as ‘Lucky Luke – The Ride: The Daltons Break Out’. Movie Park Germany’s marketing director, Manuel Prossotowicz, said: “We have won a strong family license and will redesign the MPXpress with a new storyline around the famous comic and movie character Lucky Luke and give it a fresh coat of paint.”

There will also be a new interactive laser walkthrough in the Studio 7 area, featuring six different scenes where guests equipped with laser weapons become ghost hunters to conquer evil powers and solve a mystery.

Movie Park Germany’s 2020 season opens on March 27, with the rebranded Lucky Luke ride set to open during the summer.

LEGACY ENTERTAINMENT TO DESIGN NEW ‘HAPPY VALLEY’ FOR OCT GROUP

BY GABRIELLE

China’s leading attraction operators the OCT Group have selected California-based Legacy Entertainment to design a new Happy Valley theme park. The new park will be the ninth Happy Valley to be built and will be located in the city of Zhengzhou in the Henan Province.

Since their founding in 2002, Legacy Entertainment have carved out a reputation as one of the world’s leading entertainment design studios and will craft a unique and original design for the new theme park. The company has experience developing projects in China, having been the creative force behind several projects in the country including the Chimelong Marine Science Centre which is set to open later this year.

Legacy’s president and chief creative officer, Taylor Jeffs, said of the partnership: “We are extremely honoured to have been selected to help OCT create the next generation of Happy Valley Theme Parks. Ever since my first visit to a Happy Valley park in 2007, my team and I have dreamed of a collaboration with OCT – so it is thrilling and humbling for us now that that dream has come true.”

The OCT Group are by far China’s largest theme park developer and operator with multiple attractions including Windows on the World, OCT East and Splendid China, in addition to the Happy Valley parks.

No date has yet been set for completion of the latest Happy Valley, though the eighth Happy Valley park is due to open later this year in the city of Nanjing in China’s eastern Jiangsu Province.