FUTUROSCOPE IS GEARING UP TO REOPEN

BY GABRIELLE


Futuroscope, the French theme park centred on multimedia and audio-visual techniques, is preparing to reopen once the government gives the industry the go ahead.

The park was forced to close earlier in the year due to the coronavirus pandemic.  In preparation for the reopening, some members of staff have gone back to work. According to Laure Mosseron, marketing and communication director at Futuroscope, around 50 employees of the 700 who work at the park have returned to work.

The employees working again are mostly security guards but also include technicians who have been testing the rides in rotation.

On reopening, the theme park will maintain social distancing measures throughout the site, including on the rides. Cleaning procedures will also be increased and hand sanitiser stations will be available at different points across the park.

Mosseron says that the park’s priority “remains the health of our employees and visitors.” “Everyone is waiting impatiently for the government’s directives and the conditions on how we will be able to reopen, knowing that we would like to restart for the summer season,” said Mosseron.

CONNECT&GO PROVIDES CONTACTLESS SOLUTIONS FOR ATTRACTIONS INDUSTRY

BY GABRIELLE


Connect&GO, the Montreal-based providers of high-tech contactless solutions, is helping theme parks and other attraction venues prepare for a new post COVID-19 reality.

By utilising RFID technology, Connect&GO’s cashless payments solutions will help parks meet targets to reduce human contact among guests. A Connect&GO wristband is embedded with a RFID chip, which is associated with the wearer’s personal profile. Guests can log onto a customised mobile website to access their personal profile, make purchases, review activities and more.

When they arrive at the theme park, visitors can access their chosen activities and purchases by simply scanning the wristband.

Talking about the need for contactless technology, Antony Palermo, co-founder of Connect&GO, commented:  “In these unprecedented times, we’ve made it a priority to listen to the ideas and concerns of our clients and, through extensive round table discussions, we’ve managed to come up with an entire suite of contactless products and services we can offer. We’re proud to be helping our clients navigate this new reality.”

NEW APP ENABLES USERS TO ENJOY THE SOUND OF THEME PARKS

BY GABRIELLE


For theme park enthusiasts missing their favourite parks during lockdown, a new app could help them get their fix. Known as Ambients, the app brings the soundtrack of theme parks and amusement sites into people’s homes.

With the Ambients app, users can listen to the noise of a fun family day out at an amusement park via audio tracks designed to sooth without distraction. The app isn’t focused on white noise or the sounds of nature, but gentle laughter, conversation, the chat of children, and screams from white-knuckle rollercoasters.

Charlyn Keating, CEO of Stormbreaker Studios in Orlando, Florida, commented on the purpose of the app: “While on lockdown here at home, I’ve been missing the people-filled outdoor space.

“I started to feel a strong draw to places with crowds, like the beach, a theme park, or even a busy coffee shop,” Keating continued.

The Ambients app give users a choice of eight tracks, with more due to be available in the coming weeks. Each track lasts for ten minutes. The theme park track features screams from rollercoasters and nostalgic carousel music.

DXB ENTERTAINMENTS APPOINTS NEW CFO

 BY GABRIELLE


DXB Entertainments, the Dubai-headquartered leisure and entertainment company which operates Legoland and other attractions, has appointed a new chief financial officer (CFO).

The new appointment follows the resignation of John Ireland. During Ireland’s tenure, DXB Entertainments enjoyed its first quarter of profitability, in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Remi Ishak has taken the place of John Ireland as the company’s CFO. Ishak is an experienced financial leader, who worked in a similar role for the asset management company, Emirates Real Estate Investment Trust.

Ishak has been involved in the real estate and hospitality industries for more than 15 years, focused on diverse projects, including operational repositioning and management and deal structuring and acquisitions.

Speaking about the appointment, Mohammed Al Mulla, managing director and CEO of DXB Entertainments’ parent company, Dubai Parks & Resorts, said: “At DXBE, he will be responsible for the continued implementation of our strategy as well as helping guide us through the currently challenging operating environment.”

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO CEO ANNOUNCES POSSIBLE REOPENING STRATEGIES

 BY GABRIELLE


John Sprouls, CEO of Universal Orlando Resort, has announced a number of ideas centred on the safe reopening of the theme park.

The suggestions were made during conference calls with the Reopen Florida Task Force group, which was created by Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis.

To make the site has safe as possible for visitors and employees when it reopens, Sprouls said they are considering using social distancing in queues and on rides, as well as limiting the number of guests entering the park.

Universal’s waterpark, Volcano Bay, already employs virtual line technology, which could be expanded to the theme park. Further touchless technology could be utilised at Universal Orlando to help limit physical contact.

Disinfectant and cleaning measures could be increased across the park, as well as staggered seating on rides.

There is also the possibility that temperature checks are made to guests prior to entering the theme park. Staff may also be asked to wear masks and screening measures.

An official date for the reopening of Universal Orlando has yet to be set.

HOLOVIS TO HOST CROWD SOLO WEBINAR ON APRIL 28

 BY GABRIELLE


Since launching its Crowd Solo app less than a week ago, Holovis has been inundated with interest from the theme park and attractions industry about the free social distancing and attraction management solution.

The Crowd Solo app is designed to help single ticket admission destinations re-open safely in the wake of Covid-19.

To answer queries and questions about the app, Holovis is hosting a live webinar on Tuesday April 28 at 3pm BST (6pm GST, 10am EDT and 7am PDT). The webinar is being hosted by Holovis’ creative director Peter Cliff and development director Jos van der Steen. The hosts will showcase the features of the app, demonstrate how it works and discuss its benefits for operators and guests. Webinar attendees will be able to ask questions and take the next steps in registering their interest.

As Peter Cliff explains: “We have had an unprecedented response to this from such a wide demographic within the industry, including theme parks of varying sizes, indoor and outdoor family entertainment destinations, heritage sites, museums, agritainment venues, zoos and aquariums. This has been really great to see as it shows that we are on the right track with this idea and together with the industry we can shape it to be a transformative solution when it comes to getting guests back through the doors.

“We believe that Crowd Solo has the functionality to provide a solution for all types of themed entertainment destinations so are still urging people to get in touch to tell us about their use cases so we can begin our collaboration and development,” Cliff continued.

To register to attend the Crowd Solo webinar, click here.

SHANGHAI DISNEYLAND ROLLS OUT REOPENING

 BY GABRIELLE


Shanghai Disneyland has begun to partially reopen following the enforced closure of the theme park in late January due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A number of the park’s recreational, dining and shopping experiences have reopened, with additional safety measures in place. Some dining has also been resumed at the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel.

The park’s parade is now being tested alongside the castle lights shows, suggesting the parade could also be resumed imminently. Reports reveal that Shanghai Disneyland cast members have also been testing the park’s indoor theatres with new safety precautions.

To maintain social distancing, viewers at the indoor shows are believed to be seated in every other row with seats left empty between different parties. Markings are in place at security check places to encourage social distancing.

INDIA’S ATTRACTION PARK INDUSTRY ASKS FOR CORONAVIRUS RELIEF

BY GABRIELLE


The Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries (IAAPI) is seeking relief from the damage the ongoing pandemic has brought to the sector.

All amusement parks in India have been closed since mid-March and even when lockdown is lifted, the sector fears it is unlikely to resume normality as social distancing measures are likely to still be enforced.

The IAAPI has asked India’s prime minister Narendra Modi for assistance, including a 6-month deferment of payment of direct or indirect taxes of all statutory dues, a 12-month moratorium on payments to financial institutions, a reduction in effective rate of interest in loans and a 12-month complete holiday from paying goods and services tax.

In a press statement, IAAPI secretary general Anil Padwal said: “We earn over 40 per cent of revenues in the March-June season. After the summer vacations, there are rains and a six-month long lull every year.”

The IAAPI has written two letters to the Indian prime minister, the first dated March 23 and a follow up letter on April 3, stipulating the industry’s demands.

MIZIKER ENTERTAINMENT TO HOST MENTORSHIP WEEKEND IN LA

BY GABRIELLE


Miziker Entertainment, a long-standing creative design company for the themed entertainment industry, is collaborating with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to help nurture the next generation of location-based entertainment professionals.

The theme park and special venue veterans are teaching the company’s next generation of leaders about technique and business best practices.

The teaching program will take place during what’s known as the MiZ Wknd + SCAD LA 2020. Hosted from the creative theme park hub of Los Angeles, the three-day event will include roundtable sessions with industry leaders, tours of local companies and attractions, a guide trip to Disneyland and portfolio reviews with the Miziker Entertainment team, including the company’s chief creative officer, Ryan Miziker.

Charlotte Huggins, Miziker Entertainment’s CEO, commented on the aim of the event: “We want to help shepherd young people into our unique and rewarding industry, which is a highly creative field that runs on teamwork.

“The themed entertainment sector will recover; people will return to the parks and the industry will continue to grow and mature around the world. There’s a need for artists, illustrators, character developers, writers, costume designers, composers, media producers, technical designers and more. It’s an ongoing need and not just in LA and Orlando – we’re doing projects around the globe,” Huggins added.

Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, the exact dates of the program have yet to be announced and will depend on the recovery of both the industry and the Los Angeles region.

SIM LEISURE MOVES INTO CHINA’S WATERPARK MARKET

BY GABRIELLE


As part of its expansion into the Chinese market, waterpark and theme park design and build specialists Sim Leisure, has announced it has signed an agreement with China-based Guangzhou Daxin Water Park Equipment Co., one of the biggest waterpark designers and equipment suppliers in China.

The agreement will give Guangzhou Daxin the right to use the Sim Leisure name to secure theme park design and building contracts within China and the ASEAN region. In return, Sim Leisure will receive a 5 per cent royalty payment to the company’s 60 per cent-owned subsidiary, Sim Leisure Creative.

Sim Choo Kheng, founder of Sim Leisure, who has spent years propagating the Sim Leisure name through being involved in more than 100 major waterpark and theme park projects around the world, spoke about what the partnership with Guangzhou Daxin means to him: “I have put in blood, sweat and tears over the decades to build this business to the point of being recognized as the only renowned theme park design and contractor from Asia.

“I have waited for the right moment to enter China and the ASEAN market. We are ready for the next stage of growth with our new partner Guangzhou Daxin Group, capitalising on our common business philosophy of providing Asian business economics with a global approach in our creativity,” Sim Choo Chang added.

Wilson Wu, CEO of Guangzhou Daxin, shares enthusiasm for the partnership, stating: ”We see an increasing demand for world-class design and execution of theme parks in China, which in the past had to rely on foreign expertise. Teaming up with Sim Leisure Group means Guangzhou Daxin is now an international theme park solution provider operating locally, which gives us a tremendous competitive edge. We are very excited to tap into this booming market.”