Attractions Management Issue 2 2019

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@attractionsmag VOL24 Q2 2019 www.simworx.co.uk [email protected] www.attractionsmanagement.com

@attractionsmag VOL24 2 2019

TOP TEAM Meet the people rebuilding Shakespeare's birthplace in China

Adlabs Imagica Inside India's largest theme park WHEEL THE WORLD Opening doors for disability tourism

RIDING IT

All the major HARRY & MEGHAN ride openings of 2019

Committed to saving African wildlife with the African Parks Network, p18 EMPICS ENTERTAINMENT / PA IMAGES PA / EMPICS ENTERTAINMENT CREDIT: DOUG PETERS / PETERS DOUG CREDIT: www.animalive.com [email protected] www.polin.com.tr

Editor’s letter

Sustainable travel Attractions and tourism are important parts of many global economies. They need the full support of government departments, with joined up thinking to avoid conﬂ icting priorities which undermine sustainability

aving efﬁ cient transport links is one of the biggest determinants of the success of an H attraction – second only to having good weather. If people can’t get there, it won’t thrive. As well as ensuring we position attractions in locations

with great transport links, we must have a strong eye for 6+877(5672&.021.(<%86,1(66,0$*(6 sustainability and encourage people to travel by train. This thought was going through my mind recently when I spotted a public information poster at my local railway station shouting “Do not travel this bank holiday 24th- 25th August 2019.” It went on to say, “We’re starting work to improve services...and we strongly recommend customers do not travel by train on these days.” The advert was sponsored by ‘The UK Government’ and also by six major train operators. What were they thinking? Bank holidays are some of Holiday visits to attractions are more sustainable by train the most important times of year for families and friends to visit attractions. Discouraging them from doing so, and doing so sustainably, is bad for attractions, bad for tourism, We’d love to see the international bad for consumers and bad for the environment. attractions community tackling At the same time as attractions in the northern hemi-

sphere are ramping up summer holiday promotions and governments to get them on-side government tourism departments are promoting travel and attractions visits, this counterforce is marketing against There’s clearly a lack of awareness of the impact this them, and doing so using tax-payer-funded marketing. kind of messaging has on both the attractions sector and The scenario isn’t conﬁ ned to the UK. As a g lobal the opportunities which are available to people to travel publisher, we get reports of a lack of joined-up thinking from by train to enjoy their leisure time in a sustainable way. all over the globe, with a range of government departments We need to unite as a sector to clearly articulate a better simply not communicating when it comes to policy which way forward, whereby government departments collaborate impacts the tourism and attractions industries. for the greater good of the industry to avoid such conﬂ icts. The international attractions community must come together to create a charter of best practice expected from /L]7HUU\HGLWRU policymakers around issues such as this and to tackle gov- OL]WHUU\#OHLVXUHPHGLDFRP ernments to get them on-side in supporting the industry. @elizterry

Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385 attractionsmanagement.com @attractionsmag [email protected]

©CYBERTREK 2018 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 9 IN THIS ISSUE ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT SHUTTERSTOCK/SHAUN JEFFERS

Q p18 Harry and Meghan Q p48 The home of William Shakespeare is being rebuilt in China

Qp44 We take a look at major ride openings for visitor attractions worldwide Q 36 Disability tourism with Alvaro Silberstein

09 Editor’s Letter 36 Interview 48 Top Team Alvaro Silberstein Made in China 14 People Wheel the World is opening new The birthplace of William Meet the people in the news, with AZA doors for disability tourism. Its Shakespeare will be recreated at president and CEO Dan Ashe, Prince Harry co-founder speaks to Tom Anstey the home of China’s most famous and Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko playwright. We speak to the team 44 Rides behind the ambitious project 22 Science Centres Art Attack 23 Visitor Attractions We look at major ride openings at 58 Museums 24 Waterparks visitor attractions across the globe Day out at the museum 26 Theme Parks The Network of European Museum 29 Museums & Galleries 40 Trends report Organisations has launched a Political 31 Heritage Welcome to the future Internships scheme. We speak to 32 Zoos & Aquariums We break down the American Alliance the programme’s creator about what 34 Technology of Museums’ TrendsWatch report this could mean for museums

10 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT ISSUE 2 2019

Q p58 The Network of European Museum Organisations launches a political intern scheme Q p78 Adam Koszary – winning on social

Q p72 Wolfgang Hansch on Experimenta Q p68 AM speaks to the joint CEO of Adlabs Imagica, India’s largest theme park

64 Show report 78 Social media TEA Summit and SATE Europe Look at this absolute unit Christine Kerr reports from the TEA’s How the Museum of English Rural Life Summit, Thea Awards and SATE Europe cultivated a Twitter following of more than 134,000 people using memes 68 Theme Parks Pure Imagication 82 Show review

Adlabs Imagica is India’s largest IAAPA Expo Asia On the cover: Harry and Meghan, p18 theme park destination. Its joint What was on offer at the show, plus news CEO speaks to Kath Hudson from some of the attending exhibitors Subscribe: To subscribe, call: +44 (0)1462 471915 or visit www.leisuresubs.com 72 Science Centres 88 Products Science for the senses Product innovation Web gallery: For suppliers of products and We speak to Wolfgang Hansch about Suppliers talk about their latest product, services in the worldwide attractions Germany’s premier science institution design and technology launches industry, turn to page 92

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 11 the team

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12 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 We think every great attraction should start with one of these.

www.rma-themedattractions.co.uk PEOPLE

Attractions People

We’re on track to contribute more than US$1bn to conservation eff orts by 2021

Dan Ashe president and CEO, Association of Zoos and Aquariums

n the last two years, the Association using his experience in government to help conservation conference, and the next, of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has advocate for change, while also driving the I may be testifying before Congress undergone signifi cant changes. AZA with a number of new initiatives. advocating for the protection of wildlife.” By adopting a member-driven “In my role, I’m charged with advancing model, the organisation has enjoyed AZA’s vision, mission and strategic Government ties Isignifi cant growth, which has included priorities,” says Ashe. “No day is the same Prior to joining the AZA, Ashe spent more the expansion of its primary conservation in this role; one day I may be representing than a decade working within and leading initiative, resulting in investments of more our association at an international the USFWS, an important conservation than US$200m a year by its members. partner of AZA and its members. The AZA also enhanced its already Named the 16th USFWS director by rigorous accreditation standards to refl ect the US Senate in June 2011, he led the the latest in scientifi c research and animal agency through a number of challenges. welfare assessments, as well as acquiring Spanning the course of 13 years, he held the Wildlife Traffi cking Alliance, which roles of increasing responsibility within works to reduce the purchase and sale of USFWS, including assistant director for illegal wildlife and wildlife products. external affairs, chief of the National The association additionally embarked Wildlife Refuge System, science advisor to on a national campaign, which aims to tell the director, and deputy director. powerful stories about the animal care “Performance is the measure and I think taking place in our facilities every day. It my experience managing complex and also swelled its own ranks, welcoming ten controversial issues, leading people and newly accredited and certifi ed facilities building relationships has been key and hosting four conferences with record- to success,” says Ashe. breaking attendance. “Hardly a day goes by It’s a lengthy list of achievements and where I don’t draw on the behind these successes is the AZA’s lessons I learned during my president and CEO, Dan Ashe. Taking 35 years in government. I up his position in January 2017, Ashe, still understand science, the former director of the US Fish and the scientifi c method Wildlife Service (USFWS), has taken and can frame good the organisation to new heights, critical questions about scientifi c information. Ashe is responsible for 233 That ability has facility and more than 6,000 always been an individual AZA members asset and is in this position.”

14 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 In his new position Mercadante is working closely alongside TEA COO Jennie Nevin

With his team of staff and over 400 volunteers, Ashe is charged with advancing AZA’s vision, mission and strategies

Billion dollar baby on conservation efforts within the next Having taken these strides in his first five years, reporting record-breaking two years in the role, Ashe still has grand contributions from its members which are plans for the AZA, which are intended benefitting multiple initiatives worldwide. to help provide the best possible For 2017, its members funded a record- services to AZA members and to help breaking US$220m for field conservation million mark, which put us on track to advance the zoological profession. initiatives. Included within that figure, AZA contribute more than US$1bn by 2021,” “We’re planning to expand our services members contributed US$15.7m towards says Ashe. “These funds benefit more than and adapt – based on the changing needs the organisation’s SAFE (Saving Animals 860 species and sub-species worldwide, of our members – in light of the latest From Extinction) programme – a scheme hundreds of which are endangered or technology,” he says. “We’ll also engage that prioritises strategic planning for field extremely endangered. AZA-sponsored the public to grow confidence in the AZA- conservation within the AZA community projects took place in over 120 countries accredited community and we’ll help our and builds on existing recovery plans for around the world and engaged more than animal programmes increase the long-term the world’s most threatened species. 1,000 conservation partners. sustainability of a wide range of species.” “While the AZA and its members have “Collectively, the most important efforts In September last year, the AZA revealed always invested in conservation, 2016 are animal care and welfare, fighting that it was on target to spend US$1bn was the first time we exceeded the $200 extinction and assuring our animal

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 15 PEOPLE

A lifelong animal conservationist, Ashe joined AZA in January 2017 after serving for six years as the director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service

populations are sustainable. Personally, I have a passion for butterﬂy conservation, particularly the Monarch butterﬂy and I’m hoping to see the Mariposa Monarch added as a SAFE species.”

Public pressure While most members of the public support and see the necessity and benefit of zoos for wildlife and conservation, others oppose it, calling the practice of keeping animals in captivity unethical. This is a regular challenge faced by Ashe. Based on the words of former US Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, to release the gorilla – Ndume – a gorilla “AZA’s accreditation standards are who said: “Politics is human beings; it’s an isolated from its own species following widely accepted as the gold standard for a addition rather than subtraction” – Ashe the death of his companion Koko. If modern aquarium or zoo. This presents the says he practices “the politics of addition,” transferred back to the zoo, he could live opportunity for us to set and reset the high believing we become stronger as we add in a multigenerational group. The outcome bar for member performance, as we learn others to our community or coalition and of the case is still to be determined, but more about things like animal care and weaker when we exclude participants. it shows a rare collaboration between an welfare, sustainability, education, guest “When we develop a more positive anti-zoo group such as PETA with a zoo, experience, finance and safety. relationship with diverse audiences – with shared interests for the greater good. While accreditation as an AZA zoo can even if they disagree with us on some “It’s in our best interest to work with be very beneficial, Ashe says it still needs things – we increase their awareness and other organisations on issues in which we to be appealing to its members. understanding of what we do and reduce both agree, using opportunity and allies to “We have to find a balance where the potential for them to treat us as advocate for our work,” Ashe says. accreditation is viewed as a benefit and adversaries. Recently, we saw the benefits not a disadvantage,” he says. of this approach, when PETA supported the Future endeavours “I think we’re finding that balance. We’ve Cincinnati Zoo in efforts to rescue a gorilla “Challenge and opportunity represent two adopted new standards in areas such being held in a solitary ‘sanctuary’. sides of a coin – where you have one, you as elephant and cetacean care, welfare “In that instance, with PETA’s backing, have the other,” says Ashe. assessment and conservation. We’ve also the zoo has filed a lawsuit in the federal “We’re a member organisation, but to be expanded our membership, and we currently district court in San Francisco seeking to a member, a facility must be accredited by have a record number of institutions compel the Gorilla Foundation in California our independent accreditation commission. in our pipeline for accreditation.”

16 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 3 October 2019 Registration www.vacevents.comOpen!

Principal Sponsor: Thursday, 3 October 2019 - The QEII Conference Centre, Westminster, London.

The essential event for owners, managers and marketers of a visitor attraction, for opinion formers and tourism or heritage professionals. Official Publication: VAC is a national conference organised by the industry, for the industry where you can: • Get involved in a unique forum for industry professionals. • Network and share experiences. Don’t miss this opportunity to: • Understand your business in the context of the wider visitor attractions market. Supported by: • Keep up to date and ﬁnd new directions for your business. Register online now. Early bird and multiple booking discount registration rates apply. www.vacevents.com PEOPLE

It’s amazing to see such unbelievable creatures being moved in a way you could never dream of. To be with elephants – such massive beasts – is a unique experience

Prince Harry Duke of Sussex

he African Parks Network is a non-profit conservation organisation that takes on responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term Tmanagement of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. At its head is one of the world’s most influential figures – His Royal Highness, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, with support from his wife, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex. Having visited Africa many times, the prince has taken a personal interest in conservation projects, working to protect Africa’s natural heritage and support both wildlife and local communities. This included in 2015 when, after leaving the army following a decade of service, he spent three months working on a number of projects across the African continent. Harry’s first experience working alongside African Parks was in July 2016 in Malawi, where he served as an integral member of their team, carrying out one of the largest elephant translocations in history, as well as translocating a rhinoceros, a host of game species including antelope, buffalo and zebra. He also assisted in the re-collaring of three lions to help better protect them from poachers. “There has to be a balance between the numbers of animals and the available habitat, just as nature intended it,” said Harry. “Elephants can’t roam freely like they used to without coming into conflict

Prince Harry spent 10 years working in the Armed Forces before turning his attention to charitable causes

18 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 Geffen’s latest offering brings the world’s largest, best preserved and most complete T-Rex to life at the Field Museum in Chicago PHOTO: @SUSSEXROYAL

The Duke and Dutchess of Sussex share a passion for supporting wildlife in Africa

with communities, or being threatened by poaching and persecution. To allow the coexistence of people and animals, fences are increasingly having to be used. “African Parks, in partnership with the Malawian government, has re-established a safe area for elephants to move to,” he said. Named president of African Parks in December 2017 – which, with 13 parks under its management, has the largest area under conservation for any NGO in Africa – Prince Harry’s focus remains on elephants, using the recent Earth Day event on 22 April to highlight the work APN is doing to protect these animals. “When a fenced area passes its carrying capacity for elephants, they start to

encroach into farmland, causing havoc for communities,” says Harry. “APN relocated 500 Elephants to another park within Malawi to reduce the pressure and human- wildlife conﬂ ict and disperse tourism.” In his role as APN president, Harry helps to advance the NGO’s mission in protecting the continent’s national parks and promoting wildlife conservation in Africa and around the world, using his global reach to spread the network’s message: “It’s amazing to see such unbelievable creatures being moved in a way you could never Prince Harry is president of the African Parks Network dream of. To be with elephants – such massive beasts – is a unique experience.”

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 19 PEOPLE

I’ve been visiting Europa Park with my children for years. My dream is to create a similar park in Kyiv

Vitali Klitschko

Mayor of Kyiv and three time world / SHUTTERSTOCK YURCHENKO YURIY heavyweight boxing champion

Vitali Klitschko is planning to develop a theme park in the Ukranian city of Kyiv

itali Klitschko, the park, offering new rides, a wide range the Dnipro River – will be developed former three-time world of activities and a nice setting. It’s also to capitalise on the already popular heavyweight boxing got lots of activities for children to have recreation spot’s tourism potential. champion and now mayor fun and learn. My dream is to create “The recreation zone isn’t located far of Kyiv, has grand plans for a similar park in Kyiv and I will do my from the Kyiv city centre,” says Klitschko. Vthe Ukranian city, seeking guidance from best to make that dream come true.” “We’re currently seeking an investor who Europa Park’s founders – the Mack family. During his visit, Klitschko received is ready to fund such an ambitious project Klitschko, who is a frequent visitor to a tour of the attraction, being given an and to contribute expert advice and ideas.” the popular theme park, in Rust, Germany, in-depth briefi ng about the park and The timing is good for Kyiv, which is recently held talks with the Macks over the its operations. He was also briefed on among the fastest-growing cities in Europe, possibility of a similar development in Kyiv Rulantica – the new waterpark and hotel thanks to a strong portfolio of real estate – a city he has governed since 2014. development set to open later this year. and commercial developments. “I’ve been visiting Europa Park incognito Klitschko’s plans rely on fi nding a In the last three years, the city has with my children for years,” he says. suitable investor. If realised, Hydropark made 37 major real estate investment “It’s the most interesting family theme – a 1.3 square kilometre island on agreements and laid out plans to develop brownfi eld sites, which will result in the transformation of abandoned land into locations for contemporary architecture. With the signifi cant boom in construction and population – the city of three million is gaining around 200,000 new residents each year – Klitschko believes now is the right time for international investors to consider the capital for development. “Over the past few years, Kyiv has been the largest recipient of investment in Ukraine, welcoming 60 per cent of total investment in the country and a third of all capital investment coming from overseas,” he told Business Ukraine recently. “Anyone visiting Kyiv will see the dynamic pace of the city’s development for themselves and will quickly appreciate the investment opportunities this creates. My Klitschko met with Michael, Roland and Jürgen Mack (left to right) to discuss the plans advice is to seize these opportunities now while they are at their most attractive.”

20 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 The only limit to what’s possible is your imagination. Be Boundless.

Pure creative thinking brings the impossible into reach. WhiteWater can help bring your vision to life and deliver the attractions of tomorrow. www.whitewaterwest.comwhitewaterwest.com SCIENCE CENTRE SNEW

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY OPINION

Techniquest’s £5.7m large-scale Celebrate, reﬂect, act expansion to use ﬁsh as power source Herbert Münder, Ecsite president

Welsh science discovery Thirty years ago centre Techniquest is the European building a £5.7m (US$7.4m) science centre expansion that will more field was a than double its exhibition confidential space and use a remarkable but very rapidly power source – fish. growing stage. Techniquest’s new building, Convinced that learning called Science Capital, sits from each would help them on Cardiff Bay in the Welsh serve their audiences better, capital and the centre has two dozen European science consulted a number of STEM, Q The expansion will add around centres founded their own energy and marine biology 60 per cent more exhibit space professional exchange specialists across Wales for hub: Ecsite, the European the Scale-ectric power project. "This ground-breaking network of science centres Bream, carp and rudd in initiative is in keeping with and museums, was born. the bay will be penned into our ongoing mission to In three decades, a smaller area near the become more sustainable membership numbers have building for up to an hour a and promote greater grown exponentially. In spite day. There, motion sensitive sustainability across We have an ongoing of this impressive growth and wires will capture their Wales," said Techniquest mission to become diversification beyond Ecsite's energy and transfer it back to CEO Lesley Kirkpatrick. more sustainable "historic" science centre and Techniquest for use as power. MORE: http://lei.sr/f8a9d_T Lesley Kirkpatrick science museum membership, the founding values of cooperation, openness, professionalism, generosity PLANETARIUMS and diversity are intact. Mirroring the network's Morehead Planetarium and Science Centre gestation that took multiple gatherings and several to close for US$5.2m TakeUpSpace revamp revolutions around the Sun, thirty years later we decided Morehead Planetarium and of technological upgrades to grant ourselves the luxury Science Centre in North introduced and five times of time: the whole science Carolina, US, has closed the amount of floor space engagement field is invited to an its doors to begin the dedicated to public use. anniversary season that started first phase of a US$5.2m "Morehead will soon provide last year and is spanning refurbishment project. the kind of experiences the next several months. Closed until 17 June for visitors and students expect This is an invitation to renovations to its Fulldome today," said Todd Boyette, celebrate, reflect and act. Theatre, this is the first Morehead Planetarium and Of course we take pride in step for Morehead in the Science Centre director. our accomplishments and We will be solidly full revamp programme it's "The results will be cheered together at the 2019 positioned among calling '#TakeUpSpace'. transformative. We will Ecsite Conference in June. America’s leading Los Angeles-based design be solidly positioned But we are also using this university-based science practice Mycotoo has been among America’s leading opportunity to look ahead outreach centres drafted in to create the university-based science and shape the future, building interiors for the project, outreach centres." on our strategic insights Todd Boyette which will see a number MORE: http://lei.sr/E3C3T_T and collective creativity.

22 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 VISITOR ATTRACTIONS SNEW

APPOINTMENTS George RR Martin joins collective Meow Wolf

George RR Martin has taken It's an honour to have him up a position at Meow as part of our team and Wolf, with the immersive we can't wait to see what art collective naming the he can help us accomplish Game of Thrones author as as chief world builder." its chief world builder. Martin himself said Martin has been involved the idea from Meow Wolf with Meow Wolf for more than captured his curiosity: "They a decade, helping to secure a really sparked my interest former bowling alley in which and their vision pushed all its multidimensional House my buttons – a sci-ﬁ world of Eternal Return is based. spanning multiple universes. Opened in 2016, the venture They delivered something has attracted more than we've never seen before." 1.5 million visitors since. In addition to the Santa QThe popular author has taken on a new role at Meow Wolf Vince Kadlubek, CEO at Fe attraction, Meow Wolf Meow Wolf, said the attraction created Kaleidoscape, an "wouldn't be what it is today interactive art-themed ride without George's generous and attraction at Denver's They really sparked my support", adding: "He took Elitch Gardens theme and interest and their vision a chance on us and gave waterpark. It has announced pushed all my buttons our artists the platform plans to open a permanent they needed to create the installation in Denver next year. George RR Martin House of Eternal Return. MORE: http://lei.sr/h4Z4T_T

EDUTAINMENT KidZania plans expansion with ﬁrst four sites in the US

KidZania, the children's edutainment centre operator, has announced plans to expand into the US, with its first centre due to open in Frisco, Dallas, Texas later this year and another three cities – New York, Chicago and Los Angeles – to follow through to 2021. QChildren can roleplay a range of professions There are currently 27 KidZania centres in 21 countries, with the US plans further local champions, because that is expanding the franchise's global reach. what makes the immersive learning "At KidZania, kids have an opportunity In the US, we're experiences real and meaningful." to role-play more than 100 professions onboarding industry KidZania's offering is a kid-sized city, within an 80,000sq ft indoor city designed where children can play a variety of partners and identifying just for them," said Greg Stevens, chief real-life roles in realistic simulations. new local champions executive officer of KidZania USA. Role-play professions include firefighter, Greg Stevens "In the US, we're onboarding journalist, chef and surgeon. industry partners and identifying new MORE: http://lei.sr/E3V8x_T

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 23 WATERPARKSS NEW

INVESTMENT INDUSTRY OPINION

Expansion for Dubai's Atlantis Aquaventure Addressing GDPR as host of new rides set to open in 2020 one year on Aleatha Ezra, WWA Dubai's Atlantis Aquaventure waterpark has a major As an owner expansion on the cards, with or operator plans to open a dozen new of a leisure rides in the middle of 2020. business An addition to adding looking to to the 20 rides and rivers market your already spread across its business 170,000sq m (1.8 million sq ft) to guests, you're likely very at Palm Island, the 34-metre familiar with the GDPR (111.5ft) tall Trident Tower and all of its implications will feature a number of rides QTrident Tower with Proslide rides in the storage and use of supplied by ProSlide, including personal and public data. MammothBlast, a 449-metre "Enhancing the Atlantis You’ve probably already (1,473ft) family adventure Aquaventure's offering is taken steps to ensure that water coaster that uses the natural next step in your privacy policy includes water propulsion technology; providing the best experience full transparency on how your the Dueling PipelineBlast/ possible for our visitors," site collects and uses data. FlyingSaucer 20 hybrid ride, said Tim Kelly, executive You’ve likely also reaffi rmed which propels guests through vice president and managing It's the next step opt-ins for those individuals "gravity-defying" turns at high director at Atlantis The Palm to provide the best who are on your email speed; and RallyRacer 32, a and The Royal Atlantis. experience for visitors marketing lists and made ride for competitive visitors. MORE: http://lei.sr/H9u6B_T Tim Kelly sure that they still wish to receive your email marketing. However, if you haven’t fully addressed GDPR compliance, EXPANSION then you might want to make it a higher priority because Outdoor waterpark completes Soundwaves complaints are being fi led and fi nes are being levied expansion at Gaylord Opryland against large and small companies. Since GDPR Having opened the indoor in the development, helping came into force, there have part of its new Soundwaves with some structure and been more than 59,000 Water Experience in design elements not usually personal data breaches December 2018, Gaylord seen in resort waterparks. notifi ed to regulators. These Opryland Resort in Nashville, "The initial success of the range from minor breaches, Tennessee, has now expansion has contributed to such as errant emails sent opened phase two of the growth in occupancy at the to the wrong recipient, to waterpark – the outdoor property," said Colin Reed, major cyberhacks affecting part of its offering. chair and CEO of Ryman. millions of individuals and Opened on 17 May, "We're thrilled with the making front-page headlines. The initial success of Soundwaves is an indoor/ early contributions of these Since this is a complex issue, the expansion has outdoor waterpark designed growth projects and remain you might consider hiring a contributed to growth and built by the Aquatic enthusiastic about their role privacy compliance consultant. Development Group (ADG) as in maximising the strong However, if you aren’t able Colin Reed part of a US$90m (€80.7m, outlook we see for the group to hire someone to aid you £70.8m) expansion. Blur segment in the years ahead." in this, then consider the Workshop also played a part MORE: http://lei.sr/u6A4b_T checklist provided by GDPR.eu

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OPENINGS Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens at Disneyland

The hotly anticipated Trowbridge, who oversees Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge everything Star Wars-related has opened its doors at for the operator's parks. the Disneyland resort in "A signifi cant part of our California, following a three- audience who want to feel year construction project. more engaged and more First announced in 2015, connected to the stories work on the 14-acre attraction they're experiencing, so we’re began in April 2016 and it's trying to fi nd ways to take that believed the fi nal cost could and extend it to our parks." have topped US$1bn. Rides and attractions in the It is the fi rst of two area include Millenium Falcon: Galaxy's Edge attractions, Smugglers Run, which will give with the second set to open guests the opportunity to get at the Walt Disney World behind the controls of the Star QAttractions include the iconic Millennium Falcon in Florida on 29 August. Wars franchise's most iconic "What we wanted to do spaceship in one of three was to create this universe, fl ight crew roles. Elsewhere, laying out and introducing Star Wars: Rise of the Our audience want to feel new stories, characters and Resistance, will put visitors more engaged and more places, and to include the in the middle of an epic connected to the stories guest in these stories should battle between Resistance they're experiencing you want to take part," said and Imperial troops. Disney imagineer Scott MORE: http://lei.sr/f3k6J_T Scott Trowbridge

FINANCE Zhonghong loan default "won't aff ect" SeaWorld ﬁ nances

SeaWorld CEO Gus Antorcha has revealed more details about its failed China projects, after its majority shareholder, Zhonghong Group, defaulted on outstanding loan payments, forcing the operator to terminate exclusivity agreements with the property developer. Speaking during an earnings call, QSeaWorld increased revenues by US$3.4m in Q1 Antorcha said that when Zhonghong acquired a 21 per cent stake in SeaWorld expect these matters to have a material We do not expect in 2017, part of that acquisition included effect on our business," said Antorcha. these matters to shares of common stock which secured "In connection with these events, have a material eff ect its loan obligations. When Zhonghong Zhonghong's Yongli Wang has resigned on our business defaulted on its loan, the lenders from our Board. We have asked Yoshi took ownership of those shares. Maruyama to remain as board chair Gus Antorcha "These matters are primarily between given his experience and skillset." Zhonghong and its lenders, and we do not MORE: http://lei.sr/c2V2z_T

26 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019

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www.holovis.com MUSEUMS & GALLERIESS NEW

VISITORS Overcrowding forced temporary Louvre closure

The Louvre in Paris was da Vinci's Mona Lisa, with forced to close recently staff bearing the brunt of due to overcrowding. visitors' frustration. A union The recent TEA/AECOM representative told Associated Theme and Museum Index Press that renovation work showed that the attraction, around the masterpiece had which was already the world’s exacerbated the problems. top-attended museum, Workers walked out on 27 had a record-breaking year May, citing the overcrowding with 10.2 million visitors in as the reason for the strike. 2018 – an increase of 26 per A meeting was held the next cent or two million people. day to decide whether the However, the union for museum would open again security and visitor services after the usual Tuesday closure. staff (the Sud Culture The decision was made to QThe Louvre had the most visitors for any museum last year Solidaires) says that general reopen after management staff numbers have declined agreed to bring in 30 more by more than 7 per cent, while employees on a temporary security and surveillance basis over the summer. Workers walked out staff numbers are down Visitors to the Louvre are on 27 May, citing the by almost 18 per cent. being told to buy tickets online overcrowding as the These factors have led to to ensure their entry to the reason for the strike long queues at the museum, "exceptionally busy" museum. especially to see Leonardo MORE: http://lei.sr/J2A5N_T

GALLERIES Elton John makes V&A donation for photography collaboration

London’s V&A Museum has announced a partnership with Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, that will see its Gallery 101 in the newly opened V&A Photography Centre renamed 'The Sir Elton John and David Furnish Gallery'. The musician and his husband have also made a huge but undisclosed QSir Elton John and David Furnish donation to the museum, which John says is "known for its dedication to 2022 extension, will not only elevate teaching, public research facilities photography but will also help foster new This commitment to and learning-based exhibitions artists, patrons and collectors, like myself. education and this focused on photographic arts". "We hope that audiences will walk mission to celebrate "This commitment to education and this away with the same excitement and the medium present a mission to celebrate the medium presents appreciation for photography, as I did perfect partnership a perfect partnership," said John. "The when I ﬁrst started collecting," he said. Elton John new Photography Centre, along with the MORE: http://lei.sr/A8m9Z_T

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 29 Do you manage a media-based attraction within your theme park or museum? ARE YOU SURE THAT A LICENSED MOVIE IS THE SOLUTION FOR YOUR THEMATIZED VENUE? (or your OLD custom movie isn’t boring your guests?)

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DEVELOPMENTS Notorious prison soon to reopen as museum

Portugal’s new National exhibition at the museum Museum of Resistance will take place alongside the and Freedom opened to unveiling of a "memory wall" the public on 27 April – the inscribed with the names 45th anniversary of the of the 2,500 people who closure of the building where entered the prison during it is situated: the notorious the Estado Novo regime of Peniche political prison. Antonio de Oliveira Salazar. The 16th Century fortress The regeneration of the at Peniche in Leiria, nestled bleak structures has cost among the rocks overlooking €3.4m (US$3.8m, £2.9m), the Atlantic Ocean, about with architect João Barros an hour to the north-west Matos of AR4 studio being of Lisbon, was used to hold given the task of designing dissidents and opponents the museum as a ﬁtting QThe fortress at Peniche overlooks the Atlantic Ocean of Portugal’s Fascist regime tribute to the political between 1934 and 1974. prisoners and torture victims Now it will become the who inhabited the prison. country’s ﬁrst national centre In 1960, Peniche was the The inaugural exhibition at the museum will dedicated to this turbulent setting for a remarkable escape, take place alongside the unveiling of a "memory past, with an important role in when ten inmates drugged a wall" inscribed with the names of the 2,500 teaching younger generations jailer and abseiled down the people who entered the prison during the Estado that freedoms did not come walls to waiting getaway cars. Novo regime of Antonio de Oliveira Salaza without cost. The inaugural MORE: http://lei.sr/y5h4D_T

TOURISM Airbnb teams with 23andMe to promote DNA heritage travel

Airbnb has teamed up with genetic testing company 23andMe to make the ﬁnding of heritage travel experiences based on DNA tests simpler. According to 23andMe's research, 53 per cent of buyers of genetic kits took the test because they wanted to know about the ancestry of their family. Airbnb's study QAncestry travel is offering new opportunities to Airbnb of 8,000 people across the US, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, India, France, the UK and anywhere in the world – and what better We can make it easier Australia, found that many respondents had way to do that than travelling to your roots," for travellers to travelled to at least one country of their said Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb. plan trips as unique ancestry: 89 per cent in India, 69 per cent "23andMe is the leader in helping people as their DNA in France, and more than half of Americans. learn about their genes and ancestry, and "We believe that authentic travel together we can make it easier for travellers Joe Gebbia experiences help you connect with local to plan trips as unique as their DNA." cultures and create a sense of belonging MORE: http://lei.sr/t7b7n_T

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 31 SCIENCE CENTRE SNEW

ZOOS INDUSTRY OPINION US$11.5m expansion in the works Providing missing for St Louis Zoo's primate habitats data to ﬁ ght extinction

The St Louis Zoo in Missouri, Dalia A Conde, US, has announced plans director of for a major US$11.5m science, Species360 expansion of its Primate House, with the 35,000sq ft In early May, (10,668sq m) addition set worldwide to be completed in 2021. headlines carried The outdoor expansion will news that one million species provide eight new outdoor are destined for extinction. homes adjacent to the existing Conservationists worldwide Primate House – home to QThe new habitats will be have been scrambling to around 40 primates from 14 beneficial to animal welfare save species struggling to different species currently. endure multiple issues. New overhead tunnels will care, health and well-being by Data on species birth connect the Primate House providing access to enriching and death rates are to new outdoor habitats, outdoor habitats, sunlight essential to inform species allowing the primates, and fresh air," said St Louis conservation policies. which include lemurs and Zoo president and CEO, Responsible aquariums, monkeys, to explore different Jeffrey P Bonner. " It also will It will allow visitors to zoos, wildlife parks, and habitats at different times. allow visitors to experience experience primates refuge centers worldwide are "Primate Canopy Trails primates like never before." like never before becoming increasingly more allow us to improve animal MORE: http://lei.sr/6v3T8_T Jeff rey P Bonner critical to species conservation success. In addition to serving as insurance populations of targeted critically endangered AQUARIUMS species, these facilities are storing vast reserves Aquarium of the Pacifi c envisions the future of species information that can help scientist and of ocean life with biomorphic expansion conservation managers. Critical information is missing The long-anticipated Pacifi c and in how visitors fl ow or unavailable for more than Visions wing at the Aquarium through the spaces." 98 per cent of known species of the Pacifi c in Long Beach, Multimedia storytelling of mammals, birds, reptiles, California, opened its doors studio Cortina Productions and amphibians. The Zoological to the public on 24 May. conceived the immersive Information Management Devised by Esherick facilities, while Edwards System (ZIMS) could increase Homsey Dodge and Davis Technologies engineered that information by as much (EHDD), the two-fl oor annex and installed the AV. as eightfold, with information boasts a unique design "Pacifi c Visions is about on birth and survival that takes cues from the the future designed around rates, curated by wildlife Pacifi c Visions is about motion and biodiversity the world ocean," said Joseph professionals in 97 countries. the future designed of the Pacifi c Ocean. Cortina, founder of Cortina. ZIMS is maintained by around the world ocean "In designing this new "We really wanted to use Species360, a non-profi t wing," the architects the media to tell that story, member-driven organization Joseph Cortina explained, "we embraced to take people out into the that facilitates information the concept of fl uidity – both world, to feel the scale of it." sharing among its nearly in the biomorphic façade MORE: http://lei.sr/N5b3K_T 1,200 institutional members.

32 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 dŚĞǁŽƌůĚ͛ƐůĞĂĚŝŶŐŵŝŶŝďŽǁůŝŶŐƐǇƐƚĞŵũƵƐƚŐŽƚďĞƩĞƌ

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VIRTUAL REALITY Disney-backed Tyff on plans US expansion

Immersive entertainment as its ﬁ rst in the US, with a company Tyffon has new addition coming to Los successfully raised US$7.8m Angeles later this year. (€7m, £6.17m) in new Immersive content and funding to help it expand character-driven experiences its Tyffonium free-roam are being developed, with virtual reality location-based Tyffon saying its priority is experiences outside of Japan. to focus on the quality of its The new funding round content and experiences. brings the company's inward "We are gratiﬁ ed at the investment to more than tremendous pedigree of our US$12m (€10.78m, £9.49m) investors, who have placed to date, with existing investors their faith and trust in us," including Disney, Sega Sammy said Tyffon CEO Ken Fukazawa. Holdings and Mizuho Capital. "They represent some of the QThe company has created three diff erent immersive experiences They will be joined in the new leading media, entertainment round of funding by Tokyo and technology innovators. Broadcasting System. "We at Tyffon are committed A graduate of the Disney to honouring that creative Tyff on is committed to Accelerator initiative, Tyffon legacy and creating and creating and sharing the currently has two Tyffonium sharing the highest quality and most innovative immersive venues in the Tokyo area most innovative immersive experiences in the world and is gearing up to open a experiences in the world." third Japanese venue as well MORE: http://lei.sr/V4m9N_T Ken Fukazawa

MUSEUMS Smarter museums with 'express train of digital technology'

Increasing use of digitisation and technologies such as AI and VR are to be used in China's heritage sector to deliver smart museums that have the capabilities to reach more people. Cultural heritage The plans were announced at the recent resources should take Digital China Summit by Guan Qiang, the express train of deputy head of China's National Cultural QBeijing's Palace Museum is working on digitisation digital technology to Heritage Administration (NCHA). Guan reach more people said the organisation was promoting to reach more people," said Guan, the use of AI, VR, augmented reality, who added that the NCHA is building a Guan Qiang immersion display and smart guidance to nationwide database of cultural relics, the country's fast-growing cultural heritage which is being increasingly used in sector. China had less than 350 museums cultural heritage protection. China owns in 1978 and now has more than 5,000. 767,000 sites of immovable cultural relics, "Cultural heritage resources should and 100 million movable artefacts. take the express train of digital technology MORE: http://lei.sr/r2s6d_T

34 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 GIGA DISCOVERY WORLD RECORD PENDULUM

MUST HAVE RIDEZ At a record-breaking 52,5 meters in the air, Giga Discovery reaches speeds up to 110 kilometersper-hour, as it swings back and forth—higher and higher giving to the 40 riders a staggering view of the world below. www. zamperla.comzamperla.com INTERVIEW ALVARO SILBERSTEIN

Alvaro Silberstein, a wheelchair user himself, founded Wheel the World as a way to offer accessible tourism to all

Bringing together a lvaro Silberstein has been says Alvaro. “But it was expensive, costing a wheelchair user since the US$8,000 to buy and ship it there and we passionate community age of 18. Now 33 years old, didn’t have that kind of money.” of explorers, Wheel the Chilean says he’s always To raise the necessary funds, Silberstein A pushed himself to make his and Navarro decided to transform the World is opening life as normal as possible. the trip into a project, fundraising the new doors for disability Wanting to explore the world and venture through a series of sponsors. visit wild tourist destinations, one Setting out with a plan to purchase tourism. Its co-founder, location – Torres del Paine National and leave the equipment behind, also Park in Patagonia, Chile – had always training local guides on how to use the Alvaro Silberstein, been a special dream of his. technology so the experience could be speaks to Attractions A few years ago, his best friend, Camillo repeated, Silberstein and Navarro went Navarro, approached him to see if the on the life-changing adventure. Management about the pair could feasibly organise a trip to “It was amazing for me, for my friends company, his story and the destination. They contacted several and for people who worked in the travel tour operators and local travel services, industry in Patagonia because we didn’t the organisation’s grand who told them they had never seen a know if it would be possible,” he says. plans to bring accessible wheelchair being used in the park. “We fi lmed a low-cost documentary To make their dream a reality, the duo telling our story. As a result, our plans tourism to the mainstream would have to do some extended research, went viral on social media and we started which led to the discovery of a specially receiving requests from people all over the Tom Anstey, managing editor, manufactured wheelchair specifi cally for world wanting to take the trip themselves. Attractions Management traversing rough terrain – the Joëlette. “We started organising trips for others “The technology would allow us to purely because we wanted them to enjoy do the W Trek – a fi ve-day hike along the amazing experience we did. Not long Torres del Paine’s most famous route,” after, we co-founded Wheel the World.”

36 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 Wheel the World’s main goal is to completely redeﬁne what is possible in the recreation sector for people with disabilities

Empowering expansion With a goal to “empower people with disabilities to explore the world without limits”, in 2018, Wheel the World started replicating what Silberstein and Navarro had done in Patagonia, repeating the process with other wild travel destinations in South America – starting with Easter Island. “THE GOAL FOR US IS TO BECOME THE “We looked at how tourists would normally explore the island, which included MARKETPLACE FOR ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL AND a bike ride, hikes to archaeological sites, trips to the beach and scuba diving. We TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES” then established how we could enable all these experiences for people with across both continents to Chile, Mexico, Life-changing disabilities,” explains Silberstein. Peru, Hawaii and California. Wheel the Depending on the experience, costs “We took a range of equipment to the World would later introduce a safari can range anywhere from US$100 to island, including special bikes, a hiking experience in Tanzania. US$8,000, though the average cost works chair and beach-compatible wheelchairs. “The goal for us is to become the out at around US$1,000 per person. We then trained two scuba diving marketplace for accessible travel and to According to Silberstein, the experiences instructors on how to assist people with connect people with disabilities,” says are worth every penny. different disabilities to take part. Silberstein. “We’re continuing to create “It’s very emotional for our clients,” he “We also found accessible experiences from scratch as we have done says. “From ﬁrst-hand experience with accommodation and ways to transport our in multiple locations now and we’re also my trip to Patagonia, you never think that customers to locations around the island.” partnering with local operators who already kind of experience will be available to you. From there, the company expanded offer services to people with disabilities so To have an adventure in somewhere like its reach across the Americas, with trips we can promote these things as well.” that, realising that it’s possible and being

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 37 INTERVIEW

“WE HAVE A SPECIAL PURPOSE – TO EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO EXPLORE THE WORLD WITHOUT LIMITS” there in the middle of nature exploring that sanctuary in places that would have beautiful place with your friends, it’s super previously proved impossible. special and that’s why I committed full The entire experience lasts time to building this organisation.” a total of fi ve days, starting with an accessible tour of Cusco city on day one. Parts of Machu Picchu that were Eye in the sky On the second day, guests travel to the previously inaccessible to disabled Wheel the World recently made headlines Inca Ceremonial Center of Sacsayhuaman. tourists can now be explored by creating an accessible tour set high Using the special hiking wheelchair to in the Andes Mountains of Peru to the travel to the top of the citadel with trained ancient Incan citadel of Machu Picchu. tour operators. From there, they can technologies makes it possible. We want One of the seven wonders of the world, observe a special view of Cusco from high to make these experiences available the Unesco World Heritage Site was up in the surrounding hills. to as many people as possible.” previously very diffi cult or impossible to For day three, visitors explore the access for many disabled visitors. The Sacred Valley for a day using accessible Challenges and successes experience created by Wheel the World bikes, ending their journey with a stay in Doing something in areas where similar means the site is more accessible than an accessible hotel in the valley. feats have never or rarely been attempted ever before to disabled visitors, with On the fi nal day, they embark on a has presented new challenges to Wheel the the tour allowing them to explore the three-hour train journey to Machu Picchu. World. Not only did Silberstein and Navarro They then climb to the summit using have to strategically plan out each trip with hiking wheelchairs, spending three accessibility at the forefront of everything, hours on-site, before returning to Cusco. but they also had to convince authorities There is an additional optional fi fth day, that it was viable for repeat trips. where guests can choose to visit a “Getting the people who run things like lake in the Sacred Valley for a kayaking national parks and travel attractions to experience using adaptive kayaks. collaborate with us is the main challenge “We’ve found a way to give disabled we continue to face,” explains Silberstein. visitors the chance to have a fun and “There’s a range of equipment if you interesting experience that allows you don’t want to modify your infrastructure. to explore much more of the sanctuary It’s about providing the right information in a safe and more accessible way,” to accommodate these visitors and says Silberstein. “Using these different to make services more accessible.

38 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 THE TECHNOLOGY

The Joëlette The primary model for Wheel the World’s trips, the Joëltette is an all-terrain one- wheeled chair that enables any person with reduced mobility or disability to take part in hiking excursions or running activities with the help of two guides. To operate the chair, the rear guide handles balance, while the front controls Silberstein wants to traction and steers. raise awareness for Designed for both family outings and diablsed people who more intense sports and recreation, the wish to live their life chair offers users access to signifi cantly to the fullest rougher terrain that a classic wheelchair couldn’t handle. The chairs have suspension and disc brakes, so you can “We want to inspire accessibility it’s the reason he started the business, go downhill in a safe and controlled way. everywhere. It’s not just one organisation replicating the emotions he felt for The design is also compact and folds doing this. It’s about getting the thousands of people in the future. down into an easily transportable size. governments and different organisations “In one year, hundreds of people related to tourism to commit as well.” have travelled to places they wouldn’t Force G Handcycle have thought possible,” he says. “What The Force G handcycle’s aerodynamic Future plans makes us really proud and happy is design offers an adjustable seat Looking forward, within the next few when we have a new customer go to a suitable for people with a range of months, Wheel the World will launch place that they wouldn’t have been able disabilities and is designed specifi cally new trips in Maui, Costa Rica and the to otherwise. I love to hear from them for people with lower body paraplegia Galapagos Islands, with even more about these amazing experiences in these or amputees. Riders use their hands to projects planned for the future. extraordinary places they’ve travelled. pedal and steer instead of their legs. In its fi rst year, the company has “We have a special purpose – to successfully had more than 500 disabled empower people with disabilities to explore Beach Wheelchair customers travel to experience exotic the world without limits. We want to inspire The beach wheelchair is an ideal aid locations all over the world. For Silberstein, accessibility everywhere.” O for use on sand and in water. Designed to be simple, highly portable and submersible with no parts to rust or corrode, the chair can easily go from land to sea and comes with infl atable collars, infl atable footrests and beach wheelchair sun canopies.

Mountain Trike An all-terrain, self-propelled chair, the Mountain Trike is ideal for outdoor use. For those who ﬁ nd it difﬁ cult to self propel the model can be converted into an electric eTrike. Comes with suspension and disc brakes for ultimate control.

Grit Freedom Chair Developed by MIT engineers, this easy-to-push, lever-driven wheelchair comes armed with rugged mountain bike wheels, a big, sturdy Some of the world’s most front wheel that doesn’t get stuck, famous sites are now and optional trail handles, allowing accessible for people with users to make their own path different disabilities through difﬁ cult terrain.

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 39 TRENDSWATCH 2019

The TrendsWatch 2019 Report from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and the Center for the Future of Museums (CFM), explores important cultural,technological, economic, environmental, and policy events, identifying the major trends that will shape the way museums worldwide will handle aff airs, do business and engage visitors WELCOME TO THE FUTURE

rust in government, media, BLOCKCHAIN blockchain ledgers could make this data academia, industry, and even The way in which blockchain will transform less vulnerable to loss or degradation.” nonprofi t organisations are at an multiple types of transactions is the It also suggests that using blockchain all-time low, according to the latest second trend identifi ed. means museums can be transparent about T edition of TrendsWatch – an annual Blockchain, in its simplest form, is a the history of their collections, enabling report on the future of museums. set records, linked using cryptography, anyone to access data by use of a public Compiled by CFM’s vice president of to create a list of physical or digital key. This will help to support claims from strategic foresight and founding director, transactions between two parties in a indigenous communities, identify the Elizabeth Merritt, “Truth, Trust and Fake verifi able and permanent way. lineage of Nazi-era assets and better help News” is one of fi ve major trends identifi ed The technology has been around for repatriation of artefacts. in the eighth edition of the report. more than a decade, but in the past With declines in trust, it questions year, there has been huge growth in its DECOLONISATION how nonprofi ts in general, and museums experimental applications, including While many museums successfully in particular, can remain among the refugee aid, educational credentialing, land address the dark side of history, one most trusted sources of information, registries and provenance tracking. of the most profound challenges is to asking how museums, which are rated Because blockchain has such wide- address colonisation, which for many older as extremely trustworthy by the general reaching potential for every sector, it institutions, is the basis of their existence. public, can build on this trust. It also asks means that museum leaders must “Decolonisation is the long, slow, how they can help society re-establish a understand what the technology is and painful, and imperfect process of undoing framework for telling fact from fi ction. how it’s likely to impact their communities. damage infl icted by colonial practices that “Museums are all about keeping secure, remain deeply embedded in our culture, immutable records of transactions about politics, and economies,” says the report. collections,” says the report. “In past “Many museums refl ect a Eurocentric centuries, these records were kept in paper view of the world. Many were born directly ledgers and more recently on in-house from colonial practices, serving as trophy databases. The distributed nature of rooms of conquest and superiority. “All museums share a responsibility for helping their country and their society Blockchain can be used to maintain address the legacy of damage.” an accurate record as to the To resolve this, museums can actively ownership of a museum artefact take part in the return of heritage removed by colonial occupiers – though

40 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 WHILE MANY MUSEUMS SUCCESSFULLY ADDRESS THE DARK SIDE OF HISTORY, ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND CHALLENGES IS TO ADDRESS COLONISATION, WHICH FOR MANY OLDER INSTITUTIONS, IS THE BASIS OF THEIR FOUNDATION

some argue their collections are for all profi ts, and philanthropy – to rethink their the people of the world and that they roles and responsibilities,” the report should not have to return these treasures. explains, asking how a cultural non- This work should also extend, says profi t can play a bigger role in the area, the report, to examining how museum saying that museums need to serve not governance and operations may perpetuate just people who have reached the “tip colonial attitudes and power structures – of the pyramid” but “those who are not how, for example, are indigenous people yet adequately housed, fed, or safe”. given authority and voice in museums that The report suggests that museums fi nd serve their communities, preserve heritage ways to serve families and individuals and infl uence how society sees their culture? experiencing this insecurity, by making “Museums, in their cultural roles of them feel welcome. By prioritising The welfare of museum staff and memory keeper, conscience, and healer, social inclusion, museums can combat volunteers has been highlighted, with have an obligation to provoke refl ection, the isolation that often results from stress resulting in high turnover rethinking, and rebalancing,” says the homelessness, helping people to build report. “Museums can help us deal with social networks and foster self-worth. the dark side of history, not just emotionally nonprofi t workforce is experiencing burnout, and personally, but in a way that helps us SELF-CARE with a further 20 per cent at risk. build a just and equitable society, despite The fi nal trend identifi ed in the report The impact of this stress can come at a our legacy of theft and violence.” revolves around museum staff and high price for museum employers. helpers. In the face of rising stress and “Turnover of staff results in a loss of HOUSING INSECURITY stretched resources, it’s more important knowledge, experience, and institutional Housing insecurity, a signifi cant social or than ever for individuals and institutions to memory. It necessitates recruitment, hiring, cultural challenge that’s diffi cult to solve recognise the need for setting aside time and training, as well as incurring the hidden for multiple reasons, is something that and resources for restorative practice. costs of work that goes undone while a museums should be thinking more about. CFM points to research by Tech Impact, vacancy is unfi lled,” says the report, which “Housing security is both a symptom which indicates that nonprofi t workers often suggests talking to employees about and a cause of the deepening inequality feel overstretched and that their productivity what conditions drive stress in their jobs, of wealth, opportunity, and access that drops when the workweek reaches 50 reviewing policies to identify practices such characterises the start of the 21st century, hours or more. Post-recession trends in as working from home and fl ex time, and and solving these problems will require the form of low pay, long hours and high creating an annual quality of life survey to all actors – government, industry, non- expectations mean that 30 per cent of the benchmark progress in lowering stress.

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 41 TRENDSWATCH 2019 FORWARD THINKING

Elizabeth Merritt, vice president of strategic foresight and founding director for the Center for the Future of Museums speaks about the report and what it could mean for the culture sector.

How can museums retain trust Or an artist whose work is displayed in a in an era of fake news? museum might receive fees based on a Trust is rooted in accountability, and museum’s visitation numbers. museums can foster trust by being transparent about their own operations. How will blockchain affect issues such Some people are vaguely aware that there as war relics, colonial-era artefacts are directors and curators in a museum, and trafficked/stolen property? but most people don’t know who decides If we develop resilient, tamper-proof ways what a museum collects, and how it is to link artefacts to digital records, that interpreted. More museums are beginning could make it easier for museums and law to abandon the anonymous voice of enforcement to proactively identify stolen authority, and to identify whose voice is material. A global, publicly accessible reflected in the label copy. ledger of artefacts could make it easier to identify stolen or trafficked property. If trust has been lost how can it be rebuilt? If an institution or an individual has lost Elizabeth Merritt is the report’s author How do museums confront historic wrongs the public’s trust because they made a when it could mean losing parts of their mistake, I think the first step is to take full own collections telling this story? responsibility. If they are simply wrong on business is in rapid decline. Libraries are I’d rather not think of it as “losing their a matter of fact, correct it! Don’t say “we’ll highly trusted too. The public recognises collections,” but as “playing a key role in fix that when the exhibit is renovated in ten the work of museums and libraries is, at restitution.” It’s important for museums years.” If a museum has acted in a way that heart, helping them learn for themselves. to document and share difficult stories damages a community, it can apologise, about injustice, but not in a way that itself and ask what it can do to make amends. What applications does blockchain have perpetuates historic wrongs. for museums that haven’t used it yet? How are museums currently I’m intrigued by the potential applications How does a museum, intrinsically viewed in terms of trust? for blockchain-based smart contracts. A colonial at its core, address Museums are one of the most trusted museum could collect micropayments when the issue of colonialism? sources of information, in a time when trust someone downloads or shares a digital Confronting their own past is a good place in government, journalism, academia and derivation of works from the collection. to start. Any institution, if it survives

Colonialisation and the rise of fake news are currently hot button topics in the world of museums

42 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 IT’S IMPORTANT FOR MUSEUMS TO DOCUMENT AND SHARE DIFFICULT STORIES ABOUT INJUSTICE, BUT NOT IN A WAY THAT ITSELF PERPETUATES HISTORIC WRONGS long enough, accumulates problematic How can a museum serve its episodes in its history, some more than homeless population? others. Owning up to that history can be That would be a very good question painful and difficult, but it is a first step for any museum’s board to consider. towards de-colonising the future. At the least, any museum can have a thoughtful policy about how to welcome How can a museum better support all visitors (including people who might be its indigenous communities? experiencing homelessness) and make That’s exactly the question the museum them feel welcome. If a museum has should be asking the indigenous a significant number of people without communities it serves. Better yet, go shelter in their neighbourhood or on beyond asking for input, and actually their grounds, why not partner with other share the power to make decisions about organisations to help connect these how the museum operates. That could be people with essential services? through advisory councils or by recruiting significant indigenous representation to How can museums keep their the board of trustees. workforce happy? I think that answer is the same for What is a museum’s responsibility to museums as for any other organisation: Merrit says museums could do more its community and homelessness? give people the chance to do meaningful to serve its homeless population I think all museums should be aware work, as much control over their working through outreach and programming of issues that are important to their environment as possible. Treat employees communities, and in many, many with respect, recognise them as communities in America homelessness individuals, and be flexible in creating an Where are museums and housing insecurity is a significant environment that supports them in doing succeeding right now? challenge. What a particular museum their best work. I think museums collectively are doing a can do to help address that issue will splendid job of questioning the received depend on its mission, resources and What’s the best balance for staff wisdom about “what a museum does.” The circumstances. Many museums are in terms of work and life? more museums experiment around the playing a role in educating the public about I think that is for every one of us to figure edges, the more new ways we discover for the facts of homelessness, fostering out individually – and it will probably museums to become essential assets for awareness and empathy. change as a person moves through life. their communities. O

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 43 RIDES

Kaleidoscape has a psychedelic vibe with bright patterns and quirky sculptures inspired by Denver’s vibrant arts scene

ART ATTACK

From artistic endeavours to creations inspired by nature’s ﬁ ercest predators, we take a look at some of the major ride openings happening at visitor attractions worldwide

KALEIDOSCAPE MEOW minimal to maximal and back Elitch Gardens WOLF again”. The ride experience says Meow Wolf, “takes a tiny point of Denver, Colorado, US light on its journey to becoming a planet-sized hyper being”. Created as a precursor to a blockbuster art Meow Wolf’s team, led by co-founders exhibition taking place in Denver in 2020, Emily Montoya and Matt King, took charge Elitch Gardens’ newest attraction has been of the project, with seven Denver artists – created by art collective Meow Wolf and Frankie Toan, Laleh Mehran, Kenzie Sitterud, built in a former interactive shooter dark Chris Coleman, Michael Ortiz, Brick Suede ride, where art is replacing guns. and Katie Caron – contributing. Meow Wolf has repurposed Elitch’s Originally created in 1999 by Sally Corp, Jenny Weinbloom acted as executive 20-year-old Ghost Blasters II dark ride the dark ride started its life as Ghost producer of Kaleidoscape and is also to create the one-of-a-kind experience Blasters – a journey through a themed overseeing the upcoming 2020 exhibition. haunted manor where riders competed with “Elitch Gardens were ready to do laser guns to get the high score, shooting something different with the space,” she targets as they travelled through. told The Denver Post. “What made it feel In 2008 the ride was refurbished, like such a great ﬁ t is that we’re best at reopening as Ghost Blasters II. Meow working with salvaged materials, so when Wolf’s version becomes its third iteration. we inherited the facility there were all kinds Called Kaleidoscape, the reimagined of crazy items to use in creative ways”. ride opened to the public on 20 April, “The ride is ﬁ lled with unique art turning the ageing attraction into a series scenes,” says Lori Kaupp, Elitch Gardens’ of mind-bending landscapes. director of operations. “Our visitors want The installation takes passengers on to ride it over and over again to see an interactive, artist-driven voyage “from everything that is Kaleidoscape.”

44 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 YUKON STRIKER Canada’s Wonderland BOLLIGER & Vaughan, Ontario, Canada MABILLARD

Yukon Striker is the world’s tallest, fastest “At its summit, you’ll and longest dive coaster. stare directly down 245 Opened on 3 May, the coaster is the feet at 90 degrees into an underwater centrepiece of the park’s Frontier Canada tunnel for three seconds before dropping.” area and themed to the Klondike Goldrush, Yukon Striker becomes Canada’s Yukon Striker was designed by Bolliger Wonderland’s seventeenth rollercoaster, & Mabillard. It stand at 75m (245ft) tieing it with Cedar Point and only topped and reaches speeds of up to 80mph by Six Flags Magic Mountain, which boasts (130kmph) over a 1,105m (3,625ft) track. 19 rollercoasters in its portfolio. Yukon Striker also features ﬂ oorless trains and in a ﬁ rst for any dive coaster – a 360-degree loop – as well as having the Part of a new land themed on most inversions on a dive coaster, at four. Canada’s Klondike Goldrush, Yukon “Yukon Striker soars through four Striker claims several world records inversions in the newly themed area and is now one of the world’s Frontier Canada,” says Norm Pirtovshek, premier rollercoaster experiences Canada’s Wonderland general manager.

INTAMIN & COLOSSOS: KAMPF DER GIGANTEN MERLIN MAGIC MAKING Heide Park Soltau, Germany

Originally opened in April 2001, Heide beneath the old ride, but following the Unlike a traditional wooden coaster, the Park’s Colossos ride has undergone a works it has broken free and taken over. Intamin-designed ride’s track was originally major refurbishment and retheming to the Colossos now incorporates a range of laser-cut in a factory, with sections of track cost of €12m (US$13.4m) for 2019. special effects to immerse riders in the designed to fi t together like puzzle pieces. The ride, which is both the tallest experience, including new lighting, audio This cut costs and sped up construction. and the fastest wooden rollercoaster and dramatic fi re effects. The ride reaches heights of up to 50m in Europe, was forced to close in July (164ft), with a max drop of 48.5m (159ft). 2016, after inspections revealed The track stretches 1,344m (4,409ft), signifi cant problems with the track. and reaches speeds of up to 68mph On 19 April 2019, nearly three years on (110kmph) on its journey. from its closure, it reopened with essential Merlin’s Magic Making team was repairs carried out and a major retheming behind the redesign, with MK Themed of the ride undertaken by the park. Attractions carrying out some of the work. Renamed Colossos: Kampf der Giganten, The retheming is similar to another Merlin the reimagined ride follows the story of attraction – Alton Towers’ Wicker Man – a tree monster which had been trapped which was the fi rst wooden rollercoaster to incorporate fi re into its design.

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 45 RIDES Tigris is the ninth rollercoaster at Busch Gardens TIGRIS Busch Gardens Tampa Tampa, Florida, US

Florida’s tallest launch coaster, Tigris, has now opened at PREMIER Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, RIDES boasting a 45.7m (150ft) skyward surge and an inverted heartline roll, getting riders up to speeds of more than 60mph (97kmph). Opened on 19 April, the steel launch coaster is the ninth roller coaster at Busch Gardens, and has been designed to mimic the agility of a tiger, running larger initiative by Busch Gardens’ parent through a series of looping twists with company, SeaWorld Entertainment, to both forward and backward motion. create ‘experiences that matter’. Tigris sits in the Stanleyville area of “This ride is unlike anything we have in Busch Gardens, adjacent to Jungala, which our rollercoaster collection,” says Stewart is home to the theme park’s endangered Clark, president and general manager of Bengal tigers. The ride’s queue is lined with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. educational material about the plight of “Tigris is a testament to our continuing wild tigers and the action conservationists investment in the park, and to bringing new are taking to protect them – part of a and innovative experiences to our guests.”

COPPERHEAD STRIKE Carowinds MACK Charlotte, North Carolina, US RIDES

Debuted as the anchor attraction for According to the story, Carowind’s new Blue Ridge Junction area, Granny has been making Copperhead Strike is the Carolinas’ fi rst jam for more than 40 years, but her farm is double-launch coaster, going from 0 to fi lled with signs warning trespassers to leave 68kmph (42mph) in just 2.5 seconds. and watch out for snakes. As it begins, riders Custom-designed by Mack Rides for happen upon a moonshine still in Granny’s Carowinds, the new coaster – the fi rst shed and fl ee when she comes after them. major rollercoaster to arrive at the park The addition is the 14th rollercoaster to since Fury 325 in 2015 – pulls out a come to Carowinds, with only four theme series of fast, tight, close-to-the-ground parks in the world now having more. manoeuvres, including fi ve inversions. Blue Ridge Junction is a new immersive The ride is themed after a visit to area inspired by nature and culture of the ‘Old Granny Byrd’s farmhouse’. Blue Ridge Mountains in the eastern US. Copperhead Strike simulates the harrowing chase of getaway cars racing through rolling farmland

In addition to Copperhead Strike, the area also features the new Blue Ridge Country Kitchen restaurant and the Mountain Gliders family ride. “Each year we’ve added events and attractions for guests of all ages, and this year represents our biggest investment to date,” says Pat Jones, Carowinds’ vice president and general manager. “We’re excited to bring all these experiences to Blue Ridge Junction.”

46 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 ROCKET FROM ZERO TO OVER 100 KILOMETERS PER HOUR IN LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS IN OUR LAUNCH COASTERS

THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME Inversions, airtime hills and forceful turns and twists. A unique combination of thrills and sights. An experience that doesn’t let up until the ﬁnal turn.

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BOOTH #1322 TOP TEAM MADE IN CHINA

The birthplace of William Shakespeare will be recreated 6,000 miles away at the home of China’s most famous playwright. Tom Anstey, spoke to the team behind the ambitious project

his line from William Shakespeare’s "Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the Measure for Measure encourages us to try new things. good we oft might win by fearing to attempt" It’s also an apt way to introduce a T new project dedicated to the legacy of the playwright, which will see a replica of his home built in Fuzhou, China. Both Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Shakespeare’s New Place – the latter demolished in the 1800s – will be recreated with historical accuracy near Fuzhou City in southern China. The location is notable because it was the birthplace of Chinese playwright, Tang Xianzu. Along with Spain’s Miguel de Cervantes, the trio of iconic wordsmiths – who all died in 1616 but never met during their lives – will have a cultural centre constructed and dedicated to their legacies. Called San Weng (which translates to ‘Three Masters’), the 890,000sq m development will encompass a theatre park, tourism and leisure zones. Each writer will have a dedicated area. The new Shakespeare development sits at the heart of the Stratford Quarter, while Cervantes will be represented by a Spanish Alcala Quarter and Xianzu an ancient Chinese village. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and Fuzhou Culture and Tourism Investment Company signed an exclusive Co-operation Agreement in September last year to recreate the heritage listed buildings, which the trust will oversee to ensure the William Shakespeare – poet, playwright replicas faithfully represent the originals. and actor – is widely regarded as the Dedicated to caring for the world’s greatest writer in the English language and greatest Shakespeare heritage sites and the world’s greatest dramatist collections in the playwright’s home town of Stratford-upon-Avon, England, key members of the trust involved in the process spoke to Attractions Management about the plans.

48 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 William Shakespeare was born in 1564 and spent his childhood years living in the house SHUTTERSTOCK_MY STOCK SHUTTERSTOCK_MY Shakespeare’s Birthplace

William Shakespeare was born in the house in Stratford upon Avon and grew up there with his parents John and Mary and his seven siblings. Shakespeare would also spend the ﬁrst ﬁve years of his marriage to Anne Hathaway living there. The property was purchased in 1847 by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, which has cared for it ever since. Today, visitors can walk in Shakespeare’s footsteps and explore the house, hearing tales of his family life, enjoying live theatre on demand and getting up close to rare artefacts from the Trust’s collections.

What is your role? How is Shakespeare understood in China? I’m an executive trustee on the board. I’ve Around a third of the Chinese population got a business background so among the are currently learning to, or can already diverse range of skills we have across the speak English. The number of people 12 trustees, I tick that box. In particular, interested in Shakespeare varies on which I’ve done quite a lot of business in China studies you read, but those numbers would for companies such as Land Rover. dwarf the statistics of most countries. If you look at Stratford and our other Why China? properties, the number of Chinese people The team in Fuzhou team came to us with wanting to visit is growing very, very fast. this proposition and we felt it was a good way of putting a marker down in China. Will you develop in other countries? We’ve always had a relationship with We have close ties with a number of them, as you do with many cultural countries, including the US and in Europe, organisations around the world. This is a where we have established Shakespeare project they wanted to do to increase their appreciation societies, theatre groups footprint. It was something that was of and more. There may well be projects that immediate interest to us. We evaluated it, come to fruition as a result of that. decided it had merit and went from there. John Russell As a market there’s massive interest What was the internal reaction? vice chair in all things English in China and creating Fascination. We have a very passionate a point of interest there for people who group of people at the Trust. Curiosity is Shakespeare Birthplace Trust couldn’t necessarily get to the birthplace the ﬁrst thing when an organisation does in England will be good business for us. anything new. People have been wanting

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 49 TOP TEAM

to hear and understand more, and most importantly understand how they can support we’ve been doing.

How can you ensure the authenticity of what you’re trying to recreate? WE WANT TO CREATE A BASE WHERE In China, you get these replica attractions, SHAKESPEARE CAN BE PRESENTED but a lot of them don’t really have a purpose other than to exist. TO A CHINESE AUDIENCE Our project in China is a proper homage to Shakespeare and it’s also a basis for further education and to get people interested in the whole story. Shakespeare’s New Place At the very heart of the decision to go was demolished in 1759 ahead with the project was our belief that but a garden has been our partners had the right intentions and designed to commemorate their hearts were in the right place. the importance of the site We’ve satisﬁed ourselves completely that that is the case here. We want to create a base where Shakespeare can be presented to a Chinese audience.

Will this new development have an impact on the Stratford site in the UK? China’s economy is developing rapidly. More than a third of the population has beneﬁted from this economic boom and there’s more to come. The world will see more Chinese people travelling internationally and we expect that this – when combined with increased interest because of the new site in China – will boost visitation to Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford as a result.

Shakespeare’s New Place

Shakespeare’s New Place was the ﬁrst place of pilgrimage for literary fans, long before his Birthplace was saved for the nation in 1847. Purchased by Shakespeare in 1597 it was his home until his death there in 1616. The house was demolished 86 years later in 1702 and replaced by another family home – also known as New Place. This second house was in turn demolished by the Reverend Francis Gastrell in 1759, in the wake of disputes with the local authorities and as a result of his annoyance with visiting Shakespeare fans. In 2016 the site of Shakespeare’s New Place was transformed to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. It now features contemporary sculptures, beautifully-restored gardens and an exhibition shining fresh light on the man behind the famous works, with specially commissioned artworks.

50 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 Fuzhou Culture Tourism Investment Group

Founded in 2013, the Fuzhou Culture Tourism Investment Group engages in the protection, development, operation, and management of historical and cultural facilities, parks, scenic sites, and tourism resources. It’s also involved in investment and the development of cultural tourism, commercial real estate, and ﬁ lm and television media industry businesses; investment and operation of cultural industry, cultural property rights, and cultural and sports events; and investment management and operation of cultural and ﬁ nancial products.

The new site in China will be developed by the Fuzhou Culture Tourism Investment Group

What is your main role at the trust? Why China for this fi rst project? I handle the business to business side of It’s appealing because they already like things, working with tour operators and Shakespeare there. It makes my job so education providers – both domestically much easier. On my visits, I haven’t had and internationally – to promote the Trust to explain to anybody who he was. They and everything that we do. study him at school. They know his work. When it comes to things like visiting our They like things which are quintessentially properties, our learning offer, after hours British. He ticks all those boxes. events, anything like that, I’m the one that goes over to China to tell them all about it. What will China do for Stratford? The Trust also tends to align what it There’s a massive market of people from does internationally with VisitBritain, the China that’s untapped when it comes to UK’s tourism body. We work closely with visiting the UK. When people come over, them on everything we do. they don’t just come for Shakespeare’s Birthplace, they come for all the culture What markets outside of Britain and heritage that our country has to offer. appeal most to the trust? Chinese visitors have mainly been We tend to align ourselves with the key coming over from fi rst-tier cities such as markets that demonstrate a desire for Shanghai, Chengdu and Beijing. Visitors Shakespearean culture. The US is one of from second-tier cities are only just Debbie Beardall our biggest markets. In Europe, France, starting to emerge and there have been head of sales and business Spain and Italy are big for us. China is the high levels of interest from tour operators. development farthest afi eld. Asia is a growing market. A Hopefully, the new development at lot of emerging countries are coming from Fuzhou will make them keener to come Shakespeare Birthplace Trust south-east Asia. Countries such as Thailand, over to see the original Birthplace and Indonesia, and Malaysia are all growing. what the rest of what the UK has to offer.

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 51 Top Team

Visitors to the Birthplace are given the chance to walk in Shakespeare’s footsteps and explore the house he was born and grew up in

What was your role in the project? That and subsequent research and work I’ve been involved for a couple of years. with architectural experts and historians I’m the trust’s project manager, where I has enabled us to build a better picture deal with our larger capital projects. When and greater understanding of what the this started to emerge, I was brought on house is most likely to have been like. board to see what our partners in Fuzhou wanted to do and how they wanted to do it. What is the goal of this project? As a trust, part of our raison d’etre is to How do you go about recreating an promote the worldwide enjoyment and English Heritage site and putting it understanding of Shakespeare’s work, life on the other side of the world? and times. With this development, millions The Birthplace is easier because the of people in China will be able to get up building still exists. New Place is more close and personal with Shakespeare. It’s challenging, having been demolished twice. the first time we’ve authorised a recreation It was a substantial property when it was of the house and it’s an important thing. bought in 1597 but a much older building dated back to the 1480s. It was built by the Tell us about the site Clopton family. Shakespeare owned it as his The location is about 20 minutes outside family home for his adult life and died there Fuzhou. Once you get out of the city – Nic Fulcher in 1616. It passed through the Shakespeare home to about four million people – you family line to his granddaughter. In 1702 hit the mountainous regions. It’s mainly an project manager it hit the open market and was bought agricultural area surrounding the city, with and historian by a member of the Clopton family, who natural springs and spas. Shakespeare Birthplace Trust demolished it to build another building – The new Sang Wen attractions will called New Place as well. By the time you represent the three cultures behind the hit the middle of the 18th century, the then three most spoken languages in the world owner Reverend Francis Gastral, demolished – Mandarin, Spanish and English. You end the house again. This caused a public up with an immersive experience of the outcry so significant that the land was never lives of these three great writers. built on again. We have that site today, With this developmeNt, which is a park and garden. How does this compare to To commemorate the 400-year previous projects? millioNs oF people anniversary of his death, in 2016 we It’s a major undertaking for us. We haven’t iN ChiNa Will be re-presented the site. Part of that done anything like this before. It’s a unique process was an extensive archaeological opportunity to engage with the people of a able to get up Close investigation. That information enabled us country on the other side of the world we aNd persoNal With to start to build a more accurate picture frequently see visit the birthplace. It’s one of of what the house was made of, what its our largest growing tourism markets and it’s shakespeare footprint was and the size of the building. a really interesting relationship right now.

52 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©Cybertrek 2019 Commissioned artworks and displays in New Place evoke a sense of Shakespeare’s life there

What was your role in the project? What does this development I have direct responsibility for operations mean for the trust? and marketing. My teams are the ones The greatest benefit is to work with a that are welcoming the visitors, interpreting partner in China to recreate our heritage. the sites and bringing them to life, while We can tell our story to a whole new also driving revenue. audience, as they’re looking at about In my role, I look at opportunities for the 500,000 visitors a year. The quality trust to expand its reach and increase its control on a standard building will be financial stability. As an independent charity, there and the story of Shakespeare will we have to work hard for every penny to be told in the way we want to tell it. look after the site in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Will this boost tourism in the UK? What’s the project plan? There’s nothing like standing on the spot The first stage of the project is to send where history happened. When you’re over building plans, archeology plans, ideas standing on that spot, it’s incredible. of what New Place looked like – everything In the birthplace, we’ve got the flagstone they’ll need to recreate these buildings. floors straight from the period where Once the buildings have been built and Shakespeare would have run around as we’ve given our quality assurance, we will a child. We get people coming in and Philippa Rawlinson work with them to interpret those spaces. taking off their shoes to run around in that director of operations In New Place, we might have some same space. You can’t beat where history cutting-edge interpretations to recreate the happened. Culture and history is a great Shakespeare Birthplace Trust stories we tell about Shakespeare. If we’re driver for inbound tourism in the UK and happy, they’ll open in the early 2020s. were happy to be a part of that. O

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 53 ANIMALIVE PROMOTION

ANIMALIVE LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

Animalive is a premier manufacturer of interactive animation products. Its founder, Ali Kord, explains how its recent joint venture will take the company’s award-winning products to the next level

ith clients including the “We advise all partners that require “We’re experts at bringing characters to likes of Europa-Park, next-level animation to elevate their life,” says Kord. “Our aim is to provide Ferrari World and Merlin offering and really connect with supporting digital media around this Entertainments, Animalive their audiences,” says Ali Kord, who technology to make our live interactions W is placed as an industry founded Animalive in 2007. even more meaningful and endearing leader in its ﬁ eld. for visitors. To do this, we use the Based in Lewes, UK, the company’s latest motion capture technology for systems are manufactured in Taipei, with enhanced user experience” its Field Application Technicians stationed Animalive’s experience in creating to service systems in locations worldwide. live 3D characters is unrivalled, says Animalive’s technologies are used for Kord. The company has now added a wide range of experiences, including AnimaChat to its offering, which allows theatrical shows, themed attractions, party rooms and interactive information points. The company offers a bespoke package to Animalive has introduced its its clients, from consultation Tabatinga brand, which offers and customisation through to a low-cost set of Animalive equipment installation, training IPs to its customers and ongoing customer support.

54 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 Animalive’s real-time interactive animations bring laughter and wonder to ﬁlm studios, theme parks, FECs, museums and shopping malls across the globe

clients to stream its services remotely across the web, spreading the cost of a single motion capture system to multiple venues. “AnimaChat allows our clients to scale their reach and operate various sites remotely using a single broadcaster/server station,” he explains. “One operator can stream multiple characters into multiple venues. For the ﬁrst time, your operator can be live, interacting with an audience in Melbourne at midday, and ten minutes later, the same operator can be live entertaining in Hong Kong, then Taipei.”

AiQ-Synertial (AiQS) A newly-created joint venture AiQ-Synertial Ltd (AiQS) will utilise Animalive’s IPs, including codes, copyrights and trademarks, owned by various individuals or holdings. To form the company, AiQS purchased 87.5 per cent of Animalive, in exchange for an undisclosed number of shares in AiQS, with Kord taking up the position of COO. Additionally, Animalive’s Jake Slack was appointed to head up AnimaChat and AnimaAR technologies for AiQS, with the board approving a 24-month business plan for the venture. Animalive offers character “We’ve put Animalive online, added animation solutions for better motion capture systems for real-time live interaction the face and ﬁngers and improved sound quality,” says Kord.

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 55 ANIMALIVE PROMOTION

THE ANIMALIVE CORE TEAM:

Q ALI KORD: founder and innovator

Animachat enables an animated mascot to have real-time interaction and 2-way chat with visitors

Creating magic Q JAKE SLACK: head of One of Animalive’s offering is the tech and engineering digitisation of an FEC’s mascot or IP, which involves taking a two-dimensional model and rendering it as a 3D character. That character is then programmed to interact on a touchscreen, AR and with live operators. For smaller FECs, which have no particular mascots but want to tap into 3D “Thanks to this partn ership, we can now digital media entertainment possibilities, also offer supporting 3D content spread Animalive has introduced its Tabatinga around an FEC, including AR entertainment brand, which offers an entertaining set of Q BRIAN PARKER: founder or edutainment touchscreens in the form of Animalive IPs that can be tapped into, even of Tabatinga FECs and the quizzes, map quests, jokes and dance skits. pay-as-you-go live animation. AnimaChat testing grounds “Animalive has reduced the cost of While FECs are Animalive’s bread transforming an FEC from a local benign and butter, it has worked with its brand, into a scalable, affordable attraction technology in other settings. that will keep things fresh, with no content “Parks and malls can use our technology older than three months.” to set up live information kiosks or The acquisition means that with AiQS children’s sitting areas – we come with funding, Animalive can now produce what previous experience in these type of it calls “the best no-lag voice and lip- projects,” Kord says. The wow factor you synching technology, combined with the get from this technology doesn’t cease best-animated VOIP and squeaky clean AR to amaze audiences. In turn, it inspires Q TIM HEALEY: app”, as well as offering a team of people us to keep it coming. We’re the pioneers Marketing manager to create new content and live animation of real-time motion capture technology systems for its franchisees. and have conﬁ gured it to cater to various Using their phone or rental tablets applications for the last 25 years.” provided by the FEC or attraction, users can trigger content to either play a video Edutainment on the screen or an animation in AR. While its characters and IP can be used for With the real-time animation server – fun, Animalive can also add in an element AnimaChat – the Animalive characters of education, which is exactly what it has can appear on any screen in the FEC, like done for Merlin’s Sea Life brand. a celebrity ‘popping in’. Animachat can Ideal for locations such as museums, Q ALEX DIPLOCK: also be hired on a pay-as-you-go basis for science centres, aquariums and zoos, director 3D production FEC and attraction owners who operate the Animalive Edutainment systems a smaller facility not needing its own deliver key messages in a fun and dedicated Animachat performance system. exciting way. According to Kord, this

56 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 Performances can be delivered from anywhere in the world

kind of guest experience results in a higher level of retained information and “We’re the pioneers of real-time improved visitor satisfaction. For Sea Life, Animalive created Kiah the motion capture technology and have Turtle, who is the host of an interactive quiz using questions supplied by the operator’s configured it to cater to various animal husbandry experts. In this example, children compete in two teams, answering questions on the sea creatures they applications for the last 25 years” encountered as they’ve explored the aquarium. Using the same system, Kiah can also greet visitors to the aquarium, allowing children visiting these attractions provide promotional information and to let off some steam as well. educate visitors on environmental issues. KEY CLIENTS: Using its motion capture technology, Initially installed in Brighton, the system Animalive has worked with car factories, proved so popular that Merlin and Sea Life Q Merlin Entertainments: hospitals, running tracks, opera houses decided to expand the system to multiple Q Sea Life and even stadiums. But the most Sea Life Centres across the UK. rewarding place to work, says Kord, is in Q Chessington World an FEC: “The best place it has ever been Changing landscape of Adventures used must be at FECs, where the kids As the attractions industry develops with Q Warwick Castle want to talk to someone funny and fuzzy, new and exciting technologies appearing Q Atlantis Resorts who’s a living, breathing cartoon. They’re almost daily, Kord believes a key trend the greatest audience to entertain and Q will see the internet reduce the cost of Ferrari World we’re very good at what we do.” O live entertainment for FECs, something Q Butlin’s Animalive wants to be a leader in. Q Rainbow’s End “We want to stay at the front of the Q Bavaria Filmstadt pack as animation and 3D content service providers,” he says. Q NAMCO “We want to create content that will www.animalive.com help smaller FECs stay relevant, while

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 57 MUSEUMS DAY OUT AT THE MUSEUM

In an eff ort to better engage Europe’s leading politicians, the Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO) has launched a Political Internships scheme. Attractions Management’s managing editor Tom Anstey spoke to the programme’s creator to ﬁ nd out more

e want to build With the aim of offering a unique Later, Ward was given the chance to a sustainable and engaging experience to high-level make a condition report in the museum’s relationship with policymakers, the programme is designed depositary, before meeting members politicians”, says to allow politicians to do a “day in the of the Bonnefantenmuseum’s youth “W NEMO’s Julia Pagel. life” of a museum worker – the goal being department – called the Young Offi ce. The European for them to better understand the inner- The day ended with a walk through the umbrella organisation for all national workings of the sector and its needs. museum, together with its security staff. museum organisations, NEMO represents “For our internship programme, we more than 30,000 museums across the Learning the ropes really look at the person we invite, fi nding continent. Pagel has been its secretary The fi rst politician to enrol in the scheme out their interests, their biography and general since 2014 and last year was Julie Ward, a member of the European identifying what we want them to do to help spearheaded an initiative to bring these Parliament representing the north-west us change,” explains Pagel. “Then we look museums closer to their respective of England. Also a member of the UK for a suitable museum, thinking about why governments on a more personal level. government’s committees on Culture and this politician is interested in our work. “For the politicians who make decisions Education and Women Rights’, Ward is a “We want them to learn while they’re at the highest levels, we needed them to member of Culture Action Europe and the with us. Those taking part will always experience these museums fi rsthand, so Platform for Intercultural Europe. visit the backstage areas and we always they really know what it all means,” she In May last year, Ward interned at the give them meaningful interaction with says. “We wanted them to go beyond the Bonnefantenmuseum in Maastricht in The our collections, either by prepping an walls of an exhibition and to get a behind Netherlands. Selected because she was artefact for a loan or arrival, or – for the scenes look at the museum. This already a strong advocate for education example – cleaning them.” meant taking them into the depot, putting and culture, Ward took part in a full-day them in the shops, having them sell tickets internship, which started in the morning Life experience – having them do real museum work.” with an introduction to the museum and “Politicians spend a lot of time in Based on some smaller initiatives, its collections, by artistic director Stijn their offi ces,” says Pagel. “Being which had already happened in places Huijts. In the afternoon, she interacted able to get their feet on the ground like Finland and Germany, Pagel created a with the museum’s visitors when selling is a rare opportunity for them, so bespoke ‘political internship programme’ – tickets. She also got to answer questions going out and having the day while the fi rst to cover the whole of Europe – to from visitors when minding the information they see and experience it for engage politicians and gain their support. counter and worked in the museum’s shop. themselves is a really special thing.

58 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 MEP, Julie Ward ‘interns’ at the Bonnefantenmuseum in the Netherlands. NEMO wants to build better relationships with decision makers by having them experience a typical day in the life of a museum

FOR THE POLITICIANS WHO MAKE DECISIONS AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS, WE NEEDED THEM TO EXPERIENCE THESE MUSEUMS FIRSTHAND, SO THEY REALLY KNOW WHAT IT ALL MEANS

Ward carried out tasks in collaboration with the team at the Bonnefantenmuseum ©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 59 MUSEUMS

ABOUT NEMO

The Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO) was founded in 1992 as a network of national museum organisations representing the museum community of the member states of the Council of Europe. NEMO’s mission is to ensure museums are an integral part of European life by promoting their work to policymakers and by providing museums with information, networking and opportunities for co-operation. NEMO aims to foster European policies that help museums in fulfilling their role as keepers of cultural heritage and supports European museums in their aim to learn from each other by networking and co-operation and shows “If you have a very old object – for them ways to participate in the existing example, a sarcophagus – being able to The political internships will see European cultural policies in its function touch that artefact is something that they participants take part in all facets of as an information channel between will likely only experience once in their life. the inner workings of a museum European institutions and museums. “In doing this, you open up communication channels and can reach out in a way you couldn’t with any other the museum and its ideas. Instead, Changing perceptions advocacy initiatives,” she says. the politicians should work with the For NEMO, the aim of the scheme is Luca Jahier, president of the EEFC museum’s staff and patrons to get a not only to give politicians a better (European Economic and Social Forum), true understanding of how a museum understanding of museums, but also was the next politician to take part in the operates. Through the day, the guidelines to achieve direct contact with someone scheme. Taking place on 24 May, his visit also suggest the educator or curator feeds who can make real change and help is set to be followed by the minister for the politician with facts and figures on grow and improve the sector. culture in the Netherlands, Ingrid Katharina visiting numbers, educational programmes “Many politicians ask themselves why van Engelshoven, various politicians in and volunteer work. The main aim of the museums don’t have more communication Finland and other politicians in Flanders, internship, says the guidelines, is for the activities or bring more people into the Belgium, and within Germany. politician to have a pleasant day. museum, while not recognising the whole With the programme rapidly expanding, “Politicians spend a lot of time in their machine that runs it. They’re still perceived NEMO has set a strict set of guidelines, offices,” explains Pagel. “Being able to as places where you invest a lot of money emphasising that it’s important to let get their feet on the ground is rare, so and there’s no return,” explains Pagel. the participating intern do real work going out and having a day and seeing “We want them to see how the and to take their role seriously. it for themselves is huge. You’re able to people in the museum work and that According to these guidelines, museums open up communication channels and they need to be skilled and need more should not give interns a private tour can reach out in a way you couldn’t do money for the work that they’re doing.” or a “PowerPoint Presentation to sell with any other advocacy initiative.” Aiming for the highest positions in European government with the new initiative, Pagel wants to see the model replicated across the Continent by as many museums and associations as possible. “The beauty of this initiative within NEMO is it’s easily transferable,” she explains. “Everyone can do it. Every museum and every association can start a scheme and handpick the museums and politicians they want to target. It doesn’t cost a lot of money, because it’s so down to the ground. It’s so direct with the politician that it’s perfectly transferable and always has a tangible outcome. “The result is you build these very good relationships with politicians all over Ingrid Katharina van Engelshoven and Luca Jahier both signed up for internships Europe and they get a 360-degree picture of what museum work really means.” O

60 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 THE LEISURE INDUSTRY’S PREMIER EVENT IN EUROPE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN ACT NOW AND SAVE UP TO 25%.*

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Miko, a little marmot, encounters a magic stone that reverses the ﬂ ow of time and changes the seasons

Building a new IP

Red Raion, the CGI studio specialised in media based attractions, has collaborated with Unlimited Leisure Holdings to create a new 4D movie, which will be presented at Unlimited Snow’s newest park. Valeria Rizzo, business development director at Red Raion, takes us through the development process

pening inside the brand new which features a family of marmots and have a detailed script and a coloured Mall of Muscat, Unlimited alpine wildlife on an adventure. Miko, storyboard that acts as an exact Snow will be the fi rst snow- a little marmot, encounters a magic preview of how the fi nal movie will look, based theme park to come stone, which reverses the fl ow of time, with exact costs and delivery time. O to Oman. Following a Swiss changing the seasons. Miko must then Miko is set to premiere in Oman later theme, the attraction will have go on an adventure to get winter back. this year, with the fi lm now ready to be climbing walls, a snowball arena, slides, “During our fi rst conversation, the client distributed to new and existing Unlimited infl atable bumper cars an ice carousel felt it was in good hands understanding Leisure snow parks around the world. and, most importantly, a 4D cinema. that we have a clear and “Considering their snow parks are visited “Unlimited Leisure was looking to hire standardised process for by kids and families, Miko and the Spell of a fi lm studio that could produce the fi rst both pre-during and post- the Stone is the perfect movie for whoever movie based on their own IP” production,” says RIzzo. enjoys a sweet but thrilling tale,” says Rizzo. says Valeria Rizzo, business “We could give them “We specialise in CGI content for development director. “This would the content they were media-based attractions. Thanks to this launch at its Oman snow park expecting to have in the focus, we’re able to suggest the best in an 80-seat 4D cinema.” necessary timeframe and immersive content according to location Called Miko and the Spell of the at a reasonable budget and provide the right solution for a venue. Stone, Red Raion has created a for our industry.” “We make sure the client’s selection fi ts custom 4D movie for the attraction, The pre-production perfectly with the intended audience and, process started with during the year, we ask how the guests Valeria Rizzo, PR & Business Red Raion’s Magicboard, have reacted to the movies and make Development Director a product that gives further suggestions on what new movies the client the chance to they would like us to produce next.”

62 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 It will be screened in a 4D

cinema inside a room with a very low www.redraion.com temperature, recreating the cold as if you are in an Alpine environment

Antonio Cannata, strategy director and co-founder at Red Raion

How do you work with your clients to ensure they get the product they desire? “We help shopping malls and FECs that have XD/dome/ VR simulators with licensed movies since we have a library that grows every year and that can be enjoyed by kids, families and thrill seekers. “For venues with a strong What makes Red theme such as theme parks and Raion stand out from museums, we recommend CGI its competitors? tailor-made contents for their “We know exactly how to create media based attractions so they a content depending on specifi c can increase their brand value hardware and its technical over time and by doing so, they requirements. We also analyse can express their own story, creative aspects and by the time show their mascots and create we fi nish, our client’s movie will exciting adventures directly perfectly match the attraction. connected to the experience.” “Holding our activities in-house, we also have direct What makes this communication with our clients project stand out? who need CGI content for “Miko and The Spell of the their attractions. This means Stone is the fi rst CGI fi lm for that our client won’t have indoor snow parks developed to deal with middlemen and by Unlimited Leisure. It will companies that do other types be screened in a 4D cinema of 3D work. This will avoid the inside a room with a very unpleasant situation of incurring low temperature, recreating in delays, misunderstandings the cold as if you are in and any issues that could an Alpine environment.” lead to a budget raise.” The immersive movie was created for Unlimited Snow in Oman

Kees Albers, founder at Unlimited Leisure Holding

How did the project concept to production. We’ve “It all went very smoothly. come about? very much enjoyed working Red Raion had great ideas for a “Originally, we were seeking an with them and are looking story and was very much willing external IP and actually had an forward to our fi rst fi lm.” to accommodate our input.” agreement for use of the Ice Age franchise, which we were What was the What’s next? quite excited about. When new development process like? “We plan to develop more management at the IP provider “After reading the script, we attractions including AR and did not want to pursue this any got the chance to see the VR experiences. Our highly longer, we decided to create coloured storyboard with clear ambitious aim is to build the our own IP and it was one of How was working scenes and included dialogues. Miko and friends brand up to the best decisions we’ve ever with Red Raion? It was really useful to us, eventually produce a feature- made. We’ve since developed “We’re pleased to have both as a creative concept length fi lm, following in the a story-based attraction, landed at Red Raion for the and gave a clear direction footsteps of Ice Age, Happy dedicated music, apps, games, creation of an affordable 3D before starting the actual Feet and Frozen. There’s merchandising and more.” animation fi lm solution, from production of our movie. a lot of work ahead!”

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 63 SHOW REVIEW GLOBAL APPEAL

Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) events inspire attractions professionals across the world. Christine Kerr reports from both the TEA’s Summit and Thea Awards in Los Angeles, US, as well as its TEA SATE Europe conference on experience design in Paris, France.

TEA SUMMIT & TEA THEA AWARDS

he TEA Summit organisers work is an impressive to bring fresh elements, ideas shared commitment to and programming to the curation their employees and of the conference each year, their community. T refl ecting the needs and culture The day closed of the themed entertainment out with the popular industry. The two-day TEA Summit consists “Conversation with”, of a business forum (Day One) and a featuring Mark showcase of the current year’s TEA Thea Woodbury, vice chair Award recipients (Day Two). of Universal Parks and The conference has continued to grow in Resorts and President attendance and receives positive feedback of Universal Creative, each year. Each day has its own co-chairs honored as this year’s and moderators. It’s followed the next day recipient of the Buzz Price Thea Award for by the annual TEA Thea Awards Gala. a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements. TEA president Michael Mercadante He was joined by long-time colleague Mike and former TEA president Christine The business of business West, who is senior director and executive Kerr were integral parts of the TEA The focus of the TEA Summit’s fi rst day producer at Universal Creative. Woodbury Summit and the TEA Thea Awards was “the business of the business” and began his career as an architect before remains a private session with emphasis joining Universal to work on the Universal on the state of the industry and hot topics Studios Park in Orlando. Over the decades, Masterclassing that are relevant to all business leaders he has distinguished himself, and inspired Day two of the TEA Summit is always an working in the industry. others, with his passion for the industry, information-packed day, as each of the The programme began with Thea Classic working with signifi cant IP holders, and an projects being recognised with a Thea Award recipient Dollywood. Pete Owens, open-door leadership approach. Award for Outstanding Achievement has Dollywood’s VP of Marketing and Public Day one co-chairs were myself and the opportunity to take to the stage and Relations, gave the presentation. The the TEA Eastern North America Division share the story of their work. business partnership between Herschend Board president Melissa Ruminot of The Co-chairs Roberta Perry, TEA past Family Entertainment and Dolly Parton Companies of Nassal. president and senior vice president at Edwards Technologies, and Pat MacKay – president of Ones&ZerosMedia and a past recipient of the TEA Peter Chernack Service Award – were joined by Brian Morrow, founder of B Morrow Productions; Shawn McCoy, vice president at JRA; and TEA founder and past president Monty Lunde, president of Technifex. The projects were presented in moderated groups: theme parks and attractions (moderated by Morrow); museums (McCoy); technology (Lunde); and live shows (MacKay). The opportunity to ask questions was available after hearing from a group of two The Summit’s education programme was to three projects, creating opportunities focused on ‘the business of business’ to make connections between similarities and highlighting contrasts.

64 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 THEA AWARDS The Summit concluded with the 25th Annual TEA Thea Awards Gala, an elegant, black-tie evening of ﬁne dining and awards presentations. The international prestige of the Thea Awards, combined with the quality of the event and its beneﬁts in professional development and networking, make it a must-attend event that sells to capacity year after year. A few simple moments of acknowledgment for 25 years of Thea Awards and the familiar faces of friends, colleagues and industry The TEA Thea Awards leaders onstage as presenters, Gala brings together is certainly the right formula some of the biggest for a high-impact and names in the industry memorable evening.

Different strokes Finally, the Lego House, designed by Illuminations: human/nature was A great example of stark contrasts was Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, embraces developed as a Canada 150 initiative – a presented in three “museum-style” play and the story of Lego in the centre of year of activities focused on engaging and projects. All featured very different stories, the toy giant’s home in Billund, Denmark. inspiring youth; celebrating diversity and were located in very different places and The entire project is quite remarkable encouraging inclusion; establishing a spirit followed specific development processes. but is made even more so by the fact of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, The first, Be Washington, is an that in addition to content, exhibits and discovering Canada’s natural beauty and interactive, media-driven attraction located activities designed by Lego, the facility also strengthening environmental awareness. at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, embraces the work of AFOLS (Adult Fans Of Described as “a magical, nighttime, which required the filming of hours of Lego) and includes extensive gallery space digital discovery experience”, two shows historically accurate footage. The new for rotating exhibits featuring their work. were presented for a limited run. One was media for the attraction is then cleverly held in the country’s oldest National Park in woven within the interactive decision- Artistic endeavour Banff, Alberta, and the other in the newest making process that allows guests to “Be Two projects – the MORI Building Digital National Park in Rouge Valley, Toronto. The Washington” and respond to crises the Art Museum from teamLab Borderless interactive, media-based presentations US’s first President faced during his time in and the collaboration between the Banff came with constraints – outdoor venues, office and then learn how he himself acted. Centre for Arts and Creativity, artist Sarah a unique interactive audience dynamic The story of how the Evel Knievel Fuller and Moment Factory – are both art and battery powered gear. Groups of 15 Museum came to be built adjacent to a installations at their core. were dispatched, carrying all they would Harley Davidson Dealership in Topeka, Working with artists to develop and need with them: a sound system, projector, Kansas, by passionate people who had no curate content in order to present deep lighting, a map and other materials to previous experience in the museum world and meaningful storytelling, the immersive present the show for themselves. All groups is a fun and fascinating one. It’s a pop world created by teamLab blurs the lines of left no trace or environmental impact. culture tribute that captures the story of where the physical world begins and ends Attendance at both days of the Summit an iconic daredevil and uses an extensive as guests are immersed in and interact set new records with a high level of interest collection of memorabilia and motorbikes. with moving projections of vivid imagery. and demand for the content being shared.

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 65 SHOW REVIEW

TEA SATE EUROPE

he TEA’s SATE Europe conference has established itself as a unique experience with a strong sense of place, infl uencing the spirit of T the overall programme. This year’s event at Parc Asterix, north of Paris was no exception. Compagnie des Alpes and the host park outdid themselves with accommodation at their new hotel – Cité Suspendu and evening entertainment in the park that immersed attendees in the fun and spirit of Asterix and Obelisk and their stories. The conference began with keynote speaker Yves Pépin – the 2005 recipient of TEA Thea lifetime honors – in conversation with Margreet Papamichael, principal of CLEAR Associates. The discussion was wide-ranging and included Yves’ early study of music and its infl uence on his life. An inspiring start to the day, the discussion included the early work of ECA2 and Yves’ eventual sale of the company so he could move on to new projects that allowed him to further explore his passions. SATE Europe offers both Moving people educational The other keynote session featured Phillip and networking van Stratum of P&P Projects, and one of opportunities the newly-named TEA Masters – a member to visiting of the TEA who has made a signifi cant delegates and sustained contribution to the growth and development of the industry through their innovation, design, craftsmanship and artistry. In conversation with TEA past The SATE conference structure skills and roles are involved in the different president David Willrich of DJ Willrich, Phillip encourages presenters to speak as project phases. It was a practical and well- was recognised for his skill as a creative thought leaders and share ideas received way to lay the groundwork for the director as part of the inaugural Masters of rather than simply deliver a series of more creative discussions that would follow. their Craft programme. The story of Phillip’s case studies. The most successful There were also many conversations around journey as a model rocket maker to creative presentations are thought-provoking and the role of the operator in the development director for projects for the biggest names challenge the attendees to think differently of a project and the importance of in the business served as a reminder to about their work and the way they ensuring that those ultimately responsible everyone that anything is possible. consider the various aspects of a “themed for delivering and maintaining the guest entertainment” project. The 2019 theme experience have a voice throughout of “Moving People” provided a great basis the development of all projects. Yves Pépin for exploring the idea of movement in both Effective communication among project is one of the the physical and the emotional senses. team members was also a recurring theme great innovators which was summed up very effectively in and artists Educational networking the fi nal presentation by Paul Osterhout: of themed A new networking session explored “Talk Nerdy to Me”. He translated entertainment the idea of “Who Does What?” as a conversation points between creatives and foundation for getting attendees to talk engineers through a humorous series of to each other and to consider what examples that had everyone nodding.

THE STRUCTURE ENCOURAGES PRESENTERS TO SPEAK AS THOUGHT LEADERS AND SHARE IDEAS, RATHER THAN SIMPLY DELIVER A SERIES OF CASE STUDIES

66 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 TEA added SATE to its slate of industry events in 2007, to foster dialog in the business community about the methodology of Experience Design.

TEA past president Nick Farmer, director themed environment and interacting of Farmer Attraction Development, spoke TEA SATE Europe 2019 looked at with live performers. The impact of as a champion of “Why the little room “Moving People”, exploring how we these experiences is consistently and is the most important experience”. The take people on journeys within the overwhelmingly positive and effective. room he was referring to was, of course, themed entertainment industry the bathroom. He said that the careful Universal truths and practical design of these rooms can The SATE conference series also have a major impact on the overall guest Other speakers who challenged the convenes in Asia and North America, and experience and if they are forgotten, not attendees included economist Lesley we are inspired to draw a connection kept clean or too sterile, they destroy Morisetti, director of Morisetti Associates, between SATE Europe 2019 and SATE the impact of everything you have done who shared new trends, highlighting LA 2017. With a theme of “Beyond throughout the rest of the experience. immersive experiences that have the the Screen,” it explored immersion Attendees to SATE Europe will see every potential to impact traditional visitor in its many forms, with attendees “little room” they visit through new eyes. attractions. Her examples demonstrated a sharing their favourite experiences. divide of awareness among the attendees The result was a tie between Diagon Alley Perceptions and challenges and provided many “aha” moments. at Universal Studios and Sleep No More, The presentation by Manuel Faria, CEO Fundamental to the conversation the immersive theatre production. This Indigo Sound, called “Sound Bites” will is the deﬁ nition of “immersive” and was a conclusion echoed in 2019 at SATE probably have a similar impact on the whether technology and/or media are Europe. Moving people still requires the way attendees listen to and perceive the necessary ingredients for immersion. Fri essential ingredient of human connection in world around them. Manuel reminded Forjindam, chief development ofﬁ cer from the real world to create the most impactful us about the importance of sound and Mycotoo shared the impact of immersive, emotional connections. This is what our how it can evoke emotional reactions in theatrical experiences where audiences guests are looking for all over the world. O unexpected and surprising ways, often become willing participants in a carefully contradicting what we actually see. planned and executed show, set in a More: attractionsmanagement.com/SATE

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 67 INTERVIEW

After bringing multiplex cinemas and Imax to India, ﬁ lm industry entrepreneur Manmohan Shetty broke ground in the theme park industry in 2013 when he launched Adlabs Imagica, the country’s largest destination theme park. Joint CEO Dhimant Bakshi, shares the story with Kath Hudson

PURE IMAGICATION

massively ambitious project, and South Asia. India is a large country Adlabs Imagica was inspired with many regions and dialects. Imagica is by entrepreneur, Manmohan like taking a ride around the country.” Shetty’s, trip to Disneyland. Still in its infancy, India’s amusement A He asked himself why nothing and theme park market was even smaller on that scale existed in his when Shetty gathered a team and homeland and then decided to create started scoping out his proposal: there the largest theme park in India, with the were around 120 total amusement/ development between Mumbai and Pune waterparks across the country. spanning a 1.2sq km site. “There were no templates to follow in “Mr Shetty loves to build an oasis in a India,” says Bakshi. “Mr Shetty didn’t desert,” says Dhimant Bakshi. “After 40 want to do what other Indian parks were years’ experience in the entertainment doing. He wanted to create something business, he likes to create innovative groundbreaking. His philosophy has entertainment experiences. always been to think global and act local, “After selling his ﬁ lm processing so he looked to major operators such as Dhimant Bakshi has been joint business, he was looking for a new Universal and Disney for his inspiration.” CEO of Adlabs Entertainment challenge. It was then he was inspired The end result was a park which includes since September 2017 to build a world-class entertainment multiple ﬁ rsts for the country, including destination targeting the people of India the largest indoor snowpark; Mr India, the

68 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 The pop jet lawn at Adlabs Imagica is among the offerings at the theme park

“Mr Shetty didn’t want to do what other Indian parks were doing. He wanted to create something groundbreaking”

fi rst motion simulator ride; Deep Space, the fi rst indoor dark rollercoaster and Hot Wheels Nitro, India’s biggest and longest rollercoaster, (132ft high with a track length of 2,800ft). Shetty’s fi lm industry experience was put to good use with the content generation, all of which was in-house and targeted to suit the market. For example, Mr India, the E2M-manufactured simulator is a Bollywood version of The Simpsons ride at Universal Orlando. Snowparks aren’t a completely new concept in India: there are a handful of small scale snowparks in mall-based Imagica has taken FECs, but at 15,000sq ft (1,400sq m), cues from operators this is India’s largest, featuring real snow such as Disney for people to play and sledge on. “Most and Universal to regions of India don’t get any snow at all, bring a world-class so people get very excited and indulge in experience to India snowball fi ghts,” says Bakshi.

The same investment and innovation has been applied to the themed waterpark, Imagica features a number of rides which at more than 65,000sq m and attractions that have never been (700,000sq ft) is, again, India’s fi nest. seen before in India “It offers a real immersive fun experience, with a large wave pool, aqua funnel, best in class slides from WhiteWater West and difference between an amusement park “Collaborating more, particularly on Polin, and a lazy river,” says Bakshi. and a theme park – and also fi nding staff. subjects such as service standards, Another USP for the park is Imagica’s Only two members of the original team had technology and safety would be good” he extensive high-quality food and beverage any previous theme park experience. says. “Safety is an important topic for operation, offering multiple cuisines and “Over the past six years, we have us. Because theme parks are so new to taking into account religious sensibilities really learned how complex the business Indian culture, we’ve had to work hard to and allergies. “With everything, we have is,” says Bakshi. “We have had to learn make our visitors feel comfortable and applied the principle of think global, act granularly and be nimble. We have communicate our safety standards and local,” says Bakshi. “So, although we have visited many major parks for a deeper protocols to them.” an extensive Indian option, we also have understanding of operations, before coming Indo-African, BBQ, Chinese, Thai and an home to adapt it to the local market.” Culture shock American diner. Southern Indian cuisine Although people in the industry As well as the theme park industry being is the most popular, followed by Italian have been friendly and welcoming, in its infancy in India, leisure time is less – pizzas and pasta are very popular with they haven’t been very forthcoming defi ned in South Asia than in the west. children visiting the park.” with sharing information or data, says Many people still work a six-day week and Bakshi, who adds that there is a need only have two weeks holiday a year, so Educating the market for collaboration and building synergies, their free time is often focussed around However, breaking new ground does come which the Indian Association Of festivities with family and friends. Larger with many challenges, including educating Amusement Parks And Industries (IAAPI) is companies, however, are now beginning to the market – who do not know the currently striving to achieve. introduce two day weekends.

HOT NUMBERS

Q How much did the park cost?: 16bn INR (US$229.7m) Q Ticket prices for adults: 1499 INR, (US$22) Q Annual combined visits to the theme park, waterpark and snowpark: 1.7m–1.8m. Q How many visitors to date?: 8 million Q The park has a 4.4 out of 5 star rating based on more than 45,000 Google reviews Q 27 per cent of visitors The Imagica Snow Park have returned to covers 15,000sq ft and the destination generates real snow for visitors to enjoy

In terms of competition, Imagica sees itself as competing with parks in Singapore, “We’ve visited many major parks for a Hong Kong and Dubai, which geographically are the closest comparable parks. However, deeper understanding of operations, its ticket price is around one-third of the price of its international players. before dapting to the local market” “Our target market is middle and upper- middle-class families and young couples. We draw large numbers of visitors from Nitro – as well the Hot Wheels Driving create a second park in Amaravati, which Mumbai and Pune, which are 90 minutes School, which teaches children the rules is the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh away and around 13 per cent will stay and manners of driving a car. located around 1,000km from Mumbai. for one or two nights at the hotel,” says “Both ourselves and Mattel were “We have teamed up with a local Bakshi. “For the next three to fi ve years very excited about this partnership. partner, Riverbay Resort, to create this we will be focussing on activating the They have the same brand values as us 73,000sq m (784,000sq ft) park which will domestic and South Asia market. To draw and there’s plenty of opportunities to have 14 to 16 rides, as well as food and visitors from places such as the UK or US leverage the brand,” says Bakshi. “We beverage offerings,” says Bakshi. “Unlike is still quite a long way away for us.” also have another partnership with a local Imagica, it won’t be a national scale tourist With such a large initial investment and indigenous character, Chhota Bheem, attraction, but the new park will have local with more work still to be done to educate which is very popular in India and have appeal and will be branded differently. and grow audiences from the local market, branded a rollercoaster around this “This will be our smaller template for B Bakshi says there is no need for large character – a fi rst of its kind association towns and cities. We think the opportunity scale investment for the next four years. for a theme park in India.” is very large in this space in India and we “We already offer seven new attractions for Imagica has also introduced a novel could probably open six to eight small parks the fi rst time in India, so it will take some and unique proposition called Imagica within the next 10 to 12 years through time for the appeal to wear off,” he says. High Street, which allows Imagica Water partnerships with other entrepreneurs.” Park guests to access the theme park and Regarding the scope to expand the Brand power experience the Grand Imagica Parade – Imagica brand, Bakshi believes there is However, what the Imagica team is plan- a spectacular show with characters and potential for two to three more destination ning to do is make strategic partnerships performers dancing through the park, theme parks in India, all of which would be with synergistic brands. The opera- another fi rst for India. based in metro cities: “Our plan for the next tor’s recent partnership with Mattel is a Collaborative partnerships with like- three years will be to stabilise the business prime example of this. Through the new minded companies are something which and fi nd out how best to make the next one agreement, Imagica now offers a Hot Imagica is very keen to pursue and indeed feasible and then we will announce another Wheels-themed rollercoaster – Hot Wheels another such partnership is underway to location in the next few years.” O

New interactive exhibits offer a range of scientiﬁc FOR THE SENSES activities to visitors

How does it feel to be in the eye of the storm? What would your body look like if it turned into ice? Experiencing science with all the senses is what Experimenta is all about. Tom Anstey spoke to Wolfgang Hansch about one of Germany’s premier science institutions

eilbronn – a city on the Neckar Years in the making River in southwest Germany The idea to open a science centre in the better known for its wine city was first concieved in 2005. To make making industry – might not be the vision a reality, the city turned to a man H the first place that springs to already familiar with it, Wolfgang Hansch. mind when you think of elite Originally director of the Natural learning centres for STEM subjects. History Museum of Heilbronn from 1994 But the city is in fact home to the up until his appointment as managing country’s largest science centre, which has director of Experimenta in 2005, Hansch recently undergone a major transformation, was given the task of establishing a with four new permanent exhibition brand new science centre in the city, galleries set across 3,200sq m adding developing a former storehouse into new facilities to the 25,000sq m site. the first iteration of Experimenta.

Wolfgang Hansch wants to inspire Experimenta’s visitors with science, a mission he has been on since joining as managing director is 2005

The attraction became a reality in November 2009 when it opened with the creed of “Discover Experience and Understand Science”. “By 2012 our visitor numbers were exceeding expectations by far,” says Hansch. “That’s when we started talking about an expansion of the site, eventually deciding on an entirely new development to better serve the public.” Backed by the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, a non-proﬁt investment arm of supermarket giant Lidl, the centre broke ground on its expansion by Berlin-based

72 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 Experimenta opens up a world of scientiﬁc knowledge with 275 interactive exhibits set over four new galleries

lots of the modern world is built THE GALLERIES around immaterial things so we wanted to focus on the world through its physical qualities,” Two of the four permanent says Schaeken. galleries were created by “The concept we had at Dutch experience specialist the beginning for World View, NorthernLight, with the remaining however, was kind of an two produced by Hüttinger and atelier. We wanted a learning designed by Berlin company centre-cum-makers centre. We Triad and Stuttgart firm Milla and assembled this with stand- Partner respectively. alone, hands-on exhibits “We worked with around 50 and then designed a yellow The institution promotes a wide range of future-oriented ideas people, including engineers, snake that connects them robotics, designers and more,” all throughout the gallery.” says NorthernLight co-founder and The NorthernLight-designed matter, the structure of matter The third gallery KopfSachen, director, Steven Schaeken. galleries – Nature of Things and organic matter – while the asks how complex and diverse “It’s one of the best projects and World View – took three- latter allows visitors to make and man perceives the world with I’ve worked on in my 20 years in and-a-half years to create. The do things on given topics from his senses. The final gallery, the field. Experimenta helped to former is based on matter computer science to robotics. Metabolism, shows how the inner get some of the most innovative and explores five elements of “With the Nature of Things workings of things makes the thinking out of our heads.” everyday matter, how light affects gallery, our thoughts were that invisible visible.

architects Sauerbruch Hutton in 2016. up with a novel way of continuing to serve fl oating attraction also offers a series In July 2017, the site closed completely the population – converting an oil tanker of interactive exhibits for visitors, while so it could undergo a full transformation, into a fl oating science centre. there are areas for open workshops. with new exhibits, reimagined spaces Called the MS Experimenta, the Its fi rst year was a huge success, with and a new building. It reopened on 31 vessel is 105m long and offers more 30,492 visitors in 2018. This success March, complete with a dome theatre, an than 500sq m of interactive attractions. led to MS Experimenta taking a trip to observatory and workshop spaces. Opened in January 2018, a number of Stuttgart, ahead of a nationwide tour. primary and secondary school courses Between 17 April and 16 October 2019, All Aboard are offered onboard the vessel, with the ship will be anchored in Heilbronn to While the science centre was closed for schools accommodated inside two coincide with the Federal Garden Show redevelopment, Hansch and his team came labs and an open workshop area. The with content tailored towards the event.

THE SCIENCE DOME

Perhaps the most signiﬁ cant and digital cinema performances “Despite the Q Thomas high-tech part of the reimagined and theatre productions. The new building being Gellermann, head Experimenta is its Science Dome. dome also offers full 360-degree quite large, space of Special Projects, Created by Austrian company projection using six Barco was limited due Kraftwerk Kraftwerk and US manufacturer projectors. One innovative to its location on an Spitz, the high tech experience element is a water curtain. island in the Neckar river,” challenge. Soon, we came up with space combines a traditional Kraftwerk was responsible for says Thomas Gellermann, head an idea to combine a planetarium planetarium with a full dome the technical design and detailed of Special Projects at Kraftwerk. or a full dome system together system and a performance stage. planning of the Science Dome. It “There was an extensive with the stage scenario to Inside, the audience sits on a also handled everything from the wish list of different venues enhance the multipurpose venue rotating platform that can be implementation, programming and scenarios that Experimenta while still allowing it to be located turned 180 degrees, with special and commissioning of AV right wanted to include and integrating in one space. This was the birth technology to stage lectures, down to the seats. them all in one area was a of a highly innovative installation.”

“We came up with an idea to combine a planetarium or a full dome system together with the stage scenario to enhance the multipurpose venue”

With the combination of planetarium and theatre, visitors can travel virtually into space or experience exciting experimental shows

74 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 CONCEPT + DESIGN CONSTRUCTION + MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE THE UNDERWATER

Polin Aquariums, as the result of the partnership between Polin and Ocean Aquariums, has a team of experts that can provide all details needed in projects including conceptual designs, engineering, architecture, construction, business plans, procurement of living creatures and brand identities. With this team of experienced architects, engineers, biologists, veterinarians and technical experts, the success of the attraction centers is built with a deep knowledge and wealth of experience. www.polinaquariums.compolinaquariums.com MUSEUMS

The galleries and programming teach science in a way which is highly acessible for children and other visitors

“This variety is extraordinary. For science centres in Germany, I think it’s a new step in their development”

“When we first decided to launch the “This is the largest science centre ship, it was set to be a permanent offer WHO DID WHAT? in Germany. The most important point, for Experimenta,” says Hansch. “It was however, is our extraordinary lineup of such a great success however that we’ve Q Galleries: NorthernLight, Hüttinger, exhibitions. It’s not just that we’re the decided to anchor it in large cities all over Triad, Milla and Partner biggest, but also that we have the best Germany going forward starting in 2020.” QExhibition design and production: content anywhere on the Continent.” Jochen Hunger, Ligneolus, Hüttinger A world class offering QConstruction: Drees & Sommer Nobel goals Following the three-and-a-half year QArchitects: Sauerbruch Hutton Berlin The centre is targetting 250,000 visitors redevelopment, which included the QScience Dome: Kraftwerk Living a year, an ambitious goal for a city with a new galleries, renovation of the old Technologies, Spitz population of 125,000 people. But what’s storehouse and refurbishment of the MS QSponsors: Dieter Schwarz Foundation, even more ambitious is Hansch’s ultimate Experimenta, Hansch believes the science Bechtle AG, Lidl, Kaufland goal, inspiring one of Experimenta’s visitors centre now offers one of the premium to take science’s most coveted prize. experiences in Europe, if not the world. “We want to become a science “We have three main offers on site,” he Dome. These are our primary offerings. We centre where the visitors have fun and says. “First, there are our galleries, where also have an observatory on the roof and where they can learn about science and you can use different exhibits from biology, a small theatre for teenagers aged 5- to technology,” he says. “My dream is that, chemistry, physics and so on. Second, we 10-years-old. This variety is extraordinary. in 20 or 30 years, we have a Nobel prize have our Discovery World with its well- For science centres in Germany, I think it’s winner, whose first step in science was equipped labs. Finally, we have the Science a new step in their development. making a visit to Experimenta.” O

76 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 Voletarium at Europa-Park, Rust (DE) | (c) Frank Baudy (DE) | (c) Frank at Europa-Park, Rust Voletarium

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Adam Koszary is the man behind ABSOLUTE UNIT MERL’s social media successes

Using meme culture and sheep, a duck, a mouse, a mousetrap,” says Koszary. “Our curator chicken, a bat and Elon Musk. found it in the trap and sent an email a collection of farmyard Probably not what you think of asking if people had put it in there as a animals, the Museum of when trying to work out how to teaching aid. They hadn’t.” A gain global recognition and in Built 155 years previously, the trap had English Rural Life has the process successfully engage successfully captured the mouse. The your museum with the rest of the world. museum shared the story on its blog. soared into the upper But those and more are exactly what the From there it was picked up by Buzzfeed, echelons of the social Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) in giving the museum a nice boost in Reading, UK, has used to achieve cult fame online traffic in the coming days. media stratosphere. as one of social media’s brightest stars. For Koszary, he saw the moment as an opportunity and continued to try Adam Koszary , the Mousetrap and engage the museum’s audience mastermind behind the Adam Koszary first harnessed the power of in unique and interesting ways. social media in early 2016. Unbeknownst “We knew we could reach a new museum’s jump from to staff, the MERL – which is a museum, audience with good content but we were library and archive dedicated to recording trying to work out how,” he explains. 9,700 followers in 2018 the changing face of farming and the “We’re constantly experimenting with how to more than 134,000 in countryside in England – had a mouse to make our collections relevant and it just on the loose in its archives. The archives happened that this one kicked off.” 2019, explains exactly how were, as described later by the museum in a blog post “the promised land” for the Absolute unit he made that happen... rodent, with straw, wood, and textiles from The social media revolution at MERL the museum’s collection perfect for the however wouldn’t truly kick off until 9 April creature to build itself a nest. Sadly for the 2018, as Koszary explains: “That day, one mouse, out of the 35,000 objects it could of the archivists at the museum let me have destroyed, it managed to zero in on a know that it was international unicorn day. shelf dedicated to historic mouse traps. “Museums have a time-honoured tradition “He got caught inside a humane of tracking trending hashtags and then Edwardian device called the perpetual doing appropriate posts to shoehorn their collections in there in a bid for attention. That’s what we were essentially trying to do. “We have more than a million photographs in our collections,” he continues, “Around 40,000 have been social media approved. I was trying to MERL’s first viral find an image of a sheep with a horn hit came when a growing out of its forehead, because that mouse managed sometimes can happen. Instead, I found to get caught in one of a huge Exmoor Horn aged ram.” a 155-year-old Koszary posted the image mouse trap along with a caption which read “look at this absolute unit”.

78 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 MERL is part of the University of Reading, also working with Reading Museum as the Arts Council England-funded Museums Partnership Reading

In just a matter of days, the locally- 18th-century mathematics book by a known museum was trending worldwide on 13-year-old from Kent in England. In this Twitter, with the post receiving hundreds of book, we found a doodle of a chicken in thousands of likes, shares and retweets trousers but rather than just posting the across social media, not to mention the picture, we created a story around it.” countless articles from major publications Using a Twitter thread to tell the story, and websites that were written just the post built anticipation of the mystery about that single social media post. at its conclusion, in this case, the chicken in trousers. Koszary says that putting an Chicken in trousers image online and describing what’s in it From there, things really went up a gear, is only useful to those who already know with MERL going from the odd well-received The ‘absolute unit’ – this image of a why those objects are interesting. By tweet to each post on the social media ram has had a major impact on MERL taking a different look at the collection, platform receiving responses from people you can draw in a new audience – Harry all over the world, often in their thousands. Potter author JK Rowling included. Koszary realised that to get a true Rowling, who has nearly 15 million reaction from the audience he was trying to followers on Twitter, called the doodles reach, he had to create relatable content. and the thread “truly wonderful”. After Enter the chicken in trousers. she shared the thread with her audience, Starting with the assumption that WE’RE CONSTANTLY Koszary asked the author to make her people could ﬁnd the subject matter and “next series of novels track the adventures collections boring, he set out to convince EXPERIMENTING WITH of a chicken who wears trousers”. Rowling social media it was interesting. HOW TO MAKE OUR replied that she was already “way ahead” “A new book had come into our of him, adding that the chicken would be COLLECTIONS RELEVANT collection,” he explains. “It was an “best friends with a duck in a balaclava.”

©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 79 MUSEUMS GETTING SOCIAL Interactions with Elon Musk have led to Koszary being named the new social media manager for Tesla w

MERL asked the British Museum to show its best duck and was inundated with ducks from collections worldwide

Duck dynasties their local museum down the road all These interactions continued to shine a the way up to the Getty. It really relied on spotlight on MERL as its follower count having that community in place.” steadily trended upwards and following If the world’s most signiﬁ cant museums these successes, Koszary had room to tweeting about ducks for several days experiment. He could send things out into wasn’t strange enough, things took a weird the Twitterverse, see what kind of content turn when MERL found a bat in its library. would land and see which would not. “It was a very rare bat from the Baltics, With this mindset, one day he absent- which is part of a conservation project,” mindedly sent a tweet, not expecting much says Koszary. “One of our librarians from it – “hey @britishmuseum give us WE GET PEOPLE FROM coincidentally also worked at the bat your best duck”. What he got in response conservation trust, so she nursed it back was so many images of ducks from THE US, NEW ZEALAND, to health before we released it.” museums around the world, that Twitter CANADA AND EUROPE This story, of course, also played out on declared these institutions were “sending social media. Not only did the museum each other solicited duck pics”. COMING INTO READING tell the story of the bat being found and “That was a weird day,” says Koszary. TO VISIT THE MUSEUM what the museum did to help it, but it “I thought so little about that tweet intertwined that with facts about bats, when I sent it. We’d been tweeting WHEN THEY OTHERWISE teaching readers about migratory patterns about ducks and so I asked the British WOULDN’T HAVE, ALL and threats to the species. The bat was Museum to send us a duck not expecting also made an honorary member of the them to. After they did it exploded. BECAUSE WE SHARED University of Reading, which printed out “We managed to get the Louvre to send A PHOTO ON TWITTER a library card in case the animal every us a picture of a cockerel at one point, decided to come back. which we made a rude joke about. We then knew we could get the bigger museums SheepX to play with us but it relied a lot on our The strangest, perhaps of all these audience who were in on the joke. They events, was when Elon Musk – the kept prodding the British Museum and celebrated technology entrepreneur, then every other museum they knew from investor, engineer and 25th most powerful

80 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 When an endangered bat found its The tale of the chicken in trousers way into MERL’s library, its rescue led to Harry Potter author JK Rowling and subsequent rewarding of a sharing the thread with her millions library card were shared through the of followers on Twitter museum’s social media by Koszary

person in the world – changed his Twitter Creative spark profi le picture to none other than the In addition to a stroke of luck and some absolute unit that had started everything good timing, how did Koszary help to drive off, the Exmoor Horn aged ram. a small rural museum in the south of “Universe is big, but rendering England into the position it now sits? complexity is not,” Musk told his 25 million much time in the day, so we take the ones “At the core of the approach, you need followers, followed by his new picture, “but which appear to have the most value and creativity,” he says. “You can have all the I’m just a simple sheep/ram.” share them with the world.” social media skills and you can understand Koszary took what to him seemed the your institution, but if you don’t have that only logical next step on this journey of Social success spark then it will always fall fl at. Creativity social media madness – he changed The reaction to Koszary’s work – far and a willingness to react is key.” MERL’s profi le picture to an image of Musk exceeding what anyone would have And what advice would Koszary offer and renamed the account the Muskeum expected for a small farming museum in anyone wanting to repeat his success? of Elonglish Rural Life, with the caption Reading – has been remarkable for the “Give up ‘the fear’ and experiment “two can play at this game”, sparking an museum’s online presence. But how has it all the time. Focus on what makes your exchange between the two accounts. affected the museum itself? museum unique. Because we’ve done “I didn’t coordinate this with Elon Musk. “We’ve had a big boost in visitor something with the MERL, that doesn’t It just happened. The best I could do was numbers, which we think is partly the mean it’s going to work for everyone else. react,” says Koszary. social stuff, partly the museum getting into “When you do a gallery, you’re writing The move was not only a success for its groove of big events,” explains Koszary. a label for an exhibit that has to stand the museum, which once again, had “Our online statistics are crazy. It’s the test of time for 10 or more years. millions of eyes looking at its content started infl uencing how we do our With social media, you can be a lot more and programming, but also on a personal marketing and we’re revising our strategy. agile in how you explore history. You level for Koszary, who as a result of the Our tone can be a lot more relaxed and we can relate it to present day things which exchange will join Musk in July, becoming fi nd that people enjoy that. might be gone in a week, but they can Tesla’s new social media manager. “We get visitors from the US, New inform whatever debate is happening. “All of this has been reacting to Zealand, Canada and Europe coming into You can be a bit more silly because the something and jumping on a story,” says Reading to visit the musum, when they thing won’t be there to look at in 10 Koszary. “We have hundreds of things otherwise wouldn’t have, all because we years time. It’s a much more dynamic which could be stories but we only have so shared a photo on Twitter.” way to look at the past.” O

The event returned to Shanghai for the ﬁ rst time since 2016

IAAPA EXPO ASIA The Asian edition of IAAPA’s trade show took place in Shanghai, China recently. We look at what was on off er from leading industry suppliers

When: 11 - 14 June 2019 Where: Shanghai New International Expo, China

ormerly the Asian Attractions Expo, Over 400 companies exhibited over (AAE) the newly-named IAAPA Expo the course of three days, presenting Asia (IEA) took its fi rst steps under the latest products and services, its new brand from 11-14 June. including rides, virtual reality attractions, F IEA is Asia’s leading international motion simulators, waterpark business event for industry attractions, videogames, design and professionals in the region. theming services, ticketing solutions, More than 8,500 people from 60 food and beverages, and more. At countries travelled to the event from 13,000sq m, the trade show fl oor was locations such as Asia, North America, the largest in the event’s history. Europe, the Middle East and beyond, Joe Schott, president and general descending on Shanghai to buy, learn and manager at Shanghai Disney, delivered network at the hub of Asia’s multi-billion the event’s keynote speech during the dollar attractions industry. Leadership Breakfast on 13 June. Also speaking were Luke Riley, senior vice president of Village Roadshow, and June Ko executive director and vice president of IAAPA Asia Pacifi c Operations. Also on offer were IEA’s education programme, which offered a wide variety of learning opportunities. Attendees to the show took part in a number of special events and networking opportunities throughout the event. Key highlights included the Opening Night Reception at the new Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park, a safety EDUTour of Shanghai Disney Resort and a post- More than 8,500 people descended on Shanghai for the show show four-day tour of Hangzhou.

Holovis JRA Vekoma’s Space Warp launch Booth: 1632 Booth: 1202 coaster Holovis and partners KingJoy JRA plans, designs, and showcased their next realises visitor experiences for generation of Li-Fly the world’s theme parks, visitor centres ﬁ rst true Flying Theatre. and museums around the The technology experience world. The company helps designer has ‘re-volved’ the clients realise their vision, traditional experience by taking whether they want to create guests out of their seats and an entirely new attraction or letting them soar through refresh an existing one. content as if truly ﬂ ying. JRA has created a number of This patented and scalable award-winning projects, which attraction is a complete multi- combine imaginative design sensory experience, combining and storytelling with solid visuals, audio and synched operational planning to achieve motion with SFX and real- clients’ operational goals. On time media, connected to offer at the JRA booth were a data capture which measure multitude of recently opened guest reactions and take them projects, as well as an exciting on a personalised journey. preview of what’s to come.

Vekoma DreamCraft Attractions Picsolve producing a video Triotech booth were able to that begins with a selfi e and learn more about this fl ying Booth: 1322 Booth: 2762 dramatically zooms out to theatre project, as well as its key Vekoma Rides is one of DreamCraft is pioneering reveal a panoramic backdrop. offerings, including interactive the largest rollercoaster fully immersive experiences The fi rst installation is set theatres, interactive dark rides, manufacturers in the world, using advanced VR and AR to go live this year at one of 4D theatres, VR attractions, with many installed family and technology. The company has Merlin’s London attractions. fl ying theatres, walkthroughs thrill coasters, and special secured two major patents and dark coasters. attractions to its name. since 2016 and continues to Triotech The company has almost contribute to the next wave Booth: 1602 Lagotronics 20 coasters opening of immersive experiences. Booth: 2122 globally in 2019 alone. Triotech is the creator of With all disciplines under Picsolve award-winning immersive Lagotronics Projects provides one roof, Vekoma has gained and interactive media-based turnkey solutions for theme Booth: 2812 worldwide recognition. experiences. The supplier parks, FECs, museums and With a presence in more An evolution of the popular brought its XD Dark Ride experience centres. From than 40 countries, as panoramic Super Selfi e, interactive theatre experience interactive dark rides, outdoor well as corporate offi ces Picsolve introduced its to the IAE show fl oor in rides, VR and AR projects, the in The Netherlands and Epic Selfi e at this year’s Shanghai, where it presented supplier can supply a wide representations worldwide, Asian Attractions Expo. its brand-new fi lm Carnival. range of show experiences. the manufacturer comes to The technology takes users Earlier this year, Triotech Its latest project is the Shanghai to meet with buyers to fantastical new worlds launched The Flyer San interactive Farm Fair Dark and showcase its portfolio. and iconic destinations, with Francisco and visitors to the Ride at Nagashima Spa Land in Japan. Another recent project is Tekzone, an FEC Visitors to the expo in Kuwait, where it delivered learned more about AV and lighting shows. This Triotech’s fl ying theatre year, the company celebrates its 40-year anniversary.

Seeper

Seeper designs and builds for visitor attractions and events. Recently launching at Little Big City in Beijing China, as well as Sealife in Sydney is a new projection mapped head technology. Seeper is also

Whitewater’s spinning rapids ride is a new addition to Haichang Polar Ocean World

supplying interactive Lego Called Magic Mountain Playtables across the globe. Park, the Huss attractions The company provides offer two key, high capacity technical and creative design rides for the venue’s target and delivery as a part of a market, while also being turnkey service. This includes important additions from an everything from software operational point of view. development for interactive VR, AR, mobile and gesture, Kraftwerk through to 3D animation and Gold Sponsor projection mapping, live-action fi lm, audio, show and lighting Audiovisual system integrator Clip ‘n Climb exhibited its colourful climbing walls at IEA design and programming. Kraftwerk promoted its technical expertise in media- Huss based attractions as a Gold Sponsor of this year's show. and a 800-seat turn-key WhiteWater also revealed Booth: 1222 The company recently 5D theatre installation at a world fi rsts at Wanda Wuxi Huss Park Attractions GmbH completed the largest contract brand-new cultural centre. and Wanda Guangzhou, has announced that it has in its history at the Tongguan Kraftwerk has also details of which will be installed two major attractions, Kiln International Cultural and completed its fi rst Hybrid announced soon. a Top Spin Suspended and Tourism Center in Changsha, Dome installation in a Giant Frisbee 40, at a China – a state-of-the-art Germany at Experimenta Red Raion brand new park in India. fl ying theatre attraction in Heilbronn (see p72) Booth: 3232

Whitewater Red Raion, the CGI studio specialising in media-based Booth: 1430 attractions, attended IAAPA WhiteWater showcased the Asia for the fi rst time. world's longest Spinning With an in-house studio, the Rapids Ride at this year's IAE. company produces custom-built Located at Haichang Polar content for venues with a strong Ocean World in Shanghai, theming and offers ready- it’s also the fi rst Spinning made CGI fi lms under license. Rapids Ride in China. The company also premiered Vantage – the company's its latest immersive movie newest tech product – elevates – Aladdin - The Bachelor the guest experience and Party – which will be gives operators in-depth available for licensing in VR, Kraftwerk promoted its new fl ying theatre in Changsha, China insights into visitor patterns. XD, and dome formats.

www.lagotronicsprojects.com

Clip 'n Climb Booth: 2162

Clip 'n Climb exhibited its colourful climbing challenges at IEA. The company invited visitors to discover its latest range of outdoor challenges, including brand new Ascendor – a 26ft climbing challenge. Clip ‘n Climb also shared details of its 17-Challenge climbing zone at the Kaisa Kingdom in Huizhou, China. Forrec’s Changsha Polin Dawang Deep Pit Water World (above), and Booth: 1150 Vortex’s RiverQuest (right) Polin Waterparks has had a busy year designing rides and experiences, which it Visitors who stopped by the showcased at this year's show. Forrec booth were able to see its Among the highlights were latest projects which are slated a look at the world's fi rst to open next year, including fully transparent composite Changsha Dawang Deep Pit waterslide and a hologram model Water World. This site’s unique of Polin’s newest waterslide elevation allowed the team to – Stardust – which allows design a multi-level waterpark. riders to impact their journey In addition to waterparks, through its twists and turns. Forrec designs theme parks, Polin also displayed its visitor attractions, mixed-use Splash Bucket, a competitive entertainment and resorts. interactive game. content, motion programming include a DreamTunnel and Simworx and themed attractions. DreamPassage – immersive In addition to projects within areas that are designed Forrec Booth: 1650 the UK, Simworx has designed, to surprise riders. Booth: 1142 Simworx’s capabilities extend built and installed its products Creating entertainment from full turnkey solutions, throughout the world, including Zamperla designs for places of escape, custom attractions, product in Europe, North America, Booth: 1330 Forrec has worked with some development, manufacturing South America, Asia and the of the world’s biggest brands. and service support, to fi lm Middle East. They’re also due A major project for Zamperla to begin installing fourteen in 2019 will be the creation of new attractions for one client a new indoor themed Family in China in 2019, along Entertainment Centre within with attractions in Vietnam FICO, the largest agri-food park and Indonesia currently in the world, in Bologna, Italy. undergoing their installation. Guests will enter the FEC from the back of a ‘farmhouse’ Vortex and fi nd themselves in a typical Italian farm, which Booth: 1258 will feature 12 rides. Vortex showcased its latest The attraction will be family adventure attraction created operated and – RiverQuest – at this managed by Zamperla. year’s IAE in Shanghai. The development, due to Combining river rides and open in Q3 2019, will mark waterslides with multi-sensory the return of Zamperla to park Zamperla is launching dreamscapes, RiverQuest is management in Italy, after a new FEC at FICO designed as an adventure the success of Luna Park in Eataly World in 2019 ride for the entire family to Coney Island, US and Victorian enjoy together. Its highlights Gardens in New York City. O

86 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 Jiggerty - Jaggerty THE KARTRITE RESORT BEST RIDES. MONTICELLO, NY BEST PARKS.

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©CYBERTREK 2019 AM 2 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 87 LIGHTING AND SOUND Lauren Heath-Jones, products editor, Attractions Management

For the latest supplier news and company PRODUCT INNOVATION information, visit attractions-kit.net Suppliers tell Attractions Management about their latest product, design and technology launches

Testing starts on world’s ﬁ rst rollercoaster at sea, reveals Maurer’s Torsten Schmidt

erman manufacturer Maurer Among the challenges of the the ship are not so much of a G Rides is putting its Bolt installation is factoring in the challenge, because with Bolt Ultimate Sea Coaster – the design and movement of the we will have 100 per cent ﬁ rst rollercoaster to be installed ship, which doesn’t have to be traction control all of the time.” aboard a cruise liner – through accounted for with a land-based The ride accommodates two special testing, to ensure its coaster, but Schmidt said the cars at a time, each holding two vehicles can remain up to biggest challenge was allowing passengers and each able to scratch on the open ocean. for the “aggressive atmosphere” reach speeds of nearly 40mph OTorsten Schmidt, business The company will begin at sea, caused by salt in the air. (60 kph), with an acceleration development manager, Maurer production and pre-assembly of “We have to see which of 1.2g. The track reaches a the 220m-long (722ft) electric components are sensible to height of 57m (187ft) above control the speed of the cart Spike coaster ride during Q3 use in this atmosphere,” says sea level, culminating with with a pedal, so the experience 2019. The coaster will be installed Torsten Schmidt, business a hairpin bend around the will be different for all. on the top deck of Carnival Cruise development manager at Maurer. ship’s funnel. Riders’ speeds The Mardi Gras is set to Line’s new ship, Mardi Gras. “The wind and movement of are posted after the race. launch in 2020 and will be based According to Maurer, the at Port Canaveral, Florida, US. ride will have capacity for Carnival Cruise Line said the ship 190 people per hour. At full will be the “ultimate playground”. throttle, the cars can complete a circuit in about a minute, ATTRACTIONS-KIT KEYWORD with changeovers possible in MAURER 25 seconds. Passengers can

OThe Bolt Ultimate Sea Coaster will be on the top of the outdoor deck of the Mardi Gras, which is set to launch in 2020

88 attractionsmanagement.com AM 2 2019 ©CYBERTREK 2019 Mark Calvert on world’s largest permanent video installation at Qatar’s National Museum

ealtime Environment through the country’s history, as RSystems (RES), a London- well as showcasing its current based visual tech fi rm, has identity and future aspirations. completed the world’s largest The attraction features ever permanent video installation custom content commissioned at the National Museum of Qatar. by the Doha Film Institute ORES installed 112 Panasonic 4K projectors and 172 media servers The museum, which opened (DFI) and is powered by 112 in March, features a number Panasonic 4K projectors and Media Control – a UK-based controlling and monitoring of cinematic display zones 172 media servers that process company formed by RES systems across the site. showcasing specially created fi lm 21 billion pixels per second. and Harrison Digital Media “This is the biggest project content that takes visitors on an To ensure all the AV – created HIVE, a bespoke RES has ever undertaken,” immersive and experiential journey equipment is synchronised, HIVE software package capable of says co-founder Mark Calvert. “When we fi rst learned about the ambitions for video playback, projection mapping and technical planning, the sheer size of it became apparent. It took all of the skills, experience and technical wizardry we possess to make it happen. This is visual technology on an unprecedented scale.”

ATTRACTIONS-KIT KEYWORD RES OVisitors take an immersive journey through the country’s history OMark Calvert, RES co-founder

Alberto Zamperla on work at Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi

talian coaster designer and installed its Disk’O Coaster, I manufacturer Zamperla named The Riddler Revolution has revealed details of after the Batman villain of the its involvement with Warner same name. In Dynamite Gulch Bros World Abu Dhabi. is the AeroTop Jet; named the Managed by project Jetson’s Cosmic Orbiter and the development fi rm Miral Asset Bumper Cars, called Marvin the Management under licence from Martian Crate Crashers, whilst Warner Bros Consumer Products, in the ACME area is Tweety Wild the park is the fi rst Warner Bros- Wockets, the MiniJet ride and branded indoor theme park in the world and features zones dedicated to a host of its own IPs, OThe Jetson’s Cosmic Orbiter is among the Zamperla rides at the park including the likes of Superman, Wonder Woman, Bugs Bunny, back in Cartoon Junction is the “We thank Miral for choosing Scooby Doo and The Flintstones. Speedway attraction, named us and for giving us the Zamperla supplied a number Ricochet Racin’ with Taz. opportunity to demonstrate of key attractions across the “We’re honoured to be part Zamperla’s engineering and park, including Tom & Jerry’s of this new tourism destination theming capabilities.” Swiss Cheese Spin, Zamperla’s and we are very satisfi ed with Super Twister Coaster, located the outcome of our work,” ATTRACTIONS-KIT KEYWORD in Cartoon Junction. In the says Zamperla’s CEO and ZAMPERLA Gotham City area, the supplier OAntonio Zamperla president, Alberto Zamperla.

Legacy’s Lee Roe reveals details of stunt show dark ride in Indonesia

egacy Entertainment L has partnered with Trans Studio to create Road Rage – the world’s fi rst ever stunt show dark ride. More details are due to be released later in the year, however, the attraction, billed as a ‘world-fi rst’, is set to break new ground with the inclusion of live performers and high- octane stunts inside a more traditional dark ride set up. ORoad Rage will be the fi rst attraction to combine a stunt show with a dark ride experience

To serve as the signature world’s top international theme attraction at Trans Studio Bali, parks,” explains Lee Roe, creative Legacy were responsible for director at Legacy Entertainment. the design and production of “Trans Studio are pioneers. the ride, while engineering ﬁ rm They have no interest in Oceaneering provided the dynamic rehashing what’s been done ride system. Benoit Jutras, the elsewhere. Our teams are united composer behind Cirque Du Soleil by a singular creative challenge and Dragone, has created the – to create the best regional musical score for the attraction. park dark rides ever imagined.” “For the ﬁ rst time ever, visitors to an Indonesian theme park ATTRACTIONS-KIT KEYWORDS will experience a dark ride that LEGACY ENTERTAINMENT exceeds those in many of the OLee Roe, Legacy Entertainment

Thibault De Lestré on launch of Alterface’s Madgix ScreenPlay kit

adgix has announced the is based on Alterface’s NOMAD M launch of its ScreenPlay camera detection technology. kit, which is designed It uses real-time technology to transform existing spaces to operate wireless ‘point and into play and gaming arenas shoot’ devices, while individual without operators having ID tracking enables operators to modify their screens. to identify and link device IDs Developed in collaboration with loyalty cards or bonus with Alterface, the ScreenPlay kit systems, incentivising players. The solution is simple to install, users just have to plug Screenplay into their existing OThe Magdix technology has now been launched worldwide projection systems and motion seat hardware and software. detection, designed for seamless can be adjusted to ﬁ t their The technology is capable of integration with existing 4D infrastructure and audiences. accommodating a large number theatres and cinemas. This “The future lies in interactive of players at one time. new solution offers great non-linear storytelling, so “For the ﬁ rst time a multi-user potential to various markets.” this is a perfect solution interaction kit is available as an Benoit Cornet, founding to bring interactivity to open architecture, says Thibault president of Madgix, adds: everyone, everywhere.” De Lestré, MD of Madgix. “ScreenPlay opens a world of “The ScreenPlay kit contains new opportunities for cinema ATTRACTIONS-KIT KEYWORD parallel independent hardware and attraction venue owners. MADGIX OThibault De Lestré, MD for playback and shooting Content, format and gameplay

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Attractions Management is published four times a year by the Leisure Media Co Ltd, Portmill House, Portmill Lane, Hitchin, Herts SG5 1DJ, UK. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher the Leisure Media Co Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system DO YOU MANAGE A XD or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, THEATRE OR SIMULATOR recorded or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright holder, Cybertrek Ltd. Printed by the Manson Group Limited. Distributed by Royal Mail & ARE YOU LOOKING FOR Group Ltd and Whistl Ltd in the UK and Total Mail Ltd globally. NEW EXCITING MOVIES? ©Cybertrek Ltd 2019. ISSN 1479/9154. We’re working for you! To subscribe to Attractions Management log on to www.leisuresubs.com or email: [email protected] or call +44 1462 471930 www.redraion.com

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