In this issue: BALPPA’s Christmas message Some words from our Chairman Visitor Attraction Expo schedule MANCOM Nominations Quarter 4, 2014 Dates for your diary

WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS It’s been another very busy year for BALPPA and I can’t quite believe I’ve been working for the business for 2 years – time certainly flies when you’re having fun!

2014 has proven to be another successful year for our industry which saw some great results, especially over the summer period. As you know, BALPPA is committed to supporting its Members and the industry as a whole. We remain very active in terms of our Parliamentary lobbying as well as sitting on various steering committees and other boards to help drive our industry forward. Another testament as to how fast the last 2 years has gone is that it’s almost time to say goodbye to our current Chairman, Bob O’Connor. Bob took over in January 2012 and has been a great support to me and the team over the last 2 years. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of everyone at BALPPA to thank him for his help and support. Bob will remain an active Member of BALPPA as part of the Management Committee.

As we say farewell to Bob, we are delighted to welcome Marshall Hill who will take over the reigns as BALPPA Chairman in January – a warm welcome to Marshall and we look forward to working with you!

We have a jam-packed year planned in 2015 which begins with our Annual Dinner at Madame Tussauds on Monday 12th January, followed by the start of the EAG Show and the launch of the Visitor Attractions Expo – a partnership between BALPPA and EAG – just a couple of the exciting things we have planned for next year! In the meantime, on behalf of the whole BALPPA team we would like to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and here’s to a successful 2015!

Best wishes

Paul Kelly BALPPA CEO SOME WORDS FROM OUR CHAIRMAN As mentioned by Paul Kelly on the cover of the bulletin, January 2015 sees a change in Chairman for BALPPA. We say goodbye to Bob O’Connor and welcome Marshall Hill into the role. From the team at BALPPA we would like to say thank you to Bob for his help and support over the last two years and Marshall, we look forward to working with you! Here are a few words from Bob and Marshall……….. “As Managing Director of Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks I have been an active Member of BALPPA since 2004. I joined the Management Committee in 2008 before taking over from Adrian Mahon as BALPPA Chairman in January 2013.

The last two years have flown by and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time, serving Bob O’Connor as your Chairman. I am delighted to have witnessed some great progress in terms Current BALPPA of BALPPA’s lobbying commitments and to have hosted some wonderful events Chairman in Europe and in the UK. I will continue to be a part of BALPPA’s Management Committee and with my colleagues, I look forward to building on the foundations we have laid in supporting the industry as a whole as well as helping you to maximise your BALPPA Membership.

I have enjoyed working with Paul and the team and would like to take this opportunity to thank both our Members and staff for their support during my Chairmanship. In January I will hand this over to Marshall Hill, your incoming Chairman who I know will do a fantastic job and I wish him every success. Best wishes, Bob”.

Over to our incoming Chairman, Marshall Hill: "I have been a Member of BALPPA for 15 years and was voted onto the Management Committee 8 years ago after being chosen by the Members in an election. What I particularly enjoy about being a Member is meeting like-minded people who are as passionate about their businesses and the industry as I am.

I am excited to take over as BALPPA Chairman in January. I firmly believe in the Marshall Hill sharing of of best practise and will be looking to drive this forward via seminars Incoming BALPPA and other events. Another important part of my role will be to continue to be Chairman proactive in terms of political lobbying on key issues that affect our industry such as the deregulation of school holidays and cutting VAT and on Health and Safety as per previous our Chairmen. As we all know, the welfare and safety of guests and staff should be our number one priority and I feel that it’s vitally important that the powers that be understand our industry and the various sectors within it – I want to make sure that our voice is heard.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the previous two Chairmen, Adrian Mahon and Bob O’Connor for their guidance and support and I very much look forward to becoming your Chairman and working with Paul and the team for the benefit of all in our great industry”. BALPPA KICKS OFF 2015 IN STYLE! As is tradition, the BALPPA events calendar begins in style with our Annual Dinner.

In 2015, our flagship black tie event will take place on Monday 12th January at Madame Tussauds, London. Arrival is from 7pm where guests will be treated to a quick spin on the Spirit of London ride before enjoying a drinks reception amongst some very famous faces!

Our guests will then move on to enjoy a sumptuous 3-course dinner, followed by speeches and presentations. Those who are brave enough can exit via the Chamber of Horrors but don’t have nightmares, please do sleep well!

It wouldn’t be possible for us to put on these incredible events without the generous support of our Members and we would like to take this opportunity to thanks our host venue, Madame Tussauds and our generous sponsors:

We would also like to thank our supporters:

We are delighted with the response we have received for the Annual Dinner to date. Please note that booking closes on Friday 5th December. Therefore if you have not booked already, please visit the following link on our website and complete the online booking form: http://www.balppa.org/events/annual-dinner/balppa-annual-dinner/

For the party animals amongst you, the night will continue beyond Madame Tussauds at the Hippodrome, Leicester Square. We would like to thank Karen Cooke at Swan Events who has arranged for BALPPA Members who wish you carry on the party to have a private area in the club.

BALPPA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND MANCOM VOTE th BALPPA’s AGM will take place on Tuesday 13 January at 11am at ExCeL, which also marks the first day of the EAG International Show and the first Visitor Attraction Expo. This meeting will also see the handover of BALPPA’s Chairmanship from Bob O’Connor to Marshall Hill. As well as presenting information on BALPPA’s activity during 2014, there will also be an opportunity for Operating Members to vote on the representation of Operating Members on the Management Committee.

We have previously asked Operating Members who wish to stand for election to the Management Committee to forward their request to us. These nominations will then be ratified by the Management Committee at the December meeting before the vote takes place at the AGM. Please note that Operating Members can only vote if they are in attendance at the AGM or if they send a nominated proxy to the meeting. Postal, email or telephone votes will not be accepted. Should you wish to nominate yourself for a position on the Management Committee, please email th [email protected] by Friday 5 December. Please visit http://www.balppa.org/events/annual- dinner/balppa-annual-general-meeting/ to book in for the AGM. FIRST EVER VISITOR ATTRACTION EXPO! BALPPA is delighted to be supporting the EAG International Show at London’s ExCeL as well as supporting the launch of the first ever Visitor Attractions Expo – a partnership between BALPPA and EAG. The Visitor Attractions Expo will take place alongside EAG International at London’s ExCeL from 13th – 15th January 2015. With visitor registration now open at www.attractionsexpo.co.uk, preparations are now well under way and we are delighted that so many of our Members are supporting the show and will be exhibiting. 3 DAYS DEDICATED TO THE LEISURE INDUSTRY THE BEST IDEAS – new products and services THE BEST INSPIRATION – new technology and innovation THE BEST EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR PROGRAMME – high quality seminar program THE BEST NETWORKING – restaurants, bars, meeting areas THE BEST ENTERTAINMENT – “ First Night Party” the best party of the year

BALPPA Trade Members get an exclusive BALPPA rate for exhibiting! Please contact Karen Cooke (Swan Events) on the details below to find out more about this exclusive offer: T: +44 (0)1582 767254 M: +44(0)7545 970200 E: [email protected]

VAE SEMINAR AND EDUTCAION PROGRAMME Running alongside the show will be a series of educational seminars, open to all BALPPA Members to attend. These will begin on the afternoon of Tuesday 13th January following our AGM and lunch on the show floor in the main exhibition hall. The programme is as follows:

Tuesday 13th January 11am – BALPPA AGM followed by lunch at 12pm 1.30 – 2.15pm – Robert Kluth, Lorica Insurance – Reporting of RIDDOR to HSE and Your Insurer 6pm – EAG Opening Reception

Wednesday 14th January 10.30am – Charlotte Cooper, Plexus Law - The Disciplinary Procedure: How to do it properly 11.20am – Jonathan Winchester, Shopper Anonymous – Customers, love them or lose them 12.10pm – Janice Dunphy, Web Adventure Park – State of the Industry 2015; trends and survey results 1.30pm - Baz Slatter, Global Business Development Director, Picsolve - How the social media explosion is affecting the leisure and attractions industry 2.20pm – Scott Brown, Director of Business Development, WDD – Social Media Magic – aligning your social media strategy with your overall business goals 3.05pm - Scott Brown, Director of Business Development, WDD – Practical ideas to make 2015 the year of achieving excellent customer service in your FEC

More information can be found on our website. Please use the following link to read more and book in for any of the educational seminars: http://www.balppa.org/events/seminars/visitors-attraction-expo-supported-eag/ NEW SKY TRAIL SEEKER CHALLENGES YOUNG ADVENTURERS WITH BRAND NEW HIGH ROPES EXPERIENCE

Innovative Leisure introduces 'Sky Trail Seeker', another fantastic new breakthrough in the ropes course market from our US based manufacturers Ropes Courses Inc. Adventure attractions specialist Innovative Leisure has announced the addition of a brand new High Ropes Course to its highly successful range of courses with the introduction of the Sky Trail Seeker. This latest model, introduced at the recent IAAPA Attractions Expo in Florida, is positioned between Sky Tykes and the original Sky Trail products and is specifically designed as a ‘kids only’ course to challenge a range of ages without the support of a chaperone. It is therefore particular suited to venues such as FECs, holiday parks, resorts, party centres and many others, as well as to those catering to school visits and youth groups.

Being specifically designed for children up to 5.5ft/1.68m tall, Sky Trail Seeker has proportionate platform heights and levels, while significantly, the height of the attraction is also a key selling point. A one level Seeker can be accommodated in a building with a ceiling height of just 6m, while a two level version can be housed in buildings with a ceiling height of 9m.

Innovative Leisure's MD Phil Pickersgill said of the new product: “Sky Trail Seeker is a great solution for locations which accommodate large numbers of groups of children. In this situation, there won't be a chaperone/adult to accompany each child. These types of groups include birthday parties, schools, scouts, guides and youth groups who all visit venues frequently. The way the course operated at IAAPA was proof of how popular this was with the kids participating”

Where the ropes course choice for a child before was either the beginners Sky Tykes or the larger Sky Trail, Seeker gives children the opportunity to test their limits in a progressive experience. And as with all other Sky Trail products, maintenance and staffing requirements with Seeker are minimal and its modular design means there is no limit to potential expansion.

Sky Trail Seeker can also be upgraded with the addition of the Sky Rail zip track, another of RCI's latest innovations. When added to Seeker, Sky Rail gives the course an added thrill dimension in a completely safe environment.

Innovative Leisure is the UK and Irish supplier of all Ropes Courses Inc. products. If you wish to speak with us about Sky Trail, Sky Tykes, the all new Sky Trail Seeker or Sky Rail, please don't hesitate to contact us – 0116 271 3095 / www.innovativeleisure.co.uk. BALPPA INVITED TO GIVE EVIDENCE TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE On 25th November, Paul Kelly BALPPA CEO was invited to give evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Tourism Inquiry along with Graham Wason of the Cut Tourism VAT Campaign and David Bridgford from Merlin Entertainments Having previously submitted written evidence in September, BALPPA was invited to address the Committee on the subjects of tourism and VAT.

It was a wide ranging discussion, and it was notable that at least two members of the committee – Conor Burns MP and Tracey Crouch MP – were persuaded of the advantages of a VAT cut. Burns took the unusual step of requesting a meeting during the committee session and Crouch approached Paul afterwards to request a meeting too, even offering to go on the local radio in .

Tourism was also discussed more widely. Paul spoke about how, although the overall landscape in the UK is one of a successful industry, the regional picture is very mixed. He added that the provision of support for the industry is patchy, saying a more coordinated approach would help. Ben Bradshaw MP, a former Secretary of State for DCMS, and Paul also discussed the barriers that transport links create in travelling around the UK.

There was also a discussion about how the current arrangements in Government are not the most effective for supporting the industry – noting that in a recent reshuffle the word ‘tourism’ was removed from the tourism minister’s job title.

We have a number of opportunities to follow up on after the session and will look forward to reading the committee’s report which we expect to be produced in the coming months.

PAULTONS PARK ANNOUNCES NEW THEMED LAND

New for 2015 at Paultons Family Theme Park is Critter Creek, a themed land full of ‘Curious Critters’ and exciting new attractions!

Critter Creek will be home to Beastie Burrow, an adventurous walk through attraction crawling with fun, The Cat ‘O’pillar rollercoaster and Professor Blast’s Expedition Express train ride.

For more information and to read Professor Blast’s diary visit www.crittercreek.co.uk GIANT MONOPOLY BOARD From 1 December and throughout the month, to celebrate the launch of its own Monopoly board, The View from The Shard will transform its indoor viewing gallery on level 69 into a giant version of the game. Give the ultimate celebration of London this Christmas with a special edition of Monopoly from The View from The Shard. Providing a unique take on the traditional family favourite, the game will feature some of London’s most iconic landmarks, all of which are visible from the 800ft high attraction.

Embracing the old, new and ever changing skyline of London, the board game will give people of all ages the chance to engage with the impressive heritage and architecture of the Capital. Ideal for playing on Christmas day, you will be able to put your knowledge of London to the test as you try and buy up a wide variety of updated additions to the game, ranging from Wembley Stadium, Canary Wharf, The London Eye and St Paul’s Cathedral.

The View from The Shard have created this unique edition of the Monopoly game, priced at £34.99. 1,000 boards are available for in-store purchase now at The View from The Shard boutiques, located in London Bridge Station.

WORLD OF RIDES LAUNCHES BRAND NEW FUNSIZE CHILD- ONLY ANIMAL BATTERY RIDES IN THE UK! New 12v battery operated and pollution-free, child-only, FUNSIZE Animal Rides in the UK, in time for the coming school holidays! This exciting new range of rides follows requests from numerous BALPPA members to be able to run more battery rides, but in much smaller areas… both indoors and outdoors… as well as providing a popular and profitable new attraction! The rides will allow up to four at a time to be used in a track size area of only 4m x 4m (13ft x 13ft) and they are steered by using each animals ears as ‘handlebars’, and they come fitted with seat belts, sound effects, and have LED strip lighting all around the base…and young children can learn to ride on the backs of moving animals in a safe environment!

“We are launching these rides at this time in order to educate children with lots of learning through FUN”, said spokesman Andrew Robinson, and the rides have already been thoroughly site tested … resulting in much higher levels of income than was ever envisaged!

“However, they can also be set on free-play whenever required… such as for children’s parties! Initially, we are launching our range of Jungle based animals, due the huge popularity of Jungle based themes in leisure venues throughout the UK, but we have many more variations in the pipeline! The rides can be operated as either coin-operated or as organised riding lessons, and at the end of each lesson the children who have completed their lesson successfully can be presented with their very own riding certificate or rosette!” WISHING YOU AN ETHICAL NEW YEAR Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in Devon is proving that you can make money and maintain your morals. The Zoo – a registered charity – is a leader in Fair Trade and ethical products – and is making it pay.

A zoo might not be the first place you think of for a shopping spree, but Paignton Zoo boasts one of the finest ranges of Fair Trade gifts and lifestyle products in Europe. Staff set out to make the shops and restaurant palm oil-free because production destroys habitat.

Today the Zoo is virtually palm oil free with regard to consumables. They also sell shade grown coffee because it’s produced without destroying vital habitat. Managers developed the Fairer World brand to cover a range of Fair Trade and ethical lines. The charity sells a quarter of a million pounds-worth of Fairer World products each year. That’s 24% of all gift sales; ten years ago it was 15 to 18%.

Spokesperson Phil Knowling: “You can save money by being green and you can make money by being ethical. We buy products that are manufactured without destroying the environment and sell them to raise money for conservation – it’s a double whammy!” The Zoo has found that ethical trading also brings another benefit - job satisfaction.

PELICAN LAUNCHES PIRANHATM: A FREE FOOD ALLERGEN, MENU COSTING AND NUTRITIONAL ANALYSIS TOOL Pelican Procurement Services, the procurement and supply chain management specialist, announces the launch of a new cloud-based system that provides food allergen information to organisations serving food to the public, in readiness for the new food labelling legislation. Piranha™ is a free menu costing system that not only provides Pelican customers with a live, detailed breakdown of portion costs, but offers allergen tracking and nutritional information.

Within Piranha™, users can ‘build’ their menu items, add details of how each is made and even include a photo. Allergen information is available for every dish, as needed.

The system also includes ‘live’ menu costing functionality: using customer’s purchase invoice data, an accurate cost can be calculated for every portion made. Operators can then easily track, control and monitor in real-time how much each dish costs, what the profit margins are and make adjustments, as required. IAAPA EXPO 2014 Early indications show that the recent IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, Florida was the largest in more than 17 years and the largest ever in the event’s history! An estimated 30,500 and attractions industry professionals from 116 nations crowded the Orange County Convention Centre. Over 1,000 companies displayed innovative new products and more than 19,000 buyers attended the show. Among these incredible numbers were many BALPPA Member business who attended as exhibitors and buyers. We were delighted to see more than 70 Members attend the BALPPA drinks reception the night before the show which was generously sponsored by Innovative Leisure and DP Associates.

Picsolve Sega As is tradition, IAAPA hosted a number of award ceremonies during the week including the Brass Ring Awards which this year saw BALPPA Member WhiteWater West receiving IAAPA’s Best New Product Award for their themed design on an AquaPlay RainFortress™.

A spokesman said, “WhiteWater is honored to accept this award and receive recognition for the hard work WhiteWater employees devote to the company every day.” There was also some hard work to be done – a team of BALPPA Members took part in a charity run during the week. The 5k run was in aid of IAAPA’s chosen charity, Give Kids The World (GKTW) Village which is now a 70 acre resort complete with over 144 villa accommodations, entertainment attractions, whimsical venues and fun specifically designed for children with special needs. The BALPPA team (which was a little lighter than expected apparently - for those of you who were unable to take part, we look forward to receiving a letter of explanation from your mothers!), consisted of Duncan Phillips, Phil Pickersgill and David and Kathryn Cadell. The event was described as great and grounding after a week of exhibition and as an normal, Phil Pickersgill set the pace for team UK, finishing in 4th place and being the fastest UK runner overall. The rest of the team didn’t let us down either with all finishing in respectable positions.

This charity run is an annual event so get training! We will be entering a BALPPA team into the 2015 event and your support for this worthwhile charity would be appreciated. Team BALPPA – Duncan We do hope that those of you who were exhibiting or buying at IAAPA Phillips, Phil Pickersgill and had a successful week. David and Kathryn Cadell SIXTH AXENTIS MICHAEL MEMORIAL BALL RAISES MORE THAN £200,000 The sixth Axentis Michael Memorial Ball, which took place at the Grand Pier on Saturday 22nd November, raised over £200,000 bringing the total raised by the local charity so far, to nearly £1 million. Several celebrities attended the occasion including ex-Manchester United manager and football pundit Ron Atkinson, the designer Jeff Banks, who acted as auctioneer for the evening and Dragon’s Den stars Theo Paphitis and Deborah Meaden.

One of the most sought-after auction items of the evening was a culinary experience with Paul Young and Barry Vera, who both attended the event. The world famous singer and the celebrity chef were auctioning the chance to be wined and dined by them in your own home. This item was so popular it sold twice over for an incredible £12,000 each time raising a total of £24,000. The successful bidders will enjoy a dinner party for up to eight people, in their own homes.

The Axentis Michael Memorial Ball, which started in 2004, is held every two years in memory of Weston-super-Mare hotelier Axentis Michael who passed away in 2003. Following his death the family set up the ball and the charitable trust.

Alex Demetriou of Grand Pier said: “This was our best event so far. We had some absolutely fabulous auction prizes and we would like to thank our suppliers, family and friends for their ongoing generosity. It was a fabulous evening. The money raised will mean we are able to continue to support the most needy in our local community”. STAGEWORKS WORLDWIDE PRODUCTIONS PROVIDES SHOWGIRL COSTUME FOR VOGUE MAGAZINE In the December issue of Vogue magazine, Kate Moss features on the front cover and inside gives readers an insight in to Kate's World. Her variety of favourite guises are featured within the article and one of the full page shots depicts Kate as The Showgirl dressed in a costume provided by Stageworks Worldwide Productions. Photographed by the iconic fashion photographer Mario Testino, Kate’s dripping in crystals, fringing and feathers and portrays the showgirl is fearless when to comes to dress-up.

Vogue stylist, Liz Avey visited Stageworks Wardrobe Department to source a costume suitable for Kate and chose the crystal jewelled bra and strapless body.

Amanda Thompson OBE, President of Stageworks Worldwide Productions said “I’m absolutely delighted that one of our costumes has been featured within Vogue and I think Kate Moss looks amazing, as always. It’s great recognition to our wardrobe team who create bespoke costumes for not only shows around the world but couture for individuals too.” GATEWAY ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIPS In a continued drive to support the Museums and Heritage sector, Gateway Ticketing Systems has had a strong year. With 101.14 million visits to heritage tourism in 2013 alone, the potential of this sector is clear. Gateway Ticketing Systems UK has recently announced: • A partnership with Kew’s Royal Botanical Gardens and Wakehurst Place, started this year. Tasked with updating their ticketing and CRM solutions, Gateway aims to give Kew a single view of the consumer across its entire organisation. This will ultimately enable them to keep track of customers on a granular level, and to convert these day visitors into members. • Gateway was proud to offer sponsorship to the Museums Association’s Conference and Exhibition. The annual event, held earlier this year, is the largest gathering of sector professionals and the ideal place to show support for this market. • Gateway has unveiled a new partnership with the Houses of Parliament to deliver ticketing and sales solutions for commercial tours. Access control software will increase the efficiency of visitor entry, whilst the improved sales solutions will enhance the visitor journey. KIDS PLAY JOINT VENTURE WITH WILLOWS ACTIVITY FARM

GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH Two BALPPA Members Kids Play and Willows Activity Farm have reinforced their already successful partnership by opening a fantastic Day Nursery & Pre-School.

With the ever-popular Activity Day Camps - established in spring 2011 and managed by Kids Play - going from strength to strength, Willows Activity Day Farm sought to take the partnership even further with the addition of a joint-venture Day Nursery & Pre-School.

Based within the previously underutilised Farm shop, the project took just nine months to plan, develop and refurbish. Managed by Kids Play’s Senior Childcare staff, the Day Nursery and Pre- School combined cover over 7500 sq ft and is Ofsted registered for 161 children.

The Day Nursery & Preschool offers separate Baby and Toddler Rooms, a separate Pre-School unit and private outdoor gardens, combined with supervised daily visits within the Activity Farm and scheduled curriculum activities. This ensures that the very best childcare is offered within an enviable countryside environment.

Now open for almost 24 months, the project has exceeded all expectations with the Nursery and Pre-School currently both full and operating waiting lists, with plans to extend the nursery in to the adjoining shop.

Andrew Wolfe from Willows commented that “the nursery provides a quality additional service to our members and staff, and fits perfectly with our customer age profile”. HAND IN HAND AT COLCHESTER ZOO During 2015 Colchester Zoo will be raising awareness of its hand in hand work with its charity Action for the Wild.

Colchester Zoo and Action for the Wild assist animals by giving them a helping hand both in the wild, via research and care projects, and at the zoo through breeding programmes, research and education. Each and every visit made to Colchester Zoo contributes to this vital conservation work and Colchester Zoo will be highlighting the importance of helping a wide variety of species from all over the world. Their future is in our hands!

Opening in Easter 2015 is ‘Butterfly Glade’! This new walkthrough enclosure will be a haven for a number of exotic butterflies and also home to a number of colourful plants and flowers. A chrysalis pupae will also be on show with the opportunity to see the development stages of the butterfly! Visitors will journey through the butterfly house with the chance to see the butterflies up close to enjoy the amazing colours of these delicate insects. This will also be another self sufficient enclosure with a bio-mass boiler contributing to our green zoo!

WICKSTEED PARK PLANS NEW £100,000 PLAY AREA AFTER SECURING WREN GRANT A £100,000 sand and water play area for families and young children is set to be created at Wicksteed Park after grant funding was secured to help finance the project. The new attraction is due to be completed by the boating lake in time for Easter after £50,000 was secured from not-for-profit organisation WREN, which supports community, conservation and heritage projects across the UK.

It is part of the park’s commitment to use admission fees and proceeds from events to invest in the future and improve facilities.

The sand and water play area will feature a host of interactive elements, including a building site- style climbing feature, tables where children can use sand to make ‘mud pies’ and sand castles, fun- to-use water pumps and slides.

The equipment will be manufactured by market-leading German company Richter Spielgeräte GmbH and installed by Sheffield-based Timberplay, which has completed children’s play projects across the UK.

Wicksteed Park Managing Director Alasdair McNee said: “The completion of our lake restoration project has opened up the whole lakeside area and created lots of new opportunities to develop play throughout the park.” S&S-SANSEI TECHNOLOGIES DEBUTS 4D FREE SPIN COASTER S&S-Sansei Technologies recently unveiled its newest creation, the 4D Free Spin coaster ride vehicle, to a packed show floor at the IAAPA Expo.

Debuting at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio next summer, the coaster’s design has been highly anticipated for its unique multi- experience ride cycle.

“You’re allowed to free spin, but there’s an element of control to it,” said Mike Worley, Mechanical Engineer for S&S. “The goal was to make it fun, but different every time.”

With a ride time of 50 seconds, the coaster has a maximum velocity of 38 mph and five eight-passenger vehicles that rotate, spin, and flip at different points throughout the ride experience.

“Coasters don’t have to be the fastest or the tallest. Now, it’s more about the different elements,” said Tim Timco, Vice President of sales and marketing for S&S. He explained that many of these elements can be tweaked and customized, like the seat positions and overall intensity of the ride.

DREAMLAND , RECRUITMENT DRIVE After a triumphant eleven-year long 'Save Dreamland' campaign by the local community, a re-imagined Dreamland, Margate is set to open in 2015. The vision is to open Dreamland as a major UK visitor attraction, providing entertainment for everyone through re-inventing the seaside amusement park experience. HemingwayDesign led by Wayne Hemingway MBE, Gerardine Hemingway MBE and Jack Hemingway have been appointed to deliver the look, feel, smell, taste and sound of the visitor experience.

The new Dreamland will be a totally unique vintage-style amusement park unlike anywhere in the UK, with a collection of rides that tell the story of amusement parks through the ages, classic side shows, eateries and evocative spaces, set within a landscape capable of hosting national festivals and major events.

Dreamland is now looking for exceptional candidates for roles across the entire business. If you have visitor attraction, events, arts or leisure sector experience Dreamland would like to hear from you. All vacancies advertised here http://dreamland.co.uk/support/work-at-dreamland and speculative CVs welcome. BABY BOOM AT WOBURN SAFARI PARK

Woburn Safari Park has recently welcomed three very exciting new arrivals.

After a 22 month pregnancy, 20 year old Asian elephant Damini gave birth to a healthy female calf, weighing in at 122kg. Her father, 20 year old Raja, who is Woburn’s only bull elephant, was also there to welcome her into the world.

Woburn’s Elephant team were thrilled to see the calf, which is yet to be named, up and walking within minutes of her arrival. She has already been out exploring the paddock with her mother and other members of the Park’s five- strong herd.

In the African Jungle drive-through, an extremely rare pair of Bongo twins have been born. The critically endangered East African Mountain Bongo are struggling to survive in the wild, and twin births amongst these species are also incredibly rare, with only two other sets of Bongo twins having ever survived in zoos worldwide.

The precious pair of female calves were welcomed into the world by nine-year-old mum Millie, in the fourteen acre woodland habitat of the reserve.

WHITEWATER SIGNS LICENSING DEAL WITH NASCAR WhiteWater has signed a licensing agreement with NASCAR, one of the world’s best-known sporting brands. The deal will allow WhiteWater and its waterpark clients to use the logo and marks on approved themed rides and products based on the iconic NASCAR brand.

“This is the first branding deal of its kind in the waterpark industry and we’re super thrilled to have entered into an agreement with this high-profile American company,” said WhiteWater founder and CEO Geoff Chutter. “Creating an experience around the NASCAR theme will certainly add to the WOW experience for our guests.”

One of the first rides to bear the NASCAR logo will be WhiteWater’s multi-lane racing mat ride, currently being proposed to several parks. “As one of the most thrilling and exciting sports in the world, we look forward to working with the premier waterpark company in the business to explore this unique integration with the NASCAR brand,” said Blake Davidson, Vice President of Licensing and Consumer Products at NASCAR. “We select our licensees very carefully, and WhiteWater, with its global reach and emphasis on innovation, proved to be a great fit for our company.” BRAND NEW GATEWAY BUILDING AT Seven years in the planning and completed in approximately 6 months, the 20,000sq ft Gateway Building at Paultons Park is now open.

The landmark structure forms part of HPW’s masterplan for the Park and is designed to welcome the one million guests visiting every year.

Once through the turnstiles, visitors pass entrances to the Big Toy Shop and Wildwoods Restaurant. On exiting visitors are routed through the shop to ensure secondary spend is maximised.

By working closely with the client and specifying all aspects of the build HPW were able to design a holistic, integrated solution. Wherever feasible, materials were locally sourced and every effort made to minimise waste throughout the process.

The Big Toy Shop extends to 10,000 sq ft of flexible display and merchandising arrangements. The colourful and inviting designs attract all ages as well as encouraging customer flow and product engagement.

High level and wall-mounted animatronics indicate product displays; whilst colour coded 3D character signs identify mid-floor gondolas and themed product areas.

The Wildwoods Restaurant is the largest restaurant on the park, seating 450 indoors and 150 outdoors. Meals are offered throughout the day and the menu includes traditional family fare and locally sourced seasonal dishes.

The Wildwoods themed characters, woodland creatures and 3D graphic trees were all designed by HPW. DP LEISURE LAUNCHES 360 PLAY UK FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY DP LEISURE, the operating company behind the industry leading, UK based children’s play centre brand 360 Play, has launched Franchise 360 UK, a franchise opportunity which will allow potential operators to benefit from the 360 Play brand. 360 Play has enjoyed much success during the past six years with its three children’s entertainment centres and moving forward, the company sees further opportunities in the UK. However, it is also now looking to help create franchised openings outside of its own preferred regions of operation.

“We have a vast wealth of experience in the design and operation of children’s play centres and have created a mix of activities at 360 Play that not only provides a great fun day out for youngsters and their parents but which also incorporates numerous activities to aid children’s development,” explained 360 Play MD Duncan Phillips. “And while we continue to expand the business ourselves in specific areas, we are now offering Franchise 360 to other operators who may wish to benefit from the brand in other parts of the UK.”

FROM LORICA A number of people have recently queried whether Lorica has been sold, claiming they had seen this information in the press.

This is not the case. A company by name of Lorica Employee Benefits was sold to another insurance broker but Lorica Insurance Brokers Limited, which is completely separate, remains independent. OTHER EVENTS / DATES FOR YOUR DIARY! As 2015 approaches, we are gearing up for an eventful year! We have listed some events below for you to get into your diary. Please note that some dates / locations are provisional at present and more information will follow in due course.

BALPPA Annual Dinner – flagship black tie event! 12th January 2015 Madame Tussauds, London Drinks reception – 7pm Carriages – 11pm Please note that the booking for this event officially closes on Friday 5th December. To book your place, please follow the link to our website below and complete the online form: http://www.balppa.org/events/annual-dinner/balppa-annual-dinner/ Generously sponsored by:

With thanks to:

EAG / VAE 13th – 15th January 2015 ExCeL, London 13th January – BALPPA AGM at 11am followed by lunch near BALPPA stand. Please click the link to book: http://www.balppa.org/events/annual-dinner/balppa-annual-general-meeting/ 13th – 14th Jan – BALPPA education and seminar programme. Please click the link for more information and to book: http://www.balppa.org/events/seminars/visitors- attraction-expo-supported-eag/

BALPPA SEMINARS AND SUB GROUP MEETINGS Dates to be confirmed throughout 2015 Marketing, Health and Safety, FEC, HR, Zoo group, Lobbying and Customer Service CONT………………….OTHER EVENTS / DATES FOR YOUR DIARY!

Please check the events page on our website which will be regularly updated with information and booking forms: http://www.balppa.org/balppa-events/

BALPPA PARLIAMENTARY LUNCHEON 9th March, 2015 BALPPA SUMMER CONERENCE House of Commons, London June, 2015 Belfast, NI

EURO ATTRACTIONS SHOW 6th – 8th October, 2015 Svenska Massan Exhibition Centre Gothenburg, Sweden See more at: http://www.iaapa.org/expos#sthash.fWiPuwH1.dpuf Including BALPPA Drinks Reception

The VAC Conference 2014 October, 2015 Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London

BALPPA’s AUTUMN CONFERENCE October 2015

IAAPA ATTRACTIONS EXPO 17th – 20th November, 2015 Orange County Convention Centre, Orlando, FL Including BALPPA Drinks Reception

BALPPA SEMINARS AND SUB GROUP MEETINGS Dates to be confirmed throughout 2015 Marketing, Health and Safety, FEC, HR, Zoo group, Lobbying and Customer Service