Find great staff ™ Jobs start on page 37 MANAGEMENT NEWS 31 OCTOBER 2018 ISSUE 116 www.attractionsmanagement.com Merlin reveals Australian growth plans Merlin Entertainments' divisional director Rob Smith has revealed that the company plans to open a Legoland Discovery Centre and Dungeons attractions in Australia and New Zealand. Smith said that the expansion follows increased visitor numbers at Merlin's existing Aussie attractions during 2018. The operator expects the number of visitors to be up by "between 3 and 4 per cent" for the year. Smith credited Merlin’s growth in the region – where it is currently the largest visitor attraction operator – to a rapidly-growing Asian outbound tourism market, with visitors from India and QMerlin entered the Australian market in 2011 China "particularly adding value". "You could say that Australia is becoming in April 2017 and has performed a short-break destination for certain strongly, he added, while a high amount markets – the average length of time spent of natural snowfall bolstered visitor Australia is becoming a in-destination is shrinking," Smith said. numbers at its Victoria ski resorts, short-break destination Merlin's newest attraction, Legoland Mount Hotham and Falls Creek. for certain markets Discovery Centre Melbourne, opened MORE: http://lei.sr?a=H6k2s_A Rob Smith PEOPLE THEME PARKS NEW OPENING Royal wedding outfi ts Disney plans nature-inspired Qatar's fi rst planetarium go on public show resort for Orlando prepares for opening Windsor Castle to display p2 More than 900 additional p6 New attraction to launch p11 special exhibition hotel rooms to open in 2022 at Katara Cultural Village Attractions people Tom Mehrmann and Roland Mack announced by Bob Rogers for 2018 IAAPA Legends Panel ome of the brightest and Marty Sklar and Disneyland’s S best minds operating first president Jack Lindquist. in the attractions This year, IAAPA Hall of industry will come together Famer Roland Mack, founder to discuss how to interpret of Europa-Park, will be the first different cultures and panel member. Mack’s work draw new audiences from at Europa-Park is celebrated different cultures to these as a beacon of how to present visitor attractions. attractions based on different Taking place on 14 European cultures and appeal November 2018, the IAAPA to an international audience. Legends Panel at the IAAPA The second panel member Attractions Expo in Orlando, this year will be Universal Florida will look at the success Beijing Theme Park and Resort of Germany's Europa-Park QThe IAAPA Legends Panel will be hosted by Bob Rogers president and general manager and Hong Kong’s Ocean Park Tom Mehrmann. Mehrmann’s in the face of a pervading "Previous IAAPA Legends panels have time as CEO at Ocean Park saw sense of nationalism in featured the likes of Universal Creative him steer the attraction through the modern world. senior vice president Thierry Coup" Disney’s arrival in Hong Kong, Bob Rogers, an IAAPA Hall adapting constantly to make the of Famer and the founder and once again host the Legends Universal Creative senior attraction more culturally astute chair of experience design panel, which in recent years vice president Thierry Coup, and staying ahead of its far firm BRC Imagination Arts, will has featured the likes of legendary Disney Imagineer larger competitor for 10 years. Meghan and Harry's wedding outfits go on display in Windsor Castle as part of special exhibition he outfits which Meghan "This is a unique opportunity to see T Markle and Prince Harry these outfits in the surroundings wore on their wedding day in which they were worn" earlier this year have gone on display at Windsor Castle. Room, which was one of Highnesses have been very Visitors to the castle can the rooms used for the involved in the preparation now see Markle's gown – wedding celebrations. for this exhibition." designed by Clare Waight Keller "This is a unique The bridesmaid and – and the military uniform the opportunity to see these pageboy attire that Harry’s English prince wore for their outfits, worn on such a niece and nephew, Princess wedding ceremony on 19 special day, actually in the Charlotte and Prince George, May 2018, an event watched surroundings where they wore on the day are also Q Visitors to the castle by millions worldwide. were worn here at Windsor on show at the exhibition, can now see, close up, The two full outfits, shoes Castle," said Caroline de called A Royal Wedding: The Prince Harry's military included, are on display in Guitaut, senior curator of Duke and Duchess of Sussex, uniform and the gown a glass box inside Windsor decorative arts at the Royal which will be on display at worn by Meghan Markle Castle’s Grand Reception Collection Trust. "Their Royal the castle until January. 2 attractionsmanagement.com ©Cybertrek Ltd 2018 ISSUE 116 JOBS START ON PAGE 37 >>> MANAGEMENT NEWS Contents issue 116 04 Quentin Blake creates work for science museum Science Museum unveils Sir Quentin Blake science paintings and MFAH chair David Bomford reveals results of phase two of US$450M redevelopment at Houston art museum 05 People Elaine Molinar returns to home town to design children's museum 06 New openings Crayola Experience to open fifth site 08 Results are up QLawn said the expansion was a 'definitive project' for Hersheypark Six Flags revenues increase 7 per cent in Q3 "Hershey’s Chocolatetown will mark the true intersection of 11 Underground attraction where fun meets chocolate" Abandoned tunnels in Sydney, to be turned into a new heritage attraction John Lawn reveals expansion 2014 Insight plans for Hersheypark CLASSIFIED & JOBS sersheypark has New additions include revealed details of its Hersheypark’s 15th H Tenders 36 expansion plans, which rollercoaster – its "fastest, were first unveiled last year. tallest, longest, sweetest The 23-acre expansion of ever", according to the park Job opportunities 37 Hershey’s Chocolatetown – a new arrival experience will include rides, dining and front gate; a new home and shopping and is set for the Carrousel, which Sign up to Leisure Opportunities: to open in Q3 2020. turns 100 years old in Online: www.leisuresubs.com "Hershey’s Chocolatetown 2019; a flagship store with Email: [email protected] will mark the true intersection the largest collection of Tel: +44 (0)1462 471930 of where fun meets Hersheypark merchandise; Annual subscriptions: UK £34, chocolate," said John Lawn, and a fully licenced UK students £18, Europe £45, RoW £68 president and CEO of Hershey restaurant, bar and patio. Entertainment & Resorts. Construction is due to Attractions Management News is published 26 times a year by The "Chocolatetown will be a begin in January 2019 and Leisure Media Company Ltd, Portmill House, Portmill Lane, Hitchin, place where chocolate-inspired Hersheypark will remain Herts SG5 1DJ, UK. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. All attractions will transform fully operational during rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored the guest experience in the 2019 season until in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, recorded or otherwise, without the prior permission of the new and engaging ways." the opening in 2020. copyright holder, Cybertrek Ltd. ©Cybertrek Ltd 2018 ISSN 2516-9114 ISSUE 116 ©Cybertrek Ltd 2018 attractionsmanagement.com 3 Attractions people Science Museum unveils Sir Quentin Blake science paintings he Science Museum in "The advantage of the drawings is T London has opened a new that they do make the scientists exhibition of paintings by more informal and accessible" British illustrator Sir Quentin Blake that depict famous Gallery, are paintings would normally expect scientists and engineers of mathematician Ada to be interpreting and their inventions. Lovelace, environmental someone's words. Blake, best known for his scientist James Lovelock "I think the advantage of illustrations that brought and DNA pioneers Francis these drawings is that they Roald Dahl’s children’s Crick and James Watson. do in some sense make the stories to life, has painted "Making drawings of scientists more informal and objects and scientists real people from reference accessible to the newcomer." QBlake has illustrated represented in the museum's is rather different from His Lovelace depiction more than 250 books by mammoth collection. depicting the characters in a shows the mathematician 80 different writers. Included in the collection, story," Blake told BBC News. and daughter of poet which is hung outside "You are given visual Lord Byron with Charles Wonderlab: The Equinor information where you Babbage's Analytical Engine. MFAH chair David Bomford reveals results of phase two of US$450M redevelopment at Houston art museum he Sarah Campbell Blaffer advanced technology in a space T Foundation Centre for that was designed with the Conservation at Museum conservation and care of the Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) museum’s varied collections in Texas has reopened as specifically in mind," said David part of the second phase of Bomford, chair of the MFAH the institution's US$450m department of conservation. (€395.5m, £351.5m) MFAH director Gary redevelopment, designed Tinterow added: "The by Lake|Flato Architects. new Blaffer Foundation The new centre sits Centre for Conservation across the road from MFAH’s dramatically elevates our curatorial offices and includes conservation facilities." 23,796sq ft (2,211sq m) Other elements of the of conservation studios and QBomford said the whole renovation is expected to complete in 2020 ambitious project include the support space and will now Susan and Fayez S. Sarofim allow the museum to bring "Our team can now easily Campus, which opened in together various art operations, collaborate across all May, and the Nancy and Rich which had hitherto been areas of the MFAH" Kinder Building which will spread away from each other, house gallery space, a 200- into the main campus.