Find great staff ™ Jobs start on page 25 MANAGEMENT NEWS 20 MARCH 2019 ISSUE 126 www.attractionsmanagement.com K-Pop theme park at heart of US$4bn plan A huge new development in Korea is set to go ahead after stalling twice since 2007, with the expansive attraction boasting a combined K-pop and natural history theme park as its centrepiece. The Hwaseong International Theme Park in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, will be built by Shinsegae Property Consortium and will also feature a hotel, shopping centre and a golf course. Ground will be broken on the US$4bn project in 2021. The theme park is set to open in 2026, with the masterplan to be completed by 2031. K-pop and natural regional features QThe K-Pop theme park will such as the Shihwa Lake and a anchor the 1.21 sq mi site dinosaur fossil site will be central We're aiming to build to the destination’s theme. 60,000 people will be employed Asia’s best global tourist "We're aiming to build Asia’s best through its construction and a destination, a space that will global tourist destination, a space further 15,000 jobs will be created contribute to the growth that will contribute to the growth of at the theme park, said the of Korea and the region Korea and the region," said Shinsegae Shinsegae Property Consortium. Property CEO Lim Yeong-rok. MORE: http://lei.sr/E7S4K_T Lim Yeong-rok HERITAGE HOTELS THEME PARKS Abu Dhabi's Presidential PortAventura to open Peppa Power: Nick Varney Palace opens to public carbon-neutral hotel on the power of IPs Visitors can see the palace p4 The addition will be the p8 Merlin CEO touts possible p16 for the fi rst time ever theme park's sixth hotel Peppa Pig theme park Attractions people Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will open earlier than expected, says Disney CEO Bob Iger tar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge "In light of tremendous S will open at Disneyland demand, we have made the in California on 31 decision to open the land in May 2019 and then at Walt phases to allow guests to Disney World in Florida on sooner enjoy the one-of-a- 29 August 2019, according kind experiences that make to Disney CEO Bob Iger. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Iger announced the so spectacular," said Iger, official opening dates for reading a Disney statement. the theme park area at both Disneyland will require parks in Disney shareholder visitors to make a free meeting to the surprise reservation to get into the of some observers, many land and on the ride. This of whom had anticipated reservation will require visitors a later opening date. QIger made the announcement during a shareholder meeting having a valid admission The opening at both parks for dates between 31 May will only see one of the two "We have made the decision to open the and 23 June – a period major attractions in the area land in phases to allow guests to sooner that may be extended. open, however, the Millennium enjoy our one-of-a-kind experiences" Information on how to Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. make a reservation will be The Star Wars: Rise of the at Walt Disney World, with no to have a phased opening available at a later date Resistance ride will open later in date announced as yet. Disney stemmed from overwhelming on Disneyland.com and the year at both Disneyland and has suggested that the decision customer demand. the Disney Parks Blog. Former Guggenheim director Thomas Krens has ambitious multi-museum plans for Massachusetts city homas Krens, the former "It’s what we saw by tweaking T director of New York’s the institution, not sacrificing the Guggenheim Museum, aesthetics and expanding the concepts" has detailed his ambitious plans for North Adams, Krens announced the In his talk, he noted Massachusetts, which centre plans at a lecture he gave Guggenheim exhibitions that around a railway museum. last month at the Clark took place during his tenure Krens’ plans include Art Institute in nearby as director, namely 1998’s several museums forming a Williamstown, where he also The Art of the Motorcycle and cultural hub in the city, centred said he feels museums need a 2000 Armani clothing show. around the Extreme Model to be more like theme parks "These were audience Railroad and Contemporary if they are to thrive in the generators," he said. "It’s QThomas Krens is planning a Architecture Museum (EMRCA), modern day, with experiential what we saw by tweaking the number of museum projects a 90,000sq ft (8,361sq exhibitions and more of institution, not sacrificing the m) facility with 9.5 miles of a focus on entertainment aesthetics and expanding model train track laid through would necessary at the concepts to address a scale-model cityscape. museums going forward. a wider audience." 2 attractionsmanagement.com ©Cybertrek Ltd 2019 ISSUE 126 JOBS START ON PAGE 25 >>> MANAGEMENT NEWS Contents issue 126 04 Abu Dhabi's Presidential Palace opens to public Visitors can see the historic palace for the first time ever 06 New ride regulations introduced after deaths Queensland's government introduces new safety rules 10 PortAventura to open carbon-neutral hotel The addition will be the theme park's sixth hotel QLennard Otto has been CEO of IMG since December 2015 12 Works starts on Columbus Zoo expansion Ground has been broken on a "IMG is in advanced talks with banks new sea lion and seal habitat on our syndicate-loan restructuring to support the business" 14 Peppa Power: Nick Varney on the power of IPs Merlin CEO reveals possibile IMG CEO Lennard Otto denies Peppa Pig theme park plan theme park sale rumours 16 Changing Tides Ennead designs new aquarium MG Worlds of Adventure "We are not planning to I CEO Lennard Otto has sell IMG in any form, neither said there are no plans partial and wholly. IMG is in CLASSIFIED & JOBS to sell the record-breaking advanced talks with banks on indoor theme park, following our syndicate-loan restructuring Job opportunities 25 rumours of a takeover to support the business," published by the media. said his statement. According to Bloomberg, A number of theme parks Sign up to Leisure Opportunities: IMG – which owns Worlds have come to the UAE in Online: www.leisuresubs.com of Adventure – is "exploring recent years as part of the Email: [email protected] options for the business, country's efforts to reduce Tel: +44 (0)1462 471930 including a possible sale". its dependence on oil and Annual subscriptions: UK £34, IMG is currently working improve its tourism standing. UK students £18, Europe £45, RoW £68 on a plan to restructure Although a target of 20 an AED1.2bn (US$327m, million visitors by 2020 was set Attractions Management News is published 26 times a year by The €289m, £247m) loan used for the country, low oil prices Leisure Media Company Ltd, Portmill House, Portmill Lane, Hitchin, to part-finance the AED3.7bn and lower visitor figures than 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 (US$1bn, €883m, £755m) expected has hampered a rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored attraction. Otto said the talks number of tourism projects, in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, recorded or otherwise, without the prior permission of the were at an advanced stage. delaying new openings. copyright holder, Cybertrek Ltd. ©Cybertrek Ltd 2019 ISSN 2516-9114 ISSUE 126 ©Cybertrek Ltd 2019 attractionsmanagement.com 3 Attractions people Abu Dhabi's Presidential Palace opens to public for first time in its history he United Arab Emirates "This new cultural landmark T (UAE) Presidential Palace reflects our heritage and identity, in Abu Dhabi is open to opening its doors to our people" the public for the first time in its history, with interactive able to see and browse a wing will display a collection cultural exhibitions and a huge collection of books of artefacts and rare full tour of its vast library. and resources about the manuscripts that highlight The move was spurred UAE’s political, social the Arab world’s contributions by President Sheikh Khalifa and cultural history. to various intellectual fields in a bid to boost the wider In the west wing, guests including science, the arts, cultural understanding of can learn about how the humanities and literature. the UAE, with a building country formed and its "This new cultural QThe palace will be open to in the palace compound, governance, and gain access landmark reflects our the public on a daily basis called Qasr Al Watan to halls typically reserved heritage and identity, opening opening for visitor tours. for official summits. its doors to our people, Open daily from 10am-8pm Meanwhile, the House residents and visitors," local time, visitors will be of Knowledge in the east said Sheikh Mohammed. First-of-its-kind leisure airport set to debut this spring in Singapore ewel Changi Airport main architectural innovation J – long-praised as of the complex: a 200-metre- representing a new wide glass and steel roof paradigm in passenger constructed by BuroHappold. experience design – is According to the firm, the scheduled to open its doors dome will make Jewel Changi this spring in Singapore. one of the "world's largest Planned by Safdie gridshells, with approximately Architects and delivered by 6,000 nodes connecting the BuroHappold Engineering, beams and glass panels".