Find great staff ™ Jobs start on page 27 MANAGEMENT NEWS 16 MAY 2018 ISSUE 104 www.attractionsmanagement.com Saudi Arabia's US$13.3bn investment plan Saudi Arabia's government has revealed plans to invest SAR50bn (US$13.3bn, €11.2bn, £9.9bn) into entertainment, health, sports and education initiatives, as the country attempts to modernise and improve its citizens' quality of life. Announced on 3 May by the Kingdom's General Entertainment Authority (GEA), it is understood that the investment will generate upward of 300,000 jobs by 2020. “Government spending on the initiatives will total around 60 per cent of the investment, with 40 per cent from the private sector,” QSaudi Arabia wants to reduce it reliance said Ahmed al-Khatib, GEA chair. on oil with new entertainment ventures “The entire benefi t from this big spending will be for the private By 2030, Saudi Arabia wants to have sector, and this supports the 2030 more than 450 clubs providing a Vision that strengthens its role.” variety of cultural activities and events, The entire benefi t from In the announcement, Khatib listed with the aim of doubling household this big spending will be three theme parks, a waterpark, museums spending on recreation to 6 per cent. for the private sector and more cinemas as part of the initiative. MORE: http://lei.sr?a=p8a3u_T Ahmed al-Khatib, GEA chair VISITOR ATTRACTIONS ZOOS EARNINGS Themed Entertainment Major renovation for Results improving for Association names president brand new Dubai Safari SeaWorld with strong Q1 Michael Mercadante to p3 Dubai Safari closing for work p11 Will 2018 be SeaWorld's p12 succeed David Willrich just 6 months after opening comeback year? Attractions people SeaWorld targets British tourists as interim CEO John Reilly plans to reclaim lost visitors ollowing an impressive but we're really focused on F first quarter, which saw execution in that market. In a surge in attendance the past, we may not have at its attractions (see p12), executed as well as we could SeaWorld Entertainment is have on sales, marketing, casting its eyes overseas, and the communications particularly to the British side, and we're redoubling market, in an attempt to our efforts there." draw back lost customers. For Florida – a market Two of SeaWorld's that has traditionally been traditionally stronger markets more heavily influenced by are Latin America – specifically international visitors and is Brazil – and the UK. Both have home to SeaWorld Orlando been affected in recent times, – last year 1.44 million Brazil by its worst recession QJohn Reilly is the current interim CEO at SeaWorld people from Britain visited since 1930 and Britain by the state – a 10.4 per cent continued uncertainty over "For the UK specifically, we believe decline on the previous year. Brexit. To that end, SeaWorld is we have a strategic opportunity "For the UK specifically, we putting its international focus there to drive better results" believe we have a strategic on Britain to try to recapture opportunity there to drive better its international audience. international visitors in the CEO following the recent results," said Reilly. "We have "On the international front, first quarter," said John Reilly, departure of Joel Manby. "We a significant effort underway to we did see an increase in who is SeaWorld's temporary did see a decline in the UK, improve performance there." Public artist Steed Taylor creates 'world's longest' street mural in West Palm Beach ublic artist and designer "If roads are considered the skin of a P Steed Taylor has community, then a road has a similar completed the largest relationship to the public body as continuous street mural in skin does to the private body" the world, spanning the full length of Downtown West community-based, tattoo- as skin does to the private Palm Beach in Florida. inspired, public artworks on body. As people mark their The mile-long ‘road tattoo’ roads. They are a result of my skin for commemoration, is called Genii Loci, or ‘the investigation into repurposing communication and ritual, protective spirits of a place'. a common public space for then a road can be marked Local people were invited to art and a desire to bring for the same reasons." paint parts of the mural – which socially engaging art to where Genii Loci, which was QTaylor created the work with takes the form of interweaving people live," said Taylor. created during the city’s help from the local community three-colour Celtic knots and “If roads are considered recent West Palm Beach Art emphasises community. the skin of a community, Affair festival, is projected to “My road tattoos are then a road has a similar last three years, before it will commemorative, site-specific, relationship to the public body fade as nature takes over. 2 attractionsmanagement.com ©Cybertrek Ltd 2018 ISSUE 104 JOBS START ON PAGE 27 >>> MANAGEMENT NEWS Contents issue 104 04 Investment paying off Cedar Fair CEO Richard Zimmerman is leaning on new ride developments to buoy the company's profits in 2018 06 Free for all China's government is allocating US$86m in an effort to make some of the country's top science museums free to visit 12 Results improving for SeaWorld with strong Q1 Will 2018 be SeaWorld's comeback year? 14 Down Under in California QMercadante is president of Main Street Design San Diego Zoo set to debut US$17.4m Australian Walkabout "I look forward to continuing to advance the vision for TEA and building on the 16 A horticulturist's haven excellent work of David Willrich" Sir David Attenborough opens Kew Gardens' painstakingly restored Temperate House Michael Mercadante to succeed 18 Nou venture from Camp Nou David Willrich as TEA president FC Barcelona strikes deal to launch Barça attractions around the world ichael Mercadante, on the TEA's North American M president of board, helping to extend the Massachusetts- organisation's presence in CLASSIFIED & JOBS based experience design the Northeast. In addition to firm Main Street Design, his service with TEA, he has Job opportunities 27 will lead the Themed also served on the Program Entertainment Association Committee of the Association (TEA) as its new president of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Sign up to Leisure Opportunities: from November this year. Mercadante replaces Online: www.leisuresubs.com Serving on the TEA board David Willrich, who Email: [email protected] since 2012, Mercadante completes his second term Tel: +44 (0)1462 471930 has carried out numerous as president after taking Annual subscriptions: UK £34, roles for the organisation the position in 2016. UK students £18, Europe £45, RoW £68 since joining, spending time "I look forward to Leisure Opportunities is published 26 times a year by The Leisure Media on the Executive Committee continuing to advance the Company Ltd, Portmill House, Portmill Lane, Hitchin, Herts SG5 1DJ, UK. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do of the board for five years, vision for TEA and building not necessarily represent those of the publisher. All rights reserved. No and most recently acting as on the excellent work of part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, recorded or treasurer and head of the TEA David Willrich, and TEA past otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright holder, Cybertrek Finance Committee. Prior to president Steve Birket before Ltd. Printed by Warners Midlands PLC. Distributed by Royal Mail Group Ltd and Whistl Ltd in the UK and Total Mail Ltd globally. ©Cybertrek Ltd 2018 that, he spent three years him," said Mercadante. ISSN 0952/8210 (Print). ISSN 2397-2394 (Online). ISSUE 104 ©Cybertrek Ltd 2018 attractionsmanagement.com 3 Attractions people New ride investments to drive Cedar Fair profits for 2018, says CEO Richard Zimmerman edar Fair CEO Richard "New attractions is expand our C Zimmerman is leaning on audience, enhance repeatability new ride developments and improve value perceptions" to buoy the company's profits in 2018 following a drive urgency," he said. "The "As we head into our core successful first quarter. appeal of new attractions is operating season, we remain For the first three months that they expand our audience, enthusiastic about our plans, of the year, the company saw enhance repeatability and progress and potential - driven revenues increase by US$7m improve value perceptions." by our 2018 initiatives and the (€5.8m, £5.1m). Driven by New additions to the highly talented associates at increases in both attendance operator's parks for 2018 our parks," said Zimmerman. and average in-park guest per include Cedar Point's "Many of our investments QZimmerman became capita spending, Zimmerman Steel Vengeance, Knott's have already debuted with Cedar Fair CEO on 1 January credited the results to Berry Farm's HangTime, exceptional responses, new ride investments. Great America's RailBlazer giving us great confidence "We always feel large-scale and Twisted Timber at in the consumer demand attractions such as coasters Kings Dominion. for our products." New York's Museum of Modern Art names Rob Giampietro as director of design ew York's Museum of "MoMA is an institution N Modern Art has named that has shaped my Rob Giampietro as appreciation of art, design its new director of design, and creativity at every stage with the former Google of my life," said Giampietro. man taking charge of the "I am honoured to lead the institution's design output. two talented designers here as A member of MoMA's part of this new team during this newly-formed creative team, exciting and important moment Giampietro will help to in MoMA’s development." "extend MoMA’s identity as With more than 17 years of a dynamic and progressive experience, Giampietro was cultural institution physically most recently design manager rooted in New York City, for Google's Research and with a global reach and QGiampietro has more than 17 years of design experience Machine Intelligence team.