Information

My Account

Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #12 Bolliger Mabillard, MAURER Rides, ETF Ride Systems, Lo-...

World Waterpark Association Success for WWA's 33th Symposium and Trade Show

Hong Kong Disneyland to introdoce Iron Man Experience First major Marvel attraction planned in 2016

Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #11 Zamperla, Simworx, Electrosonic, Vortex

Theme Park Industry News Roundup #6 Liseber, Universal Parks and Resorts, IAAPA, Herschend ...

Premier Rides wins €8 million contract with Plopsa Gr... New launch coaster to open at Holiday Park in 2014

Theme Park Industry News Roundup #5 Tokyo Disney Resort, Merlin, European Star Awards

Record anniversary edition for Euro Attractions Show More than 8,500 attendees on a record exhibit floor

Top Stories
Supplier's News
WWA
Hong Kong Disneyland
Supplier's News
Industry News
Premier Rides
Industry News
Euro Attractions Show

Latest Industry News

CORPORATEPublished on January 28, 2014 NewsParcs to take an extended break

EVENTPublished on November 10, 2013 IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 debuts next week in Orlando

CORPORATEPublished on November 10, 2013 Difficult season for Compagnie des Alpes' amusement parks

NEWPublished on October 21, 2013 Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #12

EVENTPublished on October 21, 2013 Success for the 33th symposium and trade show of the World Waterpark...

NEWPublished on October 13, 2013 Disney to introduce first major Marvel attraction at Hong Kong...

NEWPublished on October 13, 2013 Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #11

NEWPublished on October 13, 2013 Theme Park Industry News Roundup – Issue #6

NEWPublished on October 6, 2013 Premier Rides wins €8 million contract to build a launch coaster...

581 articles published » See all articles

Welcome!

NewsParcs is an online trade publication dedicated to theme park industry professionals worldwide.

Since 1998, we work in direct contact with manufacturers, suppliers, consultants, owners and operators to publish only reliable and relevant information.

NewsParcs, connecting the theme park industry!

Supplier's News

NewsParcs will do a full coverage of the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 in Orlando to have a look at the latest trends and developments of the global theme park industry.

Follow us on Twitter (@NewsParcs) from November 19 to 22 with the hashtag #IAAPA

Merlin Entertainments exceeds the billion in

revenues and the 50 million visitors for the first time

Update : 28/03/13 - 08h56 Published by François Mayné the 27 March 2013, Corporate.

Merlin Entertainments, Europe’s leading and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, has just announced new record financial results for FY 2012.

Just like in the previous fiscal year, the British group has posted a solid double-digit growth and signs the thirteenth consecutive year of increase of its key financial indicators, starting with the turnover which passes for the first time the barrier of the billion British pounds to amount at £1.074 billion (approximately $1.6 billion), an increase of over 15% compared to 2011. The operating result is a profit of £258 million pounds (approx $390 million), up 16.5%.

Merlin Entertainments exceeds the billion in revenues and the 50 million visitors for the first time

This performance is mainly due to the increase in attendance of the different properties of the group that reaches the 54 million visitors, which is again a very strong double-digit growth (7.5 million or 16% more compared to last year).

Merlin underlines the success of its international expansion strategic plan (seven new sites opened in 2012, including the now very popular LEGOLAND Malaysia), the success of its Midway attractions (LEGO Discovery Centres, Madame Tussauds, the Dungeons and SEA LIFE Centres) and the integration in its accounts of 9 attractions of Living and Leisure Australia which was acquired in 2011. The launch of a new platform for e-commerce has also led to a significant increase in sales.

The company invested $163 million pounds (about $246 million) during the year including 92 on existing estates (including for the wing coaster 'The Swarm' at Thorpe Park, the family coaster 'Polar X-Plorer' at LEGOLAND Billund, a water park at LEGOLAND Florida and the LEGOLAND Windsor hotel) and 71 for the development of new businesses (LEGOLAND Malaysia, three LEGO Discovery Centers in Tokyo, Japan as well as in Atlanta and Kansas City in the United States, a SEA LIFE Center in Kansas City, a Madame Tussauds in Sydney, Australia and an observation tower at Weymouth, United Kingdom).

Merlin underlines the success of its international expansion strategic plan.

The group also has invested more than £92 million on existing estates (here at Thorpe Park, UK with The Swarm)

According to Nick Varney, Merlin Entertainments' chief executive, these excellent results were achieved despite rather unfavorable business environment in Europe as a result of the unprecedented combination of three negative factors. "2012 was one of the most challenging years we have experienced since founding Merlin in 1999. In northern Europe our theme parks were hit by the wettest weather on record through all of our key trading periods while those in southern Europe felt the impact of the continued Eurozone crisis. In the UK our attractions had to compete with the London Olympics - a £10bn, ‘once in a lifetime’ event that attracted more than 10m visitors in the middle of our peak season," he explained.

In 2013, the group's expansion will continue with the opening of a hotel at LEGOLAND California (United States), three LEGO Discovery Centres in Toronto (Canada), Oberhausen (Germany) and Westchester (United States) a Madame Tussauds in Tokyo, a Dungeon in Berlin (Germany) and a SEA LIFE Centre in Manchester (UK). With a current trading in line with expectations, Merlin expects to deliver ongoing growth in turnover and profitability.

“Merlin now operates almost 100 attractions across four continents,” added Nick Varney. “We are committed to maintaining this momentum through 2013 and beyond with a strong schedule of new openings and exciting plans for the ongoing development of our existing attractions .”

“While the economic outlook remains uncertain, the investments we made through 2012 and our unrelenting focus on customer satisfaction mean that Merlin is stronger than ever and better placed to deliver even more memorable experiences in 2013. The business continues to broaden its international footprint, diversifying its revenues and providing further exposure to faster growing economies in Asia Pacific and North America. All this means our iconic brands will attract more visitors in more locations around the world through 2013 and we look forward to a challenging but exciting year ,” he concluded.

Attendance - LEGOLAND Parks - LEGOLAND Discovery Centre - Madame Tussauds - The Dungeons - Financial Information -

Written by François Mayné

François Mayné Publishing Director » Contact Us
» all articles

Europa-Park
(10 articles found)

Europa-Park chooses popular French IP to create an indoor themed area including MACK Rides coaster read more

This is a first in the history of Europa-Park. The German theme park, owned by the Mack family since 1975, has chosen to work with an intellectual...

NEW | Europa-Park - Published on June 11, 2013

Europa-Park: A family success story that's all about passion! read more

“Managing a theme park means writing a story, respecting a tradition and constantly questioning oneself, looking for new ideas and ways to i...

FEATURE | Europa-Park - Published on March 15, 2013

Themed Entertainment Association to hold its 10th TEA Summit and Thea Awards Gala April 4-6 read more

The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), an international organization that represents the interests of more than 7,500 members working in...

EVENT | Europa-Park - Published on March 6, 2013

New attendance record for Europa-Park in 2012 read more

The German theme park Europa-Park has surpassed in 2012 the 4.5 million visitors for the first time, confirming its position as the first seasonal park in the world. This outcome is therefore highly satisfactory for the Mack...

CORPORATE | Europa-Park - Published on January 9, 2013

Europa-Park purchases a hundred-year old carousel read more

The German theme park Europa-Park has just purchased a carousel-lounge of 1909 from Ecomusée d'Alsace, a museum located in Ungersheim in North-East of France. The latter had declared its intention to separate from this carousel-lounge ...

NEW | Europa-Park - Published on April 29, 2012

WODAN Timburcoaster - Interview with Clair Hain Jr. President of Great Coasters International read more

During our coverage of the WODAN Timburcoaster media event at Europa-Park (Rust, Germany), we had the opportunity to meet Clair Hain Jr, President...

FEATURE | Europa-Park - Published on April 19, 2012

Europa-Park opens WODAN Timburcoaster - Interview with Roland Mack read more

Nearly 400 members of the press and special guests - including the racing driver Ralf Schumacher and Miss Germany 2012 - were invited last Wednesday...

NEW | Europa-Park - Published on April 2, 2012

Europa Park welcomed more than 4 million visitors in 2011 and prepares 2012 read more

Europa-Park stated that its 37th season has been once again a great success with an attendance exceeding well over four million visitors in...

NEW | Europa-Park - Published on January 11, 2012

previous
Page 1/2
next

Select Articles

more search options less search options

Magazine