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Since 1998, we work in direct contact with manufacturers, suppliers, consultants, owners and operators to publish only reliable and relevant information.
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Theme Park Industry News Roundup – Issue #4
Update : 22:46Published by François Mayné the 29 September 2013, New.
NewsParcs' Theme Park Industry News Roundup is a summary of the latest major news related to the theme park industry worldwide.
This Industry Roundup reports news specifically on operators, owners, trade associations and related organizations revolving around the amusement park industry. It also provides from time to time information on some parks (attendance levels, appointment, etc.) as well as trends and industry's figures. Read our previous issues (along with our Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week).
We take a look today at the 2013 Golden Ticket Awards presented by Amusement Today, at IAAPA's new appointments for key staffers, at Parks and Resorts' new CEO as well as at the death of the founder and owner of Drayon Manor Theme Park.
Golden Ticket Awards
Amusement Today – IAAPA Expo booth #4217
The U.S. trade magazine Amusement Today presented earlier this month the results of the 16th edition of the Golden Ticket Awards during a ceremony hosted by Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in California, USA.
This year again, the Golden Tickets were awarded in 25 different categories recognizing the best amusement parks, water parks, shows and attractions worldwide. The results have been set on the basis of a detailed survey sent to a database of experienced theme park enthusiasts selected under criteria by Amusement Today and balanced into five geographical regions (four for the United States and a last one for international fans).
Considered in the United States as an equivalent of The Oscars for the amusement industry, the Golden Ticket Awards are however relatively unknown in the rest of the world. Since their debut in 1998, they have been attributed to amusement parks only located in North America (with a few exceptions in the 2000') with surprising regularity since most of the award recipients are the same for many years.
In 2013 for instance, 22 of the 25 awards were given to the same parks as the previous year, including Cedar Point and Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort (in New Braunfels) which got the Golden Tickets of 'Best Amusement Park' and 'Best Water Park' for the sixteenth consecutive year. The overall winner is once again Dollywood which received five Golden Ticket Awards: 'Friendliest Park', 'Best Food', 'Best Christmas Event', 'Best Shows' and 'Best New Ride of 2013'in a water park for the hydromagnetic water slide 'River Rush' which was supplied by ProSlide Technology.
'Millenium Force' (Cedar Point) remains the holder of the 'Best Steel Coaster' award while 'Boulder Dash' (Lake Compounce) reclaims the number one place of 'Best Wooden Coaster' to 'El Toro' (Six Flags Great Adventure). The new hybrid wood coaster 'Outlaw Run' built at Silver Dollar City by Rocky Mountain Construction won the Golden Ticket for the 'Best New Ride of 2013' in an amusement park ahead of 'Iron Rattler' (Six Flags Fiesta Texas) and 'GateKeeper' (Cedar Point).
The other amusement parks honored in 2013 were: Universal Orlando Resort (Best Halloween Event, Best Dark Ride, Best Water Ride, Best Indoor Rollercoaster), Holiday World & Splashin' Safari (Cleanest Park, Best Waterpark Ride), Knoebels (Best Food tie with Dollywood, Best Carousel), Seaworld Orlando (Best Marine Park), Idlewild & SoakZone (Best Children's Park), Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (Best Seaside Park), Kings Island (Best Kid's Area), Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Best Landscaping), Epcot (Best Outdoor Night Show Production), Schlitterbahn Galveston Island (Best Indoor Waterpark) and Kennywood (Best FunHouse / Walkthrough Attraction).
Drayton Manor Theme Park regrets to announce that the park’s founder and owner, George H H Bryan, passed away on September 20 at the age of 92.
George Bryan was a trained engineer with a passion for the entertainment industry. He manufactured penny arcade machines with his father, William, who was known as ‘King of the Penny Arcade’. It was in 1949 that he decided together with his wife Vera Bryan to move to Drayton Manor – a British stately home located in Staffordshire, England – with the intention of building a family theme park.
The park opened in April 1950 after George and Vera, along with a small, dedicated team of engineers and mechanics, spent six months transforming the 80-acre/32-ha site that was covered with brambles, mounds of rubbish and old army huts. It had one restaurant, a tea room, three hand operated rides, six rowing boats, some pedal cars and a set of second hand dodgem cars.
George Bryan was also a known philanthropist, supporting a number of local charities, which is part of his legacy. He received the OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 2004 in recognition for his dedication to hospital services and determination demonstrated in opening a tourist attraction in post-war Britain.
Drayton Manor Theme Park continues today to be run and owned by the family and has succeeded in becoming one of the UK’s most popular family attractions. “George Bryan inspired all people he met, with his passion and humility. He was a devoted husband to Vera, father to Colin, Jane and Andrew, grandfather and great grandfather,” stated the park in a statement.
The Swedish leisure park operator Parks and Resorts, which owns Grôna Lund, Skara Sommarland, Furuvik, Kolmarden and Aquaria, has appointed Christer Fogelmarck, 41, to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Currently the company’s marketing director, he will succeed Jan Roy who is retiring from January 1st, 2014.
“As a member of the group's management, Chister has been involved in shaping our future strategy and our investments for the coming years. With his extensive industry experience and his quality leardership, we think this is the right man to realize our plans,” said Johan Tidstrand, principal owner of Parks and Resorts.
"I'm excited and honored to be entrusted with leading the continued development of Parks and Resorts along with all these great people. Every day, I am struck by the strong commitment and the expertise of our parks. The fact that we have very long-term owners creates very exciting opportunities for the future," commented Christer Fogelmarck.
With a total annual attendance of about 3 million visitors and a turnover of approximately SEK 950 million (approx €110 million / $145 million), Parks and Resorts is one of the largest amusement park operator in Northern-Europe.
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions has announced new roles for two long-time staffers at its headquarters. Eamon Connor is now director, education and certification programs, and Jeremy Schoolfield is editor-in-chief for IAAPA’s Funworld magazine.
Connor leads IAAPA’s newly created certification program and is responsible for developing, implementing, and reviewing programs to help IAAPA members achieve various levels of professional certifications. Connor has worked at IAAPA for 17 years, most recently serving as director of education programs and services.
Funworld Senior Editor Jeremy Schoolfield has been promoted to Editor-in-Chief. In his new role, Schoolfield is responsible for all editorial and production aspects for the magazine and the IAAPA Attractions Expo Trade Show Daily. Schoolfield is an award-winning journalist who has been honored with four writing awards since joining the IAAPA staff in 2004.
Does your company or organization works within the amusement park industry? If your are interested by sharing news with NewsParcs or meeting us in Orlando, please contact our editor François Mayné via contact@newsparcs.com
NewsParcs' Theme Park Industry News Roundup is a summary of the latest major news related to the theme park industry worldwide. This Industry Roundup reports news specifically on operators, owners, trade associations and...
NewsParcs' Theme Park Industry News Roundup is a summary of the latest major news related to the theme park industry worldwide. This Industry Roundup reports news specifically on operators, owners, trade associations and...
The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), which represents roughly 7,500 creative specialists around the world, unveiled the recipients of the 19th Annual Thea Awards last week at the IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando....
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.
Considered in the United States as an equivalent of The Oscars for the amusement industry, the Golden Ticket Awards are however relatively unknown in the rest of the world. Since their debut in 1998, they have been attributed to amusement parks only located in North America (with a few exceptions in the 2000') with surprising regularity since most of the award recipients are the same for many years. 
The park opened in April 1950 after George and Vera, along with a small, dedicated team of engineers and mechanics, spent six months transforming the 80-acre/32-ha site that was covered with brambles, mounds of rubbish and old army huts. It had one restaurant, a tea room, three hand operated rides, six rowing boats, some pedal cars and a set of second hand dodgem cars.
“As a member of the group's management, Chister has been involved in shaping our future strategy and our investments for the coming years. With his extensive industry experience and his quality leardership, we think this is the right man to realize our plans,” said Johan Tidstrand, principal owner of Parks and Resorts.
Connor leads IAAPA’s newly created certification program and is responsible for developing, implementing, and reviewing programs to help IAAPA members achieve various levels of professional certifications. Connor has worked at IAAPA for 17 years, most recently serving as director of education programs and services.
