ITPS Amusement INdustry News 12.16.09

[Amanda Salusky]



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Wednesday December 16, 2009
Are you IN? - International Theme Park Services, Inc. ("ITPS") delivers the news you want regarding the amusement and leisure industry on a daily basis. Nowhere else can you find a greater compilation of news covering the amusement and leisure industry! ITPS has proudly served the leisure industry since 1983. Visit our website for more information on how we can assist your needs. Scroll Down for each news category. Amusement/Theme Park | FEC/LBE/Museum Waterpark |Aquarium/Zoo  Other News   Every Wednesday over the next several weeks, I will be providing you with articles which you should find helpful in working with and understanding the many types of media you may encounter. These articles will range from “Getting the Media’s Attention” and “Reporter Rapport”, to “Working with Television” and “Online Media”. Should you have any questions regarding this series, please do not hesitate to contact me.   Dennis Speigel - President: International Theme Park Services, Inc. Part 10:  Online Media Over the last decade, the online community has grown exponentially. Included within this community are media outlets, social networking sites, fan sites and blogs - all of which play a prominent role in the transmission of information pertaining to the leisure industry. It is vitally important to understand how these entities function in order to stay abreast to the ever - changing way that people receive and interpret information about the industry. Click for Article	Click on the above image for more information regarding Ripley's Franchises.
Positive signs seen for Cypress Gardens WINTER HAVEN, FL - While Cypress Gardens has been quietly deserted since its doors closed abruptly Sept. 23, a contingency of advocates has been aggressively marketing Florida's first theme park in hopes of securing its future.   Click for Article Disney Cast Members Collect Thousands of Toys for Local Children Orlando, FL - Donning Santa hats and plenty of good cheer, Walt Disney World VoluntEARS today helped a squad of U.S. Marines load more than 15,000 donated toys onto a convoy of military vehicles, all with the goal of making holiday dreams come true for deserving children throughout Central Florida. Click for Article Glitch prompts towing of Disney monorail train Orlando, FL - A glitch aboard a Walt Disney World monorail train forced it to be towed this evening, a company spokesman said. The incident took place on the express line about 6 p.m. as a train was traveling between the Transportation Ticket Center and the Contemporary Resort. An on-board computer detected a possible mechanical problem, triggering the train to power down. The train was towed to the next stop and the passengers were let off. The problem was resolved by 6:30 p.m. --End Story-- Click for Article Area man gets pieces of the past from park Aurora, OH -- Among the sawdust, tools and shelves of fishing tackle in former Ward 1 City Council candidate Fred Rote's workshop/shed are pieces of Geauga Lake, Sea World and Six Flags history. Click for Article Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier Launches ‘Twific Tweets’ On Twitter On Select Tuesdays For Free Rides, Games And Prizes Santa Monica, CA - Twitterers simply need to follow @pacpark to receive the “Twific Tweet” on select Tuesdays before 12 pm that will include a key word or phrase to be repeated by the first 25 followers for redemption at the referenced Pacific Park venue. Click for Article Disney's acqusition of Marvel: does this mean anything for Singapore? At the Neoteny Singapore Camp 1 held over the weekend, there was a lament in one of the presentations about Disney's protection of their copyright through the use of extensions. This geek then thought about the recent acquisition of Marvel by Disney and wondered if there will be any significant impact to the Universal Studios Theme Park opening here in Singapore, especially since I remember seeing parts of the Resorts World bid featuring Spiderman swinging from Shenton Way to MRTs and off HDB blocks. Click for Article Study evaluates Disneyland Paris' economic impact PARIS -- Mickey Mouse has made himself at home in France. Since opening its gates in 1992, the Disneyland Paris theme park east of the French capital has become a vital economic driver of its region, accounting for 56,000 jobs directly and indirectly last year in France, according to a study released Wednesday. Click for Article	Some of ITPS' Projects include: Hopi Hari Theme Park - Sao Paulo, Brazil Lotte World- Seoul, Korea Newport Aquarium, Newport Kentucky Cincinnati Zoo, Cincinnati, Ohio Time Warner - Six Flags Beijing Amusement Park - Beijing, China ORA Istanbul Theme Park - Istanbul, Turkey Fort Worth Zoo - Fort Worth, Texas Enchanted Kingdom, Manila, Philippines Bronx Zoo - Bronx, New York Wells Dairy - LeMars, Iowa Reino Aventura - Mexico City, Mexico La Feria Chapultepec Magico - Mexico City, Mexico Madison Square Gardens / Paramount Parks Haw Par Villa - Singapore Lake Compounce - Bristol, Connecticut Playcenter - Brazil Click here for more information on ITPS' projects.
Merlin to open Madame Tussauds in Bangkok Bangkok, Thailand - Merlin Entertainments, the UK-based theme park operator that is positioning itself to float in the new year, has announced it will open a Madame Tussauds visitor attraction in Bangkok. Click for Article Universal’s CityWalk getting IMAX, new eateries Orlando, FL - Universal Orlando’s CityWalk entertainment district is getting IMAX movie technology and a pair of new eateries. Click for Article The hottest new Bay Area night spot? A science museum San Francisco, CA - Most office parties feature a bar, maybe some light jazz, some nuts to snack on and a few streamers for background ambience. But lately a growing number of Silicon Valley companies are holding their parties backed by a 40-foot Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, a coral reef teeming with 4,000 Philippine day-glo fish and a domed planetarium showing how super novae explode. Click for Article Lucky Strike to operate Levee bowling alley Newport, KY - Lucky Strike Entertainment, a chain of upscale bowling alleys, will operate Newport on the Levee’s Star Lanes on the Levee, the Northern Kentucky entertainment venue announced Tuesday. Click for Article	Click on the above image for Today's Ripley Comic!
Aquatic Center pass prices will change ASOTIN, WA - Some prices will go up and other's down. That's the plan for next year at the Asotin County Family Aquatic Center. Water park passes for an adult resident will go from $81 down to $67.50. But daily wate rpark passes for an adult will increase from $7.25 to $8.50. Click for Article Phuket Water Park Dispute Ends: January Opening Thailand - A TWO-WEEK blockade of the large West Sands project by local villagers is over, and Phuket's first theme park, Splash Jungle, is now set to open early next year. Click for Article Splash Zone fees go up slightly SPRINGFIELD, OH — The rates next year for Splash Zone Family Aquatic Center will increase slightly. The National Trail Parks and Recreation District board approved the rates on Monday, Dec. 14. Click for Article Raging Waters to add themed water slide in 2010 San Dimas, CA - Raging Waters water park in San Dimas will add a $1-million special effects water slide in May, themed to a mad scientist obsessed with the dark, officials said. The blackout water slide, dubbed Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror, will feature visual effects projected on curtains of water — including flames, sharks, dinosaurs, lightning bolts, saw blades and brick walls.   Click for Article
Holiday Must: Zoo Animals Go Ape for Gifts New York City, NY - It's just not the holidays in New York City until you've witnessed, with your own eyes, a baboon tearing into a box festooned with wrapping paper, big red bows, and the occasional tinsel swag, as a crowd hopped up on hot cider eggs it on. Click for Article Tulsa Zoo told to file claim in young giraffe’s death TULSA — Tulsa Zoo officials should file an insurance claim against the transport company that delivered Amali, a 5-year-old giraffe who arrived with a broken neck and later died, city councilors said Tuesday. Click for Article Zoo visitors can enjoy festive fun UK - VISITORS to Chester Zoo can enjoy all the fun of a winter wonderland spectacular as the magical Frost Fair event returns to the attraction. Click for Article Seattle Aquarium management transferred to nonprofit Seattle, WA - The city of Seattle has transferred management of the waterfront Seattle Aquarium to the Seattle Aquarium Society. Click for Article Melbourne Aquarium takes delivery of three sandbar whaler sharks Melbourne, Australia - Raising the water temperatures by just four degrees, the oceanarium now offers an even warmer welcoming home for a much bigger range of marine creatures from more tropical climates. Click for Article Tennessee Aquarium otters enjoy Monday snow Chattanooga, TN - The otters at the Tennessee Aquarium played in the snow Monday. Shaved ice was brought into the otter exhibit and treats were hidden inside. Click for Article Chicago's Shedd Aquarium welcomes baby beluga CHICAGO - Chicago's Shedd Aquarium has a new baby beluga whale. The aquarium said Tuesday that beluga whale Puiji (poo-EE-jee) gave birth Monday to a male baby, weighing in at 162 pounds and 5-feet, 4-inches long. Click for Article
Las Vegas Hits Winter Hot Spot IF you are planning a city break to America in the near future, chances are you’ll be thinking about New York with its ornate theatres, extensive shopping, breathtaking skyscrapers and larger than life attitude. Well New York isn’t the only option for last minute breaks to the USA this winter. Las Vegas holidays have sneaked into the top ten favourite destinations for winter 2009, and look set to continue rising in popularity. Click for Article 'Houston, We Have Lift-Off' Thanks to New Johnny Rockets Spicy Hamburger LAKE FOREST, Calif., Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to overwhelming support and positive feedback from Johnny Rocket's loyal fan base, the international restaurant chain announced today that it will permanently add the new, limited-time only "The Houston" hamburger to its menu in 2010. Click for Article Tourism Spending Recovers, but Remains Below Pre-Recession Levels Tourism spending rebounded in the third quarter but hovered below pre-recession levels, the Commerce Department said in a new report.  Travelers spent more on transportation and fuel prices jumped, contributing to the improvement in overall tourism spending. Still, travel spending was hard-hit during the recession as families cut back on vacations, and companies took a harder line on expenses, cutting back on business trips. Click for Article
For over 10 years, ITPS has been providing news updates to the industry. We continually strive to improve our offering and have made some changes to the news, beginning this week. We hope you find the changes beneficial and make it easier for you the reader to quickly find the news you want to read. Please email us for your feedback and suggestions. Thanks for reading! To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, Change Email Address, delivery issues or to send attraction, facility press releases or job openings to the daily mailing, please email Shawn. ITPS Amusement INdustry News now has advertising space available. ITPS News is the longest continuous email newsletter for the Leisure Industry. ITPS Amusement INdustry News is read by the Industry's leaders, decision makers, owners and senior management. Contact Shawn for advertising details and reasonable rates. Past editions of the news are available on our website. Click here for previous daily news updates.  To search the archives of ITPS Amusement News, click here.	Shawn M. Haas Vice President of Retail, Operations and Information Technology International Theme Park Services, Inc 2195 Victory Parkway Cincinnati, OH 45206 513-381-6131 Phone 513-381-2756 Fax Email Shawn