ITPS Amusement INdustry News 2.10.11

[Shawn Haas]



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Click for more information regarding Ripley's Franchises.	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 can Assist in Improving Business Operations Our clients find comfort in our tried and tested methods of improving their business operations and presenting them with solutions. We provide the highest quality advisory services and offer “alternatives” when it may appear there are none. We have affiliated professionals in investment banking, financing, accounting, law, restructuring, and bankruptcy. ITPS Developing New Parks Attractions In its traditional business - ITPS has the experience to develop, operate, enhance, and more for your new or existing facility. From the initial feasibility study, to design, site selection, to the operational manuals and on-site training, product selection, management, facility audits, and more. Our experience is extremely varied, and we utilize professionals with relevant expertise when necessary, but we always deliver value. We look forward to speaking with you about your individual needs and appreciate your referrals. Call 513-381-6131 for details.
	Thursday February 11, 2011
	Visits drop at Anaheim’s Disney parks Fewer visitors headed to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure late last year during the Halloween and holiday seasons compared to the same period the previous year, Disney reported Tuesday. Attendance was “slightly down” at the Anaheim parks from Oct. 3 to Jan. 1, as opposed to the same quarter in late 2009, said Jay Rasulo, chief financial officer of the Walt Disney Co., in a conference call with investors Tuesday. Click for Article SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Names New Senior Marketing Officers Orlando, FL - Peter Frey, formerly Vice President of Marketing for SeaWorld Orlando, was promoted to Senior Marketing Officer, SeaWorld Brands. Frey will oversee advertising, promotional marketing, publicity, digital marketing and consumer marketing for SeaWorld parks in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio, as well as Discovery Cove and Aquatica in Orlando. Frey joined SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment in 2010 after 14 years at Darden Restaurants, where he managed marketing for the Red Lobster and Olive Garden family restaurant brands. Frey, who holds a business degree from the University of Florida and an MBA from Stetson University, will report to Dan Brown, Chief Operating Officer for the SeaWorld Brands. He will work out of the company's Orlando headquarters. Click for Article I have an idea but is it feasible? - ParkWorld Magazine In my opinion the most important aspect in the planning and development of a leisure project is the “First Step” – the feasibility study. During my time in the industry I have seen hundreds of projects cross my desk. The good, the bad and the ugly. Some have exhibited lunacy. Some have demonstrated enormous possibility. Except for the extreme cases, they all have one common denominator: they require proper analysis from the moment the idea is set in motion (when money is spent). Click for Article How roller coasters spend winter at Busch Gardens WILLIAMSBURG -- The next time you ride the roller coaster Alpengeist, look to your left and you will see the maintenance house. During the winter months, these maintenance buildings are where the big, bad roller coasters spend their days and nights. Click for Article Cedar Fair accused of misleading shareholders SANDUSKY — Cedar Fair LP's largest shareholder claims in a regulatory filing that it has found statements made seven years ago by the amusement park chain's management that may have misled shareholders into thinking they soon would have the right to nominate candidates for the company's board. Click for Article Cathay offers HK Disneyland deal Cathay Pacific Airways has introduced a range of airtel packages (airplane and hotel) for Koreans traveling to Hong Kong over the years. It has provided budget-conscious travelers affordable options to explore one of the world’s most popular tourism destinations. This time, the airline is offering deals for those seeking fun in Hong Kong Disneyland. Click for Article Playland Strategic Planning Committee Recommends Guiding Principles for County RFP Rye, NY - The Playland Strategic Planning Committee presented recommendations to the Rye City Council on Wednesday outlining principles that should guide the county as its continues its request for proposals to “reinvent Playland.” Click for Article Over 4,000 jobs available at Kings Island MASON, Ohio - It's a little cold to hop on a roller coaster, but Kings Island is getting ready for warmer weather. The amusement park is now accepting job applications for the 2011 season. Click for Article SIX FLAGS TO REPORT FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2010 RESULTS FEBRUARY 22, 2011 DALLAS, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: SIX), the world's largest regional theme park company, announced today that it will host its fourth quarter and full year 2010 earnings call on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT). Click for Article Tourist dies in Binh Duong theme park Vietnam - A tourist died on Monday from a head injury she sustained at the Dai Nam theme park in Binh Duong Province, according to a release issued by the park managers. Click for Article Great Adventure plans 2 job fairs JACKSON, NJ — Six Flags Great Adventure will host job fairs Saturday and Feb. 19 to hire more than 4,100 employees for the 2011 season, the company said Wednesday. Click for Article Theme Park Builds One Piece's Thousand Sunny Ship The Huis Ten Bosch theme park in the southwestern Japanese city of Sasebo will unveil a replica of the One Piece manga's Thousand Sunny pirate ship for short cruises on April 2. According to the park, this is the first recreation of the Thousand Sunny that visitors can climb aboard. Click for Article SeaWorld, SPCA, Orange Animal Services team up for pets Orlando, FL - “SeaWorld’s Happy Tails,” a new pet adoption program, starts Thursday, Feb. 10, at the SPCA of Central Florida shelters in Orlando and Sanford, and the Orange County Animal Services shelter in Orlando. Click for Article
	Losses rise for NASCAR Hall of Fame The NASCAR Hall of Fame lost $327,041 in December, the largest monthly deficit since the hall opened in May. The losses were somewhat expected, as December was originally projected to be a slow month for the $200 million racing museum. In the original budget, the hall was expected to lose $118,171 for the month. Attendance for December was 14,636. Click for Article Blue Man Group moving to Monte Carlo from The Venetian in 2012 LAs Vegas - The wordless dance troupe Jabbawockeez is set to have some similarly inspired company at Monte Carlo Theater. Blue Man Group, who helped usher in an era of multimedia entertainment on the Strip when it opened at Luxor in 2000, is moving from The Venetian to Monte Carlo in the fall of 2012. Click for Article New Campbelltown mini golf complex pulls in crowds Australia - A TOUCH of Hollywood has helped turn Campbelltown’s newly-opened Mega Mini Golf complex into a regional tourist attraction. The American-style, multi-themed indoor mini golf centre was created using the expertise of movie props man Phillip Beadsmoore, who worked on the Star Wars and Superman movies. Click for Article
ITPS is Hiring!! International Theme Park Services, Inc. (“ITPS”) is currently seeking the following positions for a family/children’s theme park located in Istanbul, Turkey:   General Manager: 3-5 years operations experience. Must be familiar with finance, marketing and general operations.   Marketing Manager: Responsible for group sales, public relations, advertising/promotions and corporate sponsorship. Should have 3-5 years experience in FEC/theme park marketing.   Operations/Maintenance Manager: Areas of responsibility include facilities maintenance, rides and attractions, safety/first aid. Should have 3-5 years experience in maintenance, operations and safety.  Requirements for all Positions:  All positions require 3-5 years experience in the FEC/theme park industry.  Assignment minimum:  3-5 years.  Salary (plus full benefits) commensurate with experience.  Send cover letter, resume and salary history (no phone calls please) to:    Mr. Shawn Haas - Vice President of Retail, Operations & Information Technology Send Email
	Big aquarium set for Crown Center Kansas City, MO - What a catch! Crown Center on Wednesday announced a $15 million aquarium that will open in spring 2012. Sea Life Kansas City at Crown Center will occupy the entire 45,000-square-foot first floor and about half of the second floor of Halls department store. Halls will shift some departments to other spaces in Crown Center. Click for Article Zoo to ban dogs TN - The Chattanooga Zoo has a new policy: No dogs. "This board of directors is going to say no more dogs in the zoo," said Mickey Myers, a member of the board's executive committee and a veterinarian. Click for Article DinoQuest: Lowry Park Zoo brings in exhibit of prehistoric proportions Tampa, FL - The Tyrannosaurus rex is scary, the dilophosaurus is annoying, and the brachiosaurus, well, it's just huge. The prehistoric past meets the present in DinoQuest, a new dinosaur exhibit at Lowry Park Zoo. The outdoor exhibit opened Wednesday and runs through May 1. It stars 20 animated dinosaurs that look, move and roar like their Jurassic counterparts. Here is what to expect. Click for Article Akron Zoo on track for improvements OH - The Akron Zoo is in the midst of construction of a new train ride and improved farm exhibit, according to zoo officials. Construction began last fall, according to David Barnhardt, director of marketing and guest services for the zoo. Click for Article Zoo employees camp overnight, keep animals safe during blizzard IL - Joan Daniels spent last Tuesday night camped out in her office at Brookfield Zoo as part of a mass effort to care for the animals during a record Chicagoland blizzard. Daniels, an associate curator, said it was one of the worst snowstorms she’d ever seen. Click for Article
	Dissecting Disney's Conference Call - What's Behind the Success? On Tuesday, Disney (DIS) reported fiscal year 1st quarter earnings of $0.68 while the analysts had only banked on $0.56. That’s pretty significant and led to a quick rise in stock price. Click for Article Disney Cruise Line has Fantasy in mind Now that the Disney Dream is getting its sea legs, more attention can now turn to the Disney Fantasy, which will be the fourth ship in the Disney Cruise Line when it has its maiden voyage in March 2012. Click for Article Singapore Tourism Revenue Surges as Casinos Spur Record Visitor Arrivals The money spent by tourists visiting Singapore surged last year after a record number of people travelled to the city-state, attracted by two new casinos amid a rebound in the global economy. Spending rose 49 percent to S$18.8 billion ($14.7 billion) last year, exceeding the government’s forecast of as much as S$18.5 billion, the Singapore Tourism Board said in a statement today. International visitor arrivals rose 20 percent to 11.6 million in 2010. Click for Article
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	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. Visit news.interthemepark.com for 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.