Hotel News Now’s Post

Theme park cities are incredibly lucrative destinations for hotel investing, as the influx of tourists is almost always steady and thriving. From families to solo travelers, these areas see thousands upon thousands of guests at a consistent rate, year-round. It could be a wise investment to look into properties in and around theme parks and local attractions. #HotelInvesting #HospitalityIndustry

Interesting data insights into future trends for the global theme park industry. The growing role of short-stay vacations and staycations in the domestic market and the rise of resort-style theme parks in response to this trend offer a wonderful opportunity to expand for those parks currently without accommodation with a product that would support a two-day park ticket. https://lnkd.in/ggE6U3Vs

Disneyland Expansion Plans One Step Closer To Being Realized 🎡 🎢 DisneylandForward, the theme park’s $1.9 billion expansion plan, received unanimous approval from Anaheim’s city council early Wednesday morning. While Disney will not be expanding beyond its approximately 1,078-acre footprint, the approval results in zoning changes which allows the entertainment conglomerate to convert its properties to mixed use “immersive experiences.” Currently, hotels have to be built within the hotel district and attractions like rides are limited to the theme park areas. Much of the development will be centered on surface-level parking lots. The proposal will come before the city council again in May for a second vote. Two of Disney’s surface parking lots, namely the Toy Story lot and the Downtown Disney parking lot, will be “giving way to new development, so new theme park attractions, new hotels, new entertainment, retail, and dining versus the surface parking they are today,” Mike Lyster, Anaheim city spokesperson told LAist. Lyster added that since the new additional theme park attractions could bring more guests, Disney will also replicate the parking structure (Mickey and Friends and Pixar Pals) that are currently on the west side of Disney property on the east side too. Also included in the DisneylandForward plan is the construction of a pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard, a busy thoroughfare that can carry between 40,000 to 60,000 vehicles daily according to Lyster. In the plan, Disney looks to purchase three public streets including Magic Way, which carries approximately 15,000 cars daily. During Tuesday evening’s meeting that went into the early hours of Wednesday, city staff said that around 30% of the city’s general fund is currently generated by the resort. That number could increase, they said, with the expansion. The general fund, staff said, pays for city services such as the police force, parks, and fire department. The meeting on Tuesday evening drew a mix of public speakers: Some residents spoke of the “possible displacement” of Anaheim residents because it could increase rents in the city and “gentrification” of the city because of the expansion. “No amount of Disney's expensive magic will outweigh the people's right to simply live and survive outside their doors,” one speaker said. But, other residents spoke of their excitement at their home value potentially increasing because of the expansion. “When Disney wins, Anaheim and the residents win,” the speaker said. ✍️ Yusra Farzan 📸 Courtesy of DisneylandForward

Can New Disney Park Keep Company Afloat? New Disney Park After announcing a $60 billion investment in their parks sector last year, Disney finally revealed the rest of their plans… Which involves building new additions to Disney parks. But will the investment be enough to save the company from more extended losses? Disney’s Plans For New Attractions At Their Parks Since before the pandemic, Disney has increasingly relied on revenue from their parks to keep money coming in. Over the years, the parks proved a steady source of income to offset streaming losses and film flops… But even the experiences sector is slipping. LAST YEAR, DISNEY EXPERIENCES (THE DIVISION RESPONSIBLE FOR THEME PARKS AND CRUISE SHIPS) WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 70% OF THE COMPANY’S OPERATING PROFIT. But as of the company’s latest earnings report, the Disney parks are facing a new slowdown. Operating income for the parks was down 6%, with executives blaming a lack of consumer demand and higher costs. Yet, when Disney announced plans for a new park and attractions, die-hard fans saw their faith in the parks division renewed. At D23, Disney’s biennial fan expo, every plan for the new park additions was revealed before a crowd of thousands… And the company isn’t holding anything back. Attractions Coming Up The company revealed dozens of new additions to their experience sector, and it’s not just about adding more attractions… It’s about giving the less-popular areas in Disney parks a new makeover. The announcement uncovered two new “lands” in Disneyworld’s Magic Kingdom. One will be in a completely new section of the park dedicated to the iconic villains in classic Disney films. This “villains” land will feature the antagonists we love and loathe in a new, spooky, section in the park where… The second addition to the Magic Kingdom park will be a land themed after Pixar’s “Cars” movies… And it will be part of an overhaul of Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland. As for the other attractions in Florida… A new land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be themed to the “Tropical Americas” and feature attractions based on “Encanto” and “Indiana Jones”. And in California, A new area themed after “Avatar: Way of Water” will be opening as well as new additions to the “Avengers Campus”, which feature two new rides. Last but certainly not least, Disney Cruises will be welcoming four new ships to its fleet. While this might pale in comparison to the other additions… The cruise industry has exploded since the pandemic, with a notable example being the success of the Icon Of The Seas. Pressure From Competition The new Disney park announcement comes as the company is facing renewed pressure from both a slump in visitor numbers… And competition from neighboring theme parks. In January, Universal Studios announced another park addition as well, with the creation of Epic Universe park… (Which also has a spooky, villain themed land as a major section of the park. Coincidence?)

Can New Disney Park Keep Company Afloat? New Disney Park After announcing a $60 billion investment in their parks sector last year, Disney finally revealed the rest of their plans… Which involves building new additions to Disney parks. But will the investment be enough to save the company from more extended losses? Disney’s Plans For New Attractions At Their Parks Since before the pandemic, Disney has increasingly relied on revenue from their parks to keep money coming in. Over the years, the parks proved a steady source of income to offset streaming losses and film flops… But even the experiences sector is slipping. LAST YEAR, DISNEY EXPERIENCES (THE DIVISION RESPONSIBLE FOR THEME PARKS AND CRUISE SHIPS) WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 70% OF THE COMPANY’S OPERATING PROFIT. But as of the company’s latest earnings report, the Disney parks are facing a new slowdown. Operating income for the parks was down 6%, with executives blaming a lack of consumer demand and higher costs. Yet, when Disney announced plans for a new park and attractions, die-hard fans saw their faith in the parks division renewed. At D23, Disney’s biennial fan expo, every plan for the new park additions was revealed before a crowd of thousands… And the company isn’t holding anything back. Attractions Coming Up The company revealed dozens of new additions to their experience sector, and it’s not just about adding more attractions… It’s about giving the less-popular areas in Disney parks a new makeover. The announcement uncovered two new “lands” in Disneyworld’s Magic Kingdom. One will be in a completely new section of the park dedicated to the iconic villains in classic Disney films. This “villains” land will feature the antagonists we love and loathe in a new, spooky, section in the park where… The second addition to the Magic Kingdom park will be a land themed after Pixar’s “Cars” movies… And it will be part of an overhaul of Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland. As for the other attractions in Florida… A new land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be themed to the “Tropical Americas” and feature attractions based on “Encanto” and “Indiana Jones”. And in California, A new area themed after “Avatar: Way of Water” will be opening as well as new additions to the “Avengers Campus”, which feature two new rides. Last but certainly not least, Disney Cruises will be welcoming four new ships to its fleet. While this might pale in comparison to the other additions… The cruise industry has exploded since the pandemic, with a notable example being the success of the Icon Of The Seas. Pressure From Competition The new Disney park announcement comes as the company is facing renewed pressure from both a slump in visitor numbers… And competition from neighboring theme parks. In January, Universal Studios announced another park addition as well, with the creation of Epic Universe park… (Which also has a spooky, villain themed land as a major section of the park. Coincidence?)

Big changes (hopefully) coming to Disneyland? ✨ Disney's $1.9 billion "DisneylandForward" plan got the green light from Anaheim's Planning Commission! This means potential new attractions, mixed-use areas, and a total resort revamp over the next decade. The plan promises major job creation and economic benefits for Anaheim, but it's not without controversy. Some residents worry about increased traffic and pollution. So what exactly is Disney proposing? ⏩ Looser zoning restrictions for more flexibility in building attractions and experiences. ⏩New themed lands inspired by popular franchises like Frozen, Tangled, and Avatar. ⏩Dedicated areas for shopping, dining, and entertainment alongside theme parks. ⏩Significant investment in affordable housing, parks, and road improvements for Anaheim. The project still needs City Council approval, but this is a big step forward for Disneyland's future! #disney #themparks #anaheim #disneyland https://lnkd.in/eicpRjRp

Creating Icons: Keep it Intuitive Attractions should be easy to find. You shouldn't have to rely on signage or staff to direct guests where to begin the experience of the ride. Confusion amongst guests can lead to frustration, congestion and under utilization of capacity, all of which negatively impact guest experience. The simplest way to achieve intuitive wayfinding when it comes to attractions is to put the entrance right next to the finish of the ride or next to the iconic feature. This allows guests to first view other riders and understand the type of experience the attraction offers (body vs vehicle, shared vs individual, etc.). Guests can then intuitively enter the queue and begin their experience without any assistance. Since guests can easily find the attraction they are seeking, the ride's capacity is fully utilized which helps reduce queues throughout the park and results in a better guest experience for all. Mega Storm at Everland Caribbean Bay illustrates this strategy. Guests are drawn to the entrance to the attraction by the iconic TORNADO 60 feature that is visible throughout the water park. Guests are giving a glimpse of the ride, setting the expectation that it is a high thrill shared experience that is enjoyed in groups of 6. Guests then begin the experience by entering through the themed queue which takes them up to the start of the ride. This simple and clear sequence helps ensure the ride is fully utilized and that guests have a positive experience. #waterparks #waterparktrends

If "bad ops" are the number-one reason keeping visitors away from theme parks, operators should think creatively about how to ensure a premium experience for their guests. So, what are a few ways to maintain rock solid operations? According to Theme Park Insider: 1. Hire experienced teams who know what to do 2. Keep lines moving as quickly as possible 3. Preserve high safety standards Of course we'll add number 4 - offer Weather Guarantees to avoid long lines for rain checks and guest hassle. https://hubs.li/Q02xNqxG0

If you ever begged your parents for a trip to Disneyland but instead found yourself shooting out of a waterslide two hours from home, then you’ve probably visited a regional theme park. And much to the dismay of Disney-loving kids everywhere, they’re becoming increasingly common as consumers look to travel more and pay less, per The Wall Street Journal. Today, we're taking a closer look into how these parks are working hard to make the trip worthwhile. Consider that: 🎠Six Flags Entertainment and Cedar Fair had an $8B merger in 2023, joining their combined 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks, and nine resorts. In the 12 months leading up to Q3 of 2023, the companies saw 48m guests. 🎢British theme park operator Merlin Entertainments opened a Legoland park in New York in 2021 and is working on a Peppa Pig park in Dallas-Fort Worth after opening one in Florida in 2022. 🐺Great Wolf Lodge has 20 indoor water park locations across the US and Canada with more planned. By 2025, ~90% of the US population will be within a four-hour drive of a park. The chain has ~8.7k rooms, up from 4.3k in 2014, and the average occupancy rate is ~80% annually, up from 65% 10 years ago. Join us as we go along for the ride.

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