Tay Mauro’s Post

This really is an interesting approach, Universal launches a new website for the UK project.   “Exploring a potential theme park and resort project”   Most of the time major parks want to control the narrative of the reveal, even when we know they’re coming, there is always that big reveal moment: Universal Beijing, Shanghai Disneyland, even down to surprise announcements like the new Universal Kids Resort in Texas.   So, it could seem odd that there is so much open and up-front conversation about the planning and approval process of Universal’s UK proposal. But, if we look at the UK’s other proposed theme park projects in recent years, even expansions to existing parks, this makes complete sense.   The NIMBYism against theme parks in the UK is strong. Alton Towers cannot break the tree line with their rides, Legoland Windsor’s haunted house attraction went through a 5-year delay and redesign after initial planning permission was refused. And, it had plenty of missteps, but we can’t forget the whole decade-long London Resort story, which had its final nail in the coffin last year.     Basically, there can be challenges to the industry in the UK, so Universal is trying to be as up front as possible about this park. I think it’s a great strategy, albeit a unique one. Get everyone on board as early as you can to avoid any “cultural Chernobyl” comparisons a la Disneyland Paris, or full protests a la Disney’s America, feels like a smart move.   I am curious to watch how this plays out – especially as I was surprised about Universal’s selection of the UK for a potential resort. So far, I like the process.   https://lnkd.in/eu8VUFZh #letsmakeplans #themeparks #themedentertainment #themedesign #universalstudios

To find the best new theme park attractions that made their debuts over the last year and a half, USA TODAY asked a panel of experts to nominate their favorites, then readers voted for their top picks. Here are the 10 best new theme park attractions:

Arizona is rapidly solidifying its position as a premier destination in the Sun Belt, thanks to its booming corporate development and thriving tourism industry. With exciting new attractions on the horizon—such as Mattel Adventure Park, the world’s largest indoor pickleball facility, and the Michelin-starred dim sum sensation, Din Tai Fung—2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the state. For property owners, this growth represents an unparalleled opportunity. The increasing demand for high-quality short-term rentals makes now the perfect time to enter Arizona’s dynamic and expanding market. At GoodNight Stay, we specialize in maximizing your property’s potential. From strategic marketing and revenue management to design that wows guests, we deliver exceptional experiences while optimizing returns for homeowners. Ready to explore the possibilities? Contact us today at 480-757-6399 or [email protected] to schedule a consultation. Let’s unlock your property’s success in Arizona’s booming short-term rental market! 🔗 Learn more about Arizona’s exciting future: bit.ly/49DRn6A #ArizonaRealEstate #STRInvesting #PropertyManagement #GoodNightStay #ShortTermRentals

🌊 Exciting News for Bradley, IL! 🌊 Ramaker is thrilled to share the news of a recent master planning effort for the development of a world-class indoor waterpark for the Village of Bradley! The Ramaker team is spearheading this project and has been collaborating with Hotel & Leisure Advisors and American Resort Management, LLC for this transformative $79.5 million development which will be one of the largest indoor water parks in the U.S. This "cruise ship on land" will attract visitors from across the Midwest and beyond. If all goes as planned, the park could break ground in spring 2026 and open by late 2027, delivering a projected $718 million economic impact over 10 years. The waterpark structure will have an operable roof with the following proposed features: a slide complex, surf feature, activity pool, swim-up bar, lazy river, multilevel play structure and splash pad, tot pool, and rentable cabanas! A family entertainment center will round out the entertainment options provided. We’re excited to work with the Village and American Resort Management on next steps. Stay tuned for updates as we help shape this regional destination! Learn more about this exciting project here: https://lnkd.in/guaTFTEP

BungalowParks Europe, @ the beginning of this concept around five years ago, there was only the idea of doing something for the company and the people, and so five properties on Lake Balaton were purchased, which are now owned by the company. As the concept development progressed, however, it became clear that there is a global need that needs to be met because many people around the world cannot afford a week's holiday because the big internet companies are constantly driving up prices, and that needs to be changed, but that can only be done in a large community together, and of course someone will make a bit of money from it, but that is legitimate because it is only a bit of money, and the concept involves a lot of work, but the big companies want to maximize their profits more and more, and together we can do something about it. That is the basic idea of bungalow parks in Europe. Over the years, we have developed a concept that is viable and that will benefit everyone involved in the long term, both the holidaymakers and the operators. All the good, important things in our lives require work because everything that is quick and easy has not a long life.

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

My head might actually EXPLODE! Universal Studios Hollywood First Universal theme park in Europe to generate ‘£50bn of economic benefits for UK’: New details have been unveiled for Universal's first UK theme park – including plans for the attraction to be open 365 days a year. Universal Destinations & Experiences plans to build Europe’s largest theme park on land near Bedford with millions of visitors per year, as well as a 500-room hotel and dining area. Sky News reported that Universal’s economic impact analysis suggests the attraction will generate nearly £50bn of economic benefits for the UK. It said the net economic contribution of the potential project for the UK was forecast to be £35.1bn over the construction period and first 20 years of operation. Up to a further £14.1bn was expected to be generated in extra taxes for the exchequer over the same period. The analysis suggests the project will generate 20,000 jobs during the construction period which, at its peak, will see 5,000 workers on the site. Universal has acquired 500 acres for the site, with an option to buy up to a further 200 acres. The new park would have a construction period of around six years. “I can tell you it’s going to be a world-class park with all experiences that people will love based upon the most popular films, video games and stories that people have enjoyed for decades,” said Page Thompson, the company’s president in charge of new ventures. “We’ve spent the last decade looking all over Europe and the UK for locations, and we think this is the best we’ve ever seen.” Universal Destinations & Experiences currently has five theme parks around the world – in the United States, Japan, China and Singapore. Thompson said that over time, she would expect the number of hotels to grow, and that the theme parks will host a whole series of special events, “like Hallowe’en Horror Nights and carnival parties”.

Where do we stand financially in comparison to the broader #themepark industry? With a total capital requirement of $1.29 billion, our project sits in the super-regional tier, which costs between $200-$500 million typically but can reach higher budgets when factoring in additional features like our 2 million sq. ft. #conventioncenter, 1,000-room hotel, and water park. While we are well above the standard for super-#regionalparks, we are still under the $2-4 billion budgets of #megaparks like #Disney and #Universal. In terms of returns, the super-regional tier typically generates $30-$100 million in #EBITDA. Based on our financial projections, we anticipate #revenues of $185 million in Year 1 and growing to $925 million by Year 10, which positions us well within the high-performing range of the super-regional category. This means we have a solid opportunity to achieve mid-teen to 20% EBITDA returns, which is in line with the best-performing parks in our country & class. As the article suggests, regional/super-regional parks like ours are generally more efficient than mega parks due to their lower development costs per square foot and more manageable #operationalexpenses. Our projections show a #breakeven point by Year 4, which puts us ahead of many new parks that struggle with #profitability for several years. #RevenueStreams like our wave pool events, AR/VR experiences, and significant #sponsorships, we’re expecting strong #cashflow from diverse sources beyond just ticket sales—aligning us with the most successful super-regional models like Six Flags or Legoland. While the mega parks (Disney, Universal) rely on government partnerships and creative financing to reduce their upfront costs, our project has attracted two billion-dollar offers, which means we are well-positioned financially without needing the same level of external government subsidies. Our model is structured to incorporate both sponsorship revenue and long-term event-based income, making our park not only a #touristdestination but also a sustainable business platform for #creators and #artists. Where we differ from the #traditional super-regional parks is in our #immersive #historical and #haunted narrative, combined with state-of-the-art #AR/#VR #technology. This allows us to tap into a more niche but deeply loyal market segment, similar to how Universal’s #WizardingWorld of #HarryPotter created a distinct experiential draw. The #HauntedTexasThemePark & #USAHistoryPreservationProject is positioned as a highly competitive super-regional park with the ability to outperform many in its class. With strategic financial backing, diverse revenue streams, and a break-even timeline of Year 4, we are on track to deliver strong, sustainable returns while creating a one-of-a-kind destination that blends history, technology, and entertainment. https://lnkd.in/gTv97NSr #AmyBTrippinYo

🎢 Heading to a theme park this summer? Take a moment to appreciate the effort that goes into keeping those coasters safe! #EHS Theme parks have the difficult job of creating an adrenaline rush for millions of visitors, without compromising well-being - all in a completely public setting. Learn about what happens behind the scenes to make theme parks safer than toasters (yes, true!) in our latest post, and what you can apply to your own industry: https://hubs.ly/Q02JKPMp0

HJ Consulting Engineers Ltd are pleased to be working with The Booth Group and Geo2 on the Peak Gateway Resort, providing earthworks modelling and design support. Consented on 283 acres (114 hectares) of reclaimed former opencast land, PEAK proposes the UK’s first purpose-built national park gateway ‘resort town’. PEAK Gateway will offer visitors world-class facilities and services as a base from which to access the trails and attractions of the 550 square mile National Park.   Planning approvals totalling 1.8mft2(168,000m2) have been granted to facilitate a multi-branded mixed use development available to both day and stay visitors. The approvals offer extensive experiential retail, a wide range of leisure and educational facilities, a wellness clinic with operating theatres, 2,850 car parking spaces and up to 2,000 hotel rooms and 250 holiday lodges. The development has consent for its own green energy park and utilities. https://lnkd.in/dfv8aeTX #civilengineering #earthworks #cut&fill