On March 8, 2003, the IAAPA Waterpark Committee hosted the first “Tools of the Trade” workshop, a one-day event to offer educational and networking opportunities for waterpark managers and supervisors. The event was held at Morey’s Piers, located in Wildwood, N.J.This program was designed to increase the value of the membership by creating a more personal and affordable experience for middle managers and supervisors separate from the annual convention and trade show.
Forty-four attendees from 13 different facilities participated in the event, which covered topics such as “Building the Foundations for a Good Training Program,” “Regulation Challenges for Waterparks,” and “Leadership and Legacy.” It also included a facility tour to the two Raging Waters waterparks owned by Morey’s Piers and a networking reception.
Managing Attractions for More Profit
IAAPA’s latest survey, “Managing Attractions for More Profit: An International Survey of Operational Performance,” is now available.The survey measures key performance metrics in the industry including operating expenses, annual attendance, capital investments, and other performance ratios. Jim Blake, chair of the IAAPA Financial Management and Information Technology Committee that produced the report, describes it as “the most comprehensive survey of operational performance in the industry. You cannot get this type of information anywhere else.”
The survey is extremely useful as a benchmarking tool for facilities to use when planning capital acquisitions, developing businesses plans, or simply measuring facility performance against competitors. The survey data is broken down into four categories: amusement parks, waterparks, family entertainment centers, and other facilities.
The survey costs $350 for members and $500 for nonmembers. Contact IAAPA for details on how to purchase the survey.
Frantzis is Inducted into NEAAPA Hall of Fame
Family and community are two words that best exemplify the late George Frantzis, Sr., former chairman of Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, Conn., and a past president of the New England Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (NEAAPA).Frantzis was inducted into the NEAAPA Hall of Fame on April 1.
For 50 years, Frantzis was active in the operation of Quassy, which his family purchased in 1937. He died unexpectedly in 1997 at the age of 70.
Under his leadership the park held numerous civic and community fund-raising events for organizations like the United Way, the Waterbury Foundation, the Waterbury Jaycees, and many others.
In the early 1950s he purchased one of the first complete Allan Herschell kiddylands for Quassy. Those four original Herschell rides still operate at the park today.
The family tradition continues as a third generation of the Frantzis family currently operates Quassy.
A Million Dollar Effort
The Orlando 2003 Workshop Program is well under way. IAAPA’s volunteer committees have been meeting to put together the program details. Speakers are being sought, topics refined, and locations scouted for off-site facility tours. “We were very pleased with the results from last year’s program, both in terms of attendance and the quality of the content,” says Eamon Connor, vice president of IAAPA Training Services, “and we are focused on providing an even better experience in 2003.”The IAAPA Workshop Program is put together by IAAPA’s 16 operational and constituency committees. “It is a real volunteer effort with dozens of committee members putting in hundreds of hours worth of work,” says Pelle Johanisson, chair of the Education Committee, which is charged with overseeing the entire program. “The biggest value of the trade show is the sharing of information and expertise across all sections of the association. It is truly amazing how willing our members are to share their experiences and knowledge.”
The workshop program was finalized at a meeting on April 11 in Alexandria, Va. Details will be available on the www.iaapaorlando.com web site and in the attendee brochure that will be mailed to all members in the summer.
New Trade Show Web Site
The IAAPA web site that is dedicated to the trade show held in November is now live and updated for 2003 and will provide all of the information about the annual trade show, as it becomes available. See the site at www.iaapaorlando.com.
The IAAPA Marketing Committee met in Washington, D.C., on March 7 and 8. (From left) Ted Molter, San Diego Zoo; Paul Pei, Ocean Park; Susan Mosedale, IAAPA; David Mandt, Paramount’s Kings Island; Mary Lou Rosemyer, Kennywood; Robert Owen, Blackpool Pleasure Beach; Jeroen Nijpels, F.A.B. Freizeit-Anlagen-Bau.