PEOPLE
REMEMBRANCE: Manfred Freiherr von Landsberg- Velen, founder of Holiday Center Castle Dankern in Emsland, Germany, in the early 1970s, passed away Feb. 12, 2010, at 86. Landsberg-Velen, called the “Baron of Dankern,” was considered a visionary of Emsland tourism and was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 2009, the only state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Holiday Center Castle Germany has grown to be Germany’s largest holiday resort, sitting on 500 acres and encompassing some 720 buildings. Activities at the huge resort include water playgrounds, inline skate track, a large pool with waterslides, climbing islands, children’s railway, water skiing, diving, a bowling alley, and a go-kart track.
REMEMBRANCE: Mauro Ferrari, president of Preston & Barbieri and president of Fun Italian Export Consortium, died March 4, 2010, at 63 after being ill for several months. Ferrari is remembered as an intelligent and charismatic entrepreneur who provided knowledgeable and skilled leadership to both Preston & Barbieri and the Fun Italian Export Consortium. Ferrari was married and had three children.
 MOVING UP: Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, Connecticut, announced the promotion of three veteran members of its staff. Audrey Brown, office manager, is now the director of outreach programs for schools and scouts. Brown has been with Quassy for 10 years and became office manager in 2007. Audrienne Wilson, assistant office manager, is the new director of sales for educational school field trips. She has been with Quassy for three years and recently graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in communication processes. Tracy Johnson, corporate events coordinator, has been with the park six years and is now the sales director for themed and community service outings.
 NEED A LEAD IN: Mary Ann Powell, CEO and GM of Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Southern California for a three-year term. The 12-year Pacific Park veteran is past-chair of the board of the Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau and is now serving as its secretary. She’s also on the board of directors of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce.
HONORABLE RECOGNITION: Amanda Thompson, managing director of Pleasure Beach Blackpool in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, recently received the Special Recognition Award at the Blackpool Tourism Awards for her positive leadership in increasing awareness of Blackpool as a tourist destination. In her acceptance remarks, Thompson said she is going to continue to be a high-profile ambassador for Blackpool and that she wants it to be the No. 1 tourist destination in Britain.
BECOMING A BIG WOLF: Chris Ballou was promoted by Great Wolf Resorts to general manager of the Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, Ohio. Ballou is responsible for daily operation of the 271-suite indoor waterpark resort and for its 200 employees. Prior to his appointment, he was director of finance for the company’s Grand Mound, Washington, and Sandusky resorts. Ballou replaces Matt Lawrence, who has been named general manager of the 280-suite Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, Michigan. 
CRUISING TO A HIGH APPOINTMENT: Veteran Chicago tourism executive and cruise company president Holly Agra has been appointed by U.S. Commerce secretary Gary Locke to serve a oneyear term on the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. The board counsels the Secretary on government policies that affect the travel and tourism industry, and discusses and proposes solutions to industry-related issues. Agra is president of Chicago’s First Lady Cruises, which is located on the Chicago River near Lake Michigan and operates four yachts for custom private cruises. Currently, Agra is on the executive committee of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau and is past chair of the Illinois Tourism Alliance.
PRODUCTS
NO POWER? NO PROBLEM: If you want to provide snow cones to a thirsty crowd at a location with no available electric power, don’t fret. Gold Medal Products has introduced the Simply Sno manual snow cone machine, a compact and easy-to-operate snow cone maker  that stores up to 10 pounds of shaved ice. Simply Sno’s 26 band-style blades quickly create a fine ice that effectively holds onto syrup. www.gmpopcorn.com
JACKPOT ANTICIPATION: COIN TECH introduces the Ticket Jackpot, an innovation for redemption operations that accumulates progressive jackpots for redemption areas and offers a variety of configurations, imagery, and sound effects. With its grand debut at Playland FEC in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Ticket Jackpot creates great anticipation, with guests following the rising jackpot until it is finally awarded. www.gamesystem.com
CLIMBING REFIT: Eldorado Climbing Walls announces the launch of MicroTex, a pliable new climbing wall resurfacing system, which is applied over existing walls to give them a facelift. Climbing wall surfaces wear over time with use and become unattractive. But with MicroTex’s thin coat system, a 1/16-inch layer of resurfacing is applied to existing walls, enhancing their appearance and durability without degrading performance. www.eldowalls.com
|
